Chapter 14
Leandro sat slouched behind his massive desk, the weight of silence pressing down. heavier than any burden he had carried before. The blinds were half–drawn, shutting out the sunlight, as though the world outside had no right to shine when Emerald lay beneath
the earth.
Stacks of papers gathered dust on his desk, reports waiting for his signature, contracts begging for attention. He didn’t touch them. His pen lay abandoned, its ink dried. His phone buzzed relentlessly, notifications piling up from investors, partners, even family—but he couldn’t bring himself to lift it.
All he could see was the funeral.
Emerald’s casket lowered into the ground, the cries of Gwen echoing in his ears, her small hands clutching at his sleeve as she begged for her mother to come back. He had stood there like stone, pretending strength, when inside he was nothing but ash.
He rubbed his temples, but the images wouldn’t leave. Emerald’s smile haunted him, the promises he had broken replayed over and over. He had vowed to protect her. He had sworn never to let harm touch their child. Yet here he was, alone in an office filled with
luxuries, while the only woman who had ever loved him without condition was buried
beneath cold soil.
A knock at the door snapped him from his trance. One of his assistants peered in nervously. “Sir, the council is waiting. They want you in the boardroom.”
Leandro exhaled, his shoulders sagging as though even breathing had become a burden. He rose slowly, every step toward the door feeling heavier than the last.
The boardroom buzzed with anger. Men in sharp suits leaned forward, papers rustling, voices raised.
“This fiasco has cost us millions,” one of them barked. “Investors are pulling out. The Villarreal Group is gaining ground by the hour. Tell me, Leandro–how is it that Martin Villarreal had the exact copy of our presentation? How did he present our strategies before we did?”
Another council member slammed his palm against the glossy table. “We entrusted you to lead this company, and now look–our credibility is in shambles! This is more than a setback, this is humiliation!”
Leandro clenched his fists beneath the table. His head pounded. The truth burned in his throat, but before he could speak, Nadine’s voice cut through the chaos.
“Perhaps,” she said smoothly, adjusting the expensive bracelet on her wrist, “someone inside leaked it. Or worse, we were hacked. I refuse to believe Leandro or this company is incompetent. No–this was sabotage.”
The council stilled Fves turned toward her curious
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The council stilled. Eyes turned toward her, curious.
Nadine leaned back, her lips curving in false concern. “Honestly, the only person I could think of… is my stepsister, Emerald. She had been furious with Leandro. She came to him begging for money, and he refused. She swore she would make him regret it.”
The words sliced through the air.
Leandro’s head snapped toward her, fury igniting. “What?”
The council members exchanged confused glances. One frowned. “Your stepsister? The same Emerald who-”
“Who is dead,” another finished. “You want us to pin corporate sabotage on a woman who’s already in the ground? Are you insane? And why would she? She is the legal wife.” Nadine’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t flinch. “I’m saying she had motive. She had anger and jealousy even if she is the legal wife. She could have set things in motion before her death.”
Leandro’s chair screeched against the floor as he stood. His voice thundered, shaking the room. “Stop it! Do not drag her into this. Don’t you dare put the blame on her.”
The room fell silent. Even Nadine blinked, startled at the fire in his tone.
Leandro’s chest heaved as he faced the council. “It’s me. If you need someone to take responsibility, then blame me. Emerald… she only resorted to desperation because of me. Because I failed her. I pushed her away. I am the reason she might have handed files to Martin. If anyone is guilty, it’s me. Not her.”
The council shifted uncomfortably.
“Do you even hear yourself, Leandro?” one demanded. “You’re admitting negligence, guilt- do you realize what this means for the company?”
“I don’t care,” Leandro spat. His voice cracked with grief. “If you want me gone, then do it. Call the vote now. Strip me of my position. But leave her out of this.”
A long silence stretched. Papers shuffled. Disapproving murmurs filled the room. Finally, the head of the council spoke. “We will deliberate. For now, the matter is tabled.”
One by one, the men filed out, shaking their heads, whispering amongst themselves. Only Nadine remained, her face twisted with disbelief and fury.
As the heavy doors closed, she rose from her seat, her voice sharp and trembling. “What the hell was that, Leandro? Are you insane? You’re willing to throw away everything? Your position, your name–because of her?”
Leandro turned, his eyes hollow, his voice dangerously calm. “It was never about her. It was about me. My failures. My guilt. I won’t let her be blamed for something she can’t defend herself against.”
Nadine’s hands shook as she slammed them onto the table. “And what about me? Huh? What about me, Leandro? If you step down, what happens to me? To us? You promised me
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everything! You promised me marriage, stability, a future!”
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Leandro’s gaze hardened. “You’ll still get your money. You’ll still work in the company. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of financially. Beyond that…” He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Don’t you dare dismiss me like this. You can’t just back out. You said you’d marry me. You can’t change your mind now.”
“I can,” Leandro replied coldly. “And I just did.”
Her lip quivered, her fists clenching. “You can’t!” she screamed. “You think you can walk away from me after everything? After I stood by you? After I carried your child?!”
Leandro’s face flickered with pain for a moment, but then it hardened again, like stone. “I’ll co–parent. That’s it. I won’t marry you, Nadine. Not now, not ever. This is my karma… so I’m never marrying again.”
