Hi dear Rebels, I really am wondering if making a separate story about Lena and Jack will be to your liking? I mean this pair is just too cute :) haha anyways, Please don't forget to send some gems for this book. I would really realy appreciate that :) XO
[MARGARETTE’S POV]The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window as I spotted Lena stepping through the front door, looking refreshingly radiant and a bit…well, dazed. I stifled a grin, noticing how she lingered at the door a little longer than usual, a tell-tale sign that she was trying to collect herself. Jack’s car had just pulled out of the driveway, and I couldn’t resist the playful urge that bubbled up in me. I took a few steps closer, casually leaning against the doorway with a smile that I knew Lena would recognize as mischief. “So…” I drawled, crossing my arms, my voice just loud enough to snap her out of whatever lingering thoughts Jack might have left her with. “How was your date?”Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing with that unmistakable shade of pink. “It—it wasn’t a date, Margarette,” she stammered, hurrying to set her purse down as if that action alone might distract me from my teasing.“Oh, really?” I raised a brow, leaning a little closer to her. “Because from wh
Yesterday’s laughter with Lena felt like a distant memory as I refocused on why I had come back to Anacortes—to bring justice to everything Justin’s mother had taken from me. The sun had barely risen, casting soft light through my window, when I found myself sitting at my desk, sifting through stacks of documents and revisiting old memories. Jack had just informed me that he’d officially filed the lawsuit against Wilma for her illegal usage of assets, particularly those belonging to Justin and me as conjugal property.The prospect of standing up against Wilma was daunting, to say the least. I’d seen her power, her influence, the way she used people and assets without a second thought. But I knew this was something I couldn’t avoid. Sitting back and letting her rewrite the truth of Justin’s legacy wasn’t an option, not anymore.I barely had time to finish my coffee before my phone rang and saw that it was Jack who called, his voice calm yet urgent on the other end of the line. “Good
The days following the filing of the lawsuit against Wilma passed in a blur of legal discussions and quiet reflection. But amid the whirlwind, I couldn’t shake the nagging thought of grandma, whom was the only person that showed me true kindness during my time at the Montefalco household. She had been a surrogate grandmother to me, offering warmth and wisdom when everything else in that home felt cold and transactional. When I learned about her being left at the retirement home like she was of no use to Wilma anymore, my heart broke and there has not been a day that I didn’t worry what could her condition be like even now as I thought about her.It made me want to look after her but I know it wouldn’t even be easy especially while Wilma was still around to hamper me.I found myself sitting in Jack’s office one afternoon, the faint hum of his coffee machine filling the silence. He was scanning a document, his brow furrowed in concentration. I hesitated for a moment before finally voic
My visit to Madam Victoria had left an ache in my heart, but it had also reignited a fire within me. Seeing her fragile frame and hearing her faint voice as she recognized me had solidified my resolve. Wilma might have left her to languish in that retirement facility, but I would make sure she was cared for and loved.Sitting in Jack’s office once again, I found my mind racing with the events of the past few days.Jack sat across from me, his desk cluttered with papers and files. He sipped his coffee as he skimmed through another document, his usual sharp focus evident. I took a deep breath, deciding it was time to voice the next part of my plan.“Jack,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions withi
The morning sunlight streamed through my bedroom window, coaxing me awake. I stretched lazily, savoring the rare feeling of calm. It had been a whirlwind of emotions lately—lawsuits, visits to grandma, and planning for her custody. Yet today, something felt lighter, almost hopeful. As I reached for my phone, the familiar chime of an incoming video call made me smile. The caller ID lit up with William’s name, and my heart warmed at the thought of hearing Lucas’s cheerful voice. I propped the phone against a pillow and swiped to answer. The screen filled with the excited face of my little boy, Lucas. His brown eyes sparkled as he waved enthusiastically. “Mommy!” Lucas’s voice was full of joy, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Good morning, sweetheart! How’s my big boy doing today?” “I’m super happy!” he exclaimed. “Daddy William said we’re going to the park today!” His excitement was infectious, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear. “That’s wonderful, Lucas! You’re goi
The following day, I asked William if I could tag along to this business appointment and I was glad that he actually told me he was really planning to bring me along. For a moment, I just wanted to have a breather while I was in Anacortes gearing up before the first hearing against Wilma begins next month. It’ll be in almost a week from now so the tension was just growing as each day passess by.And when the morning arrived with a crispness in the air that seemed to carry the promise of something new. William had had me to accompany him on this business appointment he had, and though he’d kept the details vague, I was looking forward to the day. As I sipped my morning coffee, I glanced at William, who was checking some documents at the table. His focus was admirable, and I couldn’t help but admire how driven he was. “Are you going to keep me guessing all day, or will you finally tell me where we’re going?” I asked, a teasing smile on my face. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he r
