Ella voiced out her doubt. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice casual but tinged with amusement. “I won’t be following you around like some overprotective parent. I’ll be in a car behind you, with a small team. Lucas won’t even know we’re there.” If that were true, it would make things a lot easier. But Ella wasn’t so sure. Lucas was sharp—too sharp. If he wanted to pick up on Leo’s trail, she doubted anyone could stop him. She crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “Leo, you do realize that Lucas isn’t the kind of person you can just sneak up on, right?” Leo’s grin widened, and he leaned forward. “Ella, don’t underestimate me. I’m not just some doctor, you know. I’m also the third young master of the richest family in the city. I’ve got resources—and people—who are trained for this kind of thing.” Ella blinked. “Wait, what?” Leo laughed at her stunned expression. “Oh, did I forget to mention that? My bad. Anyway, the guys I’ve hired are top-tier. Ex-special forces. A
"I'm fine."Ella’s voice was flat, and her expression matched. She opened the car door and slid into the back seat without another word.Lucas followed, but instead of his usual smooth-talking self, he stayed oddly quiet. He looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it. After all, today wasn’t just any day—it was her father’s death anniversary. A heavy day. Even Lucas, in all his calculated charm, seemed to sense that pushing her would be a bad idea.So, the car rolled out of the driveway in silence.The driver, professional as ever, focused on the road. No small talk, no radio, just the hum of the car and the occasional sound of Ella shifting in her seat. The Western Suburb Cemetery—Fairfield's quietest corner—was an hour's drive away. An hour of silence. Lucas stared out the window, his mind a million miles away, while Ella clutched the bouquet in her lap, lost in her own thoughts.She wasn’t sure what to expect today. Lucas wasn’t exactly known for his sent
Ella said nothing, but in that moment, it felt like she’d said everything.Lucas’ expression was unreadable, his dark eyes holding a mix of emotions. With a soft sigh, he finally broke the silence. “Forget it. Lila, just pretend I’m sick or something. Let’s go. Get in the car.”The cemetery's eerie calmness lingered as they walked to the parking lot. Lucas stepped into the black Bentley, his movements deliberate, while Ella hesitated for a split second before carefully getting in after him.Lucas glanced at her, noting her unusually cautious demeanor. She reminded him of a startled deer—calm on the surface, but one wrong move and she’d bolt.“Lila,” Lucas said, tilting his head slightly. “Are you looking for someone?”His words made her freeze, but she quickly masked her surprise. “Mr. Lucas, you’re overthinking. This is my first time here, and, as you said, this place is practically deserted. Who could I possibly find here? The ghosts?”Lucas chuckled, a low sound that sent a shive
Ella tried her best to suppress the turmoil in her heart as she spoke to Lucas, her voice as steady as she could manage, "Mr. Lucas, you can let go now. I’m not that fragile."Lucas hesitated, his brows furrowed with concern, but eventually released his grip.As Ella opened her eyes, her gaze immediately landed on the crumpled figure of a man sprawled less than a meter away. He looked like he’d been through a blender, and if Ella hadn’t spent a couple of years toughing it out in Westvale, she might’ve lost her breakfast right then and there.Even so, her face paled.It wasn’t the sight of the man that disturbed her most—it was the realization that he’d landed exactly where she’d been standing just moments earlier.If Lucas hadn’t yanked her away in time, she’d be the one lying there—or worse.The crowd around them began to buzz like bees in a hive, some tending to the injured man, others whispering among themselves.“Hey, isn’t that Lila from the Kane family?”“Oh, it is! Someone shou
The emergency room’s fluorescent lights buzzed faintly, casting an odd glow over Ella’s pale face. She sat there with her leg stretched out awkwardly, glass shards poking into her calf like cruel reminders of what just went down. The doctor had just suggested local anesthesia to remove them, but Ella shook her head like it was no big deal. "It's fine," she said through gritted teeth, her voice as steady as a rock. "Just get it over with." The doctor raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. For the next half hour, he painstakingly picked out every last shard under an optical microscope. Ella clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She refused to flinch. Pain? Please. That was nothing compared to the mess her life had become. Finally, her leg was bandaged up, and she limped off the bed. Mrs. Kane, her mom, was there in a flash. “Lila, honey, you need to go check on Lucas next door. He had way more glass in him!” Ella hesitated. “Mom… they’re probably still working
Ella glanced at Lucas, who sat there looking infuriatingly calm while she struggled to keep her emotions in check. Her lips pressed into a thin line as her irritation grew. He, of all people, had no right to look so smug, especially after his morning antics. Lucas, on the other hand, was in an unexpectedly good mood. Since this morning, Ella had been avoiding him like he was some kind of walking hazard, her every action tinged with caution and unease. He could understand the trauma tied to the events of six years ago, but that didn’t mean her behavior didn’t sting. Seeing her snap at him now felt oddly refreshing—a sign that the cool, composed Ella was starting to crack under his relentless teasing. He grinned, leaning back against the bed. “I was just joking, Secretary Kane. Surely you’re not going to hold a grudge over something so trivial?” Ella’s glare was ice-cold, her disdain so palpable it practically hung in the air. She didn’t bother dignifying his words with a
