The walls of the prison were dull, lifeless. The air carried the faint scent of bleach, metal, and something bitter. Resentment, perhaps.“You have a visitor,” a warder announced.Big Margaret sat in the visitation room, her fingers drumming lightly against the cold metal table. The rhythm was steady, confident.She had been waiting for this moment.She knew Leah would surely come. She had struck a chord the last time they met. And there was something about Leah's hunger for knowing the truth. That insatiable curiosity would bring her here. It was only a matter of time.And now, the wait was over.“I knew she'd come,” she murmured under her breath, smiling.When the door opened, she straightened, preparing herself. But the moment she saw who stepped in, her smirk vanished.Mama, Leah's mother.And she was standing.Big Margaret’s mouth parted in shock. For a moment, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her.“Cassandra,” she whispered, her voice almost unsteady.Cassandra smiled,
Elizabeth stepped into Noah’s apartment, glancing around with admiration."Wow," she said, turning to him with an impressed smile. "This place is spotless. I expected… well, something messier."Noah chuckled, shutting the door behind her. "What, you thought I lived like a caveman?"Elizabeth smirked. "Maybe not a caveman, but most guys don’t keep their place this clean. You’re doing a good job."He shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his smile. "Thanks. I try."She walked further in, looking around. "Hmm… no dirty dishes, no laundry lying around… are you sure you actually live here?"He laughed. "I promise I do. What, do you think I have a secret maid who comes around and does everything?"Elizabeth grinned. “At this point, I wouldn't be surprised.”She sat on the couch, crossing her legs. "So… what’s on the menu? Or are we ordering takeout?"Noah shook his head. "No need for that. I’ll cook."Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "You? Cook?"He gave her a pointed look. "What do you th
Jeremy and Leah sat across from each other in the dimly lit restaurant, the low hum of conversations around them fading into the background.He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. His gaze was fixed on Leah, his eyes searching hers. "You've been carrying something heavy, Leah," he said softly, leaning in slightly. His voice was calm but insistent. "Talk to me."Leah hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her glass. The condensation left a damp trail beneath her fingertips, but she barely registered it. She wanted to tell him, but the words felt like lead in her throat."It's..." She exhaled sharply. "It's complicated."Jeremy tilted his head slightly. "Complicated how?""It's..." She exhaled sharply. "It's complicated."Jeremy tilted his head, his brows furrowing. "Complicated how?"She inhaled deeply, steeling herself. There was no use delaying it. "Big Margaret reached out to me," she finally admitted, watching him closely for his reaction.Jeremy’s pos
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
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 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,
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
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
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