Sara shot him a withering look. "If you don't trust me, call my assistant and ask her."
"You called Mom and said you were going to..." Neel trailed off, gritting his teeth in frustration.
Sara Owen cut Neel off mid-sentence.
"Hold up, Neel. I know what I'm doing. I lied to Auntie, okay?" She turned to Natalie and reached out to hold her hand.
"I'm sorry, Auntie. But we've got a big client interested in a product. If we seal the deal, it'll be a huge boost for the company. And I knew you wouldn't let me go if I told you the real reason. Will you forgive me?"
Natalie smiled sadly.
"Your husband always wanted this company to be the biggest in the world, and you're doing everything you can to make that happen. I'm so proud of you, Sara."
"Well, I may not be forgiven, but at least the punishment will be worth it." Natalie added.
Neel rolled his eyes. "You guys are too much."
Sara turned to Natalie. "So, what's the punishment gonna be, Auntie?"
Natalie gave her a playful scowl.
"Oh, you'll see. But how can I punish you when this house lights up just by having you around?" She pulled Sara into a gentle embrace.
Sara wiped away her tears and held Natalie's face.
"How about we go shopping tomorrow, just you and me?"
Natalie's face lit up. "That sounds wonderful, my dear."
With a smile on her face, Sara Owen glanced at the elders who were engaged in a cheerful conversation. Their happiness lifted her spirits, even though she had her own worries. She didn't want to let them down by confessing that she had no idea where her husband was.
After dinner, she walked the elders to their bedrooms and then headed to the swimming pool. The sparkling water under the soft poolside lights brought back memories of the first romantic dinner she had with her husband. Despite the enchanting ambiance, she couldn't ignore the heaviness in her heart due to his absence and the responsibility she felt to find him.
The first date...
Their first date…
Sara Owen found comfort and serenity by the swimming pool, memorizing a peaceful evening she once shared with her husband. They had a romantic candlelit dinner together and had a playful moment falling into the pool, which helped her overcome her fear of swimming.
Sara removed her robe and entered the pool, finding comfort in the water's warmth. As she swam, she tried to imagine her husband's presence, but her peace was interrupted by tears of sadness. The water couldn't soothe the ache in her heart.
Suddenly, as she made her way towards the pool stairs, someone grabbed her leg, attempting to pull her underwater. Panicked, she struggled to grab the handrail, but the force was overpowering, and she felt overwhelmed, fearing she might drown.
In the darkness, the housekeeper heard splashing and commotion coming from the pool but couldn't see anything. Desperate to help, the housekeeper's voice called out from the nearby veranda.
“Are you in the swimming pool, Madam?”
Sara felt the grip on her leg weaken, allowing her to hoist herself out of the pool. She gasped for air, her body trembling with fear, trying to make sense of the situation.
The housekeeper hurriedly switched on the pool lights. As soon as she reached, Sara collapsed into her arms.
Sara struggled to catch her breath and clung onto the housekeeper, eventually losing consciousness.
“Madam… Madam…”
Two hours later…
“Sara… Are you alright?” Neel Dixon caressed her forehead.
“Neel…” She stiffened.
“Neel… Did you see him? Did you?”
“Sara, what’s wrong?”
Sara Owen took a peek around. The doctor, the housekeeper, and Neel Dixon were all staring at her.
"Someone grabbed my leg and tried to pull me under. I didn't see who it was, but it was definitely a person."
The housekeeper's eyes widened in surprise.
Neel asked, "Were you swimming alone?"
"Yeah, I was by myself. Someone wants me dead, Neel."
The doctor and Neel Dixon shared a quick look with each other. Neel Dixon then let out a sigh of despair.
“Sara, don't worry. I'll ask the security team to check on this. Just try to get some rest, okay?”
“But what if someone tries to kill me again?”
“If you're scared, I can wake up Mom and she can sleep with you tonight.”
Sara glanced at the wall clock, “No, don't disturb her. She'll be worried. I'll just try to sleep.”
Neel Dixon left Sara's room and closed the door.
"Thanks, doc. And sorry for bugging you this late."
