“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
Leah saw Jeremy standing beside Caroline. She hugged him tightly, excited to see him, hale and hearty. She had been worried sick.“You're okay!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. “I was so worried.”Jeremy’s arms encircled her, and he smiled softly. He was standing? Didn't he say he'd put on a charade for as long as possible? Maybe, he'd finally figured out how to defeat Big Margaret with the help of her twin, Caroline, and their lives would go back to being normal again.The tension in the room was palpable as the two women locked eyes, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy between them. Leah stood off to the side, her mind racing as she watched the confrontation unfold.For the first time, Big Margaret looked genuinely unnerved. Her smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. Caroline, however, remained composed, her gaze unwavering.“You thought you’d gotten rid of me,” Caroline said, her voice calm but laced with steel. “But you were wrong.”Bi
Sarah looked smitten. She felt like she'd lost a trophy. Jeremy was back on his feet, he still had his company and he had defeated Big Margaret. He was even married; happily even. But she was stuck with Conrad who seemed to be heading nowhere in life.What would become of her? She couldn't be with Conrad anymore. He was a failure. Only the sex was good, but he couldn't give her the life she deserved.She kept turning uncomfortably on the bed, lost in her thought, until Conrad came in to play with her.When Conrad touched her, she flared up in anger. Conrad could see the disdain in Sarah's eyes when she looked at him. “Are you okay, babe?” He asked.“I'm fine. I just had a bad day,” Sarah said, frowning her face.“Then, let me help cheer you up,” Conrad offered, moving closer to her and touching her, but Sarah stood up abruptly.“I said stop!” she yelled, her voice sharp as a whip. I'm not in the mood for this, please,” she said firmly.Conrad could see the intensity of hate and anger
“Good heavens!” Leah exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief. “How could you keep something like this from me, Noah?”Noah's brain swam for a minute. He looked at Leah steadily, not knowing how to explain to make her understand. He had expected her to understand.“I told you, Leah. You were away on that trip with Jeremy. The night I learned of the incident, you were so happy, I didn't want to break any news to you that could cut short your joy. I just thought I'd wait for you to get back before I told you,” Noah explained, calmly, in bits, enough to allow Leah grasp and reason with him.But Leah just looked at him disappointingly. Noah shook his head in frustration. “Okay. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. Forgive me?” Noah asked with a weak smile.Leah looked away. “I don't know. I'm sorry for snapping like that. I just… anyway,I mean, I can't even cry. We've thought he'd been dead thesenoast years before we learned he was actually still alive, and, and…. suffering, a
“Hey, are you alright?” Jeremy asked Leah, seeing her brooding on the balcony where she sat, arms folded, staring into the night sky.Leah barely moved, her head tilting slightly in acknowledgment of his presence. “Yeah, I'm good,” she replied, her tone flat and unconvincing, looking up to see Jeremy holding a bag. “What's good?”Jeremy stepped closer and handed the bag to her. “I got these for you,” he said simply, his voice warm.Leah took the bag, her brows furrowing slightly as she opened it. Inside was a matching designer bag and shoes, the kind that would make any woman’s eyes sparkle with excitement. She looked up at him briefly before setting the bag aside.Jeremy was buying her gifts more often but she didn't want to read any meaning into it. Unless he came out openly to say that he loved her, she wouldn't assume anything, to avoid having her expectations cut short, and getting hurt. Perhaps he was buying her those things to ensure she kept looking like the Billionaire's wife
Noah knocked only out of courtesy each time he visited Leah's mother. The house was more like his own. He had trooped in and out of there more times than he could count since he was a boy. The bond he shared with Leah’s family was a deep one, forged over years of friendship and trust.He just knocked, but he never waited to be invited in before entering.“Mama Bear,” he said, smiling at Mama. Mama turned to him, her face breaking into a wide grin as she opened her arms to receive him. “My dear Noah,” she said, pulling him into a warm embrace.Noah hugged her tightly. “I didn't forget to get you fruits today,” Noah announced proudly, placing the nylon containing fruits he was holding on the table.Mama’s eyes twinkled with delight as she peeked into the bag. “I hope you got me more watermelons?” she teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.“Of course. Just how you like it,” Noah said, his voice brimming with affection.“Bless you, my son. Bless you,” Mama said.Noah sat beside Ma