After a few days, a new day began and so our last day in Seattle, the morning with the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the curtains was making me want to stay longer in bed. And as I stretched lazily, still basking in the warmth of the previous evening. William’s surprise dinner and our time together visiting stores and places around Seattle had left me with a renewed sense of joy, but as I sat up in bed, reality started to creep back in.There was so much left unresolved in Anacortes. Wilma’s pending response to the lawsuit, the custody battle for Grandma, and my desire to protect Lucas and secure a stable future—it all loomed over me like a heavy fog.Still, today wasn’t about those challenges, at least not entirely. I had promised William that I’d accompan
“Now all of my ingredients are here, so time for me to bake this quick.” I uttered while putting my hands to begin my preparation.It was a quiet, sunlit morning in the kitchen when I decided to bake cookies for Grandma. The house was still, save for the faint hum of birds chirping outside and the occasional creak of the wooden floors beneath my feet. It had been too long since I’d last brought her something personal, and I wanted to make these cookies extra special. I pulled out flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract from the pantry, carefully arranging them on the counter. Baking wasn’t exactly my forte, but I was determined to give it my best shot. Grandma had always loved the cookies I’d brought her from that little bakeshop near my place in Vancouver. She would light up, her eyes twinkling as she savored the sweetness, thanking me for thinking of her. Today, I wanted to see that same joy in her eyes—but this time, it would come from something I made myself. As
The smell of cinnamon and warm bread wafted through the air as I stood in the sunlit kitchen, stirring a pot of soup with one hand and resting the other protectively over my growing belly. Outside the window, the sound of laughter echoed from the garden where Leon chased after our two children—Emilia, now three, and our spirited one-year-old, Julian. Their giggles bounced off the walls like music.Peace.For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, I could breathe.It had been a year since Elise’s arc ended—since we put an end to the nightmare that stole my parents and nearly took my life. The trial that followed felt like a bad dream, and with Dorian’s testimony and the evidence from my father’s study, Elise’s crimes—along with her father's legacy of corruption—were buried with their conviction.Leon and I moved on. We rebuilt our lives, one moment, one breath at a time.And now, as I stirred soup with the ease of a mother content in her routine, I was preparing to share somethin
The world came back into focus slowly, like a dim light piercing through heavy fog. My ears rang, my limbs felt heavy, and my mind was swimming. But Leon’s voice cut through it all, rough and frantic.“Margarette. Margarette, stay with me!”Pain pulsed through my shoulder as I blinked, registering the warm, sticky sensation of blood soaking through my blouse. But I was alive. Alive.“Elise,” I rasped.Leon’s jaw was tight as he leaned over me, his eyes frantic with emotion. “She’s gone. Dorian chased after her. You're going to be okay. Just hang in there.”“I’m fine,” I murmured, trying to sit up.Leon gently pushed me back. “No. You're not fine. You were shot, Margarette.”“I’ve been through worse,” I said, forcing a smile, though it came out as more of a grimace. "We need to finish this. No more running."He looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he nodded and helped me up, careful not to jar my shoulder.We moved together down the hallway. Every step hurt, but adrenaline dull
The next time I woke, I was in an unfamiliar room.Soft, golden light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the walls. The air smelled of antiseptic and fresh linen. My body ached, a dull, pulsing pain radiating from my side, but the sharp agony from before had dulled to something more manageable.I turned my head slightly and found Leon sitting in a chair beside the bed. His elbows rested on his knees, his hands clasped together, as if he’d been keeping vigil for hours. His shirt was wrinkled, stained with my blood. His face was unreadable, but his eyes—dark and stormy—held an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.“You’re awake.” His voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the relief in it.I swallowed, my throat dry. “Where are we?”“A safe house,” Leon answered, leaning forward. “One of mine. Dorian’s securing the perimeter. You needed medical attention, but a hospital wasn’t an option. Too risky.”I nodded slowly, my mind still catching up. The last
