"Boss, I caught her" a goon came in, informing Maxwell."No....!" "Bull...Shit...!" Leo muttered as the situation dabbled up on him. His whole frame froze and he swallowed hard.It was fine for him to get caught and he could easily get out of there with his supernatural powers but what about Jessica, just the thought sent chills down his spine. They couldn't get in touch as Leo's phone was taken away by them as their safety measures and he couldn't use any hidden device either as without checking for it Maxwell would not have allowed him in.Before his terror consumed him, Leo closed his eyes and flung open them again enlightening his ability to read minds while his ears were busy listening to the girl gasping in fear behind him.[That bitch, how dare she run away from us, though she had paid off her bills, she had a nice body that could be used. How could I let a treasure go?]The girl was not Jessica but still Leo gritted his teeth in anger. "Bastard...!" he mumbled under his brea
Leo's heart pounded in his chest as the phone went silent. He was frozen at the spot. Many things swirled inside Leo's mind at the very moment. Looking around desperately he started searching for any window or any hole in the wall so that he could lung out of that to escape from there but to his disappointment, there wasn't even a keyhole around.He fixed his mind that it was all over already, even if the police arrived in time, he would no longer be able to explain anything to them.(Hey Leo you, are here...! I have been searching for you...) A familiar voice reverberated Leo's ears and he turned back immediately to see the owner."Derek...!" Maxwell's grip on the phone tightened, and his face contorted with frustration. "You...!" he hissed and Leo's heart almost jumped out of his ribcage."Aa....ah" Ignoring the soul hovering behind him, Leo tried to cover the situation by explaining himself, at least he could try giving any reason to delay Maxwell. But he was suddenly interrupt
Being panicked for a second, Leo instantly got a solution for his problem that may help him better.Maxwell's henchmen began to scatter as the sound of sirens drew closer, but Leo had already made his way towards the window where Jessica was hiding all this time. That aloof corner was well hidden anyone could hardly doubt that someone was peeping from there.Minutes later, the warehouse was surrounded by flashing lights and the sound of sirens. Police officers stormed the building, apprehending Maxwell and his henchmen, who were now thoroughly outnumbered and cornered. At first, Maxwell panicked but he then started playing cool."Hey cops, I think you got it wrong...!" Maxwell tried to reason with the police officer because he was sure that there were no drugs in the warehouse, the only huge packet that he asked for was taken away by Mr. Andrew. He was quite sure that he could slip away this time as well, but one of the cops came running to inform something. That cop found a packet
Jessica had been observing Leo, his every action his every move was like a different mystery ready to uncover before her.Confusion washed over her. She had thought Leo was heading to his home, even if he didn't want to go home at least with his status he would go to a famous restaurant to have his breakfast or coffee. Why struggling at a small cafe, that was not yet opened?His choice was baffling. She needed to find out what was going on, so she continued to watch from the shadows and moved further to get a clear view.Standing outside the cafe, Leo glanced at his phone screen and tapped his fingers impatiently on his thumb while reading a message or notification. He seemed restless as if he was searching for something specific. Jessica strained her ears, trying to catch any snippets near him. She couldn't make out the details, but it was clear that Leo was struggling to find something in his pocket. Though she knew she was invading his privacy she couldn't shake off the feeling t
Leo had just finished one of his sandwiches and the next one was on its way when he heard the jingling bells at the cafe door. He thought it might be some customer and so he gulped the sandwich slab he just bit and made his way to take a look. But as the uninvited guest marched in so hideously, that Leo was startled for once. A woman covered with scarves all over her body and wearing a huge pair of sunglasses strolled in from that door. Very mysteriously stating at he that Leo almost choked on that bite of his and coughed it out. "I... I am...sorry...i" Leo was puzzled but in his profession, he must not disrespect any customer no matter who she or he was. He cleaned himself, straightening his posture, and bent over apologetically."Please come in ma'am," he said, sounding himself as polite as had could. But that woman keeps on staring at him without a word.Leo felt it weird as that woman's lips were shivering, just as it does when someone controls their emotions.But who was that wo
As Anastasia's efforts to get closer to Leo became more noticeable, it didn't go unnoticed by Jessica."What the hell this bitch is doing here?" Jessica sniffed rudely, not even an ounce of respect for the woman throwing herself on Leo."Jessica, please mind your words" Leo retorted immediately. Both Anastasia and Leo stumbled at the sudden comment. When looking at each other, those ladies were in a different phase of the Cold War. Anastasia felt that somewhere, that girl before her, Jessica had harbored feelings for Leo and was hostile to Anastasia because she found her being close to Leo. She understood that if she wanted to win Leo back, she had to push Jessica apart from him.Moving closer to Leo, one of her hands reached his chest and the other on his arm, she moved her fingers towards his neck seductively and then asked Leo in an intimate tone, "Who is this, Leo?"Leo had noticed how Anastasia was behaving near him, but he also knew that it was her habit to talk to others lik
