I love you all
RACHEL’S POVI had come to confront him, to make it clear I wasn't interested, but the sincerity of his actions broke through my defenses. Before I knew it, I melted in his embrace.Tears slipped down my cheeks, and I wondered what would have happened to me if he hadn’t been there for me yesterday.“Are you better now?” he asked gently, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. I nodded, wiping away my tears.“Don’t you think we’re moving too fast?” My voice trembled with uncertainty. It felt like everything had accelerated—just yesterday we were strangers, and now he was my boyfriend, and... what were we even doing?He held my hand, his gaze steady as he searched my face.“Do you believe relationships have to follow steps or levels?” he asked, his tone soft but thoughtful.I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. “I don’t know. It’s just... everything is happening so fast. One minute I didn’t even know you, and now we’re... this.”He smiled gently, his thumb brushing over the back o
LEO’S POVIt was ridiculous, I knew, but I couldn’t shake the jealousy I felt seeing her all chatty and smiley with that guy earlier. It ate at me, even though I had no right to be so possessive. Tonight was our date, and I had agreed to pick her up from her place. That should’ve been enough to calm my nerves, but it wasn’t.Then I got a call from Mark."Hello, Mark," I said, holding my phone to my ear as I finished getting ready.“Oh, hi Leo. Can you swing by the field real quick?” His voice had a tone of seriousness that I wasn’t used to. It wasn’t our usual casual invitation for a round of golf—something was up.Curiosity gnawed at me. I was already dressed for my date in a sharp yet casual outfit—a fitted black button-up shirt, sleeves rolled just below my elbows, paired with dark jeans and my polished leather shoes. I had planned to make a quick stop at the field and head straight to Rachel’s afterward.As I drove toward the golf field, my mind raced with possible reasons for Mark
RACHEL'S POV"Hello, Dad… I’ll be going on a date later," I said into the phone, fumbling with my earrings while getting dressed.Dad had just called to check in, probably wondering why I hadn’t been in touch lately."What?!" His voice rose in disbelief, and before I could respond, the call switched to video. His face appeared on the screen, eyes wide with shock. "Since when are you going on dates?"I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, though I tried to keep a smile on my face. "Calm down, Dad," I said, though I knew exactly why he was so surprised.Dad being protective was nothing new, but the truth was, he had every reason to be shocked. None of my previous flings had ever reached the stage where I’d actually go on a real date. Most of them fizzled out before things got serious—before they even had a chance to. I never let them. This time was different, and Dad could sense that just from the way I was talking.“Who’s the unlucky guy?" Dad teased."Dad!" I exclaimed, my voice half annoye
RACHEL'S POVWith trembling hands, I rechecked my dad's location and realized the hospital he was in was only a short distance from my house. My mind was too fogged with worry to register that before. I bolted outside, jumped into my car, and sped toward the hospital, barely noticing the world around me.When I arrived, he was in the emergency ward. The minutes dragged on like hours until the doctor finally emerged, his expression grim."We've done everything we can, but his chances of survival are slim. You may want to see him now," he said.His words hit me like a wave, but it took a moment for their full meaning to sink in. My heart felt like it had stopped. Everything around me seemed muffled, distant, like I was underwater.Without responding, I walked past the doctor and entered the room to see my father. Fear and helplessness twisted inside me, but all I could focus on was the fragile figure lying before me.e lay there, wearing an oxygen mask, his face barely recognizable from
LEO'S POVI returned home and slipped into my comfortable clothes, the weight of the day still pressing on my shoulders. Stepping onto the balcony, I let the cool breeze wash over me, but it did little to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. Should I tell her about Helen or keep it to myself? The uncertainty gnawed at me, a constant, uneasy tug in my chest.I took a slow sip of the wine in my hand, letting its warmth spread through me, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Carlos. His name flashing on the screen pulled me from my thoughts, and I hesitated for a moment before answering, unsure of what new twist this conversation would bring.“Hello, Carlos,” I answered, still staring out at the night sky.“Oh yeah, I wanted to give you a heads-up,” Carlos started. “It’ll be officially announced tomorrow, but I thought you’d like to know in advance—we're going on a two-day seminar for our course.”I furrowed my brows, trying to process. “A seminar? What’s this about?”He continue
LEO'S POVI vaguely recalled the police officers trying to show me a video that night during their interrogation. Honestly, I hadn’t been paying much attention. I figured it was just routine, something they had to do. But now, with everything happening, I couldn't help but replay that moment in my mind.What was in that video? When did this even happen?A knot tightened in my stomach as so many thoughts raced through my head, questions I hadn’t bothered asking before suddenly weighing heavily on me.Why hadn't I paid closer attention? And why were they so insistent?But what really shook me was Rachel’s expression when she showed me the footage earlier. Her eyes, filled with disbelief and hurt, told me everything I needed to know. She believed every single part of that video—whatever it showed, it was enough to make her shut me out completely.I had no idea what I was dealing with, but I knew I had to find out. And soon."Rachel, how—where did you even—" I stammered, trying to make sen
