Leo got up from his seat and stared at Matilda and Cedric in anger. He couldn't believe the words he heard from Matilda, but he had to believe it because he had always had a hunch that she was the one behind it.
"Calm down, Leo," Cedric hissed, but Leo glared at him in anger.
"It's fine," Matilda held Cedric's hand. She didn't want the two friends to fight at all because of her. It was all her fault, so she should take responsibility for it and not drag her man into it.
"Is it?" Leo hissed.
"What would you do?" Cedric asked Leo with a smirk.
"Why? You would be her lawyer and avoid the punishment that wants to befall her?" Leo had a smirk on his face too.
"Maybe," Cedric replied.
"You won't dare go against me, Cedric," Leo laughed.
"I'm your lawyer, yes, but I won't let you do whatever you want with her," Cedric responded.
"Really? I'll give you a trial. Go and do whatever you want till 24 hours, but get ready for your punishment, Matilda," Leo hissed and walked out of the room.
Matilda exchanged glances with Cedric before she broke down in tears.
"What should I do?" she cried. "Should I tell Abi to help me beg him? It's all my fault, but-"
"I'll get you out of the country," Cedric said.
"What?" Matilda looked at him and heaved a sigh.
"You don't have to do that. That will just make things-"
"Listen to me," Cedric grabbed her shoulder and pulled her up. "I'll always protect you, so listen to me when I speak. You can't go to India because he will find you very soon, so you can go to Russia."
"Russia?" Matilda widened her eyes and looked at him in shock.
"Don't worry. I'll go with you," Cedric smiled and embraced her warmly.
**
Julian held his suitcase and looked back for the umpteenth time. He was sure that she wasn't coming to bid him farewell. He swallowed his spit and looked at his wristwatch once again. He bit his lip nervously and was about to go on the escalator when he heard her voice.
"Julian!!" Abi yelled and waved from where she stood.
"You made it," Julian let out a small smile and looked at her.
"I wouldn't have made it because I was having some stomach trouble," she replied.
"You shouldn't have come," he muttered.
"He really allowed you to come and see me off?"
"Of course. He's a good man," Abi defended her husband with a smile.
"You're really going to Germany," Abi smiled.
"Of course. I need a fresh start," Julian replied, and added, "I also need to settle down."
"That's good. You're becoming a man," Abi responded.
"What do you mean by becoming? I'm a man!!" Julian laughed.
"Yeah, man," Abi replied.
"My mom didn't want me to leave. She was in tears, but I had to go, else I-"
"I know," Abi sighed. "It's good that you left. You really need a change and learn to stop thinking about me."
"I'm trying to," Julian gave a sad smile.
"That's good," Abi retorted.
"So, where are you going from here?" Julian questioned her.
"Oh, me? I'm having a program nearby," she declared.
"It looks like fun to you," Julian watched her expression and said.
"Oh yeah. I'm doing what I finally love, so it's fun," Abi pouted.
"I can't believe that Leonardo Grey is allowing his wife to work," Julian said.
"Me too," Abi shrieked in excitement.
"It's time to go now, so...bye," Julian raised his hand to wave at her.
Abi knew that he wanted to hug her so badly, so she closed the gap and hugged him warmly. He's still her friend, and he deserved the love he could get from her. Mutual love, of course.
Julian was surprised that Abi hugged him all of a sudden. Yes, he was happy, but he wasn't expecting the hug at all.
"Thanks," he muttered and broke the hug.
"Take care of yourself," Abi waved at him.
"Yeah," Julian replied and waved back.
**
"Look here!!" A photographer yelled, while another shouted, "Good pose, Jes!!"
"Nice angle!!"
"Here, please!!"
"Yeah!!"
"Pout for me, my love!!" Junho rolled his eyes and hissed when he heard the last one.
He knew that the majority of photographers in Korea were perverted jerks, and that's why he always accompanied Jessica whenever she had a shoot or fan signing event. He couldn't leave her with any of them, no matter how decent they looked.
The last time she went alone, the photographer had taken indecent pictures of her while giving her stupid poses to make. The stupid girl had also posed, thinking it was for a very fierce background. Junho was wrath and went ahead to sue the photographer. He got the best lawyer and put the photographer behind bars.
"Okay, that's it for now. The model is very hungry," Junho clapped his hands and let out a smooth lie from his mouth.
