I was left with the feeling that I should actually feel bothered that my Aunt would have to feel responsible of something for desire to see grandma.“You know what, you should’t worry about it. I’ll handle things from here.” Aunt Lou eventually said right after which then again worsen the feeling of guilt that I have.I only wish that it would be that easy for me to actually resolve everything for her. Thing wouldn’t have gone worst like this if I had not pursue coming to see grandma today.“Aunt Lou—” but before I could even begin to tell her what I wish to say, Aunt Lou was quick to tell me to leave.“I said, it will be alright from this point. I’m sure the IT department could figure out something out of the blue.” Even I was not really at ease with her statement. It was like there was a huge thing behind it that was totally off and despite knowing it already, Aunt Lou just remain to be steadfast about trying to keep it from me. Following that, she hurried pushed me towards the do
“Aunt Lou?” I tried to repeat myself again as my query seemed to have gotten her a little stunned. “Oh, yeah, right. About that, well, the IT department was able to resolve it. They successfully blocked the hackers right before they could fully breach into the digital archive.” She quickly answered, and although she was quick to tell me that, I was still unconvinced.I just didn’t want to continouosly press more on the details since knowing my aunt, she would only have something to tell me that would block me from stressing her about it.“On the other hand,” she swiftly said, adding to her statement a moment ago. “Why haven’t you taken your medicines? I adviced my secretary to have these brought home with you so that you could take them at the right time, didn’t I told you that earlier?” Aunt Lou now turned into the strict aunt mode that she was whenever she talks about errands or instructions that were not done accordingly. And as for my stubborness to drink my medicines on time,
Since the Montefalco's party, it seemed like the week flew by in the blink of an eye. But during that time, I could not shake the worry about what might have happened to grandma. I could not help but worry about her well-being, but Aunt Lou was adamant about keeping me confined to the house.I had been eagerly awaiting the moment when my aunt Lou would finally depart for her duties, allowing me the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed. However, to my dismay, the hours had ticked by since the early morning, and Aunt Lou was still engrossed in her beloved garden in the backyard."Are you not going to your clinic today?" As soon as I emerged, I eagerly greeted her, eager to see her latest masterpiece in the garden.I must admit, they are truly wonderful. It is quite a delightful surprise to discover that my aunt possesses a knack for gardening as well. She excelled at creating charming little scenes beneath her rustic wooden fences."Is it Saturday today?" she asked, her voice fill
It had slipped my mind just how much time it took for me to transition from my cozy pajamas to a lovely, comfortable outfit in order to help Aunt Lou at the grocery store. I was taken aback when I realized that Aunt Lou had already finished changing and taking a bath, and she did it much more swiftly than I ever could. As I descended the stairs, a wave of surprise washed over me. There she was, perched on the cream sofa chair by the door, engrossed in her phone. Our eyes met as she noticed my presence.“Are you good to go?” she asked while wearing a very bubbly expression.What she didn’t know that it instantly made me feel somewhat awkward knowing that I may have actually made her wait for me for minutes or hours I couldn’t even remember how long. "Did I keep you waiting for so long, Aunt Lou?" I asked, my voice filled with concern. Deep down, I feared that I had indeed made a mistake. And knowing my aunt's nature, I knew she would inevitably refuse to acknowledge the truth."No, d
My blood seriously boils seeing them hand in hand like a loving couple. What does my ex-husband really take me for? He was obviously the one cheating on me and I remain quiet about it all these years. And yet now, it was like slapping me multiple times seeing how they look so lovey-dovey.A single tear was trying to escape from the corner of my left eye, but I immediately had to wipe it off just in time when I witnessed Regina finally turning her eyes in my direction.What just added more to my fury was the fact that she didn’t even seem surprised or flustered that I was there seeing the two of them. She pretended not to see me as she made a quick devious smirk.“Honey, I forgot about the bread, would you get it for me.” Regina told Justin and even addressed him as honey.How dare the two of them publicly display their affair when the divorce agreement between me and Justin had not been settled yet. As soon as Justin left to get the errand that Regina had asked of him, Regina pushed
Justin abruptly threw out my hand in the air as he let go of my wrist. There came a short awkward silence that was filled with tension as the next few moment was all about me and Justin exchanging glances that were full of hatred and annoyance.Never had I imagine that a day would come that the two of us would eventually become like this as though we had never been husband and wife. “Not only did you publicly display your mistress, but you even dare mistreat your wife in public for the sake of her.” I eventually said, breaking the silence that rendered me and Justin a moment ago.“Damn that statement, Marga. It was you who cheated on me and now you are coming clean trying to spit on me, something I could never do!” I scoff. His statement just made me want to feel like my stomach twisted that I couldn’t help but laugh it out. “What was so damn funny about it, huh?” Justin promptly said.“The funny thing? Oh no, it was not a thing, but who. Because it was you who was funny, Justin.
