Leah yawned softly, stretching her arms as she woke up. “Good morning,” she greeted lazily, her voice still heavy with sleep.Jeremy, already awake and seated at the edge of the bed, turned to her with a warm smile. “Morning, beautiful,” he said, leaning over to plant a soft kiss on her cheek before standing and heading toward the bathroom.As Leah snuggled back under the duvet, savoring the warmth of the bed, she could hear the faint sounds of Jeremy in the bathroom. He eased himself and reached for his toothbrush, glancing at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.“Aren't you wondering what Big Margaret is up to?” he asked, his voice casual as he began brushing his teeth.Leah, who was still covering herself up with the duvet, sat up, imagining what Jeremy had said. She had been so happy lately that she hadn't even had the time to think about their enemies or what they could be up to.“That's right. She eliminated Caroline, her own twin. How deadly can she be?” Leah asked, wondering
“He did tell me, Ma, but how could I have known? I never knew. I've always considered Noah to be family,” Leah said honestly, her voice trembling with frustration. Mama gave her a disbelieving look, her arms crossed tightly. “How could you have been so blind, Leah? He did for you more than a brother would do. You mean to see you never noticed how he looked at you?” Mama asked. Leah shook her head. “I don't have any magic, Ma. How could I have known?” Leah said, tears welling in her eyes. “But even I could see it. It was glaring. You completely shut him out and hurt that young man terribly,” Mama said, blaming Leah. Leah’s composure broke further. She shot her mother a look, her voice rising with irritation. “How is this all my fault now? I’m the one who’s confused and hurting. I didn’t ask for any of this!” She stood up to leave. Mama, unrelenting, leaned forward. “What about now that he’s told you?” she pressed, her gaze unwavering. “It's already too late,” Leah said plain
The noise from upstairs was becoming unbearable. Ivan and Keira were on each other's throats, their voices sharp and angry, cutting through the quiet of the evening. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence. Those two had a knack for finding reasons to fight.Leah stood at the bottom of the staircase, conflicted. She hated the chaos but couldn’t bear to let it continue. She took a step forward, prepared to intervene, but Mama’s hand on her arm stopped her.“Leave those two alone. They'll make up in seconds and you'll be seen as the enemy,” Mama said firmly, her tone a mix of weariness and amusement.Laughed laughed softly. Mama wasn’t wrong. Ivan and Keira weren’t twins, but they might as well have been with the way they fought and reconciled, like two halves of the same coin.“You don't want me touching your stuff, right? You too, stay away from my room, and stay away from me!” They heard Keira yell and banged the door.Finally the noise was down. Mama was ready to listen to Noah and Leah sp
Jeremy’s voice on the phone was warm and sweet, just the way Leah loved it. “Hey, Lovey Dovey,” he greeted tenderly, his tone carrying the affection he felt for her even across the distance.Leah couldn’t help but smile. “My billionaire husband, how are you holding up?” she asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice.“Honestly? Not great,” Jeremy admitted, a mock grumble in his tone. “The house feels so empty without you. I don’t even eat well anymore.”“Aww,” Leah cooed. “But Maggie is there. I’m sure she won’t let you starve.”Jeremy chuckled, but his response was laced with mischief. “Well, Maggie can only give me food. But you, my love—you give me food and… ‘food,’” he teased.Leah burst out laughing. “Naughty boy,” she chided. “I miss you too. Don’t worry, I’ll be back tomorrow.”Jeremy’s voice grew even more teasing. “As your boss, can’t I order you to come back right away?”Leah laughed again. “You wouldn’t dare, sir. That would be terribly unfair. Don’t forget, you’re the one w
Big Margaret was dressed in a way that disguised how she looked. She wore dark sunglasses and a plain black face cap, pulling it low to cover her face. She adjusted her oversized trench coat, its bulky fabric concealing her figure. Anyone passing her by would think she was just another shadow in the dim light of the early evening. She called Noah and asked him to drive her somewhere discreetly.“Okay, ma'am. Where are we going?” Noah asked.“You'll find out. Just get ready,” Big Margaret said.“Alright, ma'am,” Noah replied, his voice unsteady.Noah opened the door for her, and she slid into the backseat of the car, saying nothing as he started the engine.He drove through the lonely streets, his heart beating fast. Big Margaret was usually scary, but she was acting unusually strange that day. Noah peeped through the rearview mirror to read Big Margaret's expression, but couldn't observe anything.“Park here,” Big Margaret said abruptly, her voice cutting through the silence like a b
