The class finally ended and while Leilani packed her things, Caleb moved over to her table and Anna stood up instantly.“You are not about to start another drama, Caleb, just be on your fucking way this instant.”“Cool down, tigress,” he groaned and then dropped his hand on the table in front of the lady.Leilani didn’t raise her head still, she kept putting her brushes in the purse and the man didn’t say anything either till she was done.She finally raised her head after she had finished packing her things and then stood up.“Let’s go, Anna,” she flashed the lady a smile, totally ignoring the man’s presence.“Let’s talk,” he snatched his tongue.“I have nothing to say to you,” she hissed and moved away.As she approached the door, exiting the space, she ignored the people who had stopped just to witness what was about to happen again while Anna trailed behind her.“Fuck,” Caleb groaned from where he stood, dropping his hands in his pocket, and then removed a packet of cigars in his
Leilani sat upright when her stomach suddenly growled, indicating that she was hungry and then dropped the brush in her hand.It had been over a couple of hours since she arrived at her workspace and had started to work on a new project.She had eaten only a little during breakfast. She didn't take out any snacks or lunch from home either, and definitely, she was not going to eat out without Lorenzo or Mia around.Thinking of Lorenzo, she stood from where she sat and then walked over to the table where she had dropped her bag and then picked it up. She removed her phone and then stared at the home screen blankly for almost a minute.He hadn’t called her. Not even once.Her phone was only filled with notifications from the gram and she hissed out unconsciously.She should not be angry, right?She had asked for it, hadn’t she?She wanted this, no?She knew that, on a normal day, the man would have called to ask how she was doing.She breathed out in frustration and then returned to her
“Leave these people alone, Agnes. Just let them be,” Aaron groaned as he walked out of the closet.“Let them be? Did you see the recent incident regarding that woman?”“I heard about it. The articles have been taken down, have they not? I bet he has it under control.”“Do you have any idea who these people are, Aaron? It is barely a month since she joined the family and she would not stop causing problems. At first, she made him leave the house. She sweet-talked him into leaving the house, and then now, she got into trouble with the son of a notorious crime lord.”“First, honey, that woman was not the reason she had left the house. You should have known Enzo already. He would do whatever he wanted because he wanted to and besides, you pushed him to leave.”“Me? How? How could you even say that?”“You slapped his wife, Agnes. You hit his wife.”“She deserved it, Aaron, and you know that. She was going to bring ruin into this family.”“And second…” he cleared his throat, ignoring her la
“So, have you come to a conclusion?”Leilani bit her lower lips while she looked ahead of her.The registration to join the competition was going to end today and after today, no one would be able to participate even if they wanted to.She shook her head vigorously and then sighed.“No.”“Come on, Leila. We need to fill out the form and submit it before the day runs out. Come on.”“What if I don’t do well?”“What if you do well?” Anna raised a brow.Leilani shook her head, still unconvinced, and then turned to look at the lady.“You don’t know anything, Anna. This is going to be so hard. There will be so much pressure and if in the end I did not do well, I am really really going to be so disappointed.”“I am believing in you, Leilani, can you not do the same?”Leilani breathed out and then shook her head.The previous night, she had talked to Lorenzo but had never mentioned to him about the upcoming contest until the man did.What was she expecting, of course, he was aware of it.“Ah…
Lorenzo checked the report on the screen in front of him and then shook his head, smiling softly, and at that moment, his phone rang and he picked it up.He placed it on speaker, and then leaned back, pulling the laptop closer to himself.“What’s up?”“Did you see the news?”“News? What is going on.”“Apparently, someone claims to be you.”“Me?”“Yes, BENZO.”Lorenzo stopped for a while and then chuckled, “What?”“Exactly. He is going around, telling people that he is you, and people might actually buy it.”“That is because people are dumb.”“You don’t always take things seriously, do you?”“Yes, because this is not worth taking seriously.”“Oh, come on.”“I have something more exciting going on,” he smiled.“What?”“Jonathan.”“Jonathan? Who is… Jonathan?”Lorenzo could imagine his friend widening his eyes as he had apparently remembered who Jonathan was.“What is going on with him?”“He… he is really finished,” Lorenzo laughed.“How? It must be so exciting for you to have laughed.”
