"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
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
The sharp crack of the gunshot echoed through the night, and Leon’s arm instinctively wrapped around me, pulling me to the ground. Glass shattered as the bullet struck the balcony railing above us. My ears rang, and my heart hammered in my chest.“Stay down!” Leon ordered, his voice fierce as he scanned the darkness, his body shielding mine.From below, shouts erupted, and I saw William and Helena rushing out of the safe house, their weapons drawn. The air was tense, every second stretching into eternity. My hands trembled as Leon retrieved his gun from his holster, his expression a mix of rage and focus.“Where did it come from?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.“South ridge,” Leon muttered, his eyes narrowing. “They’ve got a sniper.”Helena’s voice crackled through Leon’s earpiece. “We’ve spotted the shooter’s location. They’re moving west.”“I’ll go after them,” William said, already sprinting into the darkness.“No!” Leon barked, his tone clipped
Later that evening, after the adrenaline had faded and the team had regrouped, Leon and I found ourselves alone on the balcony of his home. The city lights twinkled below, a stark contrast to the darkness we’d just faced.“I meant what I said earlier,” Leon said, his voice soft but firm. “You’re everything to me, Margarette.”I smiled, leaning into him. “And you’re everything to me.”As his lips met mine, the world around us faded away. In that moment, there was no danger, no fear—only us, and the love that had carried us through the darkest of times.The night air was calm, the tension from earlier dissipating as Leon and I stood on the balcony. His arms were wrapped securely around me, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm against my back.“I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple.I tilted my head to meet his gaze, his dark eyes reflecting the city lights. “You didn’t have to worry. You were there, and I kn
The days that followed were a blur of planning and preparation. Justin’s forces were regrouping, and Leon’s team was working tirelessly to stay ahead of them. Amidst the chaos, Leon and I found stolen moments together—brief but meaningful flashes of connection that reminded me why we were fighting so hard.One evening, after a particularly intense strategy meeting, Leon pulled me aside, his hand firm but gentle on my arm.“Come with me,” he murmured, leading me out onto the balcony overlooking the city. The air was crisp, the stars scattered across the sky like tiny jewels.“What is it?” I asked, my voice soft.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned against the railing, his profile illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight. “Sometimes, I forget what we’re fighting for,” he admitted after a moment. “But when I look at you, I remember.”I stepped closer, touched by the vulnerability in his tone. “Leon…”He turned to face me, his dark eyes filled with emotion. “You’re my a
The following morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the safe house windows, casting a soft glow over the room. I stirred awake to find Leon already up, sitting in the armchair across from me. His dark eyes were fixed on me, filled with a tenderness that made my heart ache."Good morning," I said softly, my voice still laced with sleep."Morning," he replied, a rare smile gracing his lips. He stood and crossed the room to sit beside me on the edge of the couch. "You were talking in your sleep."My cheeks flushed as I pushed myself upright. "Oh no… What did I say?""Nothing embarrassing." His grin widened slightly, teasing me. "Just my name."I blinked, caught off guard by the revelation. "I did not.""You did," he said, his voice dropping to a murmur. "And I couldn’t help but wonder what you were dreaming about."The space between us seemed to shrink as he leaned closer, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I felt my
The tension between Leon and William was like a storm cloud that refused to dissipate. Despite the assurances I had given Leon, his jealousy lingered, simmering just beneath the surface, ready to explode at the smallest provocation.It didn’t help that William seemed entirely unbothered by Leon’s hostility. If anything, he grew more attentive, finding ways to involve himself in conversations, offering his assistance, and maintaining an air of calm that only seemed to irritate Leon further.One evening, after an exhausting strategy session, William pulled me aside. His touch was light on my arm, but it was enough to draw Leon’s gaze from across the room.“You look like you could use some air,” William said, his voice low. “Come on, let’s step outside for a bit.”I hesitated, knowing how it would look, but the weight of the day was crushing. “Just for a minute,” I said, glancing at Leon, whose jaw tightened as he watched us.Outside, the air was cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to t
The aftermath of the rescue was a blur of activity. Leon’s team secured Justin and swept the warehouse for any remaining threats, their efficiency like a well-oiled machine. I stayed close to Alexa, helping her stand on shaky legs. Her injuries, while not life-threatening, told a story of her ordeal, and my heart ached with guilt for not protecting her sooner.William approached, his expression a mix of relief and concern. “We need to get her out of here,” he said gently, his hand brushing my shoulder. “There’s a med team waiting at Leon’s property.”I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. William’s touch lingered for a moment longer than necessary, a subtle yet unmistakable gesture of comfort. “Thank you,” I whispered, meeting his gaze.He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “You were brave tonight, Margarette. Alexa’s safe because of you.”Leon appeared just then, his dark eyes flicking between William’s hand on my shoulder and my face. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Instead