The car ride back to Big Margaret’s home was suffocatingly silent. Noah kept his eyes on the road, but his mind was racing. Every glance at the rearview mirror revealed Big Margaret staring out the window, her lips pressed into a tight line. Her face betrayed nothing, but Noah could sense the storm brewing within her.As they arrived at the mansion, Big Margaret finally broke the silence. “You’ll drive me to the office later, Noah. Be ready.”“Yes, ma’am,” Noah replied, his voice neutral.As she disappeared into the house, Noah exhaled heavily. He pulled out his phone and called Leah.“She’s gone now,” he said the moment Leah picked up.“Good. Mama’s shaken, but she’s okay. Noah, what did she say in the car? Did she mention anything?” Leah asked anxiously.“No, nothing. She’s not the type to explain herself, you know that,” Noah replied. “But Leah… whatever she’s looking for, it’s serious. She’s desperate.”Leah sighed on the other end. “I know. I’ll talk to Mama and see if she rememb
Noah sat in his dimly lit apartment, his headphones on, listening intently to the conversation coming through the bug he had secretly planted on Sarah. His pulse quickened as he heard her voice.“Jeremy,” she said softly. There was a pause. She sighed, clearly frustrated. “Pick up, damn it.”The line went dead, but Sarah muttered to herself loud enough for the bug to pick up her words. “I’ll show up at his place and act like I’m stranded. Surely, he’ll take pity on me. That’ll be my chance to get close to him.”Noah’s hand hovered over the phone. Should he call Leah and warn her? But if he did, Leah would inform Jeremy. He thought about it for a while. She’d go back to the mansion and see Sarah there and then maybe, just maybe, things would unravel in a way that forced Leah to finally leave Jeremy. Noah clenched his jaw. It was a gamble, but he decided to let the events unfold without interfering.– – – Sarah arrived at Jeremy's mansion, pretending to look dejected. She was crying,
“Leah, dear, please come out,” Mama called softly, knocking gently on Leah's door.There was no response, only the faint sound of muffled sobs. It pained Mama so much. Leah who had left home that morning to go back to the mansion returned moments later with all her luggage, looking pale and exhausted and broken, even though she'd said nothing. And now, her silent sobs could be heard from inside.Mama hated to see Leah like that. It broke her heart.“Leah?” Mama tried again, her voice tender, almost pleading. But despite her attempts to reach out, the sobs inside only grew louder. Mama sighed deeply, wiping at her eyes as they began to glisten with unshed tears. Perhaps it was best to give Leah some space.“I’ll check back later,” she whispered to herself, reluctantly wheeling her chair away.Noah soon came around. “Mama Bear,” he called out softly after he knocked and pushed the door open.His calm presence usually brought a sense of ease to the house, but today, the tension hanging i
“If I ever see you here or anywhere around me, I'll hurt you,” Jeremy threatened as he threw Sarah's bag and pushed her outside.“B…baby,” Sarah managed to call out as she fell on the floor.“I should have known you were up to no good, you wench,” Jeremy cursed. “What did you do? Tell me. You must've added something in the water,” he said as he tapped his forehead hard aggressively.“I love you, Jeremy. We're meant to be together. Didn't last night mean anything to you?” Sarah asked dramatically.Jeremy looked at her with so much hatred and anger. “Thank God I don't remember anything. You're such a whore, jumping from bed to bed. Get out of here!” Jeremy ordered and slammed the door.“It's done,” Sarah muttered to herself. She stood up and arranged herself, smiling victoriously. Jeremy had no clue what was coming next. Sarah felt like she had won a lottery. Her goal was close to being achieved. In fact, it had been achieved.Inside, Jeremy was sulking. He felt so stupid. How couldn't
Conrad had returned from a short business trip. A trip he had to go alone because Sarah claimed she couldn't go with him.Sarah was at home, lying weak in bed. Conrad didn't suspect anything.“Hey, babe,” he said softly as he leaned to kiss her.“Welcome,” Sarah responded, her tone casual, almost dismissive.Conrad removed his shirt, tossing it onto a chair before heading to the bathroom. He needed to relieve himself after the long drive back home. As he stepped into the bathroom, his gaze fell on a small object on the counter. A used test strip.Curious, he picked it up, noticing the two faint lines staring back at him. His heart skipped a beat as realization dawned. Was Sarah pregnant? The thought filled him with excitement. He had always wanted to be a father, and this felt like the perfect next chapter for them.He came out of the bathroom, holding the used test strip he'd found in his hand.“Babe, are we pregnant?” He asked, his voice soft, yet brimming with excitement.Sarah sat
Noah and Leah were out, relaxing at a small quiet cafe tucked away from the city's bustling streets. It had been so long since they hung out together. They laughed freely, trading jokes and teasing each other, as though they were kids again. The world around them seemed to fade; it was as if they existed in a bubble that no one else could penetrate. For those brief moments, nothing else mattered.They were conscious enough not to bring it up.Leah looked radiant that evening, her beauty effortlessly captivating. Her long hair, left loose, fluttered gently in the breeze. Noah found himself staring at her affectionately, unable to help the way his chest tightened every time she smiled. She had always been beautiful, but tonight, she looked especially stunning. As the wind picked up slightly, he noticed a stray strand of hair fell across her face and moved closer to help her pull it away, but Leah thought he was leaning in to kiss her.“What are you doing?” She asked, turning away.Noah