Leah was on the phone with her mom, while still in Jeremy's bed. Jeremy couldn't keep his hands off Leah. As she spoke with her mom, he kept showering her with affectionate kisses on her face, neck and ears, making her giggle uncontrollably in between sentences. The ticklish kisses distracted her and she couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up everytime his lips met her skin.“Stop it,” Leah said to him softly, giggling. She moved slightly trying to escape his playful advances. “I can hear you, Mama,” she said standing up from the bed, trying to regain some composure.“Wait. Are you giggling?” Mama asked, curious.Leah tried to hold back her laughter, wiping her tears. “No, no. What were you saying, Ma?” Leah said, trying to keep her voice steady.“When will you come home? I want us to talk,” Mama said, sounding serious.Leah became worried. “Is everything alright? Are you okay? Kiera and Ivan, how are they?” Leah asked, her voice filled with worry.“I'm fine, my dear. Your sibling
Jeremy sat in his car, gripping the sealed DNA envelope. His heart pounded against his ribs. He had picked up the result, thanked the doctor, and walked out of the hospital as if everything was fine. But everything was not fine.“What if Leah is actually my sister?” he thought.The thought alone made him feel sick. He had imagined a future with her, had felt something deep, something real. And if the result confirmed his worst fear… what then?His fingers tightened around the envelope, but he couldn’t bring himself to open it. He took a sharp breath and exhaled slowly.Instead of heading home, he turned the ignition and drove straight to Doctor Alfred’s office.Dr. Alfred was behind his desk when Jeremy walked in unannounced. Alfred’s face brightened in greeting, but before he could say a word—“You’re a coward,” Jeremy said, his voice sharp.Alfred frowned. “Excuse me?”Jeremy shut the door behind him, stepping further into the office. “You heard me. How could you?”Alfred’s brows dr
As Maggie fed Leah supper, she gazed at the young woman with a tenderness that had become second nature to her. The rhythmic motion of bringing the spoon to Leah’s lips was soothing, almost meditative. She had been asking her a few gentle questions, probing softly, trying to see if Leah’s memory had returned, even in the slightest way. But there was no sign of recognition in Leah’s eyes—only the same warmth and trust she had developed over time.Then, for the first time, Maggie’s eyes caught a faint mark around Leah’s neck. Her hand trembled slightly as she set the spoon down.“My dear, what happened to you on your neck?” Maggie asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and concern.Leah blinked in surprise, tilting her head slightly. “It’s always been there, Mom. You’ve never seen it?”Maggie’s heart pounded as her eyes remained fixed on the mark. It was impossible to ignore now. Her face betrayed her emotions, a mixture of surprise and something deeper—something unsettling. “Um… I haven’t
Jeremy sat beside Leah’s hospital bed, his gaze locked onto her sleeping face. She looked so peaceful, so innocent—completely unaware of the weight she carried in his heart. He reached for her delicate hand, pressing it to his cheek as if trying to absorb her warmth, to feel closer to her. The rhythm of her breathing was steady, and for a moment, he allowed himself to forget everything.But then, she stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her lips parted slightly before she opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim hospital light, then her gaze landed on him.A soft smile curved her lips. "Hi."Jeremy quickly dropped her hand, feeling a bit embarrassed to be caught in such a vulnerable moment. He forced a small smile. "Hey."She studied his face for a moment, her expression gentle yet curious. "You okay?"He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah… yeah, just lost in thought."She tilted her head. "Wanna share?"He hesitated, debating whether to say what had b
Jeremy’s gaze didn’t waver as he stood in front of Dr. Alfred, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His mind raced with questions, and the cryptic tension in the air wasn’t helping.“You knew Maggie?” Jeremy pressed.Alfred’s lips parted, but he hesitated, glancing toward Leah, who was still lying in bed, watching them with mild curiosity. Then he sighed and nodded. “We used to know each other… very well.”Jeremy narrowed his eyes. “That’s not an answer. How well?”Alfred studied him for a moment, then ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a long story.”Jeremy could see that the man was holding back. He clenched his jaw, his patience wearing thin. “I’ve got time.”Alfred, however, didn’t look convinced. He took in Jeremy’s expectant expression and Leah’s confused one before shaking his head. “Not here. Not now.”Jeremy took a step forward, frustration simmering beneath his skin. “I need to know—”“Jeremy.” Alfred’s tone was firm now. “I need to excuse myself.”Jeremy frowned but did
