Leah woke up exhausted the next morning. She had cried all night. Her eyes were swollen from too much crying. She just laid in bed, too tired to get up or do anything.Maggie and Jeremy were on her door, knocking, but she wouldn't open up. She was just too weak to get up; to even carry on. It felt like the weight of her shoulders was on her. She thought about her mom whose life had changed drastically since she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Her mom was a warrior. Jeremy and Maggie looked at each other, their expression worrisome. “Is she in there?” Jeremy asked.“Yes, she is,” Maggie replied.“You're certain?” Jeremy asked again, to be sure, and Maggie nodded. “Get me the spare key. I hope she's okay.”Maggie rushed to get the spare key, but by tge time she came back, she heard silent sobs from Leah's room. She looked at Jeremy who confirmed he could hear it too.“I think we should give her some time alone. I could help you with anything you need for the time being,” Maggie
Jeremy had offered to drop Leah off and then go to the salon to fix his hair and beards. And then he'd pick her up and take her home. They were sitting at the back seat, quietly, while Jackson drove the car. “Since we'll just be quiet like this, could Jackson please play a good song?” Leah requested. Jeremy looked at her and looked way, facing his front. He didn't answer her. “Jackson, please play something good,” Leah said softly. Jackson glanced through the mirror. “Yes ma'am,” he said. Then he played “Piano Man” by Brandy. Leah's face lit up. “An old song. I could sing the lyrics as a teenager. You listen to these songs too? I had expected something different in your playlists.” “Not my playlist,” Jeremy said and looked steadily at the window. “Jackson, it's yours?” Leah asked, surprised. Jackson smiled. “Yes, ma'am.” “You have “Long Distance?” Leah asked. “I do,” Jackson replied, his face covered with smiles. “Afrodisiac?” Leah asked again, enjoying the co
“Leah, after all this is over, we should take a photoshoot together, to celebrate our birthday in December this year,” Noah suggested. Noah and Leah shared the same birth date, 29th December. Noah was just born three years earlier. Their birthday had always been a special connection between them. Leah forced a smile. “Sure. When all this is over,” she said. Leah's mind was far. Far from birthday shoots. Jeremy was in danger too, and she couldn't bear the thought of it. “Noah, shouldn't we report this matter to the police? They can help save my dad before Big Margaret finally kills him. They killed her driver. They're after Jeremy too. Who knows how many more people they'll kill,” Leah said, fear and panic written all over her. “Leah, get a grip on yourself. We can't tell the police. We'll get arrested instead. Big Margaret has connections. She knows people, and I'm sure she has backings,” Noah explained, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. “So does Jeremy. He has co
“Leah, I have a plan,” Jeremy said in his room, his voice low but steady.Leah's eyes sparkled with interest. She was leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed. “Tell me about it.”“I told you Dr. Albert had called, right? He has referred to a therapist outside of town.” He paused, his expression conflicted. “I wasn't going to go, but I think we should go now, and monitor things from there,” Jeremy said.Leah nodded thoughtfully, smiling. “That's smart. They'll be wondering where on the planet we have gone to, while we watch them from there and plan our next move,” Leah said, her tone filled with optimism.“Yeah,” Jeremy agreed, his lips curling into a faint smile.Leah hesitated for a moment, her expression softening. “And the doctor can help you too. I long for the day you'll be jumping and running, Jeremy. I hope it's before the contract is over,” Leah said, looking downwards, her voice laced with concern.Jeremy smiled. “Thank you, Leah. I hope so too.”There was a moment of s
Big Margaret stood in the dimly lit room, the faint sound of crickets from outside the only thing breaking the silence. It was a secluded space, old and decrepit, much like the man lying on the floor before her. Her expression was cold, her tone filled with venom as she glared at Henry.“Everything is rightfully mine. Mine, Henry. You were the illegitimate child, but he loved you more. He treated me like a scumbag,” Big Margaret said scornfully.Henry's body was weak and he was trembling from exhaustion. He tried to sit up. His face was pale, his eyes weary. Yet, his voice held a trace of defiance as he replied, his voice shaking from weariness. “He loved us all. All three of us. You just turned into something indescribable. What happened to you, Margaret?” Big Margaret gave Henry a hot slap. The slap came so fast Henry didn’t see it coming. His head snapped to the side as the sting spread across his cheek. “How dare you? You accepted to be the CEO and took over. You sidelined me. Me
