The Montefalco Casino Resort had never looked as stunning as it did tonight. The grand ballroom shimmered under a cascade of crystal chandeliers, their light bouncing off the polished marble floors and bathing the guests in a golden glow. The gala was in full swing, and the VIP attendees, dressed in their finest attire, mingled with glasses of champagne in hand.I stood near the stage, taking it all in. Months of preparation, countless sleepless nights, and a rollercoaster of emotions had led to this moment. Despite my nerves, everything was running like clockwork, far better than I had dared to hope.William appeared at my side, his tailored suit fitting him perfectly. He handed me a glass of champagne."Take a breath, Margarette," he said with a warm smile. "This is your moment."I nodded, though my grip on the glass betrayed my lingering anxiety. "It still feels surreal," I admitted."You’ve earned it," William said, his voice steady. "Every single person here knows it."A soft chim
I stood frozen in place, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses from the gala fading into a dull hum in my ears. My heart pounded so violently it felt as though it might leap out of my chest. Leon—no, it couldn't be. Yet there he was, mere steps away, brushing through the elegantly dressed crowd. His hair, once so familiar, was now styled neatly in a brushed-up look, and he wore a tailored tuxedo that clung perfectly to his broad shoulders. He looked different, sharper, yet so achingly the same.I felt my breath hitch as tears welled in my eyes. My body moved on its own, feet carrying me forward before my mind could catch up. My voice trembled as I whispered, “Leon…”He turned toward me, his dark eyes meeting mine. The shock hit me all over again, rendering me nearly speechless. His gaze didn’t carry the same warmth I remembered; it was steady, almost guarded.“Yes?” His voice was calm, neutral, and filled with polite curiosity.I couldn’t stop myself. Tears spilled down my cheeks
The next day…The clock in my office ticked incessantly, a stark contrast to the silence engulfing the room. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying the image of Leon—no, Richard—over and over. The man’s indifference, his sharp denial, the introduction of his wife. Each detail felt like a dagger twisting deeper into the raw wound in my chest.I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t think. And I certainly couldn’t let this go.William’s words echoed in my mind: If Leon were alive, why wouldn’t he have come back to you? It was the most painful question because it was one I couldn’t answer. What could keep him from me?As much as I wanted to storm after Richard and demand answers, I knew I had to approach this carefully. For now, I needed information.The following morning, I called on William and our head of security, Greg. Both of them stood across from me in my office, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.“I need your help,” I began, my voice resolute d
The phone rang twice before Aunt Lou’s warm voice came through the line.“Margarette, darling! What a surprise,” she said, her tone immediately soothing the storm that had been raging in my chest since last night.“Aunt Lou,” I began, my voice trembling despite my attempts to sound composed. “I need to talk to you.”There was a pause, and I could almost picture her setting down whatever she was doing to give me her full attention. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”I swallowed hard, staring out the window at the city skyline. “I saw him. I saw Leon.”The words hung in the air, heavy and surreal.“Margarette,” Aunt Lou said carefully, her voice laced with concern, “Leon is… you know that’s not possible.”“I know what I saw,” I insisted, my grip tightening on the phone. “He’s alive, Aunt Lou. He’s calling himself Richard Ledesma now, and he’s claiming he doesn’t know me. But it’s him—I’d stake my life on it.”There was a long silence on the other end before Aunt Lou spoke again, her voice soft
The next morning, I woke up with the determination to move my investigation forward. I couldn’t allow myself to second-guess anymore; I needed to confront my doubts head-on. After receiving a late-night message from Greg confirming that the private investigator was analyzing the photos I’d taken, I knew my next step: I had to keep close to Richard without raising suspicion.My phone buzzed with another message—this time from Sarah, Richard’s wife.“Ms. Margarette, it was lovely meeting you at the gala. Richard and I were discussing the possibility of collaborating with your resort. Let’s schedule a meeting.”Her text was polite, professional, and unnervingly convenient. Was this an opportunity or a trap?Later that day, as I sat in the conference room of the casino’s business wing, I prepared myself for the meeting. Sarah had brought the proposal for her travel company to integrate luxury packages with Montefalco Casino Resort. It was a lucrative concept, but my focus was on the man s
The dinner concluded without any more noticeable tension, but the unease in my chest lingered. I felt as though I was navigating a labyrinth, with Richard—or Leon—deliberately placing roadblocks at every turn. His calculated demeanor only fueled my determination to uncover the truth.The following day, Greg sent a cryptic text: I’ve found something. You’ll want to see this.We met in a secluded café downtown. Greg was seated at a corner table, his laptop open and his expression grim.“What is it?” I asked, sliding into the chair across from him.Greg turned the screen toward me. “I dug into Richard Ledesma’s background. His records only go back three years. Before that, it’s a dead end.”I frowned. “That doesn’t prove anything. People can start fresh.”Greg smirked, shaking his head. “I thought the same, but then I checked immigration records. He entered the country three years ago under the name Richard Ledesma—on the same day Leon Montefalco was declared dead.”My heart stopped. “W
The air between us crackled with tension as Richard—or Leon—stood there, his face shadowed under the chandelier's light. My breath caught in my throat as every nerve in my body screamed at me to demand the truth.But his expression stopped me cold. There was something different about him. A determination, a vulnerability I hadn't seen in Richard before. It was hauntingly familiar, like the Leon I had known, but more guarded.“Margarette,” he said softly, stepping closer. “Please, we need to talk. Privately.”I folded my arms tightly across my chest, willing my voice not to betray the storm raging inside me. “You’ve got a lot of nerve coming here after everything, don’t you think?”He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I know how this looks. But I need you to hear me out.”“Do you?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. “Do you need me to hear how you let me think you were dead for over a year? How you’ve been parading around as someone else with a new wi
The moment Richard walked into my house, the tension between us was palpable. I stood by the window, arms crossed, gazing out at the city lights, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. His footsteps were deliberate, measured, as if he wasn’t sure whether to sit or stand."Margarette," he began softly, "we need to talk."I turned to face him, meeting his steady gaze. For a second, my heart betrayed me, skipping a beat at the sight of him—so familiar yet so distant. But the pain of his denial and rejection quickly replaced any warmth I felt."We've been talking," I said coldly. "And all you've been doing is denying who you are, Leon. Or should I say Richard?"He flinched slightly at the name, his jaw tightening. "I came here because I need you to stop," he said firmly. "You’re not just hurting yourself; you’re hurting me. And Sarah."At the mention of her name, a bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Sarah? Of course. Why wouldn’t she be the center of your world now? She’s the reason you’r
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