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Chapter 15
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Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 16
It took Ella a long time to fully process everything. It wasn't until this very moment that she realized—Mr. Kane knew the truth all along. He knew she wasn’t the real Lila, that she wasn't his biological daughter.The truth hit her with the weight of a thousand bricks, but oddly, it wasn’t as crushing as she thought it would be. In fact, when she started to think back to all her interactions with Mr. Kane, it made sense. There was a coldness in the beginning, sure. When she first came back to the Kane family, Mrs. Kane was practically glowing with joy, all warmth and smiles, while Mr. Kans? Well, let’s just say he wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for her.It wasn't that he was outright rude, but he definitely wasn’t welcoming. He’d scrutinize her every time she spoke, as if trying to decode her. She didn't think much of it at the time. After all, he was a big shot, and she was just trying to blend in.But somewhere along the way, everything changed. He stopped being so co
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 17: Divorce is just a fancy way of being single
As Ella looked at the guy standing in front of her, she wracked her brain, trying to match his face with anything from the memories or messages left by the previous “Lila.” Surely, if the old Lila had been obsessed with this guy, there would’ve been something about him in her social media feed, a diary, or, at the very least, a stray text?Nothing. Not a trace of him anywhere.Maybe, she thought, old Lila had tried and failed to snag him, got frustrated, and wiped him clean from her life out of sheer embarrassment.As Ella considered this theory, the Dante cleared his throat. "Miss Kane, do you remember now?"Ella blinked, snapping back to reality. She quickly shook her head, offering him a blank stare. "Sorry, I don’t."This seemed to intrigue him. He took a few steps closer, leaning in with a look of pure amusement. "You think you can just say you don't remember, and that’s it? Unless you've got some proof, this conversation isn't over."Ella tried to keep her cool. The last thing s
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 18: Ugh! Hypocrite
Ella pressed her lips together, acting as if she was completely oblivious to the situation unraveling beside her. But just as she thought she could quietly sit through it, Dante—who had been sitting next to her with an air of smug confidence—suddenly spoke up with a mocking grin.“Well, well, isn’t this Mr. Lucas himself, the famous CEO of the Apex Corp? You’re not a student here at Fairfield University, so what brings you to our little anniversary celebration?”Lucas turned, finally pulling his gaze from Ella's face, which he had been studying far too intently, and coolly looked at Dante as if he were an insignificant fly buzzing around his head. After a beat of silence, Lucas replied with a low, detached voice, “Do I know you?”Dante laughed, a sarcastic glint flashing in his eyes. “Of course, you don’t know me. But your name sure comes up a lot.” Lucas's face remained blank as he immediately turned away, dismissing Dante with total indifference.Dante's jaw clenched, clearly irri
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 19: Arabella
Dante and Ella both spun around in sync, as if they were in some kind of slow-motion, dramatic movie scene. "Well, Mr. Lucas sure has guts," Dante quipped, folding his arms and tilting his head. Unfazed, Lucas just smirked, looking straight at Ella. "Miss Kane, you have quite the eye for things. I wonder—did your ex-husband ever realize you had a soft spot for Mr. Dante here?" That stopped Dante in his tracks. "Ex-husband?" he repeated, glancing at Ella with surprise written all over his face. Before Ella could even open her mouth, Leo stepped out from the auditorium. He looked from Ella to Lucas, then to Dante, then back to Ella, raising an eyebrow. "Lila? What are you doing here? And, oh, Mr. Lucas. Fancy running into you too. And… who’s this guy?" As the three men gathered in front of her, Ella could feel her head spinning. This was turning into some sort of twisted rom-com. They say three women make a drama, but no one warned her that three men could make just as big
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 20: He knew!!
