"Yes, I am aware." Regina pressed her lips together, responding with empathy.
Unable to tolerate the wait any longer, I swiftly whisked Justin away from the hospital.
As soon as we reached the exclusive restaurant I had mentioned, I wasted no time in placing a generous order for multiple delectable dishes. "Duck soup, prawn meat dumplings, garlic beef bone marrow..."
These dishes are packed with essential nutrients.
Once I placed my order, I made sure to inquire with Justin about his culinary preferences. "What would you like to have?" I asked him.
"Feel free to indulge in a delicious meal. I'm not hungry," Justin replied with a distant look on his face.
I couldn't help but break into a warm smile. "Of course. Would you be interested in having dinner with Regina after you have already consumed enough food to satisfy your hunger? You could consider getting a meal for her. There is no doubt that the food served at this establishment is of the highest quality.”
I attempted to bear with the situation and found myself inclined to request him to prepare the meal for my rival. Justin gave me a frigid stare. "Regina has a very poor appetite now."
To be honest, I did not have much of an appetite either. When I compared myself to the majority of people, I discovered that I had a significantly smaller appetite. The reason for my extensive order today was for the baby that is growing inside of my belly, but Justin appeared to be completely unaware of the reason for it.
"Oh, so I'm the one who indulges in food?" My cheeks swelled up like a miniature goldfish, and I assumed an angry expression on my face. I went so far as to fold my arms across my chest while maintaining a look of disdain on my face.
Even though I was experiencing an overwhelming amount of frustration, I made an effort to keep up a pleasant appearance.
Justin had been a witness to every aspect of my being over the course of the past three years with me.
Because of the alluring and seductive woman in bed, as well as the adorable and compliant woman in everyday life, Justin was able to persevere through those three years of solitude that were so long with me.
"Feel free to indulge in as much as your heart desires." Justin let out a deep sigh, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.
Eventually, the plates were brought to the table. I indulged in a satisfying meal without hesitation. I found myself feeling even more ravenous after becoming pregnant. As anticipated, a pair of individuals consumed a greater quantity of food compared to a single individual.
Food that was typically not regarded as tasty suddenly became incredibly delectable.
After indulging in a delightful feast, my stomach was nearly satiated. I dabbed at the corner of my mouth with a tissue and inquired of Justin, “Didn’t you want to talk to me earlier? What is it that you wanted to talk about?”
"What did you tell Regina just now?" Justin inquired with a chilly tone.
Oh crap. It seems like he had been eagerly anticipating this moment solely to question me.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "She revealed that she was battling leukemia. And she also accused me of being a third party in your love story."
"Yes, she has been suffering from leukemia, and we're eagerly anticipating the bone marrow." Justin's gaze was brimming with indescribable feelings as he locked eyes with me. "The results for the bone marrow matching have been released. There is definitely a good match. You're familiar with this person too."
"What do you mean I am familiar with this person?" I was completely taken aback by your statement. Totally confused by Justin's mysterious intentions.
"Indeed, Margarette, you have previously expressed your willingness to sacrifice everything for me. Isn't that right?" Justin's lips gently parted, causing a subtle shift in my expression.
After some careful consideration and a period of deep reflection, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread when I finally grasped Justin's intended meaning. I reluctantly gestured towards myself and inquired with a hint of stiffness, "Wait. Are you referring to... me?"
Justin paused briefly before giving a nod.
"How absurd!" I couldn't help but abruptly rise to my feet.
Now that Regina had returned, Justin immediately felt the urge to end their marriage and eliminate any trace of the unborn child. And yet, Justin wasn't content with just that, he also had the audacity to try and steal my very existence?
I found myself feeling quite unsettled by the question of how to donate bone marrow while being pregnant.
"No way!" I immediately declined without hesitation, blurting out, "I absolutely won't agree. Not only am I going through a divorce because of her, but now I'm also expected to donate bone marrow for her? Justin, just what do you take me for exactly, huh?"
