I wait impatiently until I receive a notification from one of my watchman that was conveniently hidden out of sight. My little henchman was captured. Not only was he captured but he was shot. “Another one bites the dust.” I sing softly as I brush my hair at my vanity. Francisco’s men were reckless, ruthless and sloppy. What was I to do with these men?Suddenly, I receive another notification that Lao was seen at that same house shortly after they apprehended my henchman. They say he arrived quickly and left after only a few minutes. A good sign that something between Leo and Claire had gone awry. I smile as I feel a sense of victory in that moment. Could Claire have left Leo for good this time? Or has Leo finally left her? I decide it’s best to find out. Leo would be home soon. I just stop by and could meet him there and see for myself. I get in my car and head to Leonardo’s house - hoping to see my dreams come to fruition.When I arrive, I see that he’s already made it home and I wa
Seeing Charlotte at my door had angered me but after inviting her in, I began to realize her delusion. Charlotte genuinely believed that Claire’s absence would push me to her. A thought that has never crossed my mind.I hear her as she sits in disbelief at my words. I watch as she shakes her head in denial.“Charlotte, I didn’t choose you because I didn’t want to marry you. I allowed you to ruin every relationship I had with other women because I felt indebted to you. I ran to your side because I felt guilt for what I thought had happened to you. What I know now, was a ruse created and executed by your father for financial security. I chose Claire because she was the type of woman I wanted. I married her in spite of your dedication because I love her.” I state plainly as I try to conceal my anger.“But Leo, I love you.” She argues as I see the desperation in her eyes.“You don’t love me, Charlotte. If you loved me - you wouldn’t have deceived me. You wouldn’t betray me. You wouldn’t f
I stay in the room trying to listen to Leo’s wife and provide comfort as best as possible. I feel that she’s developed a hostage mentality at this point and she was reaching a dangerously low place - with only her children keeping her together. She feels trapped. I know that Leo would’ve liked to come in and comfort her but I felt it would be more calming for her if it was a neutral party. “Claire, I need you to breathe with me. You’re pregnant. Whatever you are feeling will be felt by your babies.” I speak calmly as I motion to her stomach. I watch as Claire tries to breathe through her sniffling and I lead her to sit down on the bed. “That’s good. Just keep breathing steady. I will listen to you wholeheartedly but I just want you to try calming down first. Okay?” She nods in agreement as she wipes her tears. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.” She says as she hiccups over her words. “What are you unsure about?” I ask softly. “Leo wants us to be a family but he chose another w
After Mason leaves, I try to stay calm as I’m comforted by Elena and Jasmine. “Don’t worry, hun. I called for additional security to come watch the house as well. You’ll be safe here.” “I’m not safe anywhere.” “I can stay with you tonight, Ms. Claire.” Elena offers. “We can all have a sleepover.” Jasmine offers with a smile. I nod in agreement. I couldn’t bear sleeping alone after what had just happened. “We can even have your therapist do your visits here.” She suggests. “There’s no point.” “What do you mean, Ms. Claire?” Elena asks in confusion. “The muscular atrophy has started. My hand will sooner be stone than pliable.” I remove my splint and show them what I had started to notice the last few days. Jasmine touches it gently and feels the rigid tendons under my skin. “I’m so sorry, Claire.” Jasmine says softly as Elena seems pained by my confession. Suddenly, Jasmine receives a notification asking for gate entry. She looks at it and looks back at me. “It’s Leo. I can d
It’s the next morning when we’re finally released from our cells and I am shocked to see another of my empire is here in jail. It was Rolando. He was one of my grunt workers and I had entrusted him to Charlotte. I see that he is bandaged on his left leg and has a limp. I let out a small whistle and watch as he turns in horror to see me and Roman standing behind him. “Boss, what are you doing here?” He asks with wide eyes. “That doesn’t quite matter. I won’t be here for long. What has happened to your leg?” I gesture to it as I wait for a response. “Charlotte. I was told to watch the girl and try to gain access to the house without being seen. There were unmarked vehicles surrounding her and once I made it onto the property, they got in the way.” He shrugs. Rolando had been with me for a couple of years now. He was loyal and ruthless and he was shot - following an order from Charlotte. “She is losing control.” Roman leans in to warn me. “Was it the same woman Roman had taken care o
I feel my blood boil as I hear my father’s harsh words but I contain myself. His grave had been dug. He would be going to prison soon so I watch him leave without a word.I turn my attention back to Francisco. He was calm and seemed happy to see me. I’m hoping his demeanor wouldn’t change when I made my demands. I tell him that I wanted to kill Claire once and for all and I’d need more man and full control of his empire to do so. I thought he’d simply agree and be happy to help but he had the audacity to demand that I stop?What has to stop, exactly?” I’m not sure I follow. He couldn’t possibly be telling me no.“This obsession has to stop. Claire is not a threat to you. She has suffered and nothing has changed. Leonardo will never appreciate you in the way that I do, mon Cher. It is time to leave this plan behind.” I hear him speak calmly as my ears begin ringing and feel heat rising up my neck.“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” I yell as I slam my palms on the table.“I do
When the officer comes to take me back to my cell, I see Charlotte’s father is still waiting to be moved back to his cell as well.“I’m assuming my daughter has convinced you to help her in her obsession for Leonardo?” He asks sarcastically.“No. I tried to before but I no longer think it is fruitful. She will not stop.” I say as wait for my chains to be placed.“She’s always be a tunnel-visioned and spoiled girl. She could only focus on herself and what she wanted. I blame myself for what she’s turned into.” He nods his head in disappointment as he tries to make sense of his daughters’ delusions. “Truth be told, I knew she was losing Leo before I had them kidnapped. That’s why I made sure to fake a diagnosis for her that would keep Leo by her side and keep his cash flowing into my business when she got hurt.”“That seems less severe that disgusting his wife’s hand.” I shrug as I speak.“That was Charlotte’s doing?” He stands there in shock.“Yes. And before that, Charlotte had her ki
After hearing Charlotte had visited Leo, I knew she had to have been the one to send that henchman to spy on Claire. There was no way she should’ve known that Claire had left else wise. I escorted her to her Jasmine’s house myself and this means Francisco was simply trying to protect her and if he was willing to go that far - he knew more than we did. There could be something to gain for his interrogation or at least a way to get ahead her before she hurts Claire again. I call the warden and tell him I need to interrogate Francisco immediately and review his visitors’ log. The Warden agrees and tells me to meet him in his office within the hour. Normally, I’d call Leo to assist in going over new information but I felt an obligation to keep investigating into Charlotte for Claire and I’m sure that he wouldn’t like it. I would have to do this alone if I wanted to help Claire and bring the information to Leo later and see if it changes his mind. I arrive at the prison and am escorted to
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