Hey there REBELS, I just want to say THANK YOU whoever you are that gave this book some gifts! I hope this isn't the last :) xo
The press conference had certainly done its job, and for a while, things calmed down. The tabloids moved on to new stories, and my scandal was reduced to old news. I focused on work, throwing myself into my upcoming projects and grateful that the movie’s production team had stayed behind me. It felt like things were finally slipping back into normalcy, though the idea of a “relationship” with William lingered in the background.A week after the press conference, William and I agreed to meet at a quiet cafe to catch up and talk about our progress. Despite everything, William and I had managed to keep things comfortable. He was good company, and his calm presence was a relief. But I couldn’t deny that pretending to date him left a strange feeling that I couldn’t shake.When I walked in, William was already at a corner table, sipping coffee and reading something on his phone. He looked up, smiling warmly as he saw me.“Margarette, it’s good to see you. How’s everything on your end?”“Bus
It took me having the cold feet to go meet up with william and thankfully, he still had some errands to do at the network station where he was currently working as a project director for the national TV.William was surely a very hardworking person. To be honest, dating him wasn’t so bad. Even though this was all just a set up, I found him to be a very caring and thoughtful partner. Not because we’re good friends, but I found that Willima could really be an ideal man to become a partner.Anyone could easily rely on him without any worry. He was also a faithful man, I never heard about him getting linked to any random girl and above all, a responsible man too. I wouldn’t even doubt he would become a good father when he becomes one.The way he gives so much attention to Lucas was more than enough for me to consider all of this good traits about William. However, he was not just for me. I have already decided no to go seek for any partner now, my sole focus was to raise Lucas.And above a
I walked briskly down the hallway, each step echoing off the walls as I thought of William’s unexpected proposal. My heart still pounded from the confusion and disbelief I felt, and as I reached his suite, I pushed the door open without knocking. William looked up from the couch, surprised, but his face settled quickly into a guarded expression."Margarette," he started, getting up.“No, you don’t get to start,” I cut him off sharply. “What was that out there, William? That…that proposal wasn’t part of any agreement.”He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Margarette, listen. I know it was sudden, and it wasn’t what we planned, but I had no choice.” His voice was calm, rational, as though we were discussing a business deal gone awry rather than my fake engagement.“No choice?” I repeated, incredulous. “There is always a choice. And you chose to put on a show in front of those cameras—one that you know full well I didn’t ask for and certainly didn’t agree to.”William loo
Days passed, and we continued our roles for the public. The engagement was splashed across every tabloid, every entertainment show. "Margarette and William: An Unlikely Love Story," they called it, but behind the scenes, everything felt off-kilter.One evening, Aunt Lou talked to me, her voice light but curious. “So,” she started slowly, “I saw the news. You and William, hmmn?” I could hear the hope in her voice, the expectation that I was moving forward, that maybe William could be someone who’d bring light back into my life. But the warmth in her tone only served to underscore the lie.“Yes and it’s complicated, Aunt Lou,” I replied, not sure how to explain. “Things are…well, they’re not exactly what they seem.”She let out a small sigh, pausing as if she were piecing together what I’d left unsaid. “Margarette, child, you don’t have to explain if you don’t feel like it. I just want to make sure you’re not pushing yourself into anything that doesn’t feel right.”I appreciated her und
I spent the better part of the morning in the living room, trying to focus on a new puzzle with Lucas, who was steadily becoming my little mastermind. He was getting quicker at these, his tiny fingers piecing together shapes with a focused little frown that made my heart swell with love. As I leaned over to help him fit a corner piece, he looked up at me with his wide, curious eyes.As Lucas and I played with his favorite puzzle on the living room rug, he was bubbling over with excitement, his little fingers working to fit pieces together. I loved these quiet moments with him—watching his expressions shift with each puzzle piece he conquered. I thought we were set for a peaceful morning until he glanced up with a question I hadn’t prepared for.“Mommy,” he asked, looking at me with an innocent curiosity. “Why hasn’t Uncle Daddy William come to play? Did he… forget me?”I felt my heart falter. William had been so present in Lucas’s life, even during our tangled, complicated act for the
That evening, as I settled Lucas into bed, my mind was still spinning with everything I’d felt and realized at English Bay. I found myself replaying the questions I had asked Leon, turning over his silent answers in my mind, as if the warmth I’d felt there was indeed a sign that he’d heard me. I knew I’d have to face these feelings sooner or later, and that meant confronting William. He’d been patient, trying to play his part as best he could, and yet it was impossible for him to understand what it meant to carry a loss like mine.After days of thinking, wrestling with memories and regrets, I made my way back to the café where William had asked to meet. Today felt different. I had come to terms with the possibility I’d spent so long avoiding: that maybe, letting go of the past didn’t have to mean erasing it. Maybe it could mean making space for someone else. For Lucas’s sake. And, I admitted to myself, maybe even for mine.The next morning, I decided to send William a message: Mee