Leah's phone beeped and as she picked up the phone, she read the text message Jeremy had sent her.“Meet me at the balcony.”Curious and slightly intrigued, Leah quickly tied her hair into a loose bun, slipped on her house slippers, and headed toward the balcony. Her heart raced with anticipation. Jeremy wasn’t the type to call her out for trivial things.When she got there, she saw Jeremy standing in front of his wheelchair. Her eyes beamed with surprise and joy. Jeremy took a step, and then another, and then another. Leah covered her mouth with hands in awe. Jeremy walked to her and Leah couldn't hold herself back. She hugged him tightly, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.“You’re walking!” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.“I am,” Jeremy replied softly, his lips curling into a proud smile.“Since when?” She asked, curious.“Today,” Jeremy said simply, his tone humble yet filled with joy.““You have no idea how happy this makes me. I told you this day would come, did
“Breakfast in bed? Wow,” Leah said as she sat upright, fluffing the pillows behind her. She couldn’t help but smile at the tray Jeremy carried.“Yes,” Jeremy said, smiling as he dropped the tray on the bed. “Only I didn't make it.”Leah laughed, her voice light and cheerful. “Of course. Still, this means so much. Thank you.”Jeremy looked at her, unable to hide the admiration in his eyes. “You look beautiful this morning, Leah.”Leah blushed. She looked up slowly and gave Jeremy an appreciative smile. And then she rubbed her hands. “Let's see what we have here.” She opened the food and was surprised. “Smoked Fish Platter. It's one of my favorites.” Leah gave Jeremy the first bite. “Have some.”“Hmmm. Delicious,” he said with an exaggerated tone, making Leah giggle. “I was going to have Pancake Towers, but I've changed my mind,” Jeremy said, chuckling.“Your sense of humor is growing, huh?” Leah said, shaking her head as she laughed.“You've influenced me so much, it's only a matter of
“Hello, Mrs. Harper?” Elizabeth greeted over the phone.“Hello, Elizabeth,” Leah said steadily.“I've been trying to reach Mr Harper but he isn't answering. Please, is he close?” Elizabeth asked politely, though her tone carried a hint of urgency.“Uhm…he's not close at the moment. Is there a problem?” Leah asked.“I hate to disturb you, ma'am, but there's an emergency and we need Mr Harper in the office urgently,” Elizabeth replied, her voice trembling with growing panic.“Isn't it something you can handle, Elizabeth? Leah asked, trying to sound composed, though worry began to creep into her thoughts.“If it was, I wouldn't have called you,” Elizabethtown said frankly, yet respectfully.“I understand. Thank you, Elizabeth. I'll try to reach him,” Leah said before ending the call.She set the phone down and sighed, her heart beginning to race. Where had Jeremy gone? He hadn't mentioned any plans to her this morning. And she was supposed to visit her family today. Leah looked around an
The news spread like wildfire.It didn’t take long before everyone who mattered knew. Word of Elizabeth’s death moved through the city like an unstoppable wave. Her loved ones, acquaintances, even those who barely knew her but admired her from afar, had all heard of her passing. For those closest to her, those who had shared in her life, her pain, her secrets, the grief was something far more tangible, suffocating even.Maggie and Alfred had rushed to the hospital the moment they got the call. Time seemed suspended as they rode in silence, each consumed by their thoughts. Maggie stared blankly through the window, her heart a mess of denial and sorrow. Her hands trembled in her lap as Alfred gripped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched tight, trying to stay composed for her sake.They met Mrs. Callahan there. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her nose runny, and her cheeks flushed with grief. She clutched a damp handkerchief that had long stopped being useful. It was soaked wi
Jeremy could hear his pulse thundering in his ears as he stared down the barrel of Big Margaret’s gun. The room was tense, air thick with danger and fear. He could hear Leah's cries, muffled and desperate, cutting through the chaos. His heart beat harder with every second that ticked by, and in that moment, something inside him snapped.With a roar of rage and courage, Jeremy moved forward.Big Margaret hadn’t expected it. Her moment of triumph turned to confusion as Jeremy charged. He crashed into her, knocking her sideways. In the same motion, his hand seized the cold steel of her pistol. They struggled for control, her hands clawing at his, but Jeremy was faster. Fueled by fury and desperation, he took the weapon from her.Without hesitation, Jeremy spun toward the armed guard, who was already raising his gun to fire.BANG!The guard was shot down before he could even pull the trigger. Blood splattered across the tiled floor as the body dropped to the ground. Jeremy didn’t flinch.