I had no intention of donating, and I would come up with any excuse to avoid giving anything to my rival. After all, I had the added responsibility of taking care of a child. If Justin were aware of the circumstances surrounding the child, it is likely that he would strongly urge her to consider terminating the pregnancy in order to prioritize Regina's well-being.
This man was completely crazy with Regina that he would go to such length even sacrificing me!
While I had previously expressed my willingness to sacrifice everything for Justin, it's important to clarify that my commitment only extended to him and not to Regina. Perhaps it was because Justin believed that Regina was his entire world, which is why he would go to such great measures to utilize me in order to prolong Regina's existence.
I felt a deep pang in my heart.
"Margarette, if you're willing to save Regina, I'm open to accepting any conditions you have." Justin wondered if he had overlooked some of the requirements.
However, I couldn't help but blurt out, " Really? anything? Then how about we don't go through with the divorce? Are you willing to do that?"
I can't help but ponder if he'd be willing to give up being with Regina in order to save her life.
Justin gazed at me in complete silence. His hesitation was palpable. It was clear that his desire to rescue Regina and be by her side was strong, but unfortunately, circumstances forced him to make a difficult choice.
"Margarette, let's not be too greedy. Even if I agree with you, it's important to acknowledge that my actions were solely driven by the desire to save Regina, not by any feelings of love for you. Given this, would you still choose to remain with someone like me who is incapable of reciprocating your love? think about it." Justin's voice dripped with icy disdain.
Was I really so greedy, or was Justin the one consumed by his own desires?
I had a ghostly complexion. As soon as Justin uttered those words, a sudden pang of anguish pierced through my chest.
Out of nowhere, a question popped into my mind and said it out, "What if I'm open to the idea of you not loving me?"
His eyes, usually filled with charm and tenderness, seemed different this time. They lacked their usual cuteness and gentleness. There was a profound sense of sadness and a touch of excitement.
Justin's words completely shattered all of my expectations. "I have no desire to do agree in your terms, and if you insist to proceed, you will risk losing everything you have right."
"Haha, Justin, you truly let me down." Despite my efforts to please, Justin remained uninterested, leaving me feeling disappointed and overlooked. All of a sudden, a wave of self-doubt washed over me, making me question my own worth.
"I told you, don't be too greedy!" Justin's face was filled with a deep sense of sadness.However, fear did not consume me. I was on the verge of losing it all anyway, so what was there left for me to fear?With the child growing inside me and my last bit of self-respect on the line, I was determined not to make any compromises this time."I believe we don't need to finish this meal. I already lost my apettite." I grabbed my bag, my face devoid of emotion. Justin was fully aware of the depth of my affection for him.However, he had exploited my emotions, oblivious to the fact that I would also experience heartache.Once I left the restaurant, I took a moment to collect my feelings before returning to Montefalco's ancestral home in order to see grandma.Grandma was incredibly kind and loving towards me, just like a grandmother should be. Despite my disagreement with Justin, I couldn't overlook the significance of his grandmother.In addition, grandma has been experiencing some health i
“Mother, I’m here to see Grandma. Since Grandma is going to rest. I’ll go ahead now.” Even if Justin’s mom didn’t ask, I still told her the reason why I came.As she looked at me leaving, I could still see from my peripheral view how Justin's mom glared at me with such pity.I guess I was too sensible. I hid everything inside and never complained to grandmother. And I let Justin do whatever he wanted.“Would you like to spend the night here? I asked the kitchen staff to buy wild yellow fish. It tastes good,” Justin’s mom said calmly.Although she was asking for me to stay, her attitude didn’t change at all. It was still dull that I couldn’t tell whether she was asking that to me wholeheartedly or out of force.I appreciate the effort in whatever way she must have learned about the yellowfish. Perhap, my mother-in-law was only doing this because she pitied me, her thin and fragile-looking daughter-in-law, especially after asking me to stay and have dinner with them.And I somehow appre