The days felt lighter than usual, like I was finally able to breathe again after what felt like a lifetime of holding my breath. I had made my peace with the past, with Leon's memory, and had decided to give my heart a chance to find love again, even if the path was still new and uncertain. William was making it easy. Each day, he seemed determined to show me how committed he was—not just to Lucas and me but to our future together. Today marked the end of a long and exhausting shoot. The sun was dipping behind the set as the director called for a wrap, the crew breaking into applause, and my co-stars and I relaxed, feeling the collective weight lift. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw William approaching with a radiant smile and a massive bouquet of red roses. I didn’t expect him to show up on set, let alone with flowers in hand, but the sight of him sent a quiet warmth through me. He looked proud, confident, and undeniably handsome, and I couldn’t help the blush that crept o
The day after my conversation with William, I received a message from my publicist about an upcoming press conference. It was organized by the studio to promote the film, but they’d be opening the floor to any questions the press might have about the recent engagement between me and William or the scandal. Part of me dreaded the entire affair, but another part knew this was necessary. After everything that happened, it was crucial to show that I wasn’t hiding from the spotlight—or from the truth. I arrived early, the room already buzzing with reporters setting up their equipment and fans gathering outside, hoping for a glimpse of the cast. My eyes scanned the rows of chairs and the raised platform where we’d be seated, and I tried to calm my nerves.“Margarette!” My publicist, Tina, called from the corner, waving me over. “Quick, before the others get here. I want to go over a few things.”I nodded, grateful for her organization as she quickly briefed me on potential questions and r
The days that followed were peaceful but filled with an undercurrent of anticipation. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something I needed to do—something unfinished. It had been haunting me for weeks, but now, with Justin’s shadow gone and Leon by my side, I knew it was time.“Leon,” I began one quiet evening, as we sat by the fire. He looked up from the book he was reading, his dark eyes softening the moment they met mine.“What is it?” he asked, setting the book aside.I hesitated, my fingers playing with the hem of my sweater. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”He frowned slightly, confusion flickering across his face. “Who?”“You’ll see,” I said, standing and holding out my hand. “Come with me.”Without hesitation, Leon took my hand, his trust in me unwavering. I led him out to the car, the cool night air brushing against us as we drove into town. The roads were quiet, the streetlights casting long shadows that danced as we passed.We arrived at a small park just out
The clock struck midnight as I arrived at the abandoned warehouse, the location Justin had specified. The air was damp and heavy, the only sounds the distant hum of the city and my own racing heartbeat. I had slipped away from Helena, leaving behind a note promising to be careful, though I knew she wouldn’t forgive me for this reckless decision.The large metal doors creaked as I pushed them open, revealing a dimly lit interior. In the center of the room stood Justin, flanked by two of his men. Behind them, Leon was tied to a chair, his face battered but his eyes sharp and alert. The sight of him sent a wave of relief and fury crashing over me.“Well, well,” Justin drawled, his smirk as cruel as ever. “The damsel arrives. Punctual, I must say.”“Let him go,” I demanded, stepping forward despite the fear coursing through me. “I’m here, just like you wanted. This ends tonight.”“Oh, it will,” Justin replied, pulling a knife from his pocket and twirling it lazily. “But not the way you th
My heart froze as his words sank in. He wasn’t just after Leon—he wanted me. Before anyone could react, Justin’s men stormed in, their presence throwing the room into chaos. Leon moved like lightning, tackling one of them as William engaged another.Helena appeared in the doorway, clutching a laptop. “We’ve got the files uploaded!” she shouted. “But we need to move now!”Leon turned to me, his expression desperate. “Go with Helena. I’ll find you.”“No!” I cried, panic gripping me. “I’m not leaving you behind!”Justin’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “Run all you want, Margarette, but you can’t hide. I always get what I want.”Leon’s fist connected with Justin’s jaw in a blur of motion, sending him staggering back. “You’ll never touch her,” Leon snarled, his voice venomous.Helena grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the back exit. “Come on!” she urged. “We don’t have time!”I hesitated, torn between fleeing and staying to fight. Leon’s gaze met mine, and in that split second,
