“I'll go with you to get groceries today,” Jeremy told Leah.She was ecstatic. Jeremy had loosened himself and let her have some kind of control. In the past few days, Leah had accompanied Jeremy to the barbing salon, shopping malls, office and had ensured he took his therapy sessions seriously. She made him delicious meals and deserts. They had late night conversations; although not too deep, and mostly about their plans, Leah liked it. She felt herself drawing closer to him with each passing day, and sometimes, she caught herself fantasizing about being Jeremy’s lover for real. But such thoughts felt like wishful thinking. Jeremy was complicated, guarded, and weighed down by the shadows of his past. Leah believed her role in his life was more pragmatic than romantic. There had to be a reason fate brought their paths together; a purpose that went beyond fleeting attraction.Perhaps she was meant to help him stand on his own feet again, both literally and figuratively. Maybe her pr
“Mr. Harper, you're improving greatly,” the doctor said with a pleased smile, his hands resting on the table. “I am certain that if you keep up with your therapy sessions and maintain a positive mindset, you will be standing and walking on your two feet again very soon.”Jeremy Harper gave a casual nod, his expression neutral. “Thank you, doctor.”The doctor shifted his attention to Leah, his smile widening. “Oh, and Mrs. Harper, I must commend you for the unwavering support you've shown your husband. I must also confess something.” He chuckled lightly before continuing, “His progress significantly improved after getting married to you.”Leah smiled graciously, her hands clasped in front of her. “Thank you, doctor. It’s my earnest desire to see my darling husband walk again.”Jeremy, who had been listening quietly, chuckled and cleared his throat. He noticed both the doctor and Leah staring at him, seemingly amused by his reaction. “Excuse me, please,” he said, feigning a cough.The d
"Hello, Noah. Please, I need to see you urgently," Leah said into the phone, her voice trembling with panic.Noah sighed audibly on the other end. "Of course, Noah only gets remembered when trouble brews," he said, rolling his eyes."Don't be like this, Noah. It's a serious matter," Leah pleaded, her tone filled with urgency."I know. If it wasn't serious, you wouldn't call me," Noah replied curtly. His voice was laced with irritation. The call had been on speaker, but he quickly switched to handset mode and moved to a quieter environment."When was the last time you called me, Leah? We have unresolved issues, but you never cared enough to reach out and iron them out. You've changed so much," he said, his anger seeping through."I'm sorry, Noah. Please, let's meet up and talk," Leah implored.Noah wasn't ready to let go of his frustration. "Well, I'm busy with work. I don't have time," he said sharply."Come on, Noah. Don't be like this," Leah begged.But Noah was firm in his resolve.
Devastation weighed heavily on Leah as she found herself in a dimly lit bar. The clinking of glasses, muffled laughter, and faint music filled the room, but her mind was too clouded to enjoy the atmosphere. She wasn’t here to mingle or celebrate; she just wanted to clear her head. Her shaky hands gripped the glass in front of her as she took a long sip of her drink, trying to drown the chaos within her.And then she saw someone. It was as if luck had shined on her. Big Margaret was at the bar with some acquaintances. Her driver was seated alone somewhere behind sipping from his glass.A nasty thought ran through Leah's mind. Her phone buzzed. It was Jeremy. She declined the call and turned off her phone. “Excuse me,” Leah called out to the waiter. The waiter moved close to her and she whispered something into the ears of the waiter and discreetly squeezed some money into her hands. The waiter smiled and nodded before leaving.Leah then moved to the seat where Big Margaret's driver w
Leah woke up the next morning, too embarrassed to step out of her room. Her head aches badly from hangover. She needed some lemon juice to help with the hangover but was too embarrassed to leave her room. She couldn't face Jeremy or Maggie, especially Jeremy. Not after last night. She decided she would just pretend she didn't remember anything. But she recalled everything and she wasn't proud.She let her emotions emote and had endangered the life of a young innocent man, and even cost him his job. “Perhaps he wasn't so innocent. Maybe he was somehow involved in Big Margaret's shady deeds,” she thought, to somehow feel better.But still, she wasn't a bringer of justice or of death. She wasn't such a person. What had come over her. She hadn't even linked Big Margaret to her father's disappearance and yet, she went that extreme.She reprimanded herself for acting foolishly last night; with Noah, with Big Margaret and her driver and with Jeremy.She clenched her fists, frustration mingl
“Noah, I'm so sorry,” Leah pleaded over the phone. Her voice was a blend of desperation and guilt as she tried to bridge the gap that had grown between them.Noah remained silent. The pause on the other end of the line stretched uncomfortably, but Leah could hear his breathing; a quiet reminder that he was still there, still listening, even if he didn't utter a single word.“Please say something. I miss you. I miss us,” Leah said, her voice calm and soft, insistent. “What has come over you, Noah?”“Me? I'm the problem, huh? You toss me about like I mean nothing. Like I'm just indispensable,” Noah said, his voice sounding frustrated.“You mean everything to me, Noah. You're my best friend. I couldn't afford to lose you,” Leah said sincerely.Noah was pleased to hear that. However, he longed for more. But he wouldn't push it. It had to flow naturally. He and Leah should be together, he believed. “I'm sorry I left the way I did knowing you had just discovered something as important as t
Jeremy glared at Sarah, his expression a mixture of disdain and suppressed anger. The woman standing before him was once the center of his world, someone he had loved deeply and trusted completely. Now, she was nothing but a painful reminder of betrayal. “You stopped being a friend the moment you betrayed me. Now, unless you have something useful to say, I suggest you leave,” Jeremy said,his voice firm and authoritative.Her smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. “I came to talk about Conrad.”“Conrad?” Jeremy repeated, his interest piqued despite himself. “What about him?”Sarah hesitated, glancing at the door to ensure it was closed. “He’s planning something, Jeremy. Something big. And it involves your company.”Jeremy narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. He knew that though. “Why are you telling me this? What’s your angle?”Sarah sighed, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. “Let’s just say… I’ve realized I made some mistakes. Big ones. And I want to make things right.”