"No worries," the doctor replied. "Is what Mrs. Dixon said true?"
Neel Dixon shook his head, "I have no idea. You know how tight the security is here at the Dixon Villa. I don't know how someone could get in like that. But I'll try to find out."
The doctor hesitated before speaking up, "Based on Mrs. Dixon's condition, I have an idea. If you don't mind..."
"Sure, shoot."
“I know this is a stressful time for her with everything that's happened. And being pregnant on top of it all can't be easy. But now she had a scary incident in the pool and I'm worried about her mental state, especially since she's pregnant. It's normal for pregnant women to have mood swings, but stress can make it worse. So, if you can, try to keep her away from stress and maybe delegate some of her work responsibilities."
"Yeah, you're right. She's been dealing with a lot lately."
In the morning…
When Sara Owen emerged from her room, she saw the elders and Neel Dixon engaged in a serious conversation about the previous night's events. Their discussion abruptly halted as soon as they noticed her.
Natalie rushed forward and embraced Sara tightly.
"Two weekends in a row now. Can you believe it?" Natalie said, frowning.
"Don't worry, Natalie.” Bruno replied.
"The security is supposed to be top-notch. How could someone get in the villa?"
"I don't know, but we'll get to the bottom of it. The security team is investigating."
“What if it happens again?"
"There's no one, Mom." Neel said suddenly.
Bruno and Natalie looked at Neel Dixon, silently urging him not to say anything. However, Neel Dixon avoided their gaze and instead looked directly at Sara Owen."I checked all the CCTV cameras. No stranger came into the house. To get to the pool, one has to enter through the main door. The housekeeper didn't see anyone leaving the pool. So, it looks like nothing happened.""Neel, chill. It's okay," Natalie tried to calm him down.Sara Owen interrupted, “Do you mean I lied?”"I'm not saying you're making this up, but it's suspicious that you've been attacked twice and nothing has been found both times!" Neel exclaimed.Sara frowned, "Either you can't find the culprit, or you don't want to find him.”"So, let's say someone is really attacking you," said Neel. "Can you answer my questions? The first time, you were attacked in your bedroom. The only way in or out is through the door, but you had locked it from the inside. So how did the attacker get in?"“He must have come from the balco
Neel left the room. Overwhelmed with regret, Sara covered her face, realizing that her feelings for Neel had been a mistake. They had once been close friends in university, and she was initially drawn to his kind nature and good looks. When he expressed his love for her, she thought her dreams had come true. However, after their breakup, Neel's reaction was hurtful. Sara had moved on, happily married and expecting a child with her husband. Her love for Yohan was deep and unwavering. She didn't want to dwell on the past or entertain the idea of being with Neel again. Bruno Dixon stood outside the bedroom, eavesdropping on their conversation and feeling a newfound sense of fear. He wondered if Yohan Dixon knew about this. Sara took a deep breath, knowing it wasn't the time to worry about Neel's ultimatum. She received a message on her phone, bringing her relief. She quickly composed herself, grabbed her purse, and left the villa. Bruno Dixon watched her departure with a heavy sigh.
