Now that Dorian has left, the echoes of the argument still hang in the air. The tension in the room was thick, and Leander could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. He turned to Yvonne, who was staring at the floor, her expression a mix of anger and hurt.“You know, I don’t think you’re completely innocent in this either,” he said cautiously, trying to navigate the emotional landscape between them.Yvonne looked up, surprise flashing in her eyes. “Uh, what do you mean?”“You knew Dorian was capable of being this way. You must have seen some signs before this all happened,” Leander replied, his voice firm but not unkind.Yvonne’s jaw tightened. “You have no idea what I’ve dealt with. The Blackwood family has done terrible things. They’ve destroyed lives, including mine. I thought Dorian could be different, but he’s just as twisted as the rest of them.”Leander raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”Yvonne took a deep breath, her expression growing serious. “
Leander approached Yvonne quietly as she stood by the window. Without a word, he gently placed his hands on her waist. Yvonne stiffened at the touch, her breath catching as she felt the warmth of his hands. “Leander...” she muttered, her voice low and breathy. She didn’t move away, but her posture was rigid. After a pause, she added, “You know, if Dorian saw this, he’d have a heart attack.” Leander chuckled softly, removing his hands from her waist, sensing the tension. “He’s not here, Yvonne.” She turned slowly to face him, her eyes locking with his. There was a flicker of something in her gaze—playful, sarcastic, yet serious all at once. “Oh, I’m sure. But you think this is smart? Playing with fire? You’re the one who said I didn’t owe Dorian anything, right?” Leander stepped back, his hands raised in mock surrender, though a smile played on his lips. “I’m not playing with fire. But if you want me to back off, just say the word.” Yvonne tilted her head, crossing her arms. “Back
Leander sat comfortably in the plush leather chair of Wyatt Crowley’s office, his mind half-focused on the papers laid out in front of him. Wyatt, one of Leander's closest friends and business partners, sat across the desk, tapping his pen thoughtfully as they discussed an upcoming investment opportunity. "This deal is going to set us up nicely, Leander," Wyatt said, flipping through a few more pages. "If we move now, we’ll secure the best contracts before anyone else." Leander nodded, his gaze drifting toward the tall windows behind Wyatt, where the city skyline stretched into the distance. "I agree. Timing is everything. Let’s move forward." Just as Wyatt was about to respond, Leander's phone buzzed loudly on the desk, breaking the focus. He glanced at the screen and saw Dorian's name flashing. His brow furrowed slightly. It wasn’t unusual for Dorian to call, but something about the timing felt off. "Give me a minute," Leander said to Wyatt, picking up the phone. He stood and wal
Leander sat at a corner table in a quiet, upscale restaurant, enjoying a rare moment of peace. He was halfway through his drink when he noticed a group of men approaching him, their expressions tense. He recognized them immediately—Dorian’s friends. They stopped in front of his table, and one of them, a tall man with a sharp jawline named Marcus, stepped forward. His arms were crossed, and his eyes were hard as he glared at Leander. “We need to talk.” Leander raised an eyebrow, setting his glass down. “About?” Marcus leaned in slightly, his voice low but laced with anger. “About what you did. We know what’s going on between you and Dorian’s wife.” Leander’s eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor hardening. “Yvonne? There’s nothing going on between us.” Another one of Dorian’s friends, Liam, a shorter man with a stocky build, stepped forward, shaking his head. “Don’t lie to us, Leander. Dorian told us everything. You’ve been sneaking around with her behind his back.” Leander’s patience
While Leander sat in his office, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk, his mind was focused on running over the events of the past few days. Yet, Dorian had pushed him too far. The constant accusations, the lies, and the betrayal had worn thin. It was time to settle things once and for all. He knew Dorian was a man full of pride, and Leander was determined to shatter that today.The door creaked open, and his assistant poked her head in. “Mr. Goldstein, Dorian’s here. Should I send him in?”Leander nodded, keeping his expression calm. “Let him in.”Dorian walked in with a stiff posture, his face trying to hide the tension, but it was clear in the way his jaw tightened and his eyes flickered around the room, avoiding Leander’s direct gaze. He sat down across from Leander, trying to look composed, but his shoulders were tense."You wanted to see me?" Dorian asked, his voice lacking its usual confidence.Leander leaned forward, locking eyes with Dorian. "Yes. We need to clear the air
A few days later, Leander decided to go on a first tour to his private island and decided to take Yvonne and his assistant Elaine along with him.They first reached the private dock where Leander stood at the edge, gazing out at the shimmering waters ahead. His assistant, Elaine, stood beside him, checking her tablet and coordinating with the crew. Yvonne, dressed in a light summer dress, leaned over the rail, her eyes wide with excitement.The boat rocked gently as it prepared to depart for the island Leander had been gifted by the Carnegie family some time ago. It wasn’t just any island—it was a private getaway, untouched and hidden from the world. Leander had been waiting for the right moment to visit, and today felt like the perfect day to show Yvonne its beauty. Elaine had suggested that the trip would be smooth, and Leander trusted her to handle all the details.“Are you excited?” Leander asked Yvonne, turning toward her with a small smile.Yvonne nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkl
Leander drove in silence, his hands steady on the wheel, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the air between him and Yvonne. Yvonne sat quietly in the passenger seat, her arms crossed loosely, looking out the window. The earlier excitement from the island had faded, replaced by a quiet tension that Leander could feel but didn’t address. After a while, Yvonne turned toward him, breaking the silence. “Leander, I’ve been thinking.” Her voice was soft but carried an edge of uncertainty.Leander glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “About what?”She hesitated, clearly trying to gather her thoughts. “About today. About the island, everything. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was amazing, but…” She paused, searching for the right words. “Why did you take me there?”Leander didn’t respond immediately, the question hanging in the air between them. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, not out of anger, but because he knew Yvonne would eventually ask. It wasn
Leander sat in his office, the tension in the air almost palpable as he went through a stack of papers on his desk. His assistant, Elaine, hovered nearby, her expression grim. The latest news had hit him like a hammer to the chest. It wasn’t just any kind of rumor circulating in the media. No, this was a full-scale attack on his identity, his heritage, and most importantly, his claim to the Goldstein fortune. “They're saying you're not Daxton Goldstein's son,” Elaine said quietly, glancing up from her tablet. “The media is running wild with it.”Leander clenched his fists, feeling the rage simmer just beneath the surface. “I know what they’re saying. I just don’t understand how something like this could come up now. After all these years...”Elaine shifted uncomfortably. “It's not just random, Leander. These kinds of accusations don't come out of nowhere.”Leander's eyes darkened. “You’re right. Someone’s pulling the strings behind this.”Elaine looked at him cautiously. “You think D