Noah tracked and found Sarah. He pretended to accidentally bump into her. Her bag fell off, the contents scattered on the ground. Noah helped her pack her things from the floor, scanning through every item, his fingers moving swiftly, yet deliberately. “I'm so sorry,” he apologized. “Get lost, you loser,” Sarah yelled, her voice sharp as she quickly grabbed her bag and got up. She walked into a car and kissed the man who was in the driver's seat, before the car zoomed off. Noah figured the man must be Conrad. Noah quickly hopped on his scooter and drove away too, but he didn't follow the car. He stopped by a flower shop and bought a bouquet of flowers. Then he called Leah on the phone. “Hey. Can you come out?” Noah asked when Leah answered the phone. “Sure. You found something? Leah inquired. “Yeah. Let's meet at the usual spot,” Noah said. “See you shortly,” Leah replied and hung up. She quickly slipped into a fine simple silk gown, parked her hair up and zoomed off.
The low hum of the airplane filled the silence between Jeremy and Leah. The private jet flew through the night, taking Jeremy to a challenging situation he wasn't sure he could handle. He stared out the small oval window, watching the dark clouds swirl and the endless black stretch before him. His mind was filled with worrisome questions, none with answers he liked.His father.Alive.The man Jeremy had mourned, idolized, defended even when others accused. The same man who had once filled his childhood with warmth and strength… yet had also, in hidden shadows, betrayed his mother with Big Margaret — the woman who had caused more havoc than Jeremy could have ever imagined.If he had been alive all these years, why hadn't he reached out? Why had he allowed Jeremy and Maggie to suffer, to believe he was dead, to build their lives on lies and pain? Why had he joined forces with Margaret, forming something as monstrous as Ares Protocol?Jeremy closed his eyes briefly, exhaling slowly throu
The phone slipped from Jeremy’s fingers. He barely caught it before it hit the floor. His heart pounded violently against his ribcage, a deafening rhythm in the stillness of the office. He looked at Leah, his face expressed disbelief—shock. Perhaps he was hoping that she might confirm that this wasn’t real, that it was some cruel illusion crafted by his stressed mind."I... I don't understand you," Jeremy said finally, his voice rough and uneven, still battling the reality Maggie had just thrust upon him.Maggie's voice trembled through the speaker. "It's true, Jeremy. He's here… at the penthouse in Japan."Jeremy's lips parted, but no words came out. His hands tightened into fists at his sides. His wide, unblinking eyes stared through Leah, through the walls, through everything.His head was filled with thoughts.How?And if true, why?Why had the man stayed away all these years?Was he here now out of love and loyalty or was he plotting something sinister with those who had been tr
Jeremy frowned as he dialed Maggie’s number for the third time. Again, the call didn’t go through. The automated voice repeated, "The number you're trying to call is currently switched off. Please try again later."He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen like it would change the outcome."Her phone is still off," he said, puzzled.Leah turned to him from across the desk, arching a curious brow. “Maggie’s phone is off?”“Yeah. It's weird. Her phone is never off,” Jeremy muttered, eyes narrowing. “Something feels off. She always picks.”“Try again?” Leah suggested, though her voice lacked urgency. Her gaze had shifted. Like she was less focused on the problem at hand and more on him.Jeremy was about to dial again, but when he glanced up, Leah was staring at him… differently.Her head tilted ever so slightly, her lips parted just enough to reveal a hint of a sultry smile, and her eyes darkened with unmistakable mischief. Slowly, she rose from her chair and walked ar
Leah could perceive the sweet aroma of freshly baked croissants and sizzling eggs as she stepped into The Maple Grove, a quaint yet upscale eatery nestled between two tall buildings on Eastbourne Street. The morning rush hadn’t quite begun, so the place felt warm, inviting, and quiet—just as she remembered. It was the kind of place that offered comfort in chaos, and today, she needed that comfort.The hostess greeted her with a soft smile and recognition in her eyes. “Ms. Leah! It’s been a while.”Leah smiled back, her voice a little strained from the weight of everything she’d been carrying. “Yeah, it has. Just stopping by for breakfast.”“Jeremy not with you today?” the hostess asked, leading her to their usual corner table by the window.Leah shook her head. “No, he’s at the office. I’ll be taking some breakfast to him, too.”The woman nodded knowingly, placing the menu before Leah. “The usual?”Leah nodded. “Yes, please. Two of everything.”As she waited, she looked out the window
