I have Francisco drop me off at my home and am unpleasantly surprised to see my things were actively being moved back in from Leo’s home. I knew he wanted me to leave but to send me off without so much as a goodbye was infuriating.Francisco watches from the car as I watch them move everything into my home for me. I’m sure a part of him enjoyed this. Suddenly I hear his phone ring from behind me. Hopefully this plan had gone without difficulty or hiccup. Claire needed to pay for her interference and be the worthless peasant I know her to be. “Mon Cher, the deed is done.” He says with a sinister smile as I turn in confirmation.“Is she dead?” I want her dead now. Disfiguring her was well-enough when I was living with Leo but clearly she posed more of a threat that I originally presumed.“That’s wasn’t the deal. The girls’ brother is arrested and she is disfigured as you asked.” He shrugs as though this was nothing but a small matter to him. A gesture that began a new rage in me. I ha
I awoke in a jolt as the memory of what had happened to me resurfaced. I’d been attacked in my suite by an unknown man. A second successful attempt at the hands of the person who wanted to harm me.I look around and find myself in the hospital with my right hand bandaged extensively. I could feel the throbbing underneath the bandages and immediately begin to sob without having noticed Leo sitting beside my bed with his head down.“Claire, you’re awake. Are you okay?” He asks frantically as he gets up to kiss my head.“It hurts.” I say softly motioning to my hand.“It’s going to hurt for some time but they’ll be giving you some medication to help. I’ll have the doctor come in to tell you more. But first, I need you to tell me what happened so I can tell Mason. They’re at your suite looking for evidence on who did this to you.” I choke up when I realize how I ended up here and what was to come. What if they can’t find him? What if we never save Matthew? And what if they kill me next?“H
I exit Claire’s hospital room on a mission. I call Mason first to recount Claire’s story of today’s attack.“Officer Mason.” I hear him speak clearly.“It’s Leo. I asked Claire what happened. She said the man was already in her suite when she arrived. He was dressed in a suit with his black hair combed back and he had green eyes. He was sitting at her desk. He said ‘boss’ orders’ when he attacked her with the trophy.” I make sure to leave no details unsaid. This was crucial to catching who did this to my wife.“Okay, I thought the trophy may have been the assault weapon so u had sentTo the lab for DNA testing. I’ll have my guys search for DNA forensics. I have some news on Matthew’s case as well, if you’re up to hear it.” Truth be told, I had forgotten about Matthew these last few days. “Any news is good news, I suppose.” I reply.“Well we checked the stamps, bags and origin of those drugs and our hunch was right. They came from a mafia group we’ve been following for years. If we ca
I wake up a few hours later with a dull pain my hand. The morphine had helped but I could still feel the aftermath of today’s events. According to the clock on the wall, I had slept for eight hours. I look over to find Leo sleeping on the couch beside my bed and two duffel bags on the chair. Not only has he decided to stay but he had brought things for us as we would be staying here for a few days as they reexamined my hand to ensure the proper healing took place. I use the call button to request a nurse as I had to use the restroom and see Leo jump up immediately as the nurse responds over the speaker. I hear him as he notifies the nurse that I’m fine. “What do you need? I’ll help.” He was adamant on helping. “I just have to use the restroom.” I whisper softly. “It’s okay. I’ll help you.” “But you were sleeping? It’s okay. I can just ask the nurse.” “No, I was just waiting for you to wake up. Come on, I’ll help you.” He extends a hand and gives a soft smile. I knew refusing wou
After Emilia’s stunt and my mother’s audacity, I was emotionally drained. How dare they ask that I abandon Claire and continue to overlook their distaste in her? I had overlooked it in the past because I knew they held a special space for Charlotte but I see now, how wrong I’ve been. They didn’t love Charlotte. She was just a status that paired well with my success. A purebred paired with another purebred, but they didn’t know the truth. Or maybe, my truth just wasn’t important to them.I wasn’t happy with Charlotte. She was beautiful and cunning but I didn’t love her in the way she loved me and I had planned on ending things with her prior to her accident. Charlotte had no ambition in our relationship and had become clingy, expecting me stay by her side and abandon my responsibilities. I had lost interest in her - the same way I’d lost interest in them all until Claire came along.Claire was different. She’s beautiful was ambitious, innocent, kind and caring. She would make sure I’d
I must’ve dozed off when comforting Claire because I’m still in her hospital bed when I awake. I decide to make use of this quiet time and text Elena. I request that she make some food for Claire and I and that she ready herself to be dropped off here. I can feel the excitement as she responds with breakfast options and asks if Claire would like anything else. I then text my driver, letting him know that I would like Elena to be dropped off here at the hospital. I then send a message to Mason and ask to speak with him in person today. If I wanted to protect Claire, we needed to pick up our pace and find out who did this to Matthew and her. I set a time where I can have Elena here to comfort and watch over Claire so that I could put more of my efforts into finding her attackers and freeing her brother. I drop my phone onto the bed and continue to cuddle Claire as she sleeps. Every so often, I find myself passing a glance at her hand. The doctor planned to remove the bandages after fo