Noah gripped the steering wheel as he drove the car down the lonely road. His eyes darted occasionally to the rearview mirror, where Big Margaret sat in the backseat. She looked uneasy and tense. She had barely spoken a word since the journey began, and her silence felt heavy, almost oppressive.Whatever was bothering her had to be connected to the safe’s passcode, Noah thought. His instincts told him that much. Her body language screamed secrecy, and her mysterious choice of attire only heightened his suspicions. The oversized sunglasses, the wide-brimmed hat, and the scarf wrapped tightly around her neck made her look like someone deliberately trying to conceal their identity.The road they were driving through was the same as the last time. And even today, she was dressed mysteriously, as though she was disguising herself. She was clearly hiding something.Noah attempted to start a conversation. “You look unsettled, ma'am. Is there anything else you'd like me to do for you?” he ask
Jeremy paced about in his room. How could he tell Leah what he had learned?“I'll have to go to her house, again,” he stretched.He hadn't been fine for sometime even though he pretended to be and Maggie was worried for him.The house felt strange without Leah’s presence. It lacked the warmth, the freshness, the intangible sweetness that seemed to linger whenever she was around. Ever since she left, everything had changed. His mornings felt dull, his nights stretched endlessly, and even the simplest things felt empty. Leah had become an irreplaceable part of his life, and now that she was gone, he felt like he was merely existing.When Jeremy came out to the living room, he was dressed up to go out, but casually. Maggie feared he might be going to have drinks.“Are you going somewhere?” She asked, watching him closely.“Yeah. I'm going to see Leah. I have some important information to tell her,” Jeremy replied.Maggie was relieved. “Oh…okay. My sweet Leah,” she said softly, smiling at
Sarah was sipping from a glass of wine as she admired her reflection in the mirror.Her life had taken a drastic turn suddenly. Leaving Conrad had been the best decision she had ever made. He was a failure, a man too weak to give her what she wanted.She was glad that she schemed her way back into Jeremy's life.Just as she was about to take another sip of wine, her phone rang. The unfamiliar number flashing on the screen made her hesitate. Normally, she ignored calls from numbers she didn’t recognize, but something told her to answer this one.She picked up but didn’t say a word. Instead, she waited, listening to the silence on the other end.Then, a thick, hoarse voice broke through.“Hello, Sarah.”“Conrad,” she muttered, her voice dripping with irritation. “Why the hell are you calling me?”“We need to talk,” Conrad said, sounding miserable.Sarah scoffed. “There's nothing to talk about. Please, stop calling me,” Sarah said and hung up abruptly, tossing the phone onto the nightst
Conrad entered the basement in Big Margaret's house, his footsteps echoing as he walked towards the safe. The safe was there, staring at him, silent and unyielding, like a guardian of untold secrets. Certainly, it was something of great value.He licked his lips, staring at the steel box embedded in the wall, its numerical keypad waiting, daring him to unlock it.This was his chance. His golden ticket.Conrad had given years of his life to Big Margaret. What did he have to show for it? Peanuts. Scraps. He had been her errand boy, her enforcer, her puppet in the shadows. He had done things for her that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He had even satisfied her sexually, a degrading act of submission that had left him hollow inside.And for what? Nothing.Sarah had left him, spitting in his face about how he was a useless man who could never give her the life he had promised. And now, she was with Jeremy, even though she was carrying his child. He knew it was his child even tho
“Why have you done this to yourself, son?” Maggie’s voice was soft, filled with concern as she looked at Jeremy. Her eyes, though kind, held a deep sadness. It pained her to see her son like this. So weighed down, so lost.Jeremy, seated across from her, barely looked at her. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of the chair, betraying his unease. “Because it’s the right thing to do,” he said finally, his voice hollow, but not convincing.Maggie exhaled sharply, studying him. He looked exhausted. His usual sharp, confident demeanor had become dull, replaced by something she struggled to define. “But you’ve become so unhappy. You’re clearly unhappy,” she pointed out gently.Jeremy looked at her and looked away.“You can still perform your duty as a father without being with Sarah. Don't do this, son. You'll regret it forever,” Maggie said.Jeremy tilted his head. “But parents sacrifice their own happiness for their children, don't they? You wouldn't understand that thoug