Leah stood in one of the aisles of the pharmacy, carefully examining the list of medications her mother needed. It had been a long day, and all she wanted was to purchase the items and head home. As she moved towards the counter, she froze. Sarah was there.Was Sarah sick? Or did she have someone who was sick she was caring for? That was very unlikely. With Sarah, one had to always be suspicious. She was always up to something, to further her own ends.Leah was going to hide and find out what Sarah wanted in the pharmacy, but Sarah caught a glimpse of her and called out to her.“Hello, Leah,” Sarah greeted, her voice cheerful and warm.Leah was caught off guard by Sarah's warm greetings. She furrowed her brows. “Hello,” she replied, forcing a police smile.“I really wanted to thank you for taking care of my Jeremy while he recovered. I must commend you for doing a great job,” Sarah said, an uncharacteristic smile plastered on her face, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.Lea
“I'm telling you, Leah. She was acting so strange. She had me parked in the middle of nowhere and trekked a long distance until she vanished out of sight,” Noah narrated.“Whoah. You don't mean it. What kind of secret could she possibly be keeping. We have to go there and look around. We may find something,” Leah said.“To be honest, I was scared for a minute.It’s like she’s always ten steps ahead of everyone,” Noah confessed.Leah's voice softened with concern. “I am always scared for you, Noah. What's your police contact saying?” she asked.“He said they're unto her with a full force, and it won't be long before they get her in a way she's never able to escape, even with all her influence,” Noah said, his voice tinged with both hope and exhaustion.“I really hope that’s soon enough,” Leah replied with an edge of frustration. “I just want all this to be over already. It feels like we’ve been walking on eggshells forever.”Noah nodded, though she couldn’t see him. “I hope so too.”Le
It was a beautiful Thursday morning. The sun was still rising, casting a soft, golden glow over the city. Workers were in their offices, students were immersed in school activities, and business people were already handling their affairs. The cool, calm atmosphere promised a peaceful day ahead, or so it seemed.Big Margaret asked Noah to drive her somewhere. Noah was shocked when Big Margaret gave him the address. It was Leah's house.He knew that Big Margaret knew Leah was in Jeremy's house. That only meant one thing. It meant that Big Margaret wanted to see Leah's mother. But why?Noah was uncomfortable about it. At first, he wondered how he'd act around Mama as Big Margaret's driver. Then he remembered she already knew. He then looked at the bright side. It could have been another driver. Leah wouldn't be home, he'd be at work and Mama would be home alone because Keira and Ivan were in school. He was thankful he was the one driving Big Margaret there. He'd get to protect Mama if ne
Elizabeth lay on her back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't seem to silence.The things Monica said taunted her. There was this urge to call her mom and confront her, but she restrained herself.Her mind was so far that she didn't even notice her mom had come back and even entered her room.“My baby,” Mrs. Callahan called softly but Elizabeth was lost in thought.Mrs. Callahan sat on the edge of the bed and tapped her.“Lizzy dear, are you okay?” She asked, noticing Elizabeth had been lost in thought. She had never seen Elizabeth this absent-minded before.Elizabeth scoffed, finally blinking as if waking up from a trance. “Your baby?” she said, as if just hearing it. “Am I really your baby?” she asked, slowly sitting up and watching Mrs. Callahan closely.Mrs. Callahan became uncomfortable. Her facial expression gave her away. “What are you saying, Lizzy?”I knew it. Since the day Maggie and the doctor came here, I've been suspecting som
Leah had barely gotten enough sleep the previous night, but there was no time to dwell on that now. She needed answers. She needed to find out the truth, and she couldn't wait to get to the office.“My dear, where are you going so early?” Mama asked Leah.Leah turned and sighed softly. “Ma, I need to rush to the office. It's an emergency,” Leah explained as she wore her wristwatch.Mama who had been watching her sprang up at the mention of the word ‘emergency.’“Emergency? What emergency is that?” Mama inquired.Leah looked at her mother and shook her head. It was typical of her to react that way. Always quick to panic.“I don't want you to get worked up. I haven't been to the office for so long and I believe there are things that require my attention,” Leah said, trying to make her mother calm.Mama studied her daughter for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yeah, right. Even though Monica has been handling everything well, you should still go. I wanted to suggest it earlier but I just
Elizabeth rose up from Jeremy’s seat swiftly the moment she saw him, looking shocked. “It's not what you think, sir,” she tried to explain. There was urgency in her voice, but it wasn’t fear. It was the desperate need to explain. But Jeremy didn't even look upset. He looked concerned instead, his brows slightly furrowed.“You should be in the hospital, Elizabeth,” Leah said, her voice a mixture of worry and curiosity. She had barely finished speaking before Jeremy followed up with a question of his own.“I didn't even know you'd been discharged. Does Maggie know? She'll be so worried,” Jeremy said, expressing his concern for his mother.“Maggie, huh? Why's that?” Elizabeth asked, stepping forward, eyeing both Leah and Jeremy.Leah and Jeremy looked at each other but said nothing, an unspoken understanding passing between them.Elizabeth scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “I knew it. I knew something was up. Everyone’s been acting strange around me—too nice, too careful.”Jeremy
