Leo rode downtown to the city's hospital in his beat up scooter. It was raining heavily but Leo didn't care. He felt very hopeless.As soon as he arrived at the gates of the hospital, someone came running towards him, bearing an umbrella. "Leo," the lady called, shielding him with her umbrella. "Why are you outside in the rain. You'll catch a cold. Come on in."Leo glanced up to meet the beautiful face of his beloved wife, Iris as she led him inside the hospital lobby. Iris was a fallen angel of beauty. Her long hair were jet-black, silky and smooth. Skin as flawless as a dove. Yet, it was her eyes that set her apart from other women. Emerald green eyes, a rare eye colour to see nowadays. This woman was reputably the most beautiful woman in Jade city, and yet she was married to him. The poorest man in Jade city. "I saw your grandmother just as we planned," he began.Iris helped to dry Leo's wet hair with a dry towel. "Let me guess, she turned you down, didn't she?" Iris asked

Leo's footsteps echoed hollowly as he walked through the hospital corridors, each step heavier than the last. His chest felt tight with an unnameable dread, the kind that settles in your bones when you know the world is about to end. When he reached Dr. Paul's office, his hand hovered for a moment before knocking - that brief hesitation where part of him already knew, already wanted to turn back before hearing the words that would change everything."Come in," came Dr. Paul's voice from within.The door creaked open to reveal the doctor seated behind his desk, his usually warm eyes shadowed with something Leo couldn't - didn't want to - recognize. "Good evening, Dr. Paul," Leo said, his voice sounding strangely detached even to his own ears. "I came as soon as I got your message."Dr. Paul gestured to the chair across from him. "Please, sit down, Leo. We need to talk."That phrase - 'we need to talk' - landed like a physical blow. Leo's mouth went instantly dry, his tongue stickin

Leo pulled out his phone with trembling hands, staring at the embossed business card Barry had given him. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, his breath shallow as he turned the card between his fingers. The name Barry Sullivan gleamed under the dim light of the streetlights. After a deep breath, he dialed the number. The line rang once, then twice. Barry answered on the second ring, his voice smooth and composed, as if he had been expecting this call all along. "Leo," he said, the faintest hint of amusement in his tone. "I was wondering if you'd call." Leo's grip on the phone tightened. There was no warmth in Barry's voice, no brotherly affection—just the cool detachment of a man used to controlling every situation. It made Leo's skin prickle with unease. "We need to talk," Leo said, his voice tight, barely holding back the storm of emotions swirling inside him. "Now." There was a pause on the other end, deliberate and calculated. Then, Barry responded, h

Joshua paced restlessly near the banquet table, his fingers drumming impatiently against his thigh. His eyes kept darting toward the hallway where Iris was supposed to appear, but there was still no sign of her. The lavish feast meant nothing to him—his mind was fixed on one thing only. He turned to his father, his voice tight with irritation. "Father, how much longer must we wait? She’s taking too much time. I want to take my wife and leave." Frederick sighed, dabbing his lips with a napkin before responding."Why are you in such a haste, Joshua?" he asked quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of their hosts. "Iris is already yours. The arrangement is made. A few more minutes won’t change that." Joshua’s jaw clenched. "It may seem that way, but I don’t like this delay. Something just doesn’t feel right. I have a bad feeling. I want her out of here now—before anything goes wrong."Frederick rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling heavily. "Joshua..." he began carefully, "I

After Madam Beatrix tore up Leo's cheque, Joshua threw his head back and laughed with arrogance. "Look at you, Leo," he sneered, his grip tightening around Iris's wrist as she struggled against him. "You’re a sore loser. Always have been, always will be. You show up here with a worthless piece of paper, get humiliated, and now you think you can still win? Iris belongs to me now. And there’s nothing you can do about it." Iris cried out, tears streaming down her face as she fought to break free. "Leo! Please!" she begged, her voice breaking. "Don't let him take me away. I don't want him. Do something."But Joshua yanked her back, his fingers digging into her skin like claws. "You’re not going anywhere," he hissed into her ear. "Not while I’m still breathing."Leo’s fists clenched, his entire body trembling with rage. He turned to Madam Beatrix. "You greedy, heartless woman. Is this all Iris is to you? A bargaining chip? A means to get richer?" Beatrix smirked, her chin raised p