As Chase moved his lips to speak, his eyes darted to Jada, but he halted, a flicker of hesitation crossing his features. At that moment, she saw something in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. It was a mixture of pain, longing, and a hidden truth, desperately fighting to break free.
"Mr. Aniston," Leon's voice was laced with suspicion and accusation. "What exactly is your business with my wife?"
It took a minute for Chase to tear his eyes away from Jada. Then his gaze hardened, and he turned to face Leon. "I think there's more to Jada's accident than meets the eye,"
Sensing the tension in the room, Dr. Matthews stepped forward, his voice calm. "Gentlemen, let's try to keep this conversation for another day. Jada needs rest and time to recover."For a second, Leon said nothing as his jaw tightened, and his gaze never left Chase's. In silence, Jada watched the look he held in his eyes, such coldness that it sent a chill down her spine. There was something unspoken between Chase and Leon, an invisible tension that hung heavy in the air. She couldn't help but feel like a pawn caught in a dangerous game.
As the seconds ticked by, Leon finally broke his gaze with Chase and turned his attention to Jada. His features softened, a facade of concern taking over, and he mumbled, "Jada, my love, I'm just glad you're awake. I've been worried sick."
Jada's heart fluttered in her chest as she watched Leon's approach, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
Hesitantly, Leon gently took Jada's hand. His eyes searched hers, and then he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "We'll figure this out, Little butterfly. I won't let anything or anyone come between us."
Rolling his tongue in his jaw, Chase observed them. His gaze never wavered from Jada and Leon, his features a mask of unreadable thoughts.
Studying Jada's eyes, he saw the flicker of uncertainty, the longing for answers. Without a word, he stepped forward, breaking the intimate moment between Jada and Leon. His voice was soft yet commanding as he addressed them both.
"Jada... Leon, I know this is a difficult time for both of you. But we can't ignore that there might be more to Jada's accident than meets the eye, and the person who shot her is still out there. She's not safe, especially now that she's awake."
Looking away from her, Leon's eyes narrowed, his grip on Jada's hand tightening. "And what makes you so sure of that, Mr. Aniston?" he challenged.
Chase met Leon's gaze head-on, his eyes filled with defiance. "Because I care about Jada too," he stated firmly. "And I won't rest until we find out what happened to her."
The room seemed to grow colder, the atmosphere thick with tension. Jada watched Chase's jaw clenched, his gaze narrowing as he locked eyes with Leon. The intensity in their stares was palpable, a silent battle of wills that neither was willing to back down from.
Chase took a step forward, saying as his eyes hardened. "Look, Leon, I understand your concern, but I can't just walk away. Jada's safety is at stake here. We need to find out who did this to her."
Leon's grip on Jada's hand tightened, his face contorting with anger. "I am her husband, Chase. I will protect her. I don't need another man taking care of my wife. Get out."
"Jada, is that what you want... me to leave?" Chase asked, his eyes meeting hers.
The room fell into an eerie silence, and Jada's gaze shifted between Leon and Chase as she leaned back against her pillows. She took a deep breath, desperately trying to gather her thoughts.
The sterile smell of the hospital mingled with the tension in the room, suffocating her senses. The walls, painted a stark white, seemed to close around her.
Sensing the growing unease, Dr. Matthews stepped forward, breaking the heavy silence. "I know emotions are running high, but we must focus on Jada's recovery and safety."
"Who brought me to the hospital?" Jada asked, looking at him.
Dr. Matthews hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between Leon and Chase, knowing that the tension in the room was reaching its breaking point.
"Well, umm, huh... It was... It was Mr. Aniston, Mrs. Kingsley. That night, he came running through the hospital door with you in his arms."
Squeezing her brows together, Jada gazes into the distance, staring hard at nothing.
Walking back to her side, Leon took her hand, drawing her eyes to him.
"What? Do you remember something?" Leon asked, worry dripping in his every word. His grip on Jada's hand tightened even further as if trying to anchor her back to the present.
