RACHEL’S POVThe court proceedings were tougher than I had anticipated. The questions were direct and unrelenting, leaving little room for avoidance. While I might not have caused Sarah Eli’s death through power tripping, my negligence in handling my employees was glaringly evident. It took nearly an hour and a half to finish, and once we were done, I headed back to the company for an emergency meeting with all the directors.“What on earth is going on? I’m already framed for a case, and instead of focusing on how to get back on our feet, someone leaked information about ‘Leo’s first blah blah’ to the media. Who is responsible?” I demanded, my frustration palpable.Despite the fact that Leo was now facing a crisis, something I had secretly hoped for, I needed to understand why my team had acted without my knowledge.“I asked again, who is responsible?” I repeated, emphasizing each word. I needed answers on why they took such action without informing me.“I—I did,” came a familiar voice
MICHAEL’S POVIf you ask me whether I hate Leonardo Lugard, I wouldn’t have a clear answer. But one thing I know for sure is that I refuse to lose to him. He has abandoned me, discarded me as his brother, and I cannot simply let that go. I don’t know exactly where it all went wrong, but ever since that day, Leonardo has never spoken to me and seems to harbor a deep dislike for everything I do. But I’ll show him. I’m not just someone he can trample on and leave behind. I am Michael Lugard.You might not know me well, but this is my identity: I’m a man of average height with sharp, dark eyes that can pierce through the toughest of facades. My hair is neatly combed, always in place, matching my meticulously tailored suits. I prefer keeping a poker face—it’s my way of masking emotions. In my world, showing emotions is a sign of weakness, and I refuse to be weak, especially in a world where I have no one to rely on except myself and, perhaps, my father.To be fair, Dad isn’t the ideal fat
CECILIA'S POVIt was him—the last person I expected to see here, of all places. The world around me seemed to blur, and for a moment, I forgot all about the celebration that had brought me to the bar. The laughter and noise around me faded into the background as our eyes met. His expression shifted too, from something hardened and distant to a mix of surprise and uncertainty, maybe even something deeper.I sat there, rooted in place, trying to make sense of my feelings. What is he thinking? What would he say? And more importantly, what am I going to do?It felt awkward knowing that I would meet him in this kind of place.He went to the bartender to grab a drink and seemed to glance at me once in a while.I excused myself from my group of friends to leave the bar, perhaps expecting him to follow me.As soon as I stepped outside, he was right behind me.“Cecilia,” he muttered, almost in a whisper, but loud enough for me to hear. Just the mere sound of my name from his lips brought back o
RACHEL’S POV“You startled me!” Cecilia exclaimed, dropping her purse on the sofa. I was already seated, watching her as she joined me.“Well, I went to the bar for a birthday party,” she answered, playing with her hair. There was something about her demeanor—she seemed happy, but at the same time, there was a trace of mixed emotions lingering on her face.“And you didn’t care to invite me?” I teased, though I knew exactly how she would respond.“Oh, come on, Rachel. The business nerd who barely leaves her desk going to a birthday party?” she shot back, her eyes twinkling with amusement.Just as I expected. “So, did you meet someone there?” I asked, my instincts telling me something was off. There was a certain energy about her that made it clear she had met someone. I could tell—probably a guy. Cecilia and I had both been through our fair share of fleeting relationships. Well, to be fair, hers lasted longer than mine. Still, every time she met someone, there was this unmistakable ex
“Watch out, Rachel”.LEO'S POV“Watch out, Rachel...”I don’t know what came over me tonight. It was as if my body moved toward her on its own. Involuntarily. Definitely not me. Stop, Leo.I kept telling myself, trying to snap out of it, especially when we were just inches apart. I had a few drinks, but they must’ve hit harder than expected because everything felt... different. I couldn’t help but notice she looked kind of... pretty. Pretty? Did I just think that? Damn it, Leo! She’s not pretty. She’s ugly. Ugly like a duckling. That’s right. Finally, I snapped out of it, grabbing the door handle behind her. She was standing between me and the door, not saying anything, but clearly startled by my actions. Her expression was a mix of confusion, as if trying to process what was happening.“Can you get out of my way?” I asked, my voice curt. She looked even more confused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to understand the shift in my tone.She eventually moved aside, and I q
"Help me!"RACHEL'S POVI fell just as I was about to cross the finish line, and Helen used that moment to sprint ahead of me. I heard Leo shout from behind, but it was too late. Why is he acting like he cares? Oh, wait—of course, the cameras are on.I pushed myself up immediately, not wanting to waste any more time. Lily was far behind, so while I might not take first or second, I could still claim third place. With a determined rush, I crossed the finish line."Congratulations, Mrs. Leo. You made it!" Josh announced, and the smugness in his voice irritated me to no end. They know we hate being called that and are just doin watching as though she already knew the outcome.What the—"You know, not to brag, Rachel," Leo said, turning to face me as he placed the bow back where it belonged. "I was the top archer in college. Probably could’ve made the national team or the Olympics if I hadn’t focused on business."His hands were tucked into his pockets, his stance exuding dominance and con
“Rachel…Calm down”LEO'S POVThere was a sudden blackout, which caught me off guard as I stood near the large glass window facing the swimming pool. The glass was pristine, reflecting a faint glow from the nearby lights, creating a soft barrier between the chaos outside and the quiet of my workspace. It was then that I realized Rachel hadn’t returned yet, and I decided to check on the others.A few minutes into the blackout, I heard a scream that sent a chill down my spine.“Help!!” Rachel’s voice echoed through the darkness. My mind went blank, the only thought in my head was reaching her. I grabbed my phone, using the flashlight to guide me toward the pool. As I sprinted outside, I caught the faint sound of footsteps retreating, but I was too focused on saving Rachel to care about the shadow slipping away.I dove into the water, pulling her unconscious body from the pool just as the lights flickered back on. The other couples rushed toward us, their faces etched with concern.“Oh my
“Someone really pushed me”RACHEL’S POV“Don’t go!!” I yelled, grabbing his shirt again. Leo remained still, not pulling away this time. I could feel my grip tighten, and even though I was aware of it, I couldn’t bring myself to let go. Surprisingly, he didn’t try to shake me off. Instead, he stood there, struggling to find the right words to calm me down.He continued patting my back, and his touch—unexpectedly—was soothing. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice low but clear enough for me to hear. We stayed like that for what felt like minutes, his presence steady and oddly comforting.My eyelids grew heavier as exhaustion caught up to me. I started to drift off, and Leo must’ve thought I’d fallen asleep because he slowly pulled away. I felt him gently lay me down on the bed, and though I was too sleepy to fully open my eyes, I could sense him dragging something—perhaps a blanket—over me. There was the soft sound of him sitting down beside me again.Why does it feel like he’s genuine