[MARGA’S POV]Her son was really full of nonsense!However, it would seem that none of this reasoning from Justin would ever work for his own mother. Wilma looked at him coldly. “I am not your mother for nothing, Justin. I know how poor you’re in lying, so don’t pass the blame to your wife. You’re such a disgrace!”Although Justin’s way of blaming me for not being able to provide a child yet made me shock, I was even more surprised when my mother-in-law actually refused to believe her own son. She’s a very good lawyer after all.Justin frowned. “I’m telling you the truth, mother.”“Enough, Justin. I am no fool to believe your lies.”Somehow, Justin wasn’t lying about the part where he wanted a child. However, he just didn’t want to have it with me. As a matter of fact, he didn’t want to have this marriage with me at all, which was why we’re even having this divorce. I am well aware that if they were to discover the truth about me being pregnant with his baby, Justin would undoubtedl
[JUSTIN’S POV]With my mother’s connections, she could easily find many good men to introduce to Margarette.For some reason, the thought of Margarette marrying another man, with all her obedient and charming ways being monopolized by someone else, made me feel a little suffocated. I have to admit, even though we’re headed for a divorce, I still can’t bring myself to let another guy have her that easily. It’s like giving away a copy of Regina to someone else.Damn this possessiveness, creeping up again. Yet, I just turn my back on my mother, refusing to escalate the argument further. “I’m too tired for this. I’m heading up,” I say, quickly making my way upstairs to see Margarette in her room, ignoring my mother’s continuous rants.I needed to talk to Margarette, to reprimand her for the trouble she caused today. My original plan was to scold her for telling my mother about the divorce—it should have only been my grandmother who knew about it.It was reckless of Margarette to do such a
[MARGA’S POV]Last night was like a tug of war between Justin and I. When I thought about it, I never imagined that I would have the slightest bit of courage to respond to him in that manner. In addition to the fact that I was pregnant at the time, it is possible that the conflicting feelings that I was experiencing at the time were the cause of my irritation.It was a stroke of good fortune for me that Justin did not develop any suspicions on account of my mood swings. Being in the first trimester of my first pregnancy appeared to be crucial for me. I need to exercise self-control in order to avoid becoming irritable around Justin, as he might actually take notice of my behavior.As soon as I opened my eyes the next morning, I discovered that I was the only person in the room. Last night, Justin slept next to me, but when I woke up, I discovered that the space next to me was empty, and there was no sign of his warmth or presence. The fact that I continued to look for Justin despite
"Margarette!" It was a truly remarkable response from Justin. It was precisely as if he had recently witnessed a ghost before. Since I am nearly searching every nook and cranny of the city in an effort to locate my spouse, it would appear that I am able to accept the notion that I do appear as his ghost at this point. And here I was, by complete mistake, coming into the two of them while they were having their secret appointment for lunch. "It would appear that the two of you have already completed eating, as I see it. Unfortunately, you didn't even bother to wait for me, which is a shame. In all honesty, I am rather hungry as well, my dear husband." I started to sound snarky and flirty as I pushed my shoulder on Justin's shoulder as he was standing close to me. Due to the fact that I appeared to have disrupted their date, Regina's reaction was unmistakably visible; she was keeping her aggravation and envy to herself in silence. All of a sudden, Regina, who was unable to suppress her
Justin's arms enveloped me, his touch igniting a cascade of sensations that coursed through every fiber of my being. The tender embrace radiated a comforting warmth, as if his very presence had the power to chase away the chill of the world. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I couldn't help but form a scathing judgment. This man, with his air of arrogance and self-importance, seemed utterly oblivious to the world around him. It was as if he existed solely to serve his own interests, paying no heed to the needs or desires of others. In my mind, he was nothing more than a contemptible dickhead.Yet in this very moment, it defies that thought. The warmth of Justin's embrace enveloped me, a comforting shield against the uncertainties of the world. In his strong arms, I found solace and reassurance—a tangible reminder that I was protected and cherished. The way he held me close spoke volumes, whispering secrets of security and safety that only our hearts could understand. As Justin's
