Leah's Pov"Thanks for your help today," I said, clasping my hands together as we walked out of the grocery store. "Erm....""Kian," he said, waggling his eyebrows as he used his hands to wave his hair backward.I smiled and replied, "Thanks a lot, Kian. I really appreciate it."Kian had helped me leave country H, and I was surprised when the adamant ticket collector quickly respected him and let me go. Kian had offered to let me ride on his private jet, making it faster for me to get here.It was already late by the time I finished at the hospital; the doctors had already removed the bullet, and Dad was no longer in critical condition. So, I had to go home and prepare dinner for Mom."Erm... Kian, I had to go home. I need to prepare dinner," I said.Kian nodded as he placed his hands in his pocket, wearing a black shirt and black pants. The first three buttons of his shirt were undone, showing his collarbones. His dark, tousled hair framed a strong jawline and deep, expressive eyes th
Axel's PovI stood up slowly from the bed as the curtains opened, letting in the sunlight. I made some coffee and looked out of the window. The province is a really peaceful place, and I couldn't help but think about how this was where Leah had grown up and also where she had raised Jasper. "Ah," I signed gently. "I should have had someone who will be giving me information about her; maybe I would have been brave enough to have chased after her."I sat in front of the computer in the room, typing and reading some files. Derek came in with some files and bowed slightly. "Has it been done?" I asked him without looking away from the computer. "Yes, President Axel," Derek nodded. He gave me the files, which I flipped open. "Location set already?" I inquired. "Yes, president," Derek said. "We found a perfect location at the business center downtown." I nodded my head and said, "Good. Let operation start immediately." "Yes, President," Derek replied.I dropped the files and looked at the co
Leah's PovTwo weeks laterAs we boarded the airplane, Mom gave me a sly smile and handed me a plastic bag filled with bright red tomatoes. "There are some fresh tomatoes in his bag, you can use it to prepare something delicious for both Kian and Micheal when you get back home," she said, her eyes filled with warmth. "Thanks, ma," I replied, hugging her tightly before we embarked on the flight.Once we settled into our seats, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Dad had been discharged and was on the road to recovery, aside from the occasional pain from his wound. I had made the difficult decision to leave them and return home, citing work obligations as an excuse. The court hearing was scheduled for tomorrow, and I needed to ensure I was adequately prepared.*****Upon arriving home in the afternoon, I wasted no time in preparing dinner. Kian expressed his interest in seeing my home, and I couldn't refuse after all the help he had lent me.The familiar sound of Jasper's excited
Louisiana Pov"What?!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with anger. I swept my arm across the vanity table, sending belongings crashing to the ground. Maria, my loyal maid, immediately knelt down and kept her head bowed. My anger tightened, my face flushed with frustration. "How dare he?" I muttered through gritted teeth.Turning to Maria, I demanded, "What did Grandpa say? Did he try to stop him?" Maria trembled as she spoke, "Grandpa tried to stop him." I narrowed my eyes, "Then how did Leah still win the case?"Maria hesitated, then explained, "The judgment was already in favor of the Russo family, but Axel objected and asked that the child should be given to Leah." She paused to wipe off her sweat, then continued, "Grandpa threatened him, but Axel said to Grandpa that if he should try to stop him, he will leave the Russo family."My eyes flickered in disbelief. "Axel threatened Grandpa because of Leah?" I seethed. "What did Grandpa do?" I demanded. Maria continued, "The old m
Leah's Pov"Cheers!" we said in unison as the sound of clinking glasses filled the air. "Mommy!" Jasper called out, pouting. "How come you guys are having wine while I am drinking milk?" Kian scoffed and said, "Because you are a baby," causing Jasper to purse his lips in refusal to acknowledge him.I cleared my throat and stood up with a glass of wine, feeling grateful for everyone's support. "Thanks, guys, for your help. Without your assistance, I wouldn't have achieved this victory," I said, bowing slightly. I turned to lawyer Kim, whose face was flushed with happiness due to the recent case win. "Thank you, Lawyer Kim, for your help. I am truly grateful," I expressed. Lawyer Kim chuckled, clinking his glass with mine. "I wouldn't have had this boost in my career without you," he said graciously, as we both took a sip of our wine.I poured another cup and looked towards Micheal, who had been busy eating. "Hey, Micheal," I said as I raised my glass to propose a toast to him. "
Axel's Pov"The fast-rising AJL company is putting most of the companies in the country to fright," the female broadcaster announced on TV. "Yes, the CEO remains mysterious as no one has ever seen him," the male broadcaster added."I think the Russo family should get prepared to lose their top position in the next ten years, because AJL group of companies is going to take over," the female broadcaster concluded. The male looked at her and said, "With President Axel around, dream on."Upon hearing their conversation, I couldn't help but smirk as I turned off the TV. I took a sip of my coffee and gazed out of the ceiling-to-floor window in the room. "AJL group of companies, mysterious CEO," I tsked in disdain, feeling a mix of annoyance and intrigue."Where is Axel?" Grandpa's angry voice echoed throughout the room. I turned around to find the old man walking in with his walking stick, his figure slightly bent with age. Little Nine was trying to stop him from coming in, but the old m
