The question made me stare at Aunt Lou for the next moments. “I haven’t.” I honestly told her anyway. There was no sense trying to keep it from her in the first place since she knew that I didn't intend to speak about the child inside me. “I’m glad you didn’t.” She eventually reacted.“You know that I don’t intend to tell them about the baby no matter what. I just don’t think my in-laws, especially my husband, deserve to know the truth about my child.”“I’m glad you knew that. Now what do you plan to do?” Aunt Lou questioned me. And although that would seem to appear like a normal question, it was actually more like Aunt Lou’s way of telling me how she badly wanted me to decide that I should sue the Montefalco’s and to avenge myself against them.However, knowing the Montefalco’s, I would only be wasting my efforts if I were to make that move right now. They have all the riches that they could easily use against me. And surely, the wouldn’t just let someone like me get my way against
THE FOLLOWING DAY. I woke up at the delicious scent of the delicious breakfast she was preparing. I wasn’t even able to go to the bathroom first to have my face washed.Before I knew it, my feet was already able to bring me to the kitchen where Aunt Lou was currently busy toasting, frying and even making sure that the stew she was preparing were all good.It made me wonder what could be the occasion why my aunt was suddenly preparing something that was not only smell delicious but also feels like mouth-watering. “What’s the celebration for? You seemed to have prepared too much.” I went on to react the moment I saw the dinning table with quite a variation of dishes laid upon it. It surprised me really, because from what I could recall. Aunt Lou’s husband and two daughters were away in Vancouver where her sister-in-law was based. Her husband was relocated there due to work.Aunt Lou believed it would be more practical if she would just send her two daughters with their father in Vanco
“Do you really still have to go?” Aunt Lou asked for the nth time as I make my out her house. As soon as she told me about what happened to grandma, I immediately rush to get ready so that I could go and check on grandma. Aunt Lou was kind enough to inform me where Grandma was rushed today.“Aunt Lou, Grandma is different from all of them. She has been very good to me throughout my stay there.” I turned around to explain. And yet, the way that Aunt Lou looked at me says that she was not realy convinced. “If that is the case, then why didn’t she believed you?”Of course, Aunt Lou has a point. If my statement was truly factual, then grandma would have believed me first more than those framed up things that ruined my name towards the Montefalco’s.Suddenly, it made recall grandma during that night when I gave her those cookies she so longed to have. It reminded her of her late husband who worked so hard to become successful.“Grandma reacted the way someone who has been betrayed by the
Panic instantly coursed through my entire body. Regina was still trying to check on her phone about some messages that she seemed stressed to respond that she didn’t seem to bother that the elevator had already opened. Before she could even lift her head up and see me, I don’t even know why but a mysterious hand rapidly pulled me to the side and saved me from getting caught.My eyes followed Regina’s movement until she headed her way out of the lobby’s entrance.Following that, my eyes quickly turn to the side and found no other than Aunt Lou’s secretary Janine.“Good gracious, Janine. You scared me, but you know what, thank you for saving me back there.” I immediately told her after puffing out the excess air out of my lungs. I was relieved, really. Knowing that my encounter with Regina was too closer for her to finding out that I was actually here. “I saw you stammering before the elevator like you’re not on your senses. I knew I had to make some actions.” Janine immediately ex
“You want me to disguise as a nurse?” I promptly said soon after Aunt Lou handed over the uniform she borrowed from an outgoing nurse.“Didn’t you say you wanted to see your grandmother-in-law?” Aunt Lou brought up what I intentionally came here for.And for some reason, I actually didn’t expect that she would eventually say that to me.“Aunt Lou, what if I get caught?” my worries left me extending my hand to give the uniform back to her as if I was indicating that I didn’t want to pursue with her plan. I was afraid to risk getting caught.Had I not been pregnant, perhaps, I might have considered this option so that i could sneak my way in just to see grandma. However, knowing how strict the security was around Grandma’s room right now, I couldn’t simply risk getting caught and be thrown out away by force again.I had suffered more than enough to get miscarriage, but I suppose, life has just blessed me to have this child inside me holding on despite all those hurdles I’ve faced. Which
My Aunt Lou grins at me with a satisfied remark flashing across her face. I knew that she liked my decision even though I knew that it would be risky.“So, are you insinuating that since Justin and my mother-in-law left they wouldn’t return right away?” I suddenly asked since I wanted to be sure that what I was doing would be the right thing.“Actually, this video clip was taken earlier today. Meaning since arrived here quite noon already, you should know that we are no longer certain if your husband and mother-in-law were still outside or if they manage to get back right away.”And that was when it eventually registered inside my head that indeed, Aunt Lou could be right. Another thing was that I saw Regina earlier coming out towards the hospital entrance as she continued to tinker on her phone and completely ignore the whole world around her.She should just be glad that I didn’t even bother tripping her foot so that she could fall. Eventually the fear of getting caught because of h
Aunt Lou asked the young resident doctor, Dr. Kanishk to help me with my plan to see Grandma. I had one earplug attached to my right ear that I just hope they wouldn’t notice. I was afraid that this would make some impact on my plans to see grandma. “You’ll be fine. Just relax.” Aunt Lou promptly told me as though she had sensed the nervousness I was having since this plan had be raised by her. It wasn’t that I was actually blaming my aunt for this, however, I was really hopeful that there could have been another way.But with the circumstance being too complicated, it was too impossible for me to really accomplish wanting to see grandma up close without going through the conflict of facing my in-laws.“We’ve already the surveillance and it would appear that neither of your mother-in-law or your damn husband is inside. It would seem that they really left things with an unfamiliar woman. I really haven’t met her before.” Aunt Lou informed me of the details and I was sure she was refe
Tears has fallen into my eyes the instant I saw her in that state. My head shook in disbelief as I covered half my face with my two palms clasped together.“Come closer and have a better look,” Dr. Kanishk went closer to me again as she escorted me towards grandma.I suppose she sensed that I don’t have the courage to come closer. It felt like each step I take drawing myself near to were Grandma was, just simply squeeze my chest and caused me to become pressured and unable to breathe fairly.Perhaps it was because I really didn’t want to see grandma in this state which was why, I mean who would want someone to see their loved ones being in this state when you know that their lives were seemingly dependent on the machine.“Dr. Kanishk, is my grandma fully depending on the machine now?” I said fully forgetting that I was not allowed to talk and just act like a nurse.However, Dr. Kanishk simply answered, “No not really. Based on her chart, she was ordered to have this tube to assist her
Nathan Calloway had always exuded a quiet menace, the kind that made people instinctively lower their gaze and step aside. But today, he didn’t bother with subtlety. He stood in my path like a hunter savoring his victory, his dark suit crisp, his expression one of smug satisfaction.“Margarette,” he said smoothly, like we were old friends. “Going somewhere?”I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. My heart was pounding, but I couldn’t let him see my fear.“I was just leaving,” I said, stepping sideways.He moved with me, blocking my way. Behind him, two of his men stood by the black car, watching. Waiting.“Now, now,” Nathan murmured, tilting his head. “Let’s not make this difficult. We both know how this ends.”A cold rush of adrenaline flooded my veins. I could fight. I could run. But neither would get me far.Leon’s voice came through my earpiece, low and urgent. “Margarette, I’m coming. Stall.”I swallowed. “If you know everything, why are yo
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