CHAPTER THIRTY SEVENLEO’S POVThe kiss was sudden, intense, and electrifying. As soon as our lips met, I felt her tense, but then she melted against me, and something inside me broke free. There was no hesitation, no gentleness. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I hadn’t even realized how much I had been restraining myself until now. My kiss was firm, claiming, as though I had been holding on to this need for far too long.My mind spun as a surge of emotions crashed through me, emotions I didn’t even know I was capable of. My heart pounded wildly, and for the first time, I didn’t care about the consequences. What line had we crossed? Did it even matter anymore?I expected her to pull away, to slap me or scream at me for overstepping. But then she leaned into the kiss. Just for a moment. That moment was all it took for me to lose any sense of control.My hand tightened around her waist, pulling her closer until there wasn’t an inch of space between us. I could feel the warmth of her body
Rachel's POVI was stunned as the words left his mouth. My gaze locked onto his, searching desperately for any hint of deception, but his eyes revealed nothing. Was it possible I had misunderstood him, just as he might have misunderstood my role in posting Helen's article? “Someone else posted it without my knowledge, and…” he trailed off, his eyes falling to the ground for just a moment. Then, he looked back up, and our gazes met again, charged with unresolved tension. In that instant, memories rushed back like an unstoppable tide, pulling me into a moment I had long buried.Flashback “Hey, Cecilia! Yes, today’s my first day of grad school as a master’s student,” I said over the phone, my voice bright with excitement. But even as I spoke, anxiety tugged at me. My eyes darted around the room, searching for something I held dear—my bracelet, the one I considered my lucky charm. Wearing it today meant everything, but I couldn't find it. “Ugh! Where is that bracelet?” My frustration
FLASHBACK CONTINUESRACHEL'S POVThe projector displays a case study on the screen: a multinational corporation facing challenges in managing its global operations. "Good morning Everyone. For the new students joining today, I am Professor Harding and I will be teaching you Global Business Strategy and Leadership. On that note, the first question I would like to ask today is, between centralization and decentralization, which is the best strategy for a global corporation like this? I would love to hear your answers" He said while staring at us, looking at different angles to see who would attempt the answer.A few minutes later, I decided to contribute since no one was willing to answer. I raised my hand."Nice, can you tell me your name?" He asked while keeping his phone on the table."I am Rachel Snow and I would say Decentralization," I said, keeping my posture as firm as possible. "Okay, Rachel. It's nice to meet you. Care to elaborate on why you choose decentralization?" Profes
Flashback continuesLEO’S POV I must admit, she seems quite intelligent from the way she spoke earlier. Working together might not be so bad, but only as long as our opinions don’t clash.“Okay, I think we’ll discuss it tomorrow,” she said, excusing herself. As she turned to leave, she bumped into Mark.“Oh, sorry about that,” Mark said, and she gave him a quick nod.“So much bumping into people on my first day,” she muttered, before walking away. Mark shook my hand and continued talking.“Did you hear about the new bar opening tonight near the university? You should come check it out with me.” His tone was eager, but my attention had already shifted to Rachel disappearing down the hall.“I’m not interested,” I replied, starting to walk toward my next class.“Oh, come on, Leo,” Mark pressed, following me as I shook my head in disapproval.As we approached the classroom, I spotted her again—Rachel—standing in the corner, someone towering over her, blocking her path.“Oh no, looks lik
LEO’S POV"Hello, Mark, can you tell me the location of the new bar? " I asked, glancing at the time—8:30 PM already."What? Are you going? I was thinking we could head over at 10 PM, you know," he replied, dodging my question entirely.Damn, what kind of friend is this?I can’t even remember how we became friends in the first place. How did we?"Mark, you didn’t answer my question," I repeated, my irritation bleeding through my voice."Alright, alright. It’s beside the GnGee Mall. It’s called Baresque," he finally relented. Before he could start rambling again, I hung up.As I sped down the highway, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. What if Dave’s already done something? The thought gnawed at me, making me press down harder on the accelerator.But why do I care? I usually ignore this kind of drama. What’s different now?My phone buzzed, and I saw it was Mom calling. "Hey, Mom," I answered, but she stayed silent. She was pissed, I could tell. "I’ll be a little late, but I’l
RACHEL’S POVMy head was still spinning, everything around me a blur as I tried to figure out where I was. The dim streetlights flickered above, casting long shadows across the pavement. My legs felt weak, and each step was an effort. Leo, silently walking beside me, offered his arm as support. His steady presence kept me grounded, even though the world felt like it was slipping away from me.I leaned heavily against the cool metal of the car, the night air brushing against my skin. I could feel my stomach churning again, but I forced myself to stay composed.“Do you need to go to the hospital?” His voice, usually so calm and distant, now carried an edge of concern. It surprised me.I turned my head toward him, my eyes drifting to the spot where I had thrown up earlier, the acrid smell lingering in the night air.“Yeah, I think I do,” I admitted, my voice hoarse. As I started to move toward the passenger’s seat, I hesitated, the words forming before I could stop them.“You know…” I t
LEO’S POVAs I made my way to the car, I dialed John, my bodyguard, instructing him to dig into everything he could find on Dave. I knew Rcahel probably expected me to come to her rescue from Mom’s endless parade of questions and opinions. Normally, I’d intervene, but today, I just didn’t have the patience to face Mom’s overbearing nature.My car silently trailed behind them as they drove toward the mall—a sprawling 24-hour complex whose neon signs flickered lazily against the darkening sky. I parked discreetly in the shadows and waited as they disappeared inside. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the low hum of the city filling the silence. Then finally, they came out, and that’s when I saw her.Rachel stepped out first, and for a second, my breath hitched. She was wearing an emerald green dress that clung to her figure, the deep, rich color making her skin glow like gold under the lights. The neckline dipped just enough to be alluring but remained tasteful, perfectly highl