“The workshop is on fire!” The man repeated, crying.Instantly, Lorenzo felt his blood dry up and a wave of chill surged through him, he shivered as his eyes dilated.Not for any other reason, but because his wife, Leilani was in that building.“W… where is my wife?” He asked, stuttering.“S… she is still in there. Peter just entered to see if he could rescue her. The firefighters are on their way too and…”“Drive,” Lorenzo hit the back of his driver’s seat, rumbling.“Yes, sir.”“With the highest speed possible, don’t delay!” He hollered.“Y… yes sir!”“What is happening, brother? You are scaring me!” Mia cried out.Lorenzo didn’t answer and pulled his necktie from his neck, feeling so suffocated.He wished he could fly over there right now, not to lie.He wished there was some kind of superpower that would make him teleport there.Driving at the highest pace, he was certain they would arrive there in ten minutes, but a lot could have happened in those minutes and this stressed him m
“I am going to kill whoever did this.”Lorenzo shook his head, his fists still clenched tightly.“She will be fine,” Mia shook her head, as she sat across Lorenzo.Lorenzo stared at the woman who looked like her eyes could fall out if she tried to cry anymore.Her face was swollen and her eyes looked like they were about to come off their socket.“Yeah,” he nodded his head and then looked away.How could a fire have taken place?How could the workspace have caught fire, and while she was there especially?Lorenzo believed strongly that this was no accident.He knew for certain that his wife was indeed targeted before this happened.He was going to kill everybody who had a hand in this.Whoever they were, whatever position they held, no matter their number, he was going to make sure they didn’t live another day to tell the story.He was going to wipe them off the earth.He was going to…“Loosen up, Enzo,” Mia breathed out, snapping him out of his thoughts.He didn’t answer and only sta
“Enzo!” Lorenzo breathed out in relief as his friend arrived and rushed over to him.“God, Nicholas.”“What is the update now?” He patted his arm and then moved over to the door which he believed Leilani was in.He peeped through the glass, swallowed hard, and then shook his head.“Would you meet with the doctor first?”“Yeah, sure. Let’s do that first.”He moved away from the door and then returned to his friend.“Thank you.”Nicholas nodded his head and then hurried away.Almost a few moments after the man was out of the space, Martha rushed in. Together with Ella and her boyfriend, John.“Enzo!” Martha cried out as she got to his side.“Martha.”The woman leaned down to hug him and then patted his shoulders.“How did this happen? Martin told us!”“God, I don’t know either,” he shook his head and glanced at the door.“I suddenly received a call from Martins. I still don’t understand how this could have happened.”“So, how is she now? Is she responding to treatment?”“It’s been seve
“What?” Leilani widened her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest.“I am going to help you in the bathroom.”“You even repeated it!” She exclaimed and he laughed.“And?”“Since when have I ever needed anyone to help me in the bathroom?”“You have a wound on your back, Lani. We were advised not to get it wet till it’s time to come for cleaning.”“I can manage.”“You can’t.”“Then… help me get Martha. I am sure she will be more than glad to help me in the bathroom.”“Will it not be somehow if she comes to do that when you have me right here with me?”“Will you get her or would you prefer that I bury myself in the bathtub there?”He breathed out and rolled his eyes, “You’re so stubborn.”“What do you say?”“I’ll get Martha now.”“Good.”He rolled his eyes and then walked out of the room.————“I am sorry for being a bother,” Leilani whispered as the woman stepped in the bathroom with her.“Oh, silly!” Martha chuckled.“I feel so bad.”“I am more than happy to do this for you. How do
As the two men entered the library, Lorenzo shook his head as Mia didn’t stop walking after them and then sighed.“Listen, I understand that you wanna be of help, but now is not the time. I have been working on this for a while and I’ve never needed your help, so please…”“Ouch…”“Leave us be.”“No, no, you cannot force me away, I will not go,” she shook her head, entered fully, and then settled on the couch.“Mia.”“I will not go. I am in this with you. They probably know that I have chosen your side already and what is my gain if I lose both sides?”“What do you want? Money?”“Don’t offend me further, brother.”“You are the one driving me crazy, Mia.”Still, she did not answer, she crossed her legs, and then folded her arms tightly across her chest.“Just leave her be,” Nicholas shook his head.“No, I can’t. That is Mia, remember? A chatterbox! Who knows what she is actually planning?”“Hello, I am still here, sitting,” she raised her hands and waved her hands at them.“I didn’t whi
Arriving the living room with Mia, Martha and Nicholas, Lorenzo stood up from his chair, and then moved over to Leilani who leaned on Martha.“What are you…” she widened her eyes and then glanced at Mia.“What? What is that that look for?” Mia rolled her eyes.“Lorenzo, you…”“She knows,” he nodded his head and took her gently from Martha.“Mia knows?!” Nicholas and Martha hollered and then exchanged glances.“Why do you all find it so surprising?” She smacked and then moved closer to the couple.“Because… because it is you, Mia! Fuck, what have you done, Enzo?” Nicholas broadened his eyes“She has known about it for seven months, trust me. I felt so much like a fool when I found out,” he shook his head.“Oh, you do not need to be embarrassed, brother,” she patted his shoulder and then took Leilani’s hand in hers.“How did she find out?” Nicho moved over to Lorenzo too.“She's sly, trust me. You don't even wanna hear it.”“Tell me.”When Lorenzo hesitated, Mia breathed out, staring at