RACHEL'S POVIt turns out my whole life has been a lie. I thought the worst was behind me after losing Dad, but then when I discovered the unimaginable—Leo is the one responsible. Little did i know more was to come. And the worst part? I still didn’t know why. What reason could he have had? Every memory, every moment we had shared, felt tainted now. The betrayal was suffocating, and I couldn’t escape it.Just when I thought I had reached the bottom of this nightmare, reality hit me harder. I was delusional to think it was over. As if the truth about Leo wasn’t enough, one of my dad’s old friends reached out. What he told me shook me to my core—Dad had discovered that Mom was having an affair. On the day of the accident, Dad had gone to confront her about it.I stood frozen, trying to process it all. It wasn’t just the accident. My dad had been living a lie, too, right up until the end. Everything I thought I knew about my family, about the people I trusted, was crumbling right in fro
RACHEL'S POVThe anger bubbled up inside me, mixing with sorrow and confusion.I felt like I was losing control. Every time I thought about my father, every memory flooded back with a new sense of betrayal. I couldn’t let this go. If the police wouldn’t do their job, then I would have to take matters into my own hands. I made the decision then—I would find a way to send Leo to jail myself.I was determined to trick Leo, to play the long game and pretend I had forgiven him. My plan was simple: once we got to the seminar, I would lure him into revealing all kinds of evidence about what had happened. I needed to expose him, and I thought I could do it without raising any suspicion. But everything took a turn I didn’t expect. The day after I showed him the video, he ignored me completely.I watched in disbelief as he approached our instructor, a deep frown etched on his face.“The project you want us to work on, I’m backing out. I have so many things lined up on my schedule” he said, frust
RACHEL’S POVI was stunned, frozen in place as Lily’s words echoed in my mind. She knows Someone pushed me? Why is she just telling me now?“What?!” I gasped, my voice sharper than I intended, cutting through the tense silence in the room. Lily’s eyes darted toward the door, her hand quickly gesturing for me to lower my voice. “Tell me,” I demanded, gripping her shoulders, my voice now a trembling whisper. “Who is it?” Her hesitation hung thick in the air. “It’s…” Just as she opened her mouth to reveal the truth, a sudden knock shattered the fragile moment, sending my heart racing. The atmosphere shifted instantly, tension rippling through the room like an electric charge. I felt my grip tighten on Lily’s shoulders as dread crept into my chest. Who was at the door? And did they already know what Lily was about to tell me? "Tell me… who is it?" I insisted, my voice trembling with urgency, completely ignoring the knock. Lily hesitated, her lips parting as if to final
RACHEL'S POVI insisted the hospital discharge me because I had to go to the police station. First, someone pushed me into the pool, and then I was kidnapped. Now, I can't shake the feeling that something even worse is about to happen. A sense of dread lingers, the air thick with the weight of impending danger. The tension inside me grows as I try to make sense of the chaotic events, my heart racing with fear and uncertainty.As I entered the station, my mind replayed all the horrifying moments I had endured in his place, each memory like a fresh wound reopening.“Oh, you're here to see me too?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of surprise.“Also? Was someone else here too?” I asked, a sense of confusion creeping into my voice. He chuckled softly, the sound sending an unsettling chill through the air.“I guess you're unaware. He didn’t inform you? The person who caused your kidnapping?” he said, smiling, but there was something in his expression that made me freeze. He wasn’t joking
MICHEAL’ S POV“Cecilia… listen! Just listen,” I urged, trying to soothe her, but she was far too wound up, pacing back and forth like a storm about to break.“Don’t tell me to calm down! I need to deal with Leo. How dare he treat his younger brother like this? Why is he being so cruel to you?” Her voice was sharp with anger, each word carrying the weight of her frustration.A strange warmth filled me, knowing someone was this fiercely on my side. Perhaps I should have held onto her years ago, made her mine when I had the chance.“Cecilia, please… calm down,” I said gently, hoping to steady her.“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she snapped, grabbing her jacket, preparing to storm out. But before she could take another step, I wrapped my arms around her from behind, pulling her close.She froze, her breath hitching as I held her tight. I leaned down, my lips close to her ear, my voice a soft murmur. “I’m okay. I promise,” I whispered, letting each word linger. “And besides, time heals ever