While Leo was away, I tried to piece everything together. Elena had made sure I ate, assisted me in cleaning myself up and sat down with me as I closed my eyes and tried to remember any information that might be useful in finding my attackers. Elena held my hands as I try to visually take myself back to that day. I had gone to the elevator in a haste, there was no one in the lobby and the elevator didn’t seem to be tampered with, the hallways from the elevator to my suite was empty and quiet as usual and the door to my suite looked completely fine. It wasn’t until I was inside that he had made his presence known. He must’ve been posing as a potential client and was able to slip by the other occupants of the building that way. He would’ve been suspicious if he hadn’t been wearing a nice suit. I keep trying to find anything that may have seemed off but nothing was tampered with or at least to the point where I would notice. I change my focus to the man and hold my breath as I jog throu
Claire called me to share the details of each attack. She found that she was able to remember more and I was proud of her.After finishing our conversation, I turn to Mason in the back of my town car.“We have a problem.”“Is everything alright with your wife?” “Yes. She tried to visually take herself through both attacks and was able to remember a few things.” I see his face become even more stern as he waits for me to share Claire’s discoveries.“The first guy was waiting nearby for a cue. Someone close had to give him that cue for him to pose as the driver and kidnap Claire. She said he couldn’t have been there the whole time because I would’ve seen him. Which is true considering I usually speak with my driver privately through the front door window. The second attacker is a bit more serious. She said he wore a black Italian brioni suit. She recognized it because that’s the brand of my favorite suit. The other thing she noticed was that when he was leaving her suite, he had a blac
Claire and Jasmine listened closely to the conversation I had with Charlotte on the phone. They felt triumphant as I played my part. “Well she seems convinced.” Claire smiles as she sits down on the couch beside me. “Now, we just have to get Julia and Leo ready to rub it in. The letter said six o’clock, right?” Jasmine confirms.“Yup. I already texted Julia and she said she is getting ready. She wants to make sure she is dressed for the occasion.” Claire seemed a bit nervous but she did it well.“You brought your nice suit, right Leo?” “I did and before you ask, it’s black.”“Good, that means it’ll match with Julia.” Jasmine smiles as her need for color coordination is satisfied.“How do you think Julia will act when she’s faced with Charlotte?” Claire asks quizzically.“I’m not sure. But I should get changed. Julia should be arriving in the next thirty minutes to debrief before we head out.” I stand and leave the room to change. It felt odd to be going to dinner in the company of
It’s late morning when I awake from my nap. The medication they gave me was great at silencing my dead mother but horrible for my energy. Every dose I’d taken had driven me to a long deep rest that encapsulated my hours. I grab my phone and see blog and tabloid notifications - my favorite reading material as I was able to read about myself multiple times. Although, I was glad for my absence in these apps as of recently. The last thing I wanted was to be paraded around as a lunatic.I open the first app to read about today’s events and see Claire is plastered on the front page.“Billionaire’s wife trades high life for loving longevity?” I continue reading as the article names a ‘Nathan Carter’ as Claire’s new love interest and describes their poolside manner as romantic and intimate. Did she really trade Leo for this guy? He wasn’t nearly as handsome as Leo. I look up his net worth isn’t even in the same caliber as Leo. How stupid of her. I continue to look at the photos and I’m struck
I watch the movements of Charlotte’s ankle monitor and to my surprise, it hasn’t move at all from the primary residence. I checked its connection and gps settings. Only to find that everything was working perfectly.Leo informed me of his and Claire’s plan to seem separated in the blogs to make Charlotte more confused and less hyper-fixated on hurting Claire and for some reason, I feel like it might’ve worked. Claire hadn’t had a run in with Charlotte and she hasn’t left to see Leo either. Did her psych hold have something to do with this?I ask the officers providing surveillance at Charlotte’s residence to check in every two hours, just in case. Charlotte wasn’t a dumb woman. She was cunning, fast and maniacal. If she were planning something then I needed to be top of it before anyone got hurt. Surprisingly, the only alert I’d been given was a visitor to Dahlia. The view was partially obstructed but they believe it wasn’t friendly as the woman left without entering and Charlotte sla