“Justin, get off of me!” I immediately protested as soon as I realized what he had done.After mustering enough courage to push him off me, i was only able to make him move an inch apart from me enough to prevent his lips from coercing with mine once more.However, Justin’s golden brown eyes glowed in the still dim space of the karaoke room. At that precise moment, I could very well tell that there would be nothing that could hold Justin back.He instantly held both of my hands above my head with just a single hand. Meanwhile, his other free hand was tracing across my lower body. After a while, his hand settled on my belly. “Stop touching me!” I protested while trying to struggle free from Justin’s grip. But much to my disappointment, Justin’s hold on me was way too strong for me to subdue. At this rate, it would be impossible for me to actually push him away from me completely so that I could actually escape.Justin’s body frame was way larger than mine; it goes without saying that
Elise Grant was a woman born into privilege, but privilege came with its own kind of chains. She had spent her life learning how to play the game, but now she was realizing that the rules had changed—and I was the one rewriting them.I watched her disappear into the fog, but I knew she wouldn't be able to walk away from this. Not entirely. People like Elise didn’t just sit back and watch their world collapse—they fought, even when they didn’t know who the real enemy was yet.Leon let out a quiet sigh, his fingers flexing against his side. "She’s going to struggle with this."Dorian smirked. "Good. People make the best decisions when they think they don’t have any other choice."I pulled my coat tighter around me. The air was damp, the salty ocean breeze mixing with the lingering scent of gasoline from the fishing boats docked nearby. "She’s going to reach out again soon."Leon’s gaze flicked to me. "How can you be so sure?""Because she’s smart," I said simply. "And because she’s terr
The wind whipped through my hair as I watched Elise disappear into the night. A thrill ran through me, a mix of victory and anticipation. She had taken the bait, but we weren’t in the clear yet. Not by a long shot.Leon and Dorian flanked me, their expressions unreadable. The three of us stood in silence for a beat, the ocean waves crashing against the wooden pier below us.“She’s scared,” Dorian finally muttered, lighting a cigarette. The flame illuminated his sharp features for a moment before fading into the night. “Which is good. Fear makes people predictable.”Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the path Elise had taken. His jaw clenched, his thoughts miles ahead of us. “Fear also makes people desperate.”I turned to him. “You think she’ll run to her father?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted his stance, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Not immediately. She’s smart enough to know that if she tips him off too soon, she’s collateral damage.”I nodded. “The
The moment Elise Grant’s fingers touched mine, I knew I had her attention. She was a woman who played in circles of power, who measured every interaction with precision. A single misstep could cost her everything.I held onto her hand for just a fraction longer than necessary, letting the weight of my words settle between us. Then, with a small, knowing smile, I withdrew, lifting my champagne flute to my lips.“Margarette,” Elise repeated, as if testing how my name felt on her tongue. “I don’t believe I’ve heard of you before.”I chuckled softly. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”Elise tilted her head, intrigued but guarded. “And what exactly do you do, Margarette?”I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the golden bubbles rise to the surface. “I help people see things they’ve overlooked.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Or things they’ve been kept from seeing.”Her smile didn’t waver, but something in her gaze sharpened. “That sounds dangerously close to a threat.”“Not a threat.” I to
The black SUV moved through the city under the cover of darkness, the tension inside as thick as the fog rolling in from the harbor. I sat in the passenger seat, my fingers drumming against my thigh, my gaze fixed on the glittering skyline ahead. Leon drove in silence, his grip tight on the wheel, while Dorian lounged in the backseat, casually checking his watch as if we weren’t about to walk into one of the most dangerous plays of our lives.“Elise Grant won’t be easy to approach,” Dorian mused, breaking the silence. “She’s got bodyguards, a strict schedule, and enough privilege to think she’s untouchable.”“That’s what makes her blind to threats,” Leon countered. “She’s never had a reason to look over her shoulder.”I exhaled slowly, my mind racing through the details of the plan. Elise would be attending a charity gala tonight, hosted at a high-end hotel owned by one of her father’s associates. It was the perfect opportunity to get close, to plant the seeds of doubt in her mind. Th
