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Chapter 19: Arabella
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2024-11-14 17:18:45Related chapters
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.
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 24 She really is Ella
Zane rubbed his eyes, blinking twice to make sure he wasn’t imagining things. It wasn’t every day that his boss, Lucas, wore a smirk in the back seat of the car. After all, Lucas was more known for his silent stares than smiles. Curiosity getting the best of him, Zane tentatively asked, "Uh… Mr. Lucas, did you, uh, happen to encounter something particularly… pleasant today?" But, as expected, Lucas remained silent, staring out of the car window with that odd, faraway look in his eyes. Just as Zane was about to give up on getting an answer, Lucas finally spoke, "I thought I'd lost something. Something important. But now I see it’s been with me all along, just… wrapped differently. And I was too blind to see it." Zane blinked again. His boss had officially crossed into cryptic territory. "Something important, sir?" Lucas fell silent, leaving Zane even more puzzled. But a moment later, as if he couldn’t keep it to himself, Lucas continued, "More than important. She's… a treasur
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 25 The truth!
As Ella hung up the phone, a small frown crept onto her face. Something felt off, but she forced herself to appear unfazed. “Alright, I'll head back to the office now,” she told herself, steadying her resolve. She quickly called Mr. Kane, hoping he could pick up her two children, but luck wasn't on her side. Mr. Kane was downstairs, deeply engrossed in a heated chess match, and his phone was left behind. Instead, it was Mrs. Kane who answered. Hearing Ella's request, she nearly burst with excitement. “Oh, absolutely! You just focus on your work; I’ll handle the kids,” Mrs. Kane said with a quiver in her voice. “Don’t worry about a thing. You can count on me!” Since the paternity test drama, Mrs. Kane had felt a mix of guilt and longing for her daughter and grandchildren. Despite her attempts to make up for her past suspicions by visiting often and cooking up a storm on weekends, there was still this unspoken distance between her and Ella. But now, for Ella to finally trust he
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
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
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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
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 25 The truth!
As Ella hung up the phone, a small frown crept onto her face. Something felt off, but she forced herself to appear unfazed. “Alright, I'll head back to the office now,” she told herself, steadying her resolve. She quickly called Mr. Kane, hoping he could pick up her two children, but luck wasn't on her side. Mr. Kane was downstairs, deeply engrossed in a heated chess match, and his phone was left behind. Instead, it was Mrs. Kane who answered. Hearing Ella's request, she nearly burst with excitement. “Oh, absolutely! You just focus on your work; I’ll handle the kids,” Mrs. Kane said with a quiver in her voice. “Don’t worry about a thing. You can count on me!” Since the paternity test drama, Mrs. Kane had felt a mix of guilt and longing for her daughter and grandchildren. Despite her attempts to make up for her past suspicions by visiting often and cooking up a storm on weekends, there was still this unspoken distance between her and Ella. But now, for Ella to finally trust he
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 24 She really is Ella
Zane rubbed his eyes, blinking twice to make sure he wasn’t imagining things. It wasn’t every day that his boss, Lucas, wore a smirk in the back seat of the car. After all, Lucas was more known for his silent stares than smiles. Curiosity getting the best of him, Zane tentatively asked, "Uh… Mr. Lucas, did you, uh, happen to encounter something particularly… pleasant today?" But, as expected, Lucas remained silent, staring out of the car window with that odd, faraway look in his eyes. Just as Zane was about to give up on getting an answer, Lucas finally spoke, "I thought I'd lost something. Something important. But now I see it’s been with me all along, just… wrapped differently. And I was too blind to see it." Zane blinked again. His boss had officially crossed into cryptic territory. "Something important, sir?" Lucas fell silent, leaving Zane even more puzzled. But a moment later, as if he couldn’t keep it to himself, Lucas continued, "More than important. She's… a treasur
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.
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