The ominous text on my phone screen felt like a knife twisting in my chest. My fingers trembled as I stared at the words, the weight of the decision Justin was forcing on me suffocating. Choose wisely? What did he mean? What was the game he was playing now?I bolted upright and paced the room, my breaths shallow as panic clawed at the edges of my composure. Every fiber of my being screamed that this wasn’t just about me anymore—it never had been. Justin was a master manipulator, and his threat wasn’t idle.A soft knock at the door snapped me out of my spiral. I opened it to find Leon standing there, his disheveled appearance and the dark circles under his eyes a stark contrast to his usual confidence. He didn’t say anything, just stepped inside and closed the door behind him.“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but his eyes sharp as they searched mine.I hesitated, clutching my phone tightly. “It’s Justin,” I finally said, showing him the message.Leon’s expression dar
Back at Leon’s secluded estate, the air was heavy with tension. The security team was doubled, every window and door meticulously checked and locked. Leon’s protective streak was in full force, and I could see the weight of the situation bearing down on him.“Here,” he said, handing me a glass of water as we sat in his study. The room, usually a place of calm and strategy, now felt like a fortress under siege.“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the glass. I watched him pace, his movements restless and charged. “Leon…”He stopped, turning to face me. His dark eyes held a mix of anger, worry, and something else—something deeper that he rarely let surface. “You don’t have to thank me, Margarette. Protecting you isn’t a favor. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”“But this isn’t just about me,” I said, standing to face him. “Justin’s targeting everyone I care about. You, my family, even William and Helena—he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”Leon stepped closer, his presence grounding me. “
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of William’s words hitting me like a freight train. My family. Justin was targeting my family. The thought sent a jolt of fear and fury through me, my heart pounding in my chest.Leon’s face hardened, his jaw clenched as he stepped closer to William. “What does the message say?” His voice was low and deadly, carrying an unspoken promise of retribution.William handed over his phone, his expression grim. Leon read the message aloud, each word slicing through the air like a knife.“If you want to keep Margarette’s loved ones safe, you’ll stop meddling. The clock is ticking.”I felt my knees weaken, but I forced myself to stay upright. My mind raced, trying to process the implications of Justin’s threat. My parents. My sister. Everyone I cared about. They were all in danger because of me.“Margarette,” Leon said softly, his tone a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his eyes. He reached out, his hand steady and warm on my shoulder. “We’ll
The morning light was deceptive in its warmth, casting a golden hue over the chaos that still swirled within me. Justin’s voice echoed in my mind, his words a cruel reminder that peace was nothing more than a fleeting illusion.I sat on the edge of Leon’s bed, watching his chest rise and fall in steady rhythm. He was still asleep, his face pale and bruised, but there was a tranquility in his expression that eased some of the tension coiled within me.Alexa was safe for now, resting in a secure room down the hall, with Helena standing guard. William had left to oversee the cleanup of the warehouse, ensuring no trace of our presence remained.But even surrounded by Leon’s team and their precautions, the weight of Justin’s threat pressed heavily on my chest.A soft groan pulled my attention back to Leon as his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, his gaze was unfocused, but when it landed on me, a faint smile curved his lips.“You stayed,” he murmured, his voice gravelly but warm.“Of cour
The world seemed to slow as the metal beneath us groaned, then gave a horrifying screech as it collapsed. I felt weightless for a split second before gravity yanked us downward. My arms tightened around Alexa, a scream tearing from my throat as the ground rushed toward us.A blur of movement shot out from below—Leon, running faster than I thought humanly possible. His arms stretched upward, and for a moment, I thought he’d catch us.The impact never came. Instead, we crashed into a tangled net just a few feet above the machinery below. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath, adrenaline surging through me.“Margarette!” Leon’s voice was raw as he climbed onto the platform beneath us, his hands gripping the net tightly. “Are you hurt?”“I’m fine,” I choked out, clutching Alexa, who was still semi-conscious. “Get her first!”Leon’s jaw clenched, his eyes scanning the precariously swaying net. He reached up and carefully pulled Alexa down, cradling her like she weighed nothing.
William limped into the room, his face pale but his resolve intact. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice tinged with pain.Leon handed him the phone without a word. William’s expression darkened as he took in the image and the accompanying threat. “We need to act fast. They’re escalating.”Helena nodded. “I’ll get the team ready. We’ll need every resource we’ve got to track her location.”“I’m going with you,” I said, my voice firm despite the tears welling in my eyes.“No, Margarette.” Leon’s tone left no room for argument, but I wasn’t going to back down.“I’m not staying behind while Alexa is out there,” I said, my voice rising. “She needs me.”“She needs you alive,” Leon snapped, his frustration boiling over. “You can’t help her if you’re dead.”The room fell silent, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. William stepped forward, his gaze flickering between Leon and me. “She has a point, Leon. She knows Alexa better than anyone. She might pick up on something w