Leah and Jeremy were curled up on the couch, watching a TV series Leah loved— one she had introduced Jeremy to, though he had only grown interested because it made her happy.Jeremy's living room was dimly lit, the television screen casting a soft glow on the walls. The air was warm and cozy, carrying the faint scent of Leah’s lavender shampoo. Leah was lying on his lap, resting her head comfortably on his thigh, as he ran his fingers through her hair absentmindedly.The TV series they were seeing showed a dramatic scene, one that resonated a little too closely with Jeremy’s own life. Leah, ever perceptive, immediately picked up on it.“So Elizabeth is your sister, huh?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. “How does it feel knowing this—that you aren't an only child, after all?”Jeremy let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head before correcting her. “Half-sister.” His voice was neutral, but Leah didn’t miss the underlying weight in his tone.“You still didn’t answer my question
When Elizabeth woke up, her eyes met a host of people in the ward she'd be admitted in. She blinked, her gaze adjusting to the fluorescent lights above. As her vision cleared, she saw them—her mother, Mrs. Callahan, sitting at the far end of the room with red-rimmed eyes; Jeremy and Leah standing close to each other, their hands clasped as though bracing for something painful; Maggie seated with her hands folded tightly on her lap, her eyes darting between her and Dr. Alfred; and Noah, right by her side, his face clouded with concern.She struggled to get up, but Noah rushed to her, to assist her.“No, Lizzy. Take it easy,” his familiar voice reached her, soothing and steady.She groaned, holding her head. And then she asked, “ what happened. Why are y'all here?”Alfred and Maggie looked at each other. Jeremy, who was standing beside Leah, held Leah's shoulders. Mrs. Callahan was in tears.The sight of all them looking heartbroken like that only meant one thing – that they knew.Stil
Maggie and Alfred had decided to visit the Callahan's and have a conversation with them and today was the day. They stood before the Callahan residence, exchanging one last glance before Alfred lifted his hand and knocked firmly. The house exuded wealth and prestige, but Maggie wasn’t awed by its beauty—she was preoccupied with what lay ahead.A woman opened the door. It must be Mrs. Callahan. She was a vision of grace and warmth. Her bright smile was disarming, an obvious contrast to the weight of the conversation Maggie and Alfred had come to have."Good afternoon," Mrs. Callahan greeted them, her voice smooth and welcoming. "How may I help you?"Maggie hesitated for a second before Alfred spoke. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Callahan. I’m Dr. Alfred, and this is my companion, Maggie. We were hoping to speak with you and your husband."“Oh, my husband is away on a business trip,” she said with a soft chuckle, stepping aside to let them in. “But rest assured, you can discuss any business ma
Jeremy was taking Leah to the hospital for her appointment and asked Jackson to drive them.He had been driving himself for sometime now, relieving Jackson of the stress. But he didn't feel like driving on this day.Jackson drove, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel as soft music played through the car’s speakers. Jeremy sat beside him, but his attention was on Leah, who was in the back seat, staring out of the window.The smooth melody of “Piano Man” by Brandy filled the car. Leah’s expression shifted almost instantly. Her brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed. Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn’t. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat, listening.Jeremy noticed.He turned his body slightly to look at her. “Leah?”She didn’t answer. She was lost in thought, lost in the melody that felt eerily familiar. A memory surfaced— She remembered Jackson playing this same song the first time she had requested it in Jeremy’s car.The realization
Alfred couldn't believe what he'd learned - that his mother was cold, to the extent of selling a baby, his baby… her grandchild.It hurt him. He hoped he could find his daughter with his aunt's help.She had asked him to come with her, but she didn't say where. His hands trembled as he gripped the steering wheel. Aunt Favy sat beside him, her face set in a deep frown.“She was sold?” Alfred’s voice was hoarse, disbelief thick in his tone.Aunt Favy nodded solemnly. “Your mother was… determined. She didn’t just want Maggie gone; she wanted to erase any trace of that child.”Alfred’s chest tightened. “Why didn’t you stop her?”Favy sighed. “Do you think I didn’t try? I fought with her. I begged. But she had already made up her mind. And by the time I found out, it was too late. The baby was already gone.”Alfred clenched his jaw. He had always known his mother was controlling, but this? This was monstrous.“So, where are we going now?” he asked, his voice sharp. “Where did she take the
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