“What? No way! I've told you a million times that I'll take care of your mom and you don't have to work. But you don't trust me.”“I didn't come here to be just a hookup, and now I'm pregnant with your baby. Are you trying to make me look bad?”“You care too much about what other people think. Sara lived with Ricky before they got married, and no one judged her for it. Why should it be any different for us?”“She's Mrs. Dixon, Ryan! No one's gonna mess with her. But you ain't Mr. Dixon. What difference does it make if you're the best actor?” Gracie retorted.“I'm telling you, I ain't Ricky. I don't wanna make the same mistake he did. I can't stay away from you during your pregnancy. I don't wanna lose my kid just he did,” Ryan said, his voice tinged with anger.Sara Owen was taken aback by Ryan's outburst. Gracie and Ryan fell silent, looking at Sara's flushed face."What the hell did you just say?" Sara asked. Ryan let out a sigh, realizing he messed up."Oh, crap. Sorry, Sara. I sho
“You should not come here.”Sara Owen stood up, “Uncle, I never wanted to leave this house. I love you and Aunt Natalie more than anything in this world. You both are my family.”Bruno Dixon patted her head gently, “I know that, my child. And that’s why I am telling you that we will not force you to stay here if it makes you uncomfortable. But remember, you will always have a place in our hearts.”Sara Owen hugged him tightly, “Thank you, Uncle. I will never forget this kindness.”Bruno Dixon hugged her back, “Don’t thank me, my child. It’s my duty as a father to protect my children.”"You're making me feel uncomfortable. Ever since I married Yohan, I've become connected to the joys and sorrows of this family. I've tried my best to fulfill my responsibilities. You know, I don't come here just because Aunt insists. I come because I genuinely want to be here. This is my family.""I knew you would say that. But Neel..."Sara Owen interrupted him, "Uncle, do you think I'm scared of Neel's
"Are you sure about this?"Nolan nodded gravely. "Yes, Madam. The software of President lift is impossible to break. The technician who fixed the lift confirmed that the software had been tampered with so that you couldn't use it. And when you opted to use the staff lift, it was broken intentionally right before you were about to go in. It was clear that someone had planned to harm you.”She felt a shiver run down her spine as she thought about what could have happened if she had been in the lift when it broke down. The idea that someone was after her was terrifying. She had never felt so vulnerable before.Nolan was watching her with concern, and she could tell that he was equally disturbed by the incident. She turned to him, "Do you have any idea who could have done this?"Nolan shook his head, "I am not sure, but we are looking into it. We are checking the CCTV footage and talking to the security personnel to see if they noticed anything suspicious."Sara nodded, "Okay, keep me upd
The sun started to go down, painting the landscape with warm colors. The road was lined with trees, their leaves glowing in shades of orange and pink. It created a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, while birds chirped, adding to the tranquility. However, Sara couldn't escape the sadness weighing on her heart as she drove.She tried to find solace in the serene surroundings, but thoughts of her husband's condition kept resurfacing. The image of him injured and helpless made her feel deeply sad. She let out a deep sigh and shook her head, determined to stay focused on the present moment.During her drive, Sara noticed another car following closely behind her, and it only added to her frustration. Fear crept into her heart as the car continued tailing her. The intensity of her anxiety grew as the pursuing vehicle got closer. Her hands became sweaty as she tightly gripped the steering wheel. Despite feeling trapped, Sara summo
Sara was devastated when she saw Yohan Dixon hanging from the ceiling, his wrists tied with a hook.She tried to shout but could only whisper his name.The man's blood-soaked shirt terrified her. She couldn't help gasping seeing the bruises on his face and the wounds on his arms, realizing he had endured months of brutal torture.The sight made her feel nauseous. Her hands trembled as she gripped the ventilation window's rods, trying to calm her breathing. Tears clouded her vision, but she mustered the courage to look down at Yohan, desperately hoping to see any sign of life.Just as she was about to call out his name, the sound of the door opening grabbed her attention. Her heart pounded as two men entered the room, their laughter reverberating off the walls. Sara's anger and fear surged as she watched them approach Yohan, who hung lifelessly from the ceiling."Wow, look at this guy. He's in such bad shape!""He's barely hanging on. I mean, with all the blood he's lost, there can't b
Sara's heart raced as they ran, gasping for breath. Yohan held her wrist tightly. The sounds of their pursuers grew closer, but Yohan didn't slow down. They maneuvered through corridors and staircases. Finally, they arrived at a small window. Yohan helped boost Sara up, and she scrambled out. They had finally achieved freedom.In the forest, Sara's heart pounded as gunfire and shouting echoed behind them. She fixated on Yohan's back as he led the way. Heavily pregnant, she struggled to keep up with Yohan's pace.“Yohan,” she gasped heavily.Seeing her weakness, Yohan Dixon swiftly scooped Sara Owen into his strong arms. Sara felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, causing her to gasp.Sara held onto him tightly, taking in his bruised and bloodied face that marred his usual handsomeness. Resting her head against his chest, she listened to his heartbeat, a moment of solace she had longed for throughout her pregnancy.It felt like a answered prayer.Deep in the forest, Yohan spotted a sm