Leon let out a quiet sigh, then calmly walked over to Diane, his sharp gaze fixed on the officer still holding her arm.“I said—let her go,” he repeated, this time with a tone that carried weight, his eyes narrowing with warning.The officer blinked, clearly startled by the intensity in Leon’s eyes, and immediately released Diane’s arm.Diane let out a deep sigh, the tension melting from her shoulders as Leon stepped beside her. In that moment, just having him there gave her the reassurance she desperately needed that everything was going to be alright.Victor stared at Leon in complete disbelief, his jaw slightly slack. Leon was alive. Standing. Breathing. It was downright impossible. He had watched the life drain from Leon’s eyes after pulling the trigger… had personally dumped his body into the sea. ‘What in the hell is going on?’Leon casually shifted his gaze across the trio standing before him—Brianna, Isabella, and finally Victor. His eyes lingered on Victor for a moment, an

Diane, clutching the shopping bags now neatly packed, walked beside him as they all exited the mall. The moment they stepped out into the open, Leon reached into his pocket and pressed a button on his car key. “Go ahead and put the bags in that car, then wait for me inside,” he told Diane gently, handing her the key fob. As the car lights blinked and the doors unlocked with a sleek sound, everyone turned to look. A black Audi R8 gleamed under the sunlight, and the group fell silent for a moment, their eyes wide with disbelief. That car wasn’t just expensive, it was elite. A vehicle like that could only belong to someone with serious money. But even as the shock set in, doubt quickly crept into their minds. ‘He must’ve rented it… or borrowed it from someone rich,’ they all silently speculated, trying to rationalize what they were seeing. Diane, smiling to herself, walked confidently toward the vehicle and placed the bags inside before slipping into the passenger seat. Victor gla

Leon’s words… she had become a priority to him?Diane glanced up at him again, her eyes wide and shimmering with surprise. She could feel her heart pounding harder in her chest, and butterflies dancing in her stomach, but she managed a nod. “Okay… if that’s what you really want.”He nodded back, satisfied. “Good. Then I’ll be on my way.”He turned to leave, but not before casting a glance at the slightly ajar front door.The door suddenly creaked closed with a soft click, and Leon let out a quiet chuckle. He knew her parents had been peeking in on their conversations. He just shook his head and walked away, leaving Diane standing in the doorway still holding the black card, still blushing, and still smiling.As Diane entered inside the house, both Donald and Abigail turned to look at her with questioning expressions, eyebrows raised in perfect sync.“That man is certainly becoming a regular fixture in our lives,” Donald remarked, crossing his arms as he gave her a pointed look. “Are

“You said it, Mom,” Diane agreed. “Hardened is exactly the word. I don’t even know if there’s a limit to how far they’d go to get what they want. Every time I think they’ve reached their lowest, they go even lower. It’s terrifying.” She paused, her expression growing more serious. “It makes me wonder all over again… if Dana’s death really was just an accident or premeditated.” Donald and Abigail stared at Diane, both rendered speechless by her words. In the past, they would have immediately silenced her for saying something so bold, so unthinkable, but now, they didn’t. Now, they were actually considering it. Still, Donald shook his head slowly, as if trying to ward off the creeping thoughts. “No… no, Diane. That can’t be true. My family has issues, yes, plenty, but they wouldn’t go as far as killing my daughter to get what they want. That’s crossing a line I don’t believe they’re capable of.” “But they did, didn't they? Diane stated, her voice piercing. “Dana’s death gave the

“said it, Mom,” Diane agreed. “Hardened is exactly the word. I don’t even know if there’s a limit to how far they’d go to get what they want. Every time I think they’ve reached their lowest, they go even lower. It’s terrifying.” She paused, her expression growing more serious. “It makes me wonder all over again… if Dana’s death really was just an accident or premeditated.” Donald and Abigail stared at Diane, both rendered speechless by her words. In the past, they would have immediately silenced her for saying something so bold, so unthinkable, but now, they didn’t. Now, they were actually considering it. Still, Donald shook his head slowly, as if trying to ward off the creeping thoughts. “No… no, Diane. That can’t be true. My family has issues, yes, plenty, but they wouldn’t go as far as killing my daughter to get what they want. That’s crossing a line I don’t believe they’re capable of.” “But they did, didn't they? Diane stated, her voice piercing. “Dana’s death gave them ev