“Auntie, how’s Leila? Did they examine her already?” Rui rushed to the Emergency Room of the hospital where Leila was currently admitted. Laura dejectedly glanced at her daughter who was sleeping on the hospital bed. Leila’s lips were chapped, dehydrated from all the crying she had done earlier. Bruises were all over her arms and she also sustained a cut on her right forehead. She was badly beaten up. Leila was so shocked that she was unable to even properly fix her disheveled look. Laura was there to help her throughout. While her husband, Theodore was busy dealing with Julius, she was here fixing the hospital paperwork and requested a thorough examination to be used for medico-legal purposes. She already knew what to do because of the case seven years ago. Experience is valued, yes. However, if it’s an assault that her daughter went through it’s just plain torture for her as a mother. “Yes… We’re still waiting to be moved to a private room.” Laura answered Rui in a weak voice.
All the ladies were stunned. They couldn’t believe that Leila was hiding such a secret. With this, she could have easily cleared her name from being the liberated girl that the Yu family knew. But no, she did not choose to do so. What she chose was to protect the dignity of the man she relied on. “Leila, why did you protect him? You gave this to me before your flight to Paris. That was the time when your case against Julius was dismissed for lack of evidence. This much could have sufficed since it will show a history of him…”“…doing it to you,” Phyllis said with so much difficulty. “At the time, I thought he could help me and my mother to get out of the situation that my father put us in. He was pressuring my mother to give out almost all of my mom’s assets. A lot of the executives in the company also sided with him. They even sold their shares to him. The partnership with the Yu family is something important for my mom’s career… I can’t ruin it…”“Plus… I have come to like him… B
Outside the police station, countless reporters were waiting. They were all geared up to get a scoop out of the hottest case in the country. Julius Yu, a respected businessman is imprisoned because of a sexual assault case filed by his ex-girlfriend, Leila Parker. Many were shocked to hear that the most eligible bachelor in the country was involved in such a case. It was highly publicized and even large TV stations are covering the entire case. Taylor Lown, the witness of the crime and also the person who has beaten Julius up to the point that he got jailed, just exited Lieren City Police Station. “Mr. Lown!”“Mr. Lown!”“Any news for Miss Parker’s condition?”“Any comment for what Mr. Yu did?”“Can you detail how you found the hidden camera that Mr. Yu installed in Miss Parker’s office?”“What’s your relationship with Miss Parker?”“Is it only because of your security agency that you’re with her?”“Do you know about the arson case that Mrs. Laura Beaumont filed against the Parker
Taylor, I’m telling you, stop being so stubborn!” “Just drop me off at the hotel, I’ll be fine.” Annoyed, Chase slowed down and stopped near a hotel by Lieren Bay. They’re currently on the way home after a quick dinner with Laura and Theodore. However, since Theodore and Taylor had a small argument, it did not last long. And the initial plan of Taylor staying at Laura’s house is now scrapped. “You can stay at Grandpa’s mansion if you want.” “Or you can just go home to Uncle!” Chase kept on giving suggestions to his stubborn friend. But Taylor just ignored him. He glanced at his phone and saw a text from his friend, Zacharias Lohr. [Phyllis is home. She did not go out today.] [Why?] “I know you’re just going to see Leila, Taylor.” “Let the girl heal. Don’t be another asshole who will ruin her peace!” Taylor got a hold of a bag of toiletries and sleepwear that Laura initially prepared for his stay. Taylor briefly glanced at his friend and lawyer, Clark, who i
Warning: R18 content ahead! The kiss they shared made their bodies hot despite the cold sea breeze. Taylor’s topless body felt so warm as she snaked her arms around his neck. His calloused hand crawled inside her maxi dress. “Ahh…” she moaned arching her back. Her seductive moan caught Taylor from sinking into temptation. Leila’s not well. He pulled his hand back from her dress. “Leila, you’re still recovering. I’m sorry I was not in my right mind.” He patted her shoulders, feeling the coldness of her skin. Her face looked expressionless. Nothing about the passionate kiss they shared changed her blank eyes. She hung her head low, avoiding his eyes. “Let’s go inside, it’s cold here.” He guided her inside the cabin from the main deck. The yacht that Theodore bought Leila was huge. They passed by two cabins already and there’s still so much room. On the way to her room, Leila was eerily quiet. She hugged herself while walking in front of Taylor. “Where’s Theo’s men? I he
“Did you really have to leave Leila?” “You locked yourself up in your atelier for a whole month and then you’re leaving?!” “What’s the point of finishing all your pending dresses when you’re already leaving for good?!” Laura continued to nag Leila as she watched her daughter pack her suitcase. “Mom, I’m only staying in New York for a while.” “I’m not moving there for good. I have a client that I need to dress up for a wedding there. It’s a grand wedding so I need to be overseas to get her correct measurements,” she reasoned. “You can get the measurement and finish the work here! What’s the use of your atelier if you’re not gonna use it?!” “Mom… I just want a new scenery…” “We have a lot of rest houses in the province! You can get a new scenery there!” “Besides, what is there to see in New York?! It’s all just buildings anyway, it’s the same here!” “New York is not a safe place to travel in! You could get in danger!” “Mom, I believe it’s more dangerous here.” “…” With th
Dumbfounded, Leila couldn’t help but wonder why the old lady said so. “Oh, I think you’re mistaken. Theo’s my stepdad, Amanda.” Amanda squinted her eyes, carefully observing Leila’s face. “No. It can’t be!” “You have his eyes!” “Also his smile!” “You can’t fool this old lady into believing otherwise. I watched that kid grow up, there’s no way I can be mistaken,” Amanda added. With a bright smile, Amanda tapped Leila’s hands, “Let’s go up. I’ll show you your dad’s apartment here.” “Sure, let’s go!” She answered, not paying any more attention to what Amanda said about her stepfather. They entered the lift with the luggage in tow. The whole ambiance of the boutique condo is cozy and warm. A lot of beautiful paintings were also hung on the wall, which made the place more appealing. So far, she was impressed. She couldn’t wait to see the unit that she’d live in for the next few months. DING! The elevator opened on the top floor of the building. On the whole floor, she could
Dressed in a comfortable black pleated dress and a pair of nude sandals. She brought her workbag with her so she could give the client a rough sketch for whatever they may discuss. “Darling, I’ll just go to run some errands. I’ll leave you here now.” “Don’t worry about me and go do your thing, grandma.” Amanda smiled. “Well then, I’ll get going now.” Leila waved at Amanda goodbye before she went inside the coffee shop. She was still 10 minutes early so she went up other the counter to quickly order a drink. “Good morning, I’ll have a sea salt latte please,” she ordered before passing her credit card to the cashier. “Good morning, ma’am! I’ll get that ready for you!” Upon getting a receipt and her card back, she went to find a seat near the window. The whole street is bustling with people coming and through. It’s a busy Wednesday morning. “Leila?” A beautiful woman in a pink A-line dress approached her table. Her short hair was straightly cut under her ears, framing her sma