I grab my phone and lay on my bed, face the ceiling and try to distract myself. My monitor meant that my moves were recorded and that meant no late night surprise visits to Claire. I had no army, no freedom, an injury to my arm and no opportunities. I wonder if Claire had even seen my letter. It couldn’t be a violation if she were to meet with me in a public location. I wouldn’t have followed her or threatened her, technically. Or did technicalities not count in this situation?I begin scrolling through today’s blogs on my phone, not out of interest but sheer boredom when I see it. Claire seems to be cuddled up with a young man who wasn’t Leo. Not only that, but she’s pregnant in these pictures. Had my plan worked already? Did Claire move on without my knowledge? I scroll through the pictures and notice a Rolex and decide to check out who this guy was. A quick search proves telling as I see his name is Nathan Carter. A newly-made millionaire who had done contracts with Leo in the past
I rummage through my drawers for a pair of swim trunks and see my phone ringing as I’m about to change. My ex-wife was calling and seeing as I had a task at hand, I ignored it and continued to get dressed. Jasmine instructed me to wear my Rolex for the photos to make my status known when the photos go live on the blogs. I’m guessing it had to do with Claire previously being with a billionaire. Sadly for her, I am no billionaire. My company had just sky-rocketed these last three years and I just became a millionaire. Not that that Claire minds, she seems more interested in me as a person than a financial security which is something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. She saw me as just a man. Not a businessman or a successful company owner - just me, Nathan.I check myself in the mirror as I head downstairs to find Claire in a beautiful bathing suit with matching kimono, newly provided by Jasmine and her beauty is remarkable. I also see Leo gawking at her. Guess I’d better be on my be
I get dressed and make sure my sister has my son as I prepare to leave to meet Claire to get more information about my new “lover” for our meeting with Charlotte tomorrow. I see Francisco watching me closely as I check my appearance in the mirror.“You will be careful, won’t you?” He asks as he shakes his leg restlessly.“There is nothing to fear, dear. I am not seeing Charlotte today. I am just meeting with Claire and her husband.” I grab my purse and kiss his cheek before walking out the door to say my farewells to my beautiful son. “You will be good for tante Dahlia, right my little heir?” I speak with a soft voice as I kiss my son and admire his laughter. “Thank you, sister.”“But of course. Franco’s is in good hands with his daddy and I. You do not have to worry.” I smile at her response as I head out the door and into my private car where my chauffeur is waiting patiently.“Where to, Ms. Julia?” He asks as I repeat the address provided to me in French. He nods and begins the j
I had just finished eating when there’s a knock at the door. Leonardo gets it as I clean the kitchen. I see a man come in. He was short, with round glasses, no hair and seemed to be in his early forties. I watch carefully as Leo shakes his hand with controlled excitement and leads him to have a seat in the living room. I finish cleaning, wipes my hands and head over to meet the notorious miracle doctor.“Ah! You must be Claire! A pleasure to meet you.” He says as he quickly stands to greet me and shake my left hand. Leo must’ve told him that my right is the one that’s disfigured. “Oh and congratulations! I wasn’t aware that you’re pregnant!” He was so bubbly and kind that my guard slowly melted away. “Please, have a seat. You must’ve traveled a long way to get here.” I gesture softly as he sits down and offers for me to sit next to him. I sit down just a few inches from his side and smile.“Please don’t worry about my travels. This is my passion. Leonardo said that you had been in a
Logan and Lucas. The names of my beautiful boys, under a tradition my family has kept through generations. Claire doesn’t know how happy that made me. The fact that she even considered my feelings about their names and my traditions - even after the situation I’ve gotten us into.I roll over to see it is five in the morning on my phone. The doctor should be here in two hours and soon after, Julia will be arriving to assist us in our pursuit to confuse Charlotte and remove her aggression towards Claire. I try to gently wake Claire as to not startle her.“The doctor should be arriving in two hours, Claire. Would you like to shower and get dressed?” I ask quietly as she stirs.“Okay, but I can’t get up. I need a little help.” She says groggily.“Okay. Don’t move, I’m coming.” I get up and walk over to her side of the bed, holding my arms out for her to adjust into as I gently roll her towards me and help her up. She grunts in discomfort. “Is that okay?”“Yes. It’s just a little hard to m
It’s close to midnight when Leo and I finally settle into bed. I decide to let him stay the night as it was late and I always felt worried about him being out late at these hours.“You said that there was someone coming to see me bright and early tomorrow. Is it Elena?” I ask as Leo settles into bed beside me.“No, but I can have Elena brought here first thing tomorrow. I’ve called a doctor who specializes in your condition and he’s confident that he can repair your hand and reverse the muscular atrophy that’s taken place. I’ve scheduled him for an evaluation to see what he can do.” He pauses as he watches closely for my reaction. I look at my splint with tunnel vision and hear his words echo through my mind. “What do you think?” He says quietly as he continues watching me.“I could carry my boys?” I ask with tears in my eyes.“Even at the same time.” He reassures me.“I could start my career again?” “Anything is possible.” Anything is possible? Is that really true?“You did all of t