LEO’S POV“What do you mean I’m the cause of everything?” I asked, my voice tense. He grinned mischievously.“You think I’d just tell you? No, that’s a puzzle for you to figure out,” he replied, leaning back with a smug look.I could tell he was playing mind games, trying to throw me off balance. But if I played my cards right, there was a good chance I could get him on my side.“Alright, listen,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “I have an offer for you. Tell me who hired you and the price he promised. I’ll give you triple whatever he’s offering.”He smirked, his expression unreadable.“I’m sorry, but you can’t give me what I want.”He replied, and I chuckled, matching his mischievous grin. “You sure about that? Money? I’ve got plenty. Connections? I have those too. And power? You know well enough that I’m number one on the list of Las Vegas’ most powerful bachelors. As far as I’m concerned, there’s a limit to what your employer can do for you—but his limits are like infinity compa
LEO’S POVWe’ve been enemies for years, and nothing unusual happened. But the moment we started caring for each other, the strange occurrences returned, darker and more unsettling.As I drove to meet Micheal, a plan already forming in my mind, my phone rang. Rachel. Her voice was filled with urgency, and the next words she spoke left me cold."What?!" I shouted, slamming my foot on the brake. My car jerked to a stop, my heart racing as if it might tear through my chest."Dave has never been in prison?" I asked, my voice low, but the disbelief was clear. I clung to the steering wheel, knuckles white. "No," Rachel confirmed, her voice shaky. "There are no records of him in the prison database." That was it. Dave was involved—he had a hand in all of this madness. My pulse quickened, thoughts spinning as I tried to piece it all together."I’m coming. I’ll get back to you," I said, my voice strained. Hanging up, I pressed the gas pedal, my mind now consumed by questions.As I drove, I dia
RACHEL’ S POV I know things have been awkward between us lately. We were at loggerheads just weeks ago, but this variety show brought us closer than I ever expected. "Leo..." I called, and he looked up at me. He was sitting a bit far away but moved closer, settling next to me. "Yes?" he answered, his eyes locking with mine. I have so many questions I want to ask him, especially now, but I don't know how to begin. "Could you hand me my phone?" I asked, stretching out my hand. He passed it to me, and I played a video before handing it back to him. He watched it, and I could tell he remembered. "I think this is where everything between us started," I said. It was a video of the day my dad was hit in that tragic accident. For a long time, I believed Leo was responsible, but over the months, doubt crept in. The video felt too real to dismiss, but part of me started wondering if I had been wrong all along. Maybe, just maybe, I should’ve asked instead of blaming him from the start. B
LEO'S POVAs I stepped further into the abandoned building, my heart raced. In the flickering light, I spotted Rachel, tied to a chair, her eyes wide with fear. Panic surged through me as I noticed a group of men emerging from a dark room, their expressions menacing. What made my blood run cold was the sight of a bomb strapped to her body, wires and a digital timer blinking ominously. My instincts kicked in, and I couldn't think of anything else but getting to her. I rushed toward Rachel, my heart pounding in my chest. “Get away from her!” I shouted, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The men, however, just laughed, their eyes filled with malice. One of them held a remote, taunting me with it. “Step closer, and we’ll set it off,” he sneered. “Leo, don’t!” Rachel pleaded, her voice trembling. But I couldn’t back down. I took another step forward, my resolve unyielding. In an instant, pain exploded in my leg as I felt a sharp sting; I had been shot. I stumbled but kept my focus o
LEO'S POVAs I stepped further into the abandoned building, my heart raced. In the flickering light, I spotted Rachel, tied to a chair, her eyes wide with fear.Panic surged through me as I noticed a group of men emerging from a dark room, their expressions menacing.What made my blood run cold was the sight of a bomb strapped to her body, wires and a digital timer blinking ominously. My instincts kicked in, and I couldn't think of anything else but getting to her.I rushed toward Rachel, my heart pounding in my chest.“Get away from her!” I shouted, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The men, however, just laughed, their eyes filled with malice. One of them held a remote, taunting me with it.“Step closer, and we’ll set it off,” he sneered.“Leo, don’t!” Rachel pleaded, her voice trembling. But I couldn’t back down. I took another step forward.In an instant, pain exploded in my leg as I felt a sharp sting; I had been shot. I stumbled but focused on Rachel, who was looking at me
LEO'S POV “What’s our next step?” I asked the officer, urgency lacing my voice.“Right now, we’re compiling a description of the suspect,” he replied, motioning to the forensic team working on their computers.“We’ll use facial recognition software to see if we can match him against any known criminals in the system.”Just then, Bug burst into the room, his face a mixture of concern and determination. “Leo, I’ve got something,” he said, urgency in his voice.“What is it?” I asked, my heart pounding in anticipation.“My boss once told me that she will put tracking device on all her shoes right Sarah Eli’s murder and I think it is linked to her macbook in the office” Bug said, bringing outa macbook that probably belongs to Rachel.“She said on it for safety reasons.”“Right,” I said, nodding.“She wanted to make sure we could always find her if anything happened again.” Bug continued“We can track her location using that device,” Bug said, pulling out his phone. “If she’s wearing those