Leah's hands trembled as she stared at the contents of the safe. Her breath hitched, and she felt Noah’s gaze on her, watching, waiting for her reaction.Besides the neatly arranged documents, a small velvet box, and most shockingly, a sealed envelope with her name written in bold, elegant handwriting.Her father’s handwriting.Leah swallowed hard, her pulse pounding in her ears. She reached for the envelope first, her fingers shaking as she tore it open. A letter slid out, the paper slightly aged but still crisp.She hesitated, glancing up at Noah who gave her an encouraging nod.A part of her didn’t want to read it. A part of her feared what she would find. But she had come too far to turn back now. Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the letter and began to read.My Dearest Leah,If you’re reading this, it means you’ve found the safe, and I can only hope you have done so before Margaret did.There is so much I wish I could tell you in person, so much that I have kept from you, not o
Leah and Sarah were a couple now. And Jeremy was stuck with Sarah. Jeremy had called Leah to explain that he was family oriented and wanted his child to grow in a serene environment, and that even though he didn't love Sarah, he was stuck with her for the sake of the baby.“Go to hell,” Leah said harshly.“I'm sorry, Leah. I never meant for any of this to happen. I never meant to hurt you. I'll always love you,” he said sincerely.“Screw you,” Leah said and hung up abruptly.He had the guts to spew those words to her.“I'm family-oriented, Leah. I want my child to grow up in a stable home. I don't love Sarah, but I have to be with her for the sake of the baby.”His words had rung in her ears long after she hung up, after she spat out the harsh words, “screw you.”She blinked repeatedly to stop the tears that were forming in her eyes. Thankfully, it worked. She inhaled and exhaled sharply.She would not cry over Jeremy any longer. Leah had always believed that nothing happened by cha
Leah walked out of Jeremy’s house, her breath ragged, her heart hammering violently against her chest. The night air hit her face, cool but unable to calm the storm inside her. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold in the emotions threatening to spill over. Pregnant. Sarah was pregnant. Jeremy’s child. The words replayed in her mind like a broken record, each repetition digging deeper into her chest. How could this be happening? And now? Tears stung her eyes as she walked aimlessly down the street, her vision blurred. She had no idea where she was going, only that she couldn’t stay there. She couldn’t stand in the same room as Sarah, couldn’t watch Jeremy wrestle with the consequences of his mistakes. Her feet carried her without thought, her emotions too raw to care where she ended up. Then, as if by fate, she found herself in front of Noah’s apartment. She hesitated. Noah. The one who had always been there. The one who had seen her at her lowest, who had h
Conrad was stressed and needed to relax. Not sleep ‘relax’, or any other kind of rest. He needed his woman.He attempted to touch Sarah but she kept resisting him.He was burning with desire. Sarah had been denying him of sex for some time now, but Conrad didn't make a fuss about it because he thought it could be the pregnancy hormones.But tonight, he needed her badly.“Stop it, please,” Sarah said softly, pushing his hand away and slightly adjusting herself on the bed.“Come on, baby. You know it's been a while. I'm starving,” Conrad said, his voice sounding desperate, like someone in need.He moved closer to her again, and Sarah could feel the unmistakable pressure of his arousal pressing against her. He rubbed her shoulders with his hands and kissed her neck and shoulders.It irritated Sarah.“Stop it, I said,” she yelled now, sitting up on the bed.“Please, just give me some tonight. I miss you so much. Don't you miss me?” Conrad asked, his body on fire.“Conrad, I'm so tired and
“You think she’s really still there?” Leah asked.Moah exhaled sharply. “I don’t know. But if she is, then someone else is doing her dirty job.”Leah hesitated before nodding. “Most likely.” They had no choice but to confirm.Leah’s mind raced with possibilities. Big Margaret was so powerful. She had so many people working for her. What if one of her goons was out doing Big Margaret's dirty jobs? What if her grandfather had been killed? Or what if he was locked up somewhere else? Noah squeezed her hand. “We’ll figure this out.”Leah nodded, though her pulse refused to calm.Meanwhile, inside New York Women's House of Detention….Conrad adjusted his blazer as he walked down the narrow prison hallway, his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit corridor. The prison smelled of disinfectant and something stale. Something rotten.The guard escorting him stopped in front of a thick iron-barred door. “She’s waiting for you.”Conrad nodded, his jaw tightening.The door clanked open, and Big Marga
Leah let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she knelt before her mother, taking her hands in hers. “Ma, thank God you're fine. I was worried to death when I didn't find you in the ward,” she said, searching her mother’s face for any sign of discomfort. A gentle smile touched Mama’s lips. “We tried to call you, but your number wasn’t connecting. So we called Noah instead,” she explained. “He hired a taxi and brought us home.” Leah’s brows lifted. “Noah?” “Yes. He just left,” Mama replied. Noah had left Leah in the hospital when he saw Jeremy, claiming he had to attend to something important, but still he rushed back to help her mom knowing she was with Jeremy. That was just his nature. Noah was so pure hearted. But why didn't he stay back. Was he trying to cut himself from her? The thought of that hurt Leah. She wouldn't let it. “Where were you?” Mama asked, curious. “Ma, I had to attend to something very important. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you were discha