"Well," Matt began, rubbing his temples, "according to the surveillance footage from the residential area, Tony stood on the balcony for at least three to four minutes. Just staring down. The entire time. There was no one below until... well, until you showed up, Lila." Lila blinked, her stomach tightening. She didn’t like where this was going. "That’s when," Matt continued, his voice grim, "he suddenly decided to climb over the railing and jump. Right as you were walking through." The room went silent. The kind of heavy silence where everyone avoids eye contact because, well, what the hell do you even say to that? "So, what you’re saying is," Mr. Kane interjected, his face as stone-cold serious as ever, "Tony wasn’t just trying to kill himself—he was aiming for Lila? That’s insane! She doesn’t even know the guy!" "Not exactly what I said," Matt replied cautiously, though his tone carried that but also kinda what I said vibe. "We can’t be sure of his mindset. He’s dead, after al
Ella couldn't help but shiver as she mulled over everything that had happened in the past few days. A nagging thought kept swirling in her mind: What if Lucas knows the truth? It would all make sense, wouldn’t it? First, he’d try to gain her trust. Then, he’d charm Kai and Kaia, inching his way into their hearts. And once the kids were firmly on his side? Boom. He’d strike—taking the kids away and tossing her aside like yesterday’s leftovers. She shook her head, trying to dismiss the idea. No, no, I’m overthinking. After all, hadn’t Leo reassured her that Lucas didn’t suspect the truth? He hadn’t mentioned the kids or given her any weird vibes recently. Still, a small voice in her head whispered, But what if you’re wrong? Ella decided she’d keep a close eye on Lucas from now on. No need to jump to conclusions...yet. --- Later that afternoon, Jenna barged into Ella’s place like a whirlwind. “Okay, Ella, seriously. Can we just stay away from Lucas Montgomery? Every t
At the same time, over at Fairfield Westside Mansion, as soon as Leo stepped out of the elevator, he smelled a strong burning smell coming from his room. His sense of foreboding grew stronger, and he quickly took out his key and opened the door, expecting to see chaos or a woman lying unconscious on the ground.To his surprise, the room was clean and tidy as if no one had been there.He quickly opened all the windows, turned off the gas valve, and then opened the bedroom doors one by one. Finally, he found the woman tightly bound on the guest bed.She lay on the bed, but the sheets were not messy, indicating that she had not woken up since being thrown there.Leo approached and touched her nose to check her breathing.She was still alive.She was really lucky. With such a serious gas leak in the room, his driver had even locked her in a room with a locked window to prevent her from waking up and causing trouble. Yet she still managed to survive...A hint of sarcasm flashed in Leo's e
Meanwhile, Leo didn’t think much about what Director Sam had said and drove back all the way.At the same time, after finishing her full-body checkup, Ella felt a dull pain in her chest and the back of her head. With the help of a nurse, she returned to her hospital room only to find Kai’s small backpack but no sign of him.Her heart tightened, and she turned to ask the nurse if she had seen Kai."Mr. Kane took Kai to see Mr. Montgomery, and they probably don’t know you’re back in the hospital," the nurse replied."Lucas Montgomery?" Ella wondered why Mr. Kane would take Kai to see him. Could it be…"Yes, not long after you left the hospital, Mr. Montgomery's brainwaves suddenly had a significant fluctuation, and it looked like he was about to wake up. Everyone thought it was amazing," the nurse said.It was already a miracle in the medical field for a vegetative person to wake up, let alone Lucas Montgomery, who had been diagnosed as a vegetative patient and was showing signs of rec
"Leo shouted, 'Ella!' instead of 'Lila' at that moment."As expected, the woman couldn’t keep up the act anymore. Even when pretending to be unconscious with her eyes closed, her eyeballs couldn’t help but move around. So, Leo immediately gave her a sedative injection and had the driver take her to his own home. He would naturally go back and meet her properly when he had time in the evening.However, after confirming that the woman was a fake, Leo’s nervousness actually increased because he wasn’t sure if his Ella was okay.Leo looked around the room and didn’t find anything unusual. He was about to take out his phone and call the people waiting at the entrance of the alley to catch the man who had just left.But at this moment, a faint sound came from under the broken bed of the small room:“Mmm...”Leo’s body shook, and he turned and walked into the bedroom.“Ella?”He lifted the bedsheet and saw a girl under the bed holding her chest in pain. Who else could it be if not his Ella