The cabin felt smaller now. Maybe it was the presence of this new stranger, or maybe it was the way my nerves coiled tighter with every passing second. Either way, the moment Dorian stepped inside, I felt it—the shift in the air.I gripped the revolver tighter, even as I pushed the door shut.Leon emerged from the hallway, still holding his phone, his dark eyes sharp as they flickered between me and Dorian. He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked… resigned."Dorian." Leon’s voice was clipped. "You took your time."The stranger—Dorian—chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Traffic," he said, as if that explained everything. His green eyes met mine again, studying me with a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t quite name.I didn’t trust him."You’re staring," I said flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.Dorian grinned, unbothered. "Just making sure you’re as sharp as Leon said.""Flattery isn’t going to make me lower the gun."Leon exhaled, pi
The car ride was silent except for the occasional hum of the tires against the pavement. Lillian sat in the driver’s seat, her hands steady on the wheel, eyes flicking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. Every so often, I followed her gaze, expecting to catch sight of a shadow trailing behind us.Nothing.Yet the unease in my chest refused to settle.Leon had sent one of his private drivers to pick us up outside of town, just past the tree-lined outskirts where the city lights faded into darkness. The safe house was in an undisclosed location—secluded, heavily secured, and supposedly impenetrable. But after everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could believe in impenetrable anymore.Aunt Lou had been hesitant to let me go, but she knew staying behind was too dangerous. Uncle George had slipped a small revolver into my bag before I left, whispering instructions in a firm voice I had never heard from him before."Use it if you have to. Don’t hesitate."Now, as the he
i sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I clutched the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. The fragrant steam curled upward, but even the soothing aroma couldn’t quiet the storm raging in my mind.No matter how tightly I wrapped myself in the comfort of my aunt’s presence, my thoughts remained restless, tangled with fear and uncertainty. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing—Leon, his jaw tight with determination, refusing to back down no matter the danger. His need to uncover the truth had set us on a treacherous path, and with Alexa hidden away for her safety, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.Sleep had been a distant dream for the past few nights. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind against the window, sent my heart racing. I knew I was being watched. Maybe not now, in this moment, but somewhere out there, someone’s eyes were on me.A soft knock at the door shattered my thoughts.Aunt Lou
The room remained silent for a moment, heavy with the weight of what Lillian had just revealed. My mind raced, processing the implications of the forged document. Justin wasn’t just trying to intimidate me—he was trying to erase my claim entirely, to make it look like I had given up willingly.I clenched my fists, my pulse pounding in my ears. “How did you get this?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.Lillian exhaled sharply, pulling out a USB drive from her pocket and placing it on the table. “An informant within Justin’s circle leaked these to me. They overheard him discussing his next steps—he’s preparing to launder the stolen assets and shift everything offshore. If we don’t act now, your parents’ properties will be out of reach forever.”Uncle George muttered another curse under his breath. Aunt Lou, pale and shaken, placed a protective hand over mine. “What do we do now?” she asked, looking at me as if I had the answers.I swallowed hard, then turned to Lillian. “Do we have
I sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I held the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. Despite the comfort of her presence, my thoughts were a storm I couldn't calm.Leon’s determination to clear his name had put us on a dangerous path. With Alexa hidden away for her safety and Justin growing more desperate, the stakes had never been higher. The last few nights had been sleepless ones, filled with anxiety, and a nagging sense that something was about to go terribly wrong.A soft knock at the door snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. Aunt Lou exchanged a quick glance with Uncle George before rising to answer it. My heart pounded as I watched the door creak open, revealing a familiar figure—Claire Donovan.Claire stepped inside with her usual warm smile, but something about her felt different tonight. Her eyes held a sharpness that sent a shiver down my spine. She wasn’t here out of the goodness of her heart. There was an edge to her, and it set me on