After a long silence, he leaned back slightly in his chair and said, almost as though something had just crossed his mind, “That reminds me—Leah is outside. She wanted to see you.”Lisa’s eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting. “Leah?” she repeated softly.Scott nodded once. “Yes. She came with me when she heard you were awake. She insisted she wouldn’t leave until she saw you herself.”Lisa blinked, her heart warming at the thought. “Oh…” Her voice grew soft. “That’s so sweet of her.” She shook her head faintly, smiling despite the dull ache in her temples. “She didn’t have to come all the way here.”Scott’s lips curved slightly. “Exactly. But that's how she is. Nothing can keep her away once she sets her mind to something.”As if on cue, the door opened with a little creak, and in bounded Leah, her energy filling the room like a burst of sunlight. Her wide smile stretched from ear to ear, her usual bubbly personality radiating from her every step.“There she is!” Leah exclaimed

SCOTT'S GUEST HOUSE Scott finally got home after a long, exhausting day at the office. The drive had been quiet, but his mind was anything but. The weight of the upcoming rebranding of the company sat heavily on his shoulders, even though he knew it was the right move. He was still loosening his tie and shrugging out of his jacket when he heard a familiar voice echo through the living room.“Big bro!” Leah squealed. Before he could even set his jacket properly on the back of the chair, Leah came rushing toward him, her hair bouncing, her smile wide and radiant as always. She wrapped her arms around his waist in an enthusiastic hug. Scott let out a soft chuckle, the corners of his mouth lifting despite the exhaustion, and placed a hand on her head.“Leah,” he said warmly, giving her a little squeeze. “You’re going to suffocate me one of these days with all these tight hugs.”Leah pulled back and gave him a playful glare, her hands on her hips. “Oh, please. You’re strong enough to c

The afternoon sun poured through the glass walls of the luxury shopping mall.Laura strolled through the mall with Camilla at her side, their hands full of shopping bags that bore the names of expensive labels. Laura’s excitement was impossible to hide. Her steps were brisk, her eyes brighter than usual, and she kept letting out little sighs as though her thoughts were too big to contain in silence.Finally, she nudged Camilla with her elbow. “Do you realize what’s coming up in just a few days?” Her voice carried that familiar mix of pride and thrill, the same tone she always used when something important was on her mind.Camilla slowed, glancing at her knowingly. “You’ve been practically glowing since we left the first store, Laura. I’m guessing this isn’t just about new shoes. So tell me, what’s happening in a few days?”Laura’s smile widened, and she held her bags closer to her chest as if hugging her excitement. “It’s our wedding anniversary. Gale and I will be celebrating five m

GALE'S HOUSE Laura slammed the door so hard behind her that the entire frame seemed to rattle. She didn’t care. She didn’t even notice. Her chest was heaving, her breath quick and uneven as though she had just sprinted across the length of the city. She stormed into the living room, her body practically vibrating with rage.Without hesitation, she grabbed her handbag and hurled it onto the couch with such force that it toppled halfway to the ground, the straps tangling awkwardly against the cushions. She didn’t even bother to fix it. Instead, she kicked off her heels—one flew across the room and hit the base of the coffee table with a loud thud, the other she shoved so roughly that it landed sideways by the edge of the rug.Laura ran both hands through her hair, clutching it at the roots as though trying to rip the anger out of her head. Her nails scratched against her scalp, her lips parted as she muttered, half to herself and half to the empty room.“How dare he? How dare Scott G

Gale stood near the cabinet, his back stiff, shoulders tight, and jaw clenched. He had poured himself a glass earlier, but it sat untouched on the edge of the cabinet, forgotten. Laura sat on the leather couch, one leg crossed angrily over the other. She broke the silence first. “So you understand now, Gale? You understand what Scott is trying to do? He’s deliberately chosen the day of our wedding anniversary to launch his so-called company. He wants to humiliate us, to drag our names in the mud. He thinks he can ruin everything we’ve built.”Gale turned. He picked up the glass finally, taking a slow sip before answering. “Scott thinks he’s clever. He thinks by stealing back that company he can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us. But he’s wrong. He’s nothing. He was nothing before us, and he’ll remain nothing if I have my way.”Laura leaned forward. “But it’s not just about him standing next to us, Gale. It’s worse. He wants to overshadow us. On our anniversary of all days! Can you i