RACHEL’S POVI sat down in the room, memories of the kiss flashing through my mind on an endless loop. How did this happen so fast? My thoughts were racing. Sure, he might think of me as his girlfriend, but is he my boyfriend? No, not yet, I told myself, trying to shake off the butterflies fluttering wildly in my chest.I had just gotten back a little while ago after Leo's birthday party. It had gone better than expected, though I was far too exhausted to even think straight. The scene from last night kept replaying in my head, over and over, until sleep finally claimed me.Morning came too quickly, the shrill ring of my phone jolting me awake. I groggily fumbled for it, answering in a sleepy haze."Helloo..." My voice was barely audible."YEEEEEEE!" Cecilia's scream pierced through the speaker, echoing in my brain like an alarm.I sat upright, the remnants of sleep evaporating instantly. God, why is she so loud?"Cecilia, are you trying to kill me before my time?" I groaned, rubbing m
RACHEL'S POVI got a call from Bug saying the rival company’s CEO wanted to see me.Honestly, I couldn’t care less.Cecilia left about an hour ago, and since then, I’ve been sitting here, staring at nothing, feeling completely drained. The room is quiet, but not in a peaceful way—it’s the kind of quiet that presses on your chest, making it hard to breathe. I’ve been thinking about walking away from all of this, leaving the show behind. The idea keeps circling in my mind, louder than anything Bug said on the phone.I don’t even know why I’m here again. At first, I had a clear purpose—to join this variety show, uncover Leo’s weakness, and crush him in the game. Winning would’ve secured my company a top spot in Las Vegas, solidifying our reputation. But now? That goal feels like a distant memory, shattered into pieces. Everything I planned for seems pointless, and I can’t help but wonder if it was ever worth it in the first place.Nothing has been going right since I got here. If anyth
Michael's POV As I walked around the company, an unsettling quietness hung in the air. It wasn’t the usual hum of activity I was used to. Something was off. Perhaps a visitor had arrived, or maybe I was wrong. My suspicions were confirmed—or rather, shattered—when I entered my office and saw him. My so-called father. “That explains it,” I muttered under my breath, the words laced with a mix of irritation and resignation. The atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating. My steps slowed as I approached my desk, every nerve in my body on high alert. His presence alone was enough to change the air, filling it with tension and unspoken words. As I moved to sit down, his eyes locked onto mine, following my every motion with an intensity that made my skin crawl. His gaze wasn’t just observing—it was probing, dissecting, searching for cracks in my armor. My jaw tightened, and I fought to keep my face neutral, refusing to let him see how his unexpected arrival unnerved me."Oh, I thought you
Rachel’s POV "Now we have to plan for this stupid wedding," I said out loud, my voice laced with frustration. Cecilia said she is coming to check up on me. I heard the doorbell, and I knew it was her. “Oh, sweetie,” she said while hugging me tightly, her arms wrapping around me like a warm blanket. I could feel the comfort in her embrace, her familiar floral scent filling the air as I let out a shaky breath. Her voice was soft, yet filled with concern, and her touch made my guarded emotions threaten to spill over. “Oh, how are you?” I asked as we went to settle down on the couch. I could sense something off in her energy, but I chose to ignore it for now. “I’m angry with you, but I just chose to come,” she said, her voice steady yet tinged with a hint of hurt. She tried to mask her expression, but the slight crease in her brow and the way her eyes avoided mine gave her away. I sighed, bracing myself for whatever was coming. “What… why?” I asked, even though I knew exactly why sh
LEO’S POV“But why now?” Rachel asked, her voice edged with frustration and confusion. “I mean, it’s been so long since he was arrested. Why is he attacking us now?” She paced back and forth in the sitting room, her steps quick and restless. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and I could see the worry etched into her face. I watched her for a moment, trying to make sense of it myself. This wasn’t just a random move—it felt calculated, deliberate. But what triggered it now? After all this time? “I don’t know, Rachel,” I finally said, my tone low and serious. “But whatever it is, he clearly hasn’t let go of his grudge.” She stopped pacing and turned to face me, her eyes searching mine for answers I didn’t have."That won’t do him any good. He needed time to prepare, but eight years ago is way too long,” I said, running my hand through my hair as I tried to piece together every possible clue, every potential motive. “Or... what if he wasn’t planning anything at all?” she
VILLAIN'S POVI’ve been watching them for a long time now. Every time I see them together, it burns me inside. The way they laugh, the way they look at each other—it makes me sick. They don’t even know I exist, not when it comes to the two of them. But that’s fine. They don’t need to know, because as long as I’m alive, I’ll make sure they’re never together. I stand on the balcony, staring out into the quiet night with a glass of wine in my hand. The air is cold, biting against my skin, but I don’t care. The street below is almost empty, just a few cars passing by, their headlights cutting through the dark. The moon is high in the sky, its pale light spilling through the window and making everything look lifeless. It matches how I feel—cold and restless. My left hand grip the railing tightly, my knuckles turning white. I should have been done with this by now. Rachel wasn’t supposed to still be a problem. But the idiot I sent to take care of her is sitting in a police cell, and now
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