Gunfire tore through the air, glass raining down around us as we hit the ground. The sharp sound of bullets striking wood and metal sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. Leon grabbed me, shielding my body as we crawled behind the heavy oak desk.“Dorian?” Leon’s voice was sharp, controlled despite the chaos.“I’m fine,” Dorian called from behind a toppled chair. He moved fast, drawing his gun and firing two precise shots toward the broken windows. A pained grunt told us he had hit his mark.Vincent, the smug bastard, was still in his chair, completely unbothered by the attack.“This is cute,” he mused, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “But you should know by now—I never play fair.”Leon turned his gun on him. “Call them off.”Vincent only smiled.I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, Vincent, this isn’t a game! Who the hell is shooting at us?”The door burst open, and three armed men stormed in.Dorian moved first. He lunged at the closest attacker, his blade flashing in the dim light. The m
Darkness swallowed me whole.For a moment, I thought I was dead. The gunshot still rang in my ears, deafening, all-consuming. But then, pain—sharp and searing—bloomed along my side, pulling me back from the abyss. My breath came in ragged gasps as my knees buckled, and I felt myself falling.Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.“Margarette!” Leon’s voice was raw with panic. His hands pressed against my wound, trying to staunch the bleeding. The warmth of my own blood seeped through my clothes, sticky against my skin. Dorian fired, his shot echoing through the cavernous estate.Elise let out a sharp cry, staggering back. But even as she bled, her cruel smile remained. “Not bad,” she whispered, clutching her shoulder where Dorian’s bullet had struck her. “But not enough.”Leon lifted me, his grip firm but desperate. “We need to move. Now.”“No,” I gritted out, fighting through the pain. “We finish this.”Dorian cursed. “Are you insane? You’re bleeding out!”I forced myself to
Gunfire tore through the air, glass raining down around us as we hit the ground. The sharp sound of bullets striking wood and metal sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. Leon grabbed me, shielding my body as we crawled behind the heavy oak desk.“Dorian?” Leon’s voice was sharp, controlled despite the chaos.“I’m fine,” Dorian called from behind a toppled chair. He moved fast, drawing his gun and firing two precise shots toward the broken windows. A pained grunt told us he had hit his mark.Vincent, the smug bastard, was still in his chair, completely unbothered by the attack.“This is cute,” he mused, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “But you should know by now—I never play fair.”Leon turned his gun on him. “Call them off.”Vincent only smiled.I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, Vincent, this isn’t a game! Who the hell is shooting at us?”The door burst open, and three armed men stormed in.Dorian moved first. He lunged at the closest attacker, his blade flashing in the dim light. The m
The safe house felt suffocating, the air thick with unspoken tension. Every second we wasted gave Vincent more time to prepare. More time to strike.I wasn’t going to let that happen.Leon stood by the table, his hands braced against the surface, muscles tight with frustration. Dorian, despite the pain from his injury, sat nearby, flipping a knife between his fingers—a habit he had when deep in thought.“We need a lead,” Leon finally said, his voice low and controlled. “We can’t storm in blind.”I paced near the window, arms crossed. “We do have a lead. This locket.” I held it up, the metal catching the dim light. “Vincent had it for a reason. He wanted me to see it. Why?”Dorian exhaled sharply. “Because he’s playing with you.”I shook my head. “No. There’s more to it. He wouldn’t go through the trouble of planting something from my past just to taunt me. He wants me to remember something.”Leon’s gaze darkened. “Then let’s start at the beginning. The night of the accident.”My throa
The salty night air carried the hum of distant ship engines and the occasional murmur of dock workers. But this wasn’t just a routine shipment—this was a calculated exchange of power, a moment that could unravel everything Elise’s father had hidden for years.I crouched behind a stack of shipping containers with Leon beside me. Dorian’s team was spread out, positioned along the pier, watching, waiting. A dark van was parked near the edge of the dock, its back doors open. Men in suits moved between the van and the cargo, transferring crates that likely held more than just money.Leon’s voice was low in my ear. “Four men on the ground, two near the van. More could be inside.”I nodded, my gaze locked on the crates. “That’s not just cash, Leon. That’s leverage. He wouldn’t move it unless he was running scared.”Dorian’s voice crackled through our earpieces. “We take them now, we risk losing the files. We wait too long, we risk backup showing up.”I made the decision before anyone else co
Dorian smirked. “Relax, lover boy. I’m not saying she’s defenseless—I’m saying we need to be smart about this.”Leon’s glare didn’t waver, but he didn’t argue either. He knew Dorian was right.I exhaled, my fingers tightening around the locket that had started all of this. “So what do we do?”Dorian sighed. “You have two choices: disappear and hope they forget about you… or go after them first.”Leon tensed beside me. “You’re suggesting we take the fight to them?”Dorian shrugged. “Elise’s father had powerful connections. Some of them might scatter now that he’s locked up, but the smart ones? They’ll wait. Watch. See what you do next.”I swallowed hard. “Then we don’t give them time to plan.”Leon turned to me, his expression dark. “You’re sure about this?”I met his gaze. “I didn’t come this far just to hide.”Dorian grinned. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”Alexa shifted uncomfortably. “I wish I had your courage.”I reached for her hand. “You have more than you think.”She gave