“Goodness, Leila!”Anna palmed her mouth and burst into tears the moment she looked through the glass and saw Leilani.“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was so serious!” She cried.Martha watched as the lady continued to cry and after a while, she moved over to her and then patted her shoulder.“She has gotten much better, so, take it easy, okay?”“When can I see her?”“She just fell asleep, so, maybe when she is awake although we don’t know when because she has been sleeping so much.”“I can wait with you guys, right?”Martha shrugged her shoulders off and then moved away from the lady.Anna kept staring at Leilani from where she stood and then muttered incoherently.After a few moments, her phone rang and she removed it from her pocket almost immediately.It was Caleb again.Caleb had not stopped calling her since the day he announced to her of the woman’s condition.He kept calling her every hour to ask if she had gotten a hang of Leilani yet.She moved away from where she stood
“I should be there with her. You know that,” Lorenzo hissed for the umpteenth time, looking out of the window.“God, you’re so stubborn,” Mia hissed.“What?”“She is awake already. You saw that, didn’t you? It’s been three days and I haven’t seen you take a wink of sleep at all.”“I am okay.”“You just need to freshen up, okay? You will return to her afterward.”“Understood, but why are you following me too? Should you not be with her?”Mia swallowed and shook her head again.They left Leilani sleeping and besides, she wanted to see something else.She wanted to see her brother, Lorenzo, walk in front of her.“Nothing,” she rolled her eyes and then looked away.___The remaining journey home was so silent as the siblings didn’t utter any other words to each other and as they arrived at the gate, Lorenzo gasped at the lady that jumped in front of the car.“Who is that?!” Mia snapped.“That lady…” Lorenzo drew his brows together.“Do you know her?”He tilted his head as he tried to reme
“How is she now?” Lorenzo asked after Nicholas stepped out.The man has been in the ward with some other doctors with Leilani and then he breathed out.“She is quite unstable, I must confess. And with our evaluation, other than her physical trauma, she might develop some psychological trauma such as anxiety, PTSD, and emotional distress.”“B… but, she is still undergoing treatment for something like that. Remember?” his voice broke.“I know,” Nicholas nodded his head.“She will be fine, Enzo.”“You know that you have to tell me the truth, right? You must not hide anything from me… not regarding her.”“She is going to be alright, I assure you. We just need to help her manage her emotions better when she is conscious. She has returned to sleep and will be awake soon, okay?”He nodded his head and then sniffed.Perhaps the news regarding Peter had made him more scared and unstable.He had thought that if Peter could lose his life because of the same accident Leilani was in, then his wife
“Don! Killian!”Caleb hollered as he entered the house, and then looked around.“Don!” He hollered again.“Do—”“For fuck sake, Caleb!”Don hissed as he descended the stairs, and then Killian walked out of one of the empty rooms downstairs.“What are you doing here again?”Killian asked as he covered the space between them.A stick of weed, Canadian loud hung loosely in between his lips and he breathed out.“What do you want?” Don asked also as he got to where he stood.“I told you…!” He started shouting but soon lowered his voice.“I told you not to touch her!”“What are you…” Don shook his head, confused.“That woman. Leilani. I told you to leave her out of this!”“So?” Killian raised a brow.“So? Really? I remember telling you not to…”“Exactly, so what?!”“You set her workspace on fire!” He cried out.Don and Killian exchanged looks, shook their heads, and then walked away.“I am still talking.”Killian inhaled the smoke deeply before he exhaled and then turned to look at his brot
“This has transformed to bring an arson case,” the detective added to his statement.“Someone started a fire, on purpose?”“Yes, unfortunately. And with your permission, we would like to collect all the CCTV footage in the area. Since it is private property, I heard the footage goes to you.”Lorenzo shook his head and wheeled back gently, “Your job is done here.”“W… what?”“You have confirmed my doubts already, and that is more than enough. I can take care of things from here.”“E… excuse me, sir. This is my work and I would rather…”“Do you not hear a thing I said?” Lorenzo cut him short, his eyes broadening.“We need to find the source of the arson and whoever started it. You don’t intend to keep this under wraps, do you?”Lorenzo glanced at his friend and then shook his head.A while back when the detective had arrived, he had excused himself from the others and Nicholas had followed him.“Come on…” Nicholas mouthed to him to let the man do his work.“Alright. Do your thing.”“Sir
“Lorenzo!”Lorenzo raised his brows as his father arrived and then cleared his throat.“Hi.”“I heard what happened, God!”They had already arrived at Nicholas’s hospital and after they had adjusted Leilani in, they began the treatment instantly.“Yeah, sure.”He leaned down in front of his son, took his hands in his, and then shook his head.“I am sorry this happened. It hurts so much to hear this.”“Yeah, sure,” he nodded his head again.“Come on, Enzo. I mean this.”“Sure.”Aaron shook his head at his son’s stubbornness and then sniffed. “What is her condition right now? Is she getting better?”“Why have you come here, really?”“God forbid that I come to check on my daughter-in-law after such an accident occurs?” Aaron frowned.“Yes. You could have played deaf ears. You are quite good at that.”“Leilani is a good woman, and I owe this to her.”“Good, you say? Oh, please, father.”“This is not even a time to pick a fight, Enzo. Set your priorities straight.”“Right. My priorities. S