Leo walked away admitting his mistake when James fumed in anger over him and they had an argument. It was a common thing for an employer to scold his employees and James and Leo were not just employer and employee, they shared a unique bond. James was like a big brother to him. Leo never takes his harsh words to heart. But this time, there was someone who intervened in their purest relationship. Anastasia was a girl with less or literally no patience. Even though James had just helped her clear her bills, she was ready to take unnecessary revenge on him just to get Leo's attention. Unknown of the fact that he would never forget her if anything happened to James.She strode towards the counter and grabbed a coffee pot nearby with boiling water in it.Her intentions were dangerous, what else could someone expect from a girl like her?Though no one noticed it, Jessica who had been keeping an eye over her had seen it coming. However, before Anastasia could carry out her reckless act, Je
Leo held Jessica in his arms, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He could feel her pain, both from her wound and from the emotional turmoil she had gone through. It was his fault, after all, she was just trying to save James from that treacherous woman and, instead of supporting her, he scolded her. Though the day was rough on her, the warmth of his embrace was a stark contrast to the cold day she had and she felt as if it was the only comfortable thing that had happened in the whole day. But as they were lost in each other, the cool air brushed his cheeks. It was then he noticed that his mask had just fallen to the ground. He startled but didn't let her know, he had to be careful, for his secret was at stake. "Jessica," he whispered gently while reaching out for the mask with his other hand, "I feel so sorry for what happened to you, and how they all acted earlier. They should have trusted you from the start. It was their mistake, and of course, they will deeply regret it soon
Author's point of view... For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, Helen let out a sob and rushed forward, throwing her arms around Renard. Leo stepped back, giving his parents the space they needed as they clung to each other, the years of pain and separation melting away in their embrace. Slowly hugging his girlfriend, Leo indulged in the delicacy of reunion. Leo watched them, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now that it was here, he felt a profound sense of peace. His family was finally whole again. Helen's eyes were still moist with tears as she held onto Renard's hand, her fingers trembling slightly from the overwhelming emotion. She couldn't believe that she was seeing her husband after nearly twenty years. After taking in the surprise slowly, she turned to Leo and Jessica, gratitude evident in her gaze, though she was still unaware of Leo's true identity. For her, they were her saviors. "Thank you both," He
Author's point of view... Though he didn't look frightening, Jessica took a step backward. Leo was busy on his phone, talking to Daniel about the case. He didn't notice anything behind him. The beggar snatched the food from her hands but then paused. Jessica wasn't brothered at all, instead, she wanted to help that beggar by lending him some more money. Then suddenly the stopped and was mumbling something to himself. "Th...thank ...y...you..." Slowly, he raised his head, and for the first time, Jessica got a good look at his face. His eyes were sunken, his skin weathered, and his hair matted with dirt, but there was something familiar about him that she couldn’t quite place. As he looked at her, a faint glimmer of recognition flickered in her eyes. Jessica was dumbfounded. Was that man...!! Was that him? “Thank you, young lady,” the man mumbled, his voice raspy with exhaustion. “Thank you so much for the food. My son is still waiting for me. He must be so hung
Author's point of view... That day, Leo felt so uncomfortable even to spend another second there, wasting time. After grabbing something to eat, Leo and Jessica arrived at the NGO with a sense of urgency, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. The place was quiet, with only a few staff members moving about. They immediately recognized Jessica as she was a volunteer there. Jessica led the way, her mind racing with memories from years ago. They were here to search through the records, hoping to find any information about the man she had encountered during a medical camp—a man she now knew was Leo's father, Renard Edward Connard, her Aunt's husband. When asked, the staff told her that those records might be destroyed as if had been so long. But Jessica insisted on checking them. They poi red towards a shabby room. The records room was tucked away in a corner of the building, a small, dusty space filled with rows of old files and boxes stacked high. Jessica hesit