And Just like that, my ex-husband turned his back on me with glares that were too poisonous for me to keep staring at. He eventually helped Regina to push the cart away from me and before the two of them completely moved to the next aisle away from my sight, I clearly saw a glimpse of a devious smirk flashed across Regina’s face.It was clear how she took advantage of the situation to make me look worse before Justin’s presence. She obviously pulled out the plan to provoke me so that Justin would arrive seeing I was the one attacking her instead.“You really play dirty, bitch.” I uttered low that was enough for me alone as I stared at them exiting from the hallway. My hand clenched as anger flared up from within me that I had been trying to contain for a while.Come to think of it, I just couldn’t help but think that perhaps Regina may really have something to do with all the framing up that was done to me during Grandma’s birthday. There was no one else I could think of but her that
“If you think that it was just the right thing, then divorce him!” That was what Aunt Lou said during dinner. It had been hours after we arrived from the grocery and I had to help Aunt Lou a little with the preparation of our dinner. While the two of us were at it, I even told her everything that occurred earlier at the grocery mart. “You know what, they should be thankful that I chose not to meddle. Otherwise, you know that Regina? She would have suffered getting a two cents from me first.”It made me chuckle hearing Aunt Lou say that. I knew she was only trying to make me loosen all the tension I had earlier. I was able to release all my emotions in the car when I held her in my arms As a matter of fact, I could no longer feel the pain inside me. It does hurt a little but not like a while ago. I made myself a covenant that I would never forgive Justin for what he did and even if he begs me, the world would crumble first before he even gets my forgiveness.“Actually, Justin also
The days that followed were peaceful but filled with an undercurrent of anticipation. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something I needed to do—something unfinished. It had been haunting me for weeks, but now, with Justin’s shadow gone and Leon by my side, I knew it was time.“Leon,” I began one quiet evening, as we sat by the fire. He looked up from the book he was reading, his dark eyes softening the moment they met mine.“What is it?” he asked, setting the book aside.I hesitated, my fingers playing with the hem of my sweater. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”He frowned slightly, confusion flickering across his face. “Who?”“You’ll see,” I said, standing and holding out my hand. “Come with me.”Without hesitation, Leon took my hand, his trust in me unwavering. I led him out to the car, the cool night air brushing against us as we drove into town. The roads were quiet, the streetlights casting long shadows that danced as we passed.We arrived at a small park just out
The clock struck midnight as I arrived at the abandoned warehouse, the location Justin had specified. The air was damp and heavy, the only sounds the distant hum of the city and my own racing heartbeat. I had slipped away from Helena, leaving behind a note promising to be careful, though I knew she wouldn’t forgive me for this reckless decision.The large metal doors creaked as I pushed them open, revealing a dimly lit interior. In the center of the room stood Justin, flanked by two of his men. Behind them, Leon was tied to a chair, his face battered but his eyes sharp and alert. The sight of him sent a wave of relief and fury crashing over me.“Well, well,” Justin drawled, his smirk as cruel as ever. “The damsel arrives. Punctual, I must say.”“Let him go,” I demanded, stepping forward despite the fear coursing through me. “I’m here, just like you wanted. This ends tonight.”“Oh, it will,” Justin replied, pulling a knife from his pocket and twirling it lazily. “But not the way you th
My heart froze as his words sank in. He wasn’t just after Leon—he wanted me. Before anyone could react, Justin’s men stormed in, their presence throwing the room into chaos. Leon moved like lightning, tackling one of them as William engaged another.Helena appeared in the doorway, clutching a laptop. “We’ve got the files uploaded!” she shouted. “But we need to move now!”Leon turned to me, his expression desperate. “Go with Helena. I’ll find you.”“No!” I cried, panic gripping me. “I’m not leaving you behind!”Justin’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “Run all you want, Margarette, but you can’t hide. I always get what I want.”Leon’s fist connected with Justin’s jaw in a blur of motion, sending him staggering back. “You’ll never touch her,” Leon snarled, his voice venomous.Helena grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the back exit. “Come on!” she urged. “We don’t have time!”I hesitated, torn between fleeing and staying to fight. Leon’s gaze met mine, and in that split second,
The ominous text on my phone screen felt like a knife twisting in my chest. My fingers trembled as I stared at the words, the weight of the decision Justin was forcing on me suffocating. Choose wisely? What did he mean? What was the game he was playing now?I bolted upright and paced the room, my breaths shallow as panic clawed at the edges of my composure. Every fiber of my being screamed that this wasn’t just about me anymore—it never had been. Justin was a master manipulator, and his threat wasn’t idle.A soft knock at the door snapped me out of my spiral. I opened it to find Leon standing there, his disheveled appearance and the dark circles under his eyes a stark contrast to his usual confidence. He didn’t say anything, just stepped inside and closed the door behind him.“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but his eyes sharp as they searched mine.I hesitated, clutching my phone tightly. “It’s Justin,” I finally said, showing him the message.Leon’s expression dar
Back at Leon’s secluded estate, the air was heavy with tension. The security team was doubled, every window and door meticulously checked and locked. Leon’s protective streak was in full force, and I could see the weight of the situation bearing down on him.“Here,” he said, handing me a glass of water as we sat in his study. The room, usually a place of calm and strategy, now felt like a fortress under siege.“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the glass. I watched him pace, his movements restless and charged. “Leon…”He stopped, turning to face me. His dark eyes held a mix of anger, worry, and something else—something deeper that he rarely let surface. “You don’t have to thank me, Margarette. Protecting you isn’t a favor. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”“But this isn’t just about me,” I said, standing to face him. “Justin’s targeting everyone I care about. You, my family, even William and Helena—he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”Leon stepped closer, his presence grounding me. “
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of William’s words hitting me like a freight train. My family. Justin was targeting my family. The thought sent a jolt of fear and fury through me, my heart pounding in my chest.Leon’s face hardened, his jaw clenched as he stepped closer to William. “What does the message say?” His voice was low and deadly, carrying an unspoken promise of retribution.William handed over his phone, his expression grim. Leon read the message aloud, each word slicing through the air like a knife.“If you want to keep Margarette’s loved ones safe, you’ll stop meddling. The clock is ticking.”I felt my knees weaken, but I forced myself to stay upright. My mind raced, trying to process the implications of Justin’s threat. My parents. My sister. Everyone I cared about. They were all in danger because of me.“Margarette,” Leon said softly, his tone a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his eyes. He reached out, his hand steady and warm on my shoulder. “We’ll
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