"I...I don't know," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "Everything is hazy, like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. I can't remember anything before waking up in this hospital."
"It's okay, honey. Your memory will come back with time. We just need to be patient."
Slowly, she nodded at him, then glanced over at Chase. "Do you remember anything about that night?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
"I...I wish I could say yes, Jada," he replied. "That night, I came to your house to... Well, I found you at home, lying on the hall floor, with no workers around, like everyone had abandoned the place... But we will figure this out, Jada," he said. "We will find the answers together."
A mad look spiked inside Leon's eyes again, and this time, his voice was harsher, "Mr. Aniston, are you working with the police, the FBI... Are you a law enforcer? No! No, you are not. You are a business men. So why don't you get out of here and leave my wife the hell alone?!"
Meeting his gaze, Chase's jaw tightened, his knuckles turning white as his hands balled into fists. But he took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "I understand your concern, Leon. But I'm not here to harm Jada. I'm here to help her. I have resources and connections. I want to find out who did this to her just as much as you do-"
"Jada didn't want you then, and she won't need you now, so get out before I call the authorities." Leon lashed out.
The tension in the room had reached its breaking point, and it seemed like a confrontation was inevitable. "Chase, you can stay." Jada abruptly blurted out.The room fell silent as Jada's words hung in the air. Leon's grip on her hand loosened slightly, his eyes searching hers for any signs of hesitation. On the other hand, Chase seemed taken aback by her unexpected response. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jada locked eyes with Chase. "I want you here with me," she blurted out, her voice stronger this time despite the lingering uncertainty. "Please,""What are you doing now, little butterfly?" Leon asked, his nostril flaring."Don't call me that," "Call you what?""Little butterfly... Something about that name is eerie-""But little butterfly-""Stop calling me that!!!"Her sudden scream pierced through the tension-filled room, shattering the uneasy silence that had settled over them. Startled, Leon and Chase turned their attention back to her, their eyes widening in concern."
Narrowing his eyes away from Jada, Leon looked at Dr. Matthew and said, "Now that that jerk is gone, I need you to start working on the paperwork to get her out of here and back home."Dr. Matthew's eyes darted between Jada and Leon, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. He adjusted his glasses nervously, finding the right words to respond to Leon's demand."No!" Jada cried out. She focused on sitting up, ignoring the ache and discomfort coursing through her body. Her eyes blazed with defiance as she stared up at Leon."Mrs. Kingsley," Dr. Matthew interjected. "Even though it has been a month, your wound has not fully healed yet internally. So, I advise you to lay back in bed."Ignoring his voice, Jada gritted her teeth, mustering every ounce of strength. The fire in her eyes burned brighter as she found her voice. "No, Dr. Matthew. I won't be held captive by him. I refuse to be with you."As her feet rested on the floor, Leon's face contorted with anger, his control slipping
For the longest, Chase's gaze darted into hers as he held his tongue, and then he looked away for a short time before focusing on Jada again."My lawyer is very creditable. But are you this serious about leaving your husband?" Chase asked, staring into her soul. "Why?""I don't like him." She mumbled as she dropped her gaze."That's not reason enough.""I don't know him."Not saying a word, Chase stood there, his eyes locked on Jada's downcast face. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken emotions, tension coiling like a live wire. Time seemed to stretch, each passing second filled with anticipation and uncertainty.Jada could feel Chase's intense gaze on her, his eyes boring into her soul. The weight of his scrutiny made her heart race and her palms grow clammy. It was as if he could see through her, peeling back the layers of her carefully constructed facade and exposing the vulnerability she kept hidden.Finally, unable to bear the silence, Chase moved closer to Jada, his