Author's point of view... The first light of dawn crept into the room, casting a soft glow over the sleeping figure on the bed. Jessica stirred, blinking her eyes open as she adjusted to the early morning light. She stretched, feeling the cool air against her skin, and realized with a start that Leo wasn’t anywhere in the room. Panic gripped her momentarily as the memories of the previous day's events came flooding back. Leo had returned late, his mind elsewhere, burdened with a weight he couldn’t fully comprehend. He hadn’t come to the room after that. Where is he? Worried, Jessica slipped out from under the covers and rushed out of the bed to looked around. As she padded towards the terrace, she didn't find any trace of him, there either. Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped outside. Did he go somewhere?Did something happen again? Jessica recalled everything, how Leo seemed to be worried last night and she panicked at the thought of something going wrong wit
Author's point of view... Leo was puzzled. He couldn't understand what mystery this was. Should he laugh or cry? Mr. Renard Connard read the father's name again, then shifted his gaze towards the column of his mother's name, Helen Connard...! Helen was his birth mother?? He flipped over the photograph to see the faces of his parents once again, more clearly. However, just as he took it out again, the shocking resemblance took him aback. Tears filled his eyes again. "This...!!" He quickly reached for the other paper, pulling out the letter with trembling fingers. His heart pounded as he unfolded it, recognizing the worn edges of a note written in haste. As his eyes darted across the page, the truth hit him like a punch to the gut. It was a letter from his father. *Renard Edward Connard.* Leo’s knees nearly buckled as he read, the weight of the words sinking into him like an anchor. The letter explained everything—how his father had left him at the orphanage when he wa
Author's point of view...The envelope was empty...! Leo snuck his fingers into it and checked it again and again. A surge of frustration shot through him. He clenched his fist, trying to contain the anger bubbling beneath the surface. How could the system betray him like this? He had done everything and sacrificed so much, only to be left with nothing. Jessica, sensing his distress, placed a hand on his arm. “Leo? What’s wrong?” Leo pulled himself back immediately, he can't let her worry. He forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s nothing,” he lied, his voice tight. “Just... something which I didn't expect.” Jessica frowned, but she didn’t press further. She could feel the tension radiating from him and knew better than to pry. Instead, she stood by his side, offering silent support as Leo grappled with the storm of emotions inside him.Leo felt cheated, betrayed but he didn't let it show on his face. At least, he can't tell this to anyone. Controlling himself w
Author's point of view... Leo and Jessica walked side by side down the quiet street, the Connard estate fading behind them. They took a taxi back to the city. Daniel had taken care of everything about his restaurant. After giving up on all those luxuries that the system had provided him, the only thing that Leo had now was his restaurant, as the system believed that it was solely his hard work. And he deserved it. The villa he bought was under the name of Connard estates and so he had to leave it behind. Now, Leo was back in his small shabby room on the terrace of the restaurant. When they reached their restaurant, its closed doors greeted them with an eerie silence, offering a rare moment of privacy. The employees were all tired after the chaos that they had suffered, and because of this, Leo had given them all a few day's leave. Everybody needs some time for themselves, including him. As they stepped Inside, the space felt strangely peaceful, as though it, too, had b
Author's point of view... Helen stood tall, but her strength was faltering. She had just witnessed everything. The boy she raised as her son wanted to kill her. The weight of everything, the betrayal, the revelations, the heartbreak, seemed to crash down on her all at once. Her breath became shallow, her body swaying on weakened legs. Before anyone else could react, Leo rushed forward, catching her just as her body began to give way. "Ma'am, be careful...!" The moment his hands touched her, an electric jolt seemed to pass through Helen. She blinked in daze, looking up at Leo as if seeing him in a new light. His steady, concerned gaze met hers, and for a fleeting second, she thought of her son, her real son, the boy she had lost so long ago. He would be around Leo’s age now. How different things might have been had he lived. Leo gently eased her into a chair, his touch careful, almost reverent. His presence brought her a small measure of comfort, a warmth she hadn’t felt i
Author's point of view... The gun in Alvin's hand dropped as he saw Helen standing before him. Helen stepped forward, her eyes scanning the room, filled with sorrow and disappointment. “I never thought my own family would betray me,” she said, her voice soft yet firm, carrying the weight of a truth long hidden. Leo and Jessica exchanged glances before stepping forward at Helen’s call. They approached her, and she placed a gentle hand on each of them, her grip weak but meaningful. “If not for them,” Helen continued, her gaze settling on Alvin, “I would have died long ago in that accident.” Her voice cracked, but she held her composure. “Jessica, Leo, they were the only ones who stood by me. Jessica, at my request, carried out this entire plan so we could unearth the truth about the accident. And now, it’s clear… it was my own family behind it, the son I raised...” her eyes filled with tears. It was true that she wanted to find her lost son but she never treated Alvin as