"Arabella..."The soft whisper of her name slipped from Lucas lips, his voice almost trembling as if the words carried a weight that threatened to crush him. The moment the name left his mouth, Ella felt a jolt run through her spine. It was as if time itself had frozen, the world around her pausing for just a heartbeat.She couldn’t look away from him, her heart pounding in her chest. It’s been years since anyone had said that name—her name. It felt so out of place now, so foreign."Mr. Lucas, are you mistaken? This seems to be Lila Kane, a student from the School of Journalism," Mr. Carter's voice sounded confused, breaking the eerie tension.But Lucas didn’t seem to care. He ignored the comment and walked straight toward Ella. His gaze was locked on her with an intensity that made her stomach churn.Ella, caught off guard, quickly turned her attention to the little creature at her feet. "Oh, where did this little cat come from? It's so cute," she said, forcing a casual tone as sh
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 21 Paternity test
As Ella struggled in Lucas's arms, her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst. She was furious, and her immediate reaction was pure fight-or-flight. She kicked, pinched, and scratched—anything to get him to let go. Lucas barely flinched, despite the bloody marks her nails left on his arm. His grip loosened a little, not out of pain, but from the trembling he could feel in her whole body. That vulnerability made him stop. The second he let her go, Ella delivered a sharp slap across his face, and without a second glance, she turned and bolted toward the door. Lucas hesitated for a second, but instinct kicked in—he couldn’t let her run off like this. He grabbed her wrist, only for her to spin around and bite down on his arm, hard. “Don’t. Touch. Me!” Lucas flinched, caught off guard. “Ella, calm down…” “I told you—I’m not Ella!” “Okay, okay, you’re right. My mistake. You’re Lila.” Lucas's gaze softened, a mix of confusion and worry lurking beneat
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 22 Mommy's Shy
Ella's face turned serious. "I know," she murmured, a deep shadow of determination crossing her features. Six years ago, a fire had reduced her family’s pharmaceutical factory to nothing but ashes—along with any trace of evidence about what really happened. The only lead Ella had was a late-night phone call from her father’s assistant, Luke, just before she left home. But after the fire, Luke had vanished without a trace. For years, she’d been chasing that shadow. Private investigators, endless searches, sleepless nights going over every detail—yet every effort had come up empty. "Hey, Ella, there’s something I’m not sure I should say…" Leo's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "What is it? Just spill it, Leo," Ella replied, brows slightly furrowed. Leo hesitated, a knowing look in his eyes. "If finding Luke isn’t getting you anywhere, maybe you need to try a different approach." "What do you mean?" she asked, curiosity piqued. Leo's gaze softened as he leaned fo
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 23 Poor Little Theo
"There's no need," Lucas replied calmly, barely glancing up. "I’ll go myself." Beside him, Zane, hesitated, swallowing the million questions that popped up. He simply gave a nod and fell in step behind Lucas as they headed toward the car. The prestigious Lakeside Kindergarten in Fairfield. It was one of those high-end institutions that always boasted about “producing the leaders of tomorrow,” with its massive playgrounds, sprawling green lawns, and a price tag that’d make most people’s heads spin. Lucas knew it well, mainly because he was one of its key shareholders. The place was practically an empire, co-owned by the city’s elite. So, when the principal heard that Mr. Montgomery himself had shown up without warning, he nearly fell out of his chair. He scrambled out of his office, leaving behind a stack of forgotten papers in his rush to greet his unexpected visitor. "Mr. Lucas! What an honor to have you here!" the principal greeted, his hands nervously twisting together.
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Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 34 Paternity test
As the door opened, Jenna pulled down her mask and extended her hand with a friendly grin, “Hello, I'm Jenna.” Kate eyes widened, her pupils dilating in sheer surprise. She blinked twice, and just as the reality hit, she squealed. “Oh my gosh! It’s really you! Jenna Stone, I’m your—” “Shh!” Jenna quickly raised a finger to her lips, giving Kate a conspiratorial wink. “I know, I know, you’re a fan. I’ll totally give you an autograph later, maybe even a selfie. But right now, can we focus on the house?” Kate, still visibly starstruck, nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. Jenna's grin widened. "Great! Now, lead the way, Kate. My friend and I can’t wait to check this place out.” As Kate guided them inside, Jenna gave a playful nudge to her Ella. “Told you I got this covered,” she whispered, winking. Ella, however, was too busy staring around the luxurious hallway to notice. The apartment Kate showed them was a chic duplex on the third floor. The b
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 33 Maplewood
Ella thought about the breakfast delivery for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities. "Could it be from the neighborhood association? Like, some kind of 'morning kindness' program?" Lila's Mom, let out a hearty laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, please, Lila! No, it was from your coworker." "Coworker?" Ella frowned, her suspicion growing. She had only been back in the country for less than two weeks, and her closest colleague was her boss, Matt. But Matt had no idea that she was sick, so how could he have sent her breakfast? Could it be someone pretending to be her colleague and trying to poison her? It wasn't that Ella was being paranoid, but she had actually experienced something similar when she was in Westvale. Because she had exposed too many high-level secrets,she was seen as a thorn in the eyes of those in power and was secretly poisoned several times. Fortunately, she was vigilant and lucky enough to survive, or she wouldn't know how many times she would have died.
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 32 Lucas must have want to poison her!