The gravel crunched under the wheels of Leon's black sedan as he sped up the winding driveway toward the mansion. His heart raced as he approached the gates, a sense of rage gnawing at him. Without hesitation, Leon slammed his foot on the gas pedal, and the powerful engine roared to life, propelling him forward. The gates swung open with a metallic groan, revealing the sprawling manor beyond. He barely stopped the car before jumping out and rushing towards the grand entrance.As he stormed up the steps to the front door, a distinguished-looking butler, James, emerged to greet him. "Good evening, sir Kingsley. May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?" James asked, his voice dripping with politeness.However, Leon paid little attention to the butler's courteous demeanor and said roughly, "I need to see Mr. Hudson. It's urgent."James raised a well-groomed eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Leon's brusque demeanor. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and nodded. "Of course, si
The sunlight glowed inside as Leon stormed through the polished glass doors of HH's headquarters, his footsteps echoing in the grand marble-floored lobby. His frustration simmered just beneath the surface, a dangerous fire that threatened to consume him entirely. A month had passed since Jada had left, and it was as if she had vanished into thin air. The walls of worry were closing in on him, and he couldn't wait any longer. Her memories could resurface at any moment, and his carefully laid plans would crumble to dust.He had hoped to finish the job before making any move on the business, but time was no longer on his side. The relentless tick-tock of the clock had become an unbearable reminder of his mounting desperation.With determined steps, Leon marched towards the elevators, his piercing eyes focused like laser beams, and his usual charisma was masked by the shadow of anxiety.As he ascended to the top floor, Leon couldn't help but replay the thoughts in his head, 'She has no
The women hesitated, eyeing each other before one answered, removing Jada's pajamas off her shoulders, "He's in the dining room, waiting on you." Slowly, she stepped into the tub, and the water held her like a comforting embrace, her body sinking into the warmth. The women surrounded her, their hands cupping water and cascading it over her shoulders, tracing delicate lines along her arms. Each touch and stroke was filled with care and tenderness as the women worked silently, their movements gently. Jada closed her eyes, surrendering to the sensations that washed over her, allowing herself to be enveloped by the healing ritual. ~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~ The dining room carried tension with just a look from Chase as he stared away from his mug and focused on his assistant. Standing before his boss, Jacob frowned as he said, "It's been a month. She is healed... Why are you helping her, master?" As Chase set his tea down, his piercing blue eyes narrowed. He studied Jacob's face for a moment be
The kitchen hummed with the bustling energy of anxious maids, their whispers intertwining with the clattering of pots and pans. Jada ran about in the room through the chaos and collected various ingredients from the kitchen cabinets. Each cabinet door creaked open, revealing a treasure trove of spices, herbs, and delicacies.As she reached for a jar of saffron, a young maid approached her, her eyes brimming with concern. "Miss Jada, please, Sir, is very particular about what he eats. We have served him faithfully for countless years, knowing his every culinary preference to your fingertip," she pleaded.Jada paused, her hand still hovering in mid-air, her fingers yearning to caress the vibrant threads of saffron. Her eyes softened with understanding as she regarded the maid. "Then teach me," she said. "Teach me what Chase loves. I promise that I am a quick learner. Give me an instruction, and I will follow. But I want to make him breakfast from now on."The maid's eyes widen
The room fell silent, tension thickening the atmosphere, and Chase met her gaze with furrowed eyebrows, asking, "You want to come? Why?""Because..." Jada mumbled as she bit her bottom lip hesitantly, unsure how to word her thoughts correctly.Finally, she decided, "It's me you guys are going to talk about, right? So why shouldn't I be there?"His eyelids lower, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips. After a few moments, he raised his eyes to look straight at hers. "No,"The two stared at each other, neither willing to back down. The tension mounted. Finally, Jada let out a defeated groan, running her fingers through her black curls. "Why don't you want me to go?"Her question was met with silence, and Chase averted his gaze, his shoulders slumping in defeat. When he looked back up at her, he opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then closed it again, his jaw clenched tight—a long moment passed before he finally said. "Fine. You can come along.""Are you afraid I will get cold f