Leah didn't go home after office hours that day. She rotated herself in her chair, her mind spinning on the recent events, until sleep found her.She had rested her head on the table, hoping to rest only for a little while, but sleep came like a thief and dragged her into unconsciousness.When she opened her eyes, the world around her had changed.This wasn't her office.Her neck ached as she jerked upright, blinking rapidly as she observed the surroundings. Cold, clean air. A dim light from a nearby desk lamp. Her eyes adjusted to the space, and that’s when she realized where she was.Jeremy's office? How?She looked at her wristwatch. It was past 9 PM. She tried to get up when she noticed she'd been tied to the chair she was sitting on. What the heck! She struggled to break free, twisting her body violently, testing the binds, but the ropes held firm. “What the hell is going on?” she muttered, her voice shaky.“Hello!” she called out, but she only heard the echoes of her own voice
Elizabeth was preparing to go to the office that morning when she slummed.Thankfully, her mother, Mrs. Callahan was present.She quickly made a phone call and requested for an ambulance, and in no time, the ambulance arrived.The nurses moved swiftly, the hum of overhead fluorescent lights, and the wheeled gurney rushing past in a blur. On it lay Elizabeth, her body weak, trembling, her breathing shallow and erratic. Maggie stood frozen, her heart pounding like a war drum in her chest as she watched the hospital staff work swiftly around her.Alfred was by Elizabeth’s side, passing instructions to the nurses, his voice tight with urgency. He had tried to remain composed for as long as he could, but this—this was different. Elizabeth’s lips had turned a terrifying shade of blue by the time they arrived, and her eyes, though they were open, they seemed to flutter between consciousness and something far more terrifying.As the nurses wheeled Elizabeth into the emergency room, the doors
Ivan had been invited by the board members, and as soon as he arrived, two police men covered him.“Ivan Fisher,” one of the police men said. “You're under arrest fo the attempted murder of Leah Fisher.”His hands were cuffed behind his back as he stepped out with the police men, the flash of red and blue lights reflected off the glass doors, casting eerie shadows across his face. The officers barely spoke as they read him his rights. There was no need for dramatics. The real spectacle was the betrayal written across Ivan’s eyes.Monica stood still. She didn’t cry, didn’t plead. She just watched, her lips tight and her shoulders stiff. Then she rushed to her station and was quickly clearing her desk, as if trying to run away and never return.Leah couldn't understand what was happening. Who had called the police on Ivan? He was being arrested for orchestrating her accident. She didn't report it even after she found out. Then who did?Was it Monica? Had she doublecrossed Ivan?She ru
The rain had stopped by morning, but the world felt no lighter. Leah stood in the kitchen, the mug in her hands long gone cold. Her thoughts spun in a thousand directions, each one pulling at a different thread of betrayal.Jeremy entered, still in the same shirt from the night before. “No sleep?”Leah shook her head. “Sleep feels like a luxury I can’t afford.”He leaned against the counter. “I combed through more of the files. Ivan didn’t just want to remove you from the board… he wanted to erase your entire claim. Financially. Legally. He’s built a case against you using your amnesia.”Leah set her mug down. “And Monica?”“She’s been a go-between. Messages. Meetings. Hush-hush coordination. But it gets worse. There are references to a player, someone labeled as M. Ivan’s not acting alone.”Leah’s eyes narrowed. “M? Same as C. M. Voss, or a different person” Jeremy shook his head. “I have no idea. But whoever M is… they’ve funded parts of this. Masked transfers. Multiple shell compa
“I know it hurts and you're upset, but you can't be at war with your brother,” Noah said, his voice filled with concern as he leaned forward on the couch, the phone pressed tightly on his ear. The atmosphere in his apartment was quiet, except for the distant hum of traffic outside his window.On the other end of the call, Leah let out a bitter laugh, one that sounded more like a scoff than amusement. “My enemy, you mean. He staged the war. He hates me with a passion. You don't understand, Noah.” Her voice trembled slightly, the pain and betrayal etched into every syllable. “Forget it. How are you?”“I'm good. Hey, buddy. Handle this with wisdom, please. Tell mama about it,” Noah advised.“I don't want to trouble that poor woman. She's already been through too much. I'll handle Ivan. Don't worry,” Leah said firmly. There was a finality in her tone. “I gotta go. Talk later.”“Alright. Bye,” Noah said softly before hanging up.He set his phone down and sat still for a moment, absorbing e
Rain tapped gently against the windows as Leah sat at her desk, rereading one of the letters Noah had given her. Ivan’s words were written with raw emotion; part regret, part bitterness. But one line lingered in her mind like an echo:"You forgot us and chose a stranger. Even in forgetfulness, you chose Maggie."Leah stared at the sentence, her lips parting in disbelief. It didn’t sit right. Not just because of the words themselves, but because of the intent. The accusation wasn’t about memory. It was about betrayal. As if her amnesia was a weapon she had wielded on purpose.Her chest tightened. Something deeper lurked beneath the surface of these letters.She flipped through the other letters again, this time slower, looking beyond the words. The tone varied. Some were loving, others accusatory. But a few of them… they were cold. Detached. Like they weren’t written for healing but for reminding her of a debt.Leah frowned. Why would someone write you letters you were never meant to r
The early morning rays slipped lazily through the half-open blinds, shining on Leah’s face as she stirred beneath the sheets. Jeremy’s arm was still around her, his breathing calm and even. For a brief moment, the world felt safe. No traitors, no secrets, no pain. Just warmth.But safety was an illusion, and Leah knew it.She sat up quietly, careful not to wake Jeremy, and reached for her phone. She hadn’t checked it since the night before, wanting to be present with him. Her inbox was flooded with emails, but one stood out. It was from Sarah, her father's former assistant, now working quietly in legal. The subject line simply read:“We need to talk. In person.”Leah’s pulse quickened. Sarah wasn’t one to panic. If she was reaching out like this, it meant something big. Leah’s mind went straight to the file. Could Sarah have discovered something?Just then, Jeremy stirred and opened his eyes, blinking away the light. His voice was raspy with sleep. “Already up?”Leah nodded, showing h