While their eyes lingered on each other, Logan softened, a hint of reluctance in his voice. ‘Let’s forget about it for now. It seems we’ll have to save it for next time—for our own good.’Alessia nodded, her smile bright. ‘I’m getting off now. Get back to work.’As they both exited the car, Logan couldn’t resist pulling her closer into his arms.She inhaled deeply and whispered, ‘I really need to go now. I need a shower.’Logan leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. ‘I don’t mind.’After a long moment, he finally let her go.Alessia began to walk away.But just before she left, she paused and turned back. ‘Logan, I know we’ve talked about it before, but I want to confirm again. Have you ever been with anyone else besides your ex-girlfriend?’Logan’s eyes met hers, his tone sincere. ‘That’s not exactly true.’Alessia’s heart raced, her voice tinged with apprehension. ‘Who?’Logan’s answer surprised her. ‘You.’She probed further, her tone wavering. ‘Anyone else besides me?’He thought of
‘Taking advantage?’ Alessia muttered, feeling the weight of his repeated accusations.He had labelled her this way more than once, and Alessia felt a deep sense of desolation.‘Yes, I’m obviously out of your league,’ Logan said, betraying his sense of feeling used, ‘You risked your life to save me so that I’d accept you and your kid. I’d been wondering why you would put yourself in such danger. Now I know.’‘And now you’ve successfully made me feel I owe you all my life. You’re unbelievable, Alessia,’ he added coldly. ‘You wanted me to be a stepfather to your kid. You said you weren’t dating me because of my money. That was only half true. You didn’t need my money for yourself. You needed it for your kid, didn’t you?’Alessia felt his words stab at her heart. ‘I’m not as vile as you’ve said.’Logan, fuelled by anger and a sense of betrayal, continued his harsh words, ‘Yes, you are. You’re just unscrupulous. You thought that just because you’ve saved my life, I would owe you for the re
Terence had no idea who was calling, as the phone remained in Logan’s pocket.The call rang for a while before finally stopping.‘Drive,’ Logan ordered, breaking the silence. ‘Back to my house.’‘Yes, boss,’ Terence responded, starting the car and pulling away.Just as they turned a corner, he spotted Veronica on the street with bags in her hands.He remembered Logan’s words and chose to remain silent.Veronica, who had returned from a grocery run, didn’t notice Logan’s car as she entered the building.Inside the apartment, she found Alessia kneeling by the door, her head buried in her arms.Startled, she closed the door and asked with concern, ‘Alessia, what’s wrong? Why are you kneeling there? Have you been back for long?’Alessia slowly raised her head to look at Veronica, her eyes gradually focusing.Without uttering a word, she blinked and tears streamed down her face.Veronica, her heart aching for her sister, couldn’t bear to see her cry.She got down on the floor and looked at
Alessia quickly explained, ‘So the plan is, I’ll open the door and dodge, then you’ll splash the water out. We have to pull this off together, okay?’Veronica, sporting a mischievous grin, agreed, ‘Okay. I like your righteous look now, Alessia.’Alessia gave her a pointed reminder, ‘Focus.’Veronica reassured her, ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got this.’With the basin of water filled with red beans in hand, Veronica walked towards the door and placed it on the shoe cabinet, poised for their prank.Connie’s impatience was evident in the continued knocking.Alessia, playing it cool, winked at Veronica and opened the door.Connie, standing at the door with a smug expression, gloated, ‘I knew you were home. How was it? Logan came to you just now, didn’t he? Does he know about the child?’Alessia, unflustered, responded calmly, ‘You told him.’Connie, with a mocking grin, admitted, ‘Yes, I did. I’ll get back what I lost from you.’Alessia’s reply was cold and matter-of-fact, ‘You’re out of your mind
Brayden looked at Alessia with hope in his eyes.‘Veronica is right,’ Alessia said. ‘Regardless of what happened between you and Connie, it has nothing to do with me anymore. You don’t have to tell me.’‘Okay then,’ Brayden said, his hope extinguished.He looked miserable. ‘I’ve felt like the walking dead all these years.’‘Is that so?’ Veronica chimed in. ‘Then you might as well die.’Stunned by Veronica’s harsh words, Brayden retorted, ‘Do you want me to die so badly? What about you, Alessia?’Alessia found it ludicrous and chuckled.‘Yes,’ she replied without hesitation. ‘Since you’re already the walking dead, it’s better for you to die, isn’t it? I think Veronica is right.’Brayden staggered, almost losing his balance, but he refused to leave.Standing at the door, he stared at Alessia, unable to fathom her cruelty.‘She used to be so kind and lovely,’ he thought, finding her transformation unbelievable.As Veronica resumed sweeping the floor, she glanced at Brayden and said, ‘Loo
Brayden held his ground and implored, ‘You can’t keep blocking my way to Alessia. Please, don’t shut me out this time. I just want to talk to her.’Veronica retorted sharply, ‘Don’t play games with me. I’d have knocked you out if I wasn’t worried about dirtying my hands.’Brayden’s tone softened as he tried to reason, ‘Veronica, let’s not make this a brawl. You can’t match my strength.’Veronica’s eyes grew colder as she asserted, ‘Are you really ready for a showdown? I’ll take you on till the end.’Brayden, unwavering, started moving forward, stating, ‘Step aside.’Veronica immediately stepped in his path, adamant, ‘You’re not getting in there. Do you get that?’Brayden, wearing a frown, attempted to manoeuvre around her and continue into the building, but Veronica stood her ground.In a fit of anger, Veronica leapt and aimed a kick at Brayden from behind.Yet, he swiftly evaded it, displaying restraint and choosing not to retaliate.As this high-drama scene played out, Heath’s car p
Heath hurried towards Alessia, Veronica, and Milo, staring at them in disbelief.He looked at Alessia, then at Veronica and Milo, unable to believe what he was seeing.‘Hmm?’ Milo, in his innocent confusion, asked, ‘Aren’t you the police officer from the supermarket?’Heath stared at Alessia. ‘I…I think I know what’s going on here.’Alessia took a deep breath and faced him. ‘This is my son, Heath.’Heath’s eyes widened with disbelief. ‘Your son?’Though he had an inkling, the revelation still hit him like a ton of bricks. ‘How could it be? This is Logan’s—’Veronica, ever protective of Alessia, immediately cut him off, her tone sharp. ‘Mr Carpenter! I’ve told you not to mention that man again.’Heath was taken aback by Veronica’s stern interruption, glancing in her direction.Alessia pursed her lips and decided, ‘Veronica, take Milo inside. I have something to discuss with Mr Carpenter.’Veronica bristled, aware that the current location was hardly suitable for a heart-to-heart conver
Veronica responded quickly, growling, ‘No, he’s not.’It was clear she wasn’t telling the whole truth.Heath frowned, his piercing gaze on Veronica. ‘Then why are you so agitated?’Veronica was caught off guard, unable to come up with a convincing argument.Heath, perceptive as ever, pointed out, ‘Veronica, this is between Alessia and Logan. Milo is their child. I understand you care about Alessia and Milo, but is it appropriate for you to make this decision?’Heath’s words were logical and fair, making Veronica pause to reconsider her stance.Veronica, however, was resolute, and her frustration spilt out. ‘I don’t care. I thought Logan was a very upright man, but it turned out I was so wrong. He is a jerk for hurting my sister six years ago and leaving her with Milo. Do you have any idea how Alessia had been holding up for all these years?’Heath nodded, acknowledging the difficulties Alessia had faced as a single mother.But Veronica’s anger ran deep. ‘You couldn’t possibly understa