Jessica looked at him and hissed. She had the energy for the photos, so why did he go ahead and lie? Her eyes searched for her manager. She saw the guy sleeping beside the makeup artist.
"Rain!!!" She yelled, but he didn't wake up.
"He's asleep," Junho replied and shooed the photographer again.
"What are you up to?" Jessica asked him.
"What do you mean?" Junho replied, as if he didn't know what she meant.
"Why are you chasing them away?" she asked him.
"Let's forget about that. Let's go for lunch," he proposed.
"But I just had brunch," she furrowed her brows.
"When?" Junho scratched his head.
"On my way here," she raised her brow.
"Really?" Junho laughed nervously.
"Did you lose your memory or something? You had it with me!" Jessica glanced at him and touched his forehead.
"Are you sick?" she asked him and watched him closely.
"Why should I be sick?" Junho flung her hand away. He was looking for an excuse to take her away from them, but none came up.
"Rain!!" Jessica yelled again. The manager rose to his feet and ran to her.
"Yes?" He rubbed his sleepy eyes.
Junho bit his lower lip and cursed because his plan failed right before his eyes.
"Get me a watermelon juice. I need to be refreshed. Make sure it's chilled!" she yelled as he ran off.
"Do you want this sweet, Junho?" Three girls came up to him with puppy eyes.
"Ji-Hyun, Soo-Young, Min-Ji, come and massage my feet," Jessica smirked.
"Ahh!! Manager Rain told us to follow him," they lied and ran away with ease.
Junho looked at Jessica and let out a small smile because she was jealous.
"What? You want to massage my feet?" Jessica asked him.
"I'm...busy," Junho replied and turned around.
**
Ophelia opened the door and walked into the office of Santiago. His head was on his desk, and his office was in a mess. He was in a bad mood, and it was very obvious.
"Hey," Ophelia called as she bent down to pick the papers one after the other.
"What are you doing here?" Santiago asked without raising his head.
"What do you mean? Can't I come and see you again?" she asked him.
"What are you doing here, Ophelia?" Santiago asked, and raised his head up.
"I have news," Ophelia said, putting the papers on his table and sitting down on one of the sofas in the office.
Santiago was taken aback by Ophelia's sudden visit. He rubbed his temples, trying to ward off the headache that had been brewing all morning.
"What news?" Santiago asked gruffly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Ophelia settle into the sofa.
Ophelia smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I've been thinking, and I have a plan to take down Leo and Abi once and for all."
Santiago's interest was piqued. He sat up straight, his eyes locked on Ophelia. "Go on."
Ophelia leaned forward, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "We're going to kidnap Abi and make her lose the baby."
Santiago's eyes widened in surprise, but a slow smile spread across his face. "I like it," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Leo will be devastated. He'll finally know what it feels like to lose something precious."
Ophelia nodded, a triumphant smile on her face. "Exactly. And with Abi out of the way, Leo will be distracted and vulnerable. We can finally take our revenge."
Santiago rubbed his hands together, a plan already forming in his mind. "Let's get to work, Ophelia. We have a baby to get rid of."
Ophelia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she pulled out her phone and began to dial a number. "I've already made some arrangements," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I have someone on the inside who can help us get to Abi."
Santiago's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Who is it?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ophelia just smiled and continued to talk on the phone, making arrangements for their sinister plan.
As she hung up the phone, Santiago leaned forward, his eyes locked intensely on Ophelia. "We need to be careful," he warned. "Leo is not someone to be underestimated. He will stop at nothing to protect Abi and their baby."
Ophelia waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I've thought this through. We'll be long gone before Leo even realizes what's happening."
Santiago nodded, a cold, calculating glint in his eye. "Let's do this," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
Ophelia pulled out a folder filled with documents and photographs.
"I've been gathering intel on Abi's schedule and routine," she explained, spreading the documents out on the desk. "She has a prenatal appointment tomorrow afternoon. That's when we'll strike."
Santiago's eyes scanned the documents, his mind racing with the possibilities. "How do you plan on getting her away from Leo?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Ophelia smiled, a confident glint in her eye. "Leave that to me. I've already made arrangements for a distraction. By the time Leo realizes what's happening, Abi will be long gone."
Santiago nodded, a cold smile spreading across his face. "I like it," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Let's make it happen."
And with that, the two of them set their plan in motion, determined to bring down Leo and Abi once and for all.