Leo couldn’t help but think of the words he heard outside the ward last night, and his eyes softened.He gently tucked her hair behind her ear, but his finger paused for a moment.Amy didn’t notice anything wrong and said, “Since you see that I’m fine, why don’t you go out and wait for me? I still have to talk to my friend for a bit.”Amy didn’t want to spend too much time with Leo. Although she was now wearing Lila’s face and had a similar demeanor to Lila, she didn’t have Lila’s memories.Originally, Amy had planned to cause a car accident on the road after replacing Lila, and then pretend to be unconscious and have amnesia. But she never expected Leo to arrive so quickly.With Leo’s intelligence, she could fool him for a few minutes, but if they spent more time together, he would definitely notice something was off. So, she had to get rid of Leo first.Fortunately, Leo didn’t hesitate this time and said, “Okay, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”After Leo left, Amy patted her chest, fe
Amy didn’t notice the shock in Gordon's eyes.Although she was a host, she had also taken a course in dubbing during college, so it wasn’t difficult for her to change her voice to imitate Lila’s.Sure enough, Leo on the other end of the phone didn’t notice anything wrong. His voice was gentle, with a hint of temptation, “Lila, where are you going?”“I’m going out to see a friend,” Amy replied, keeping up the pretense.“A friend?” Leo’s voice raised slightly. “Which friend? Why didn’t you tell me?”Amy, perfectly imitating Lila’s tone, said lightly, “Aren’t you at work? Do I have to report to you every time I step out for a little while?”Leo on the other end of the phone was stunned.Lila… is she angry with me?This was somewhat new to him.After all, he had known Lila for so many years, and she had always been respectful toward him. Even if he sometimes interfered too much in her life and made her feel uncomfortable, she would at most distance herself slightly.But this… this was som
Amy saw a few figures walking outside the door.Through the limited field of vision provided by the cat’s eyes in the door, she couldn’t see their faces clearly. However, judging by their attire, it was evident that these weren’t people sent by Leo. Instead, they seemed more like officials inspecting something.Sure enough, she overheard their conversation outside the door.“Have all the residents of this building moved out?”“They’ve been completely relocated.”“That’s good. When can we start the demolition?”“Tomorrow should be fine.”“The demolition must proceed quickly, but make sure to avoid disturbing the nearby residents.”The group ascended a few steps, but perhaps due to the instability of the stairs, they decided to turn back before reaching the third floor.Only then did Amy let out a sigh of relief.Even though these people came to inspect, if they had gone upstairs and discovered someone still inside, she wouldn’t have been able to explain herself.Amy turned back to the
Meanwhile, at the entrance of a lane on the second ring road in the north of the city, Ella hung up the phone after transferring money to the shop owner. Just as she did, her phone rang again. The shop owner looked at her in shock and confusion, wondering why she would use a commercial phone when she had a perfectly good mobile phone. Ella ignored him and checked the caller ID before walking out of the shop. She walked to a quiet street corner before answering the call. "Hello?""Lila! Where are you?!" A voice that sounded like it was on the verge of madness came from the phone. "You better not play any tricks on me, or you'll never find out the truth about the fire six years ago!"Ella sneered at the threat. "Don't worry, Miss Amy. I was just stuck in traffic for a bit."Amy coldly snorted. "So how much longer do I have to wait?""About ten minutes."Ella wasn't sure what Amy wanted from her. She probably didn't know that she was actually Ella. With her current hysterical state,
If by the end of tomorrow's trial, Kings Lopez still insists that he acted alone and has nothing to do with Leo, things will become complicated.Because Kings Lopez is still in custody and Philip can still have access to him, but once the trial is over, according to the speed of this case, the judgment will come immediately, and Kings Lopez will be sent to prison. It will be difficult to see him again once he is in prison. It will be even harder to reopen the case. After all, this is already a retrial of an old case. If it is retried again, it will probably shake the public's confidence. The higher-ups will not make such a decision easily."I’ll go see Kings Lopez tonight and try to make a breakthrough from him," Philip said, thinking about how to break through Kings Lopez's defenses and make him confess Leo's involvement.Unexpectedly, Ella shook her head. "No need.""Hmm?" Philip looked up and saw Ella's firm and resolute eyes. He seemed to understand what she meant. "What's you
Leo couldn't remember how many red lights he had run through.All he knew was that when he parked his car on the side of the road, several cars that had been following him couldn't help but drive up to him and curse."Couldn't you just go home and drink poison or cut your wrists if you want to commit suicide? Why do you have to cause trouble for others on the road?"Leo glanced at the man calmly without saying anything. Although he hadn't said anything yet, the man inexplicably became timid and snorted, "What are you looking at? You were the one speeding!" Then he quickly rolled up his car window and stepped on the gas to leave.Leo collected his gaze expressionlessly, got out of the car, and walked straight toward the alley where Ella had disappeared.The alley was very deep, crossing two main streets, and there were many small side roads inside. There were also scattered small vendors on the roadside and small low-rise buildings that seemed to have no end.Moreover, because the ro