Jeremy paced around his living room, phone pressed to his ear, looking very worried. He had called Leah multiple times, but she hadn’t answered.“Come on, Leah. Pick up,” he muttered, dialing again. It went straight to voicemail.Leah never ignored his calls like this – not unless she had a reason. And right now, he had no reason to believe she would shut him out. Things were fine between them. Anxiety curled in his stomach, spreading through his chest like wildfire. His gut feeling just told him something was wrong.He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think. Then, without hesitation, he scrolled through his contacts and called the next person who came to mind.“Hey, Noah, I’ve been trying to reach Leah, but she’s not picking up. Do you know where she is?” Jeremy asked, worry evident in his voice.Noah was silent for a moment, and then came a heavy sigh. “Jeremy… there’s something you need to know.”Jeremy’s entire body tensed.The moment Jeremy heard the words Leah and hospita
After Leah stormed out of the house, she entered her car and placed her head on the steering. She sat up and gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her chest rose and fell in uneven breaths, her mind a whirlwind of emotions too heavy to contain.Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.She needed to talk to Jeremy. He always knew what to say, how to calm the storm in her mind. With shaky fingers, she dialed his number.The call didn’t connect.She exhaled sharply, dialing again.Still nothing.A fresh wave of anger surged through her. Of course, the one person she needed right now was unreachable.Slamming her phone onto the passenger seat, she turned on the ignition and drove off, not caring where she was headed. She just needed to escape.The roads blurred as she sped past streetlights and empty sidewalks. After what felt like hours, she finally stopped in front of a bar.She hadn't even realized where she was going.Taking a deep breath, she stepped
Leah stormed out of the house, her chest tightening with frustration. The air outside felt thick, heavy with unspoken words and secrets she was no closer to uncovering. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she needed to get away. Away from the lies, from the deceit, from the feeling that everyone she trusted was hiding something from her.Noah let out a deep breath, rubbing his temples. “You should have told her,” he said quietly.Mama shook her head, her eyes still wet. “No, Noah. I don't want her to know. I don't think she can handle it.”Noah let out a humorless chuckle. “You think so? Mama Bear, she already knows something is wrong. Keeping her in the dark is only making her more determined. Besides, Leah is stronger than you think. She may handle it better than you think.Mama turned away, wiping her face. “I just… I just wanted to protect her.”Noah sat down, his hands clasped together. “I get that. But you’re pushing her away instead.”Mama sniffled. “You promised me,
Big Margaret had been transferred, yes. But Leah wasn't. So Big Margaret could still reach out to her if she wanted to.After all, it was through her lawyer that Big Margaret had sent a message requesting to see her before.Leah realized this quickly in her office, when she was thinking about the whole issue and phoned her assistant, Monica, asking her to be watchful for any message from Big Margaret and to keep her updated immediately.It wasn't long before Monica received another call, but this time, from Mrs Fisher, Leah's mother.“Has Big Margaret contacted you again since that time?” She asked. There was a weight of authority in her voice.“No, ma'am,” Monica replied.“No message from her lawyer yet?” “No. No message,” Monica replied.“Alright. You know what you must do should she try to contact Leah again, right?”“Yes, ma'am. I'll report to you immediately.”“Good. She mustn't get Leah,” Mama said.“I understand, ma'am.”“Thank you for your help, Monica. I know I can count on
Leah sighed as she stretched her legs on Noah’s couch, her fingers absentmindedly tapping against her phone. She had eaten to her satisfaction, yet the heaviness in her chest remained.“Thank you so much for this meal, Noah. I can just sneak into my room when I get home,” Leah said.Noah watched her carefully, setting his glass down. “Alright, spill. I can see the wheels in your head turning.”Leah exhaled. “I just… I don’t know, Noah. Mama’s behavior is really bothering me.”“How so?” Noah asked.“She has been acting really weird ever since she learned I went to see Big Margaret. She made me promise not to go back there,” Leah explained.Noah leaned forward. “You did what? What is wrong with you, Leah?”Leah had expected that reaction. “She requested to see me through her lawyer. Said it was important,” she said.Noah was listening. “She said she knows a secret my father kept from me. That it'll shatter me, but she'll only tell me if I did her a favor,” Leah added.Noah scoffed. “Ty