Novels by Lim Akem

The Parker house stayed quiet for a long time after Leo left. The papers from Sunridge Company still sat on the table. No one wanted to touch them.Lady Margaret finally spoke. “Call everyone. We need a family meeting tonight.”Claire paced back and forth. “This does not make sense. How can a man who could not even pay for clothes yesterday suddenly get thirty percent from Sunridge?”Daniel’s face was still pale. He kept checking his phone. Every call he made gave him the same answer. The deal was real. The shares were already under Mia’s name. No one at Sunridge would tell him who gave the order.“I will find out,” Daniel said. “Someone high up must have helped him. Maybe he sold something or made a dirty deal.”Mia sat on the sofa with her hands tightly together. She had not said much. Her mind kept replaying Leo’s calm face when he walked in and then walked out again. He had not asked for thanks. He had not even looked happy.She stood up. “I am going to find him.”Claire blocked h

Leo did not go far that night. He checked into a simple hotel near the city center. The room was clean and quiet. He sat on the bed and looked at his phone for a long time.Mr. Harris had already cleared the gallery debt. That part was done. Now the real work was the Sunridge contract.Leo typed a short message.[Prepare the papers for thirty percent of the Berry estate project. Put the shares under Mia Parker’s name.]A reply came quickly.[Yes, young master. The board is ready. Do you want the announcement made tomorrow morning?][Yes. Make it public. Send a copy to the Parker family as well.]Leo put the phone down and lay back. Sleep did not come easily. He kept seeing Mia’s face when she walked away with Daniel at the mall. He also remembered the way Claire had looked at him like he was nothing. Tomorrow that look would change.Morning came fast.At the Parker house, the family was already gathered in the living room. Lady Margaret sat in her usual chair. Claire stood near the wi

The leader of the men stared at Leo for a long second. He looked like he wanted to hit him. Then he pulled out his phone and made a call.“Boss, there is a man here who wants to speak to you,” he said. “He is one of the family members.”He put the phone on speaker and held it out.A deep voice came through. “Who is this?”Leo stepped forward. “My name is Leo Vance. I already sent word about the broken art piece. The ten million dollar charge should be canceled.”The men looked at each other. Claire’s mouth fell open. Daniel frowned. Mia just stared.The voice on the phone was quiet for a moment. Then it said, “Yes, sir. The order came from above a few minutes ago. The debt is cleared. Let the man go.”The leader’s face changed completely. He quickly helped David stand up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.“We are sorry for the trouble,” the leader said. He bowed a little toward Leo, then toward the family. “The matter is finished. We will leave now.”The men got back into their car

Claire was furious. What was the point of keeping a man who could not help when it mattered? It was better if he left Mia’s life and let someone useful take over.She looked at Leo with hard eyes. “I do not want to hear anything from you unless you have the money. I know you do not. So agree to the divorce now.”Daniel smiled. Claire was smart enough to understand his meaning. From the way things were going, Mia would have no choice. She would divorce Leo and marry him. After years of waiting, he was finally getting what he wanted.“Mother, it seems your son-in-law cannot help his own wife,” Daniel said.“He is not my son-in-law,” Claire answered. “I never accepted him from the first day. I am not surprised he is useless as always.”Leo felt his anger rise, but he kept it under control. He knew Daniel was doing all of this to take Mia. He would never let that happen.He still did not fully understand why Mia had changed so suddenly. This was not the same woman who used to believe in h

Claire’s face turned red. She could not believe Leo was still making jokes after everything.“You think we are fools?” she shouted. “Stop lying. Ordinary people cannot even get near the gate of Sunridge Company. Your behavior has gone too far. Divorce Mia right now and let her be with someone who can actually help.”“Enough is enough,” she added. “I cannot take this anymore.”Daniel started laughing. He could not believe anyone would be this stupid. He wondered what Mia had ever seen in Leo.“Mother, he is just a fool who opens his mouth and says nonsense,” Daniel said. He looked at Leo with cold eyes and a small smile. He was sure Mia would finally agree to a divorce after this.“Young man, in case you do not know,” Daniel continued, “Sunridge Company will never give a third-class family thirty percent. The most they give is five percent. With my family’s help, I can get the Parkers seven percent. That is already a lot.”“Stop talking,” Leo said. His voice stayed calm. “You are becom

Leo stopped walking when he saw his bags outside the house. Claire sat next to them with her arms crossed. First he had seen Mia with another man at the mall. Now Claire was trying to throw him out.He walked straight up to her.“Claire, what is the meaning of this? Why are my things outside?”Claire stood up. Her face was full of anger.“You are useless. That is why your things are outside. I do not want to see you near my daughter anymore. Pack up and leave.”She could not believe Leo still had the nerve to come back. She had hoped the police would take him away after the mall. Instead here he was, asking questions.Leo was about to answer when the front door opened. Mia and Daniel stepped out.Leo’s eyes went cold. He could not hold back anymore.“Mia, I want an explanation. What were you doing with him at the mall? Why is he here?”Mia stayed quiet. She had not expected Leo to come home empty-handed. When he did not bring the clothes, she thought he had really gone there to steal.