The morning sun shone brightly, lighting up the Fisher estate. The living room was quiet—a calm before a storm everyone could sense but couldn’t see. Leah sat at the edge of the sofa, her hands folded across her lap, trying to hide her nervousness.Jeremy stood by the window, staring out with a pensive look, his jaw tight. His phone buzzed on the table, and he glanced at it before ignoring the call. His mind was elsewhere, calculating, preparing.He turned and looked at Leah, concern evident in his eyes.“Sure you’re strong enough to go with them to the airport?” he asked gently, stepping toward her.Leah looked up at him, offering a small but determined smile. “Yeah, I am. Don’t worry.”She knew her body wasn’t in top shape as she was still recovering, but her spirit, her will, wouldn’t let her stay back. Not when the people she loved were being sent into hiding, even temporarily. She had to be there. She needed to see it for herself—that they were safe, that they got on the plane, t
Outside of town, in a secretive, quiet place, a lady was standing; waiting, her arms folded across her chest, her breath coming out in even mists as the evening chilled. The only sounds were the distant calls of birds settling in for the night and the subtle crunch of gravel beneath approaching footsteps.Clara appeared moments later, dressed in dark jeans and a loose sweater, her blonde hair tucked beneath a cap. She moved quickly, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. Her heart was beating fast, but not from fear—at least not entirely. There was something else pulsing through her veins: adrenaline, purpose, the knowledge of what they were about to set in motion.The lady had a striking resemblance with Clara. Their face, height, complexion, everything. They were mirror images. The only difference was that she had sharper edges and a colder aura."Update," the woman said, her tone brisk, as though she wasn’t interested in pleasantries. Even her voice echoed Clara’s, but wit
Morning light came through the curtains, casting soft lines on the walls. Leah woke up, still feeling the effects of the previous night. She lay in bed for a few seconds, enjoying the warmth and Jeremy's gentle breathing—the faint scent of him lingering in the pillows.Slowly, she got up from the bed, careful not to wake him. She yawned as she sat upright, her bare skin kissed by the gentle chill of the room. It was then she realized she was completely naked, her breasts still standing and pointed; sensitively alive, a sweet reminder of how passionately they’d expressed their love just hours ago.Last night had been more than sex. It had been soul meeting soul, a temporary sanctuary from the chaos that constantly clawed at their lives. With Margaret’s evil still echoing through the walls, with betrayal and secrets swirling in every corner of Empire Hub, and possibly Fisher Enterprise, they'd found comfort in the only place that still felt safe: each other.Leah slipped into her silky
Leah had gone with Jeremy to see Ivan. “Please wait for me. Let me go in alone,” she said to Jeremy.“Okay,” Jeremy said without any argument.He trusted Leah so much, more than himself even. She was extremely smart and her gut feelings were usually right.Leah walked in and the warder went to bring Ivan out.Ivan couldn't look at Leah. He bent his head, avoiding her gaze.“Look at me,” Leah said, her tone firm.Ivan didn't look up.“Ivan, look at me, I said!” She sounded authoritative this time.“I can't. I'm too ashamed,” Ivan admitted, crying softly.“You were brainwashed. Big Margaret was very manipulative. I don't blame you, Ivan,” she paused and stretched her hands to his. “I'm getting you out of here, I promise.”Ivan finally raised his head up and looked at her, surprised at her words. She would help him after everything?Leah nodded as if she could hear his thoughts.— — —Jeremy was still being troubled about Clara or Claudia or whoever she was. She was an infiltrator and s
Jeremy was no longer himself. Always lost in thoughts, wondering who that lady, Clara, actually was, and where he'd seen her.Damn! Why couldn't he place the face? He surely had seen her before. The face… It was too familiar.And she wanted to work in his firm as his secretary? He couldn't trust her. No, he couldn't trust anyone. Not after everything they'd been through.His fingers moved reflexively toward the resume she’d left behind. He wanted to show it to Leah. Clara Dane. Age thirty-two. A flawless work history. Multiple firms, stellar recommendations, even a few accolades for administrative excellence. But no matter how pristine the paper trail looked, his instincts screamed that something was off. That woman… he knew her. Or he knew her face, her eyes, or maybe the energy she carried — like a polished blade hidden beneath silk.He snapped out of his daze when Jackson walked in, holding two cups of coffee and humming along to whatever was blasting in his AirPods.“Morning, boss