Leah's PovAs the murmurs and comments continued to float around the room, I caught snippets of the crowd's observations. "Who is that guy beside President Axel? He is so handsome," someone remarked. I followed their gaze and saw Axel and Kian standing together, clicking glasses with smiles adorning their faces. "Wow, they look good together," another commented."I wonder what family the guy is from to make him friends with President Axel," someone pondered aloud. " The confusion in the room was palpable, and I too was perplexed by the unexpected scene unfolding in front of me.Suddenly, Kian whispered something into Axel's ear, and the mood shifted dramatically. The tension became thick as Axel's eyes narrowed dangerously. The change in atmosphere was so stark that someone shivered and asked, "Why is it suddenly cold?" Kian, however, seemed oblivious to the storm he had wrought as he casually sipped his wine.Confused and concerned, I watched the exchange between Axel and Kian, t
Axel's PovAs the plastic bottle was thrown towards Leah, I stood up suddenly, feeling the surge of anger and frustration. I shot an angry look towards the person who threw it. The man seemed to realize his mistake and recoiled, " Am I the only one who noticed that President Axel looked at the man who threw the plastic bottle scarily?" Someone quietly asked. "Didn't you see that Ms. Louisiana was closer to Leah? What if the bottle had hit her instead of Leah?" someone in the crowd pointed out. I glared at them angrily, can't these people just learn to be quiet? I could feel Leah's anger burning from the stage, and I wished I could do something to calm her down. Then doubt and confusion swirled in my own mind. Would Leah really steal someone's work? I knew her to be an incredibly talented and ethical designer; it just didn't seem like her at all. But then, would Louisiana stoop so low as to steal someone else's work?"Louisiana, you and I know that I never stole your work," Leah st
Leah's PovI took a desperate breath, relief flooding through me as the police arrived. It was short-lived, however, as M suddenly held my neck and placed a knife against my skin, sending a shiver of fear through my body. "Stay where you are," M screamed, his voice filled with a chilling intensity. As his grip tightened, and the knife inched closer, I felt like I was on the brink of death. This type of scene had always seemed like a distant nightmare, only seen in movies. I pleaded silently with the police in my mind, "Please don't come closer," I thought, feeling the cold touch of the blade against my skin. I was never this close to death before, and the fear was suffocating.The police stood still, unsure of their next move. "Drop your weapons," they called out, trying to remain in control of the situation. "So that you can arrest me? Not possible," M sneered, his voice filled with defiance. "If you're going to get me, I'd rather go down with one person," he threatened, sending a
Leah's Pov,The room was quiet, except for the TV's voices that suddenly caught my attention. "Master, Little Red, called out as he stood up abruptly looking at the TV. I turned to look at the screen and saw Axel being handcuffed and taken away by the police. My heart skipped a beat. "Axel?!" I muttered, blinking my eyes, hoping it was just a dream. I reached for my phone to call him, but it wasn't going through. Panicked, I turned to Little Red. "Let's go," I said, my voice filled with worry."Leah, Hannah called after me, but I refused to wait. My heart filled with worry, "Axel, that liar," I screamed in my heart. I felt like tearing his face apart. As we sat in the waiting room, I hoped that it was all a lie. How could Axel be arrested? The weight of worry and questions filled my heart when I found out that he had gone alone to face M but fell into M's traps instead. "Men! They are scum," I seethed in anger.Suddenly, Axel was walked in by a police officer, his clothes changed i
Axel's Pov"Master, this is where the guy confessed to meet with M, during their mission," Little Nine said as soon as we came to a stop.I looked over at the clinic. It was a private hospital with a huge sign that read Milka Hospital. It had been in existence for over six years now, and it was rumored that the doctor had a magic touch. However, his face was never seen as he always wore a mask whenever he saw patients."That's pretty normal; most doctors always wear a nose mask when they are at work," I said to Little Nine."I know master, but his is quite different. Even the workers at the hospital never saw his face before," Little Nine said.I gently rubbed my lips with my thumb. "Always wearing a mask, was he afraid that his scar would scare people away?"Are the backups here yet?" I asked Little Nine as I made to go out."Yes, master, they are already here," Little Nine replied. I nodded and got down from the car. "Stay alert," I said to him.As I got to the entrance of the clini
Axel's Pov"Jasper recognized you at first glance," Leah asked me with wide eyes. I nodded as I stroked her hair. "You both deceived me. You are going to receive your punishment," I said to him."I am willing to receive anything," he said, locking gaze with me. "Gosh, how can he be so handsome," I muttered. "So what's the surprise?" i asked her.Leah looked at me and smiled. "I... she said, poking my chest, am... pregnan... my," she said to me slowly."Okay," I nodded. Leah looked at me, confused. "Was that the reaction you are supposed to have, she asked. I looked at her, suddenly, I came to a realization. "What?!" i exclaimed. "You are pregnant?" i asked her, my eyes shining. "When, how, how come I didn't know about it?" I asked her as i gently placed my hand on her stomach. "It happened after you 'died'," she said, looking at me. I grinned as I continued rubbing her stomach, smiling stupidly. "How many months is it now?" i asked her. I looked at her as she made the calculatio
Leah's PovAt the hospital,"Doctor How is he?" I asked anxiously, looking at the doctor.The doctor looked at me with a reassuring smile. "It's nothing serious. He just passed out from shock. The wounds are not too deep. You can go see him now," the doctor said before walking away.I entered the room, and the space was quiet, save for the constant beeping of the machine. I looked at Axel's pale face, my eyes stinging as I held back tears. Memories of his betrayal and the pain he had caused me flooded my mind. I felt torn between wanting to leave and never look back, and staying by his side, conflicted by my lingering feelings for him.I stood by the ward door, not wanting to move closer to him."Leah," Axel called out, jolting me back from my thoughts. I looked at him, his pale face crunched in pain as he struggled to sit up on the bed. "I need to go," I said, my voice strained, as I turned to leave."Leah, please, listen to me," Axel pleaded with a soft and gentle voice. His words
Axel's Pov "Your majesty!! Your breakfast is ready," Daniel said as he brought my breakfast to me. "Wow! You are really conscious of your body shape, riding a stationary bike this morning. I really need to applaud you," Daniel said, fawning."What do you want?" I asked him without looking at his face."President Axel," he said, and bent down to help me massage my leg.I looked at him, his smile spreading across. "Brother Axel, what would you say about my performance when I was your secretary?" he asked.I sighed. To be truthful, Daniel had outdone himself. He was really proficient and efficient. The professor had been very happy and had continued threatening him with a blind date, so that he could keep working in the company."Good," I said."Awwwn! I am blushing," he said, grinning, the tips of his werewolf teeth showing as he looked at me, his cheeks tinged with red. "You've never complimented anyone before," he said."Didn't I deserve an award?" he said, searching my eyes."What d
Leah's Pov,"Ms. Leah, here is the list of the people in the Montgomery family," Derek said as he passed me a small booklet. "You have to be careful; they are not the people you can joke with. They are extra dangerous," he said. I nodded, scanning through the file with a furrowed brow, taking in Derek's warning seriously.We arrived at the Montgomery estate, and all I could say was wow, this is... at the gigantic gate of the estate stood two large lions made of rare rubies. We underwent intense security checks at the gate before being allowed entry into the estate. The level of security was staggering.The house was surrounded by a meticulously manicured garden, with winding paths and intricate statues. The roof was curved and tiled, reminiscent of traditional Chinese architecture. The windows were arched and adorned with delicate detailing. The doors were made of dark wood, with latticework panels inlaid with elaborate designs, exuding a sense of tranquility and timeless elegance.
Leah's Pov"Why did you do this, Leah?" John asked, looking at me with concern. I ignored his gaze and looked straight at Axel. My mind raced with questions. Would he support me and help me? Would he reveal his true self? I anxiously awaited his response.Axel looked away from me, his demeanor nonchalant, as if I were not even visible. My heart clenched, and I felt like I was in a hot furnace, my emotions overwhelming me. Could it be....... Was he not Axel? I had questions, but he remained mute, refusing to reveal anything. Frustrated, sad, and tired, I looked around at the people working. "I will get to the bottom of this. Don't worry, keep on working," I assured the designers as I walked out to make a call. "Hey Michael," I said slowly. "Leah, what's wrong? You sound sad," Michael responded. "I am fine. I just need a little help from you," I said, trying to steady my voice.Several minutes later, several women walked into the backstage, their figures and beauty lighting up the
Axel's Pov8 hours ago,At the airport,"Brother Liam, you have to wait for some time, the car will be here soon," Daniel said, his voice filled with assurance. "Okay," I nodded, my fingers tapping away on my phone. It had been a long day, traveling from one country to another for a business collaboration. All I wanted was to fall into a deep sleep."Axel!" a cute voice shouted, causing me to snap out of my daze. I furrowed my brow, wondering if my ears were playing tricks on me. Couldn't be... I turned around and was met with the sight of Jasper. He was sporting shorts and a checkered shirt, paired with stylish sunglasses. His chubby, round face bore a striking resemblance to mine. My heart ached with longing to hug him and ruffle his hair; oh, how I missed my son. But then I hesitated. "Sorry, you've got the wrong person," I told him."You're not Axel?" Jasper asked, peering directly into my eyes as he took off his sunglasses."I am not," I replied, trying to maintain composure.