Chapter 5 Despair

• Yamila was startled. "Nova, whose child is it?"
• Nova snorted derisively. "Who else could it be but Leon's?"
• Yamila felt like a lightning bolt had struck her. She was shaking uncontrollably. "Impossible! He didn't succeed, did he?"
• Nova sneered icily. "He's been pursuing me for a while. That day wasn't his first attempt. He took advantage of me when I was intoxicated before. I just didn't speak up. Mila, you've found quite the gem!"
• With those words, Nova grabbed the test report, tore it to shreds, and flung it into the trash can.
• Yamila stood there, holding her phone, utterly bewildered.
• Her heart felt like it was being wrenched with a knife, as if it were bleeding.
• Leon, why are you doing this?
• Yamila had held onto hope, thinking maybe Leon would explain that it was all a misunderstanding.
• Perhaps his messages were genuine, and it was merely coincidental.
• But now, all hope has evaporated.
• Coincidence? Nova is already pregnant. What kind of coincidence could there possibly be?
• Yamila sank to the floor, sitting alone for what seemed like an eternity.
• After about thirty minutes, Yamila emerged from the study in a daze.
• Lillian and the others hurried to her side. "Mila, have you made up your mind?"
• Yamila nodded numbly, like a zombie.
• "I've decided. I'll marry him."
• When Yamila spoke those words, her voice was hoarse.
• Though Yamila seemed somewhat distant, the Simpsons were content with the outcome.
• "Now that you've made your decision, just relax at home and wait. We'll handle the wedding arrangements," Lillian assured her. "Hurry and contact the Collins. Time is of the essence. The sooner, the better, to forestall any further complications!"
• ...
• In the study of the Collins household, a father and his son savoured a bottle of wine valued at a staggering sum.
• Across from Samuel sat the esteemed patriarch of the Collins lineage, Jose.
• Amidst their leisurely indulgence, an abrupt interruption in the form of a phone call abruptly altered Jose's countenance, transforming it dramatically.
• "What in the world! How could this be?"
• As Jose conversed over the phone, a profound gravity settled over his expression, etching lines of strain upon his visage. Slowly, the device slipped from his grasp, cascading to the floor with a poignant resonance, rendering him momentarily aged beyond his years.
• Observing his father's distress, Samuel knit his brows in concern. "What troubles you, Father?"
• We've fallen victim to sabotage by our rivals. Jose divulged, his tone fraught with urgency. "Our alliances have crumbled, and erstwhile partners have renounced their collaborations with us."
• "The prospective buyers we meticulously courted have reneged on their agreements, now clamouring for reparations for purported contractual violations against the Collins," he lamented, a shadow of despair darkening his countenance. "We stand on the precipice of financial ruin."
• Samuel's complexion paled in comprehension. "Is this the denouement of our lineage, Father?" he queried, his voice tinged with apprehension.
• With a steely resolve, Jose clenched his jaw. "Never," he declared adamantly. "I refuse to concede defeat."
• "We possess a trump card, a recourse reserved for dire circumstances," he disclosed, his tone somber yet resolute. "Only as a measure of last resort shall we employ this lifeline."
• Samuel's astonishment was palpable as he inquired, "A trump card yet remains in our possession, Father?"
• A flicker of pride illuminated Jose's features as he affirmed, "Indeed. Have you heard of the White Financial Group?"
• Samuel recoiled slightly, his recognition evident. "Certainly," he acknowledged.
• The White Financial Group epitomised excellence within the realm of Lunaria's economic landscape.
• Recently, the triumphant return of the scion of this prestigious conglomerate has reverberated across the region, garnering widespread attention and acclaim.
• Samuel was aware of the White Financial Group's prominence, yet he acknowledged that his family, though appearing affluent, paled in comparison, making the establishment of any ties seem implausible.
• With a touch of pride, Jose disclosed, "Your uncle, my younger sibling, holds the position of vice president at the White Financial Group!"
• "Wait, you mean that enigmatic uncle of mine?" Samuel exclaimed incredulously. "He's actually a top-tier executive at the White Financial Group? Dad, you certainly know how to keep a secret!"
• Jose's adeptness at safeguarding such a significant revelation underscored his merit as the head of the Collins household.
• A subtle smile graced Jose's lips as he remarked, "Maintaining discretion regarding your uncle's affairs is imperative. I shall only leverage this connection under the most dire circumstances."
• Samuel exhaled a sigh of relief before diverting the conversation. "By the way, Dad, the Simpsons called. Yamila has agreed to marry me, but on the condition that we assist them through a rough patch."
• Jose responded with composure, "That's no issue. I can resolve the Simpsons' predicament in mere moments."
• "Wait a moment; I'll reach out to your uncle immediately!"
• ...
• Meanwhile, on another front, Leon, flanked by a retinue of bodyguards, arrived at the hotel where he had previously lodged.
• Noting Leon's formidable presence, the hotel manager approached cautiously. "Sir, how may I be of service?" he inquired deferentially.
• "I require access to the hotel's surveillance footage," Leon stated firmly.
• Leon found it futile to attempt explaining the situation to Yamila without concrete evidence. Only the footage could substantiate his claims convincingly.
• The hotel manager hesitated. "I regret to inform you, sir, that our surveillance footage is not accessible to the public ... "
• Before the manager could conclude, several of Leon's bodyguards advanced, seizing the manager by his collar as they issued a chilling ultimatum.
• "Hey, don't mess around. If you don't want trouble, get that surveillance footage real quick!"
• The manager, taken aback by the unprecedented demand, swiftly nodded and instructed his staff to retrieve the footage without delay.
• Minutes ticked by, and Leon's expression darkened as he scrutinised the footage.
• It offered a mere glimpse of the hallway, capturing Nova's arrival at Leon's door and her entrance