As Ella walked down the hallway, she paused suddenly, something sparking in her memory. She spun around to face Leo. "Oh, hey, Leo, I just remembered something weird." Leo looked up, surprised by her sudden halt. "What's up?" "Do you know Lucas? I just heard him call you 'Mr. Quinn.' But… didn't you say you were an only child?" Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. He always knew Ella was sharp, but he hadn't expected her to catch such a small detail, especially with everything going on. For a second, Leo considered dodging the question, but he realized it was probably time to be honest with her. After all, if Lucas had figured out who he was, then it was only a matter of time before Ella found out, too. "Ella," he began, his voice low and sincere. "I've actually wanted to tell you this for a while… but I never quite knew how." She cocked her head to the side, her curious gaze glued to him. "Tell me what?" He exhaled slowly. "I only found out about it six years ago." Ella's eyebrow
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 31 Hearing his name always makes her nauseous
Lucas paced down the hospital hallway, flicking a cigarette to life. The brief hit of nicotine helped, but it was just a distraction. After a few drags, he stubbed it out, taking a deep breath. Ella hated the smell of smoke, and somehow, even now, he still cared. She’d told him once, early on in their marriage, that the smell bothered her. Since then, he’d done his best to quit, even during the most high-pressure times at work. But he’d picked up the habit again after she “left.” Those nights of sleeplessness, combined with long, grueling work hours, had driven him back to it, as if the smoke could somehow ease the emptiness she left behind. Now, as he headed back to the ward, a strange feeling crept over him. He was almost at the door when he heard voices inside. “Are you hungry?” came a familiar voice. “I brought you some oatmeal porridge. Drink it, and then I’ll take you home.” Lucas's eyes narrowed. That’s Leo Quinn. How did Leo find her? Besides himself, only Kai a
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 30 What happened six years ago
“It’s fine. What’s going on that’s so urgent?” Leo asked, his voice still rough from being jolted awake in the middle of the night. He flicked on the bedside lamp, throwing soft light into the room, and started pulling on his clothes. Years as a surgeon had trained him to expect chaos at odd hours, but he still preferred a warning. “Did something happen?” Kaia didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "My mother was taken away by Lucas Montgomery." Leo paused in his movements, his expression changing. "You mean Lucas took your mother away? When did this happen?" “After work last night. She told us she had to work late, but she didn’t come home. Just now, my sister called her phone, and Lucas answered. He said Mom is sick and he’s with her at the hospital.” That was all Leo needed to hear. He yanked on his second sock, grabbed his jacket, and was out of bed in an instant. “Which hospital?” Kai was stunned for a moment. She hadn't mentioned it. But just because she didn't
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 29 Mommy has been kidnapped!!
"Wait, didn't you just say she’d freak out if she saw me?" Lucas's voice had an edge of disbelief. "Yeah," Aaron replied, unfazed. "She’d panic if she saw you conscious. But guess what? She’s not conscious right now, is she?" Lucas was quiet, unsure what to do next. “So...what exactly am I supposed to do?” Aaron gave him a patient look, as though explaining a simple math problem to a child. “Simple. Pour water near her ear to mimic the sound of rain. Drip a little cold water on her skin. And, from time to time, whisper to her that you’re here to help.” Lucas arched an eyebrow, skeptical. “Seriously? That’s gonna work?” “Who’s the doctor here, you or me?” Aaron shot back. Taking a resigned breath, Lucas muttered something under his breath before finally walking into the emergency room. --- In the depths of her unconscious mind, Ella found herself reliving a nightmare she thought she'd left far behind. She was back six years ago, trapped in a raging fire. Smoke stung her eyes,
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 28 He might be the only one to help her
"Mr. Montgomery, we’ve arrived at the hospital," the driver announced gently. Lucas blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He glanced down at the woman resting limply in his arms, her face pale and peaceful in sleep. His heart twisted, but he ignored it, taking off his coat and carefully wrapping it around her, keeping her warm. Just as he stepped out, Zane, rushed forward with an umbrella, his brow furrowing in concern. "Mr. Lucas, it’s cold out. Maybe you should keep the coat. I can give her mine." Lucas gave him a look that could freeze lava. Without a word, he swept past Zane, clutching her close to his chest as he strode toward the hospital doors, leaving Zane to trail behind, holding the umbrella. --- Half an hour later, they waited in a quiet corner of the emergency room. Finally, a young man in a white coat stepped out, clipboard in hand. Dr. Aaron, a childhood friend of Lucas and a top doctor, sighed as he looked over the test results. "Well, Lucas," Aaron said, push
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 27 Murder
"Poison." Lucas's words hung in the air as Ella stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless, for a solid two seconds. She then whipped around, pressing a hand to her mouth, panic spreading through her face. Lucas quickly reached out and stopped her, his expression dark and severe. "Did you really think I meant poison?" Ella shot him a look as if to say, Of course, I believed you! After all, he was capable of murder and arson. Seeing that she was still trying to force the supposed "poison" out of her mouth, Lucas sighed and finally admitted, "Fine, it’s just chlorophenol amine maleate." Ella froze. She knew chlorophenol amine maleate—it was a common allergy medication. But that meant he’d specifically prepared it… for her. Which also meant he’d somehow known she had an allergy. Specifically to osmanthus. Which meant… Oh. Oh no. She pieced it all together with a dawning sense of horror: Lucas must have used the osmanthus tea as a test. A test to confirm her identity. And now
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 26 What was Leo hiding?
Ella stared at the man in front of her, her jaw nearly dropping. Leo is the son of the wealthiest man in the city? The Henry Quinn she’s known for ages? How is that possible?! She blinked, half-expecting someone to jump out with a hidden camera and shout, “Gotcha!” But, Lucas didn’t look like he was in on some joke. He looked serious. Real serious. After the shock wore off a bit, Ella shook her head. This had to be a mistake. There’s no way her humble, down-to-earth Leo could be part of that family. “Mr. Lucas,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, “There are tons of people out there with the same name, right? I mean, Leo Quinn isn’t exactly unique.” Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Sure, but how many people have the same name, the same face, and... the same everything else?” With that, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a stack of photos, placing them right in front of her. Ella hesitated, glancing at the photos like they might explode
