TWENTY
Talia opened the door and stepped out, with Leo right behind her. Marco’s piercing eyes locked onto her, but she refused to show any sign of fear.“Boss, I tried—” Greg stammered, attempting to explain, but Leo raised a hand, silencing him.“It’s fine, Greg. We were only talking business,” Leo said calmly, his gaze never leaving Marco.“Marco, have you arranged the handover of Malia’s responsibilities to the supervisor?” Leo asked, his voice firm.Marco smirked, ignoring the question. “Leo, I have something to discuss with Talia,” he said.Leo chuckled softly. “Oh? Can’t you discuss it here if it’s business? Or is it something that shouldn’t be heard by others?” His words were sharp, a challenge lingering in the air.Marco’s smirk faded as he grabbed Talia’s hand, but she quickly shook it off.“Don’t touch me. I can walk on my own,” she snapped. Marco nodded, steppiTWENTY ONE**Flashback...**Talia sat beside her mother, her head bleeding, tears streaming down her face. Thick smoke billowed from the car’s hood, and blood stained every corner of the vehicle. “Ta...Talia,” her mother’s voice was weak, barely a whisper. “Please, take care of yourself.” Blood gushed from her mouth, her life slipping away.“No, Mom... please stop talking. I’ll call for help... You can’t die!” Talia sobbed, holding her mother’s trembling hand, desperate to stop the inevitable.“I love you,” her mother whispered, her hand slowly slipping from Talia’s grasp. In the next moment, she was gone.“Mom! Mommy, no, please don’t leave me!” Talia screamed, shaking her mother’s lifeless body in denial.Through her tears, she saw a blurry figure—a man appeared in front of her. He gently lifted her mother’s body out of the wreckage. Moments later, he returned, carrying Talia in his
TWENTY TWOLeo stopped halfway and turned back to face her, his expression dark and brooding. His eyes narrowed slightly, but Talia kept her composure, not showing any sign of concern. Her blank expression seemed to irk him even more."So, the chicken is more important than my feelings for you?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as a mocking smile crept onto his lips.Talia blinked, surprised by his sudden outburst. "Wait, you're angry? Why are you so angry?" she asked, confusion evident in her voice.Leo let out a bitter laugh, his shoulders shaking with the intensity of it, but there was no humor in his eyes. His laughter was dark, unsettling, as though he were mocking her for not understanding the depth of his frustration. Without answering, he turned and began walking away."Hey, stop laughing like that! Your laugh is scary!" Talia called after him, but Leo didn’t stop. He kept walking, his strides pur
The hospital reeked of antiseptic and tension. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow on the white-tiled floors as Leo and Talia approached the reception desk. Talia’s heart pounded as she asked the nurse for Marco’s room, her voice barely concealing the trembling anxiety underneath."Room 302, Donovan family," the nurse directed them. Talia thanked her, her voice soft and strained, as Leo placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her toward the room.As they entered, the sight of Marco lying unconscious in the hospital bed sent a shockwave through Talia’s system. His head was wrapped in white gauze, a stark contrast to his pale complexion. His arms and legs were bandaged, though the injuries didn’t appear life-threatening. Talia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes welling up with tears.Beside the bed, Marco’s mother, Mrs. Donovan, sat rigidly in her chair, her face a mask of stoic worry. Talia’s father stood nearby, his expression gri
TWENTY FOURLeo took a few slow, deliberate steps toward Marco, his eyes dark and piercing. His hand came down on Marco’s shoulder, a firm pat that felt more like a threat than comfort. Marco shifted uneasily, trying to steady his breath, but the air felt heavy between them. Leo leaned in, his face so close that Marco could feel the heat of his breath. Marco coughed slightly, his throat tightening under the weight of Leo’s closeness."You know what I despise the most?" Leo’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried a venomous edge. His eyes never left Marco's, sharp and accusing. "Thieves."Marco’s brows furrowed in confusion, his heartbeat quickening."People who greedily steal what doesn't belong to them," Leo continued, his voice rising with fury. His jaw clenched as he spoke, each word dripping with contempt. "And then they sit there, at ease, enjoying all the benefits. They forget about the *real* glory of the person who *earned* it."Marco stiffened as Leo’s grip on his s
TWENTY FIVETalia lowered her head, her entire body trembling with fear. She tried to steady her breath, but the weight of Mrs. Donovan’s gaze made her feel like she was suffocating. Every muscle in her body tensed, but she couldn’t find the strength to lift her eyes. The silence between them only fueled Mrs. Donovan’s fury, and Talia could hear the sharp intake of her breath.Mrs. Donovan’s face contorted with anger, her nostrils flaring as she stared down at Talia. "You already *knew*, didn’t you?" Mrs. Donovan hissed, her voice shaking with rage.Talia’s lips parted, but the words barely escaped in a whisper. "Yes, Mother. I knew."The calmness in Talia’s voice only seemed to ignite Mrs. Donovan’s fury further. She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white as she took a step closer, looming over Talia."If it wasn’t for that car accident..." Mrs. Donovan’s voice rose, each word cutting through the air like a blade. "I
TWENTY SIXMrs. Donovan laughed sarcastically, her tone dripping with malice. "I’m a stepmother too, Talia. Do you think I wouldn’t know how these things work? Dare it not?" She touched her cheek, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Think it through, okay?" she added, flashing a wicked smile before turning to leave.Talia stood frozen, her tears flowing freely, her body trembling with despair. As Mrs. Donovan’s footsteps faded, Talia sank deeper into her grief, her mind racing with the impossible choices laid before her. She raised her tear-streaked face to the ceiling, her voice quivering with desperation. "Mom, what should I do?" she cried out, her heart aching with the weight of her situation.Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. *Pregnant!* Her eyes widened as the thought took hold. "Yes! In three months, I’ll get pregnant… with Leo’s child," she whispered, her voice filled with determination as she clutched her chest. "Leo's child is also a Donovan child, right? If I
Lisa finished talking, letting out a long sigh as her head drooped back onto the desk. The exhaustion in her eyes was evident, dark circles framing them. Her shoulders sagged, and within seconds, she dozed off.“Lisa, don’t sleep!” Talia’s voice broke through the silence as she barged into the office, her hand dramatically placed on her growling stomach. “Let’s go eat. I’m *famished*,” she added with a playful groan. Her eyes scanned Lisa’s sleeping form before she walked over, lightly tapping her on the shoulder.Lisa jolted awake, her eyes fluttering open, squinting in confusion before she realized where she was. She groaned, stretching her arms above her head as a tired smile curled on her lips. “Ugh, Talia, I was in the middle of such a good dream,” she mumbled, but the moment she caught sight of her phone, her grogginess faded. Excitement sparkled in her eyes as she reached for it. “Girl! I have some juicy gossip for you!” she exclaimed dramatically,
TWENTY EIGHT Lisa's face flushed with anger, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stormed toward Malia, her eyes blazing with indignation. She moved so quickly and forcefully that the tension in the air crackled around her, completely ignoring Marco who stood nearby, his gaze shifting between the two women with a quiet intensity.“Malia, I thought you were fired?” Lisa spat, her voice sharp and accusatory, her eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Her fists clenched at her sides as she squared off with Malia, her anger palpable.Malia let out a slow, sarcastic laugh, her lips curling into a smug smirk. She stood tall, shoulders back, exuding a cocky confidence that only made Lisa’s blood boil more. “Fired?” she repeated, her voice dripping with mockery as she raised an eyebrow. “No, darling. I wasn’t fired. I was *demoted,* yes, but I’m still your supervisor.” Her smirk widened as her eyes flicked over to Marco, who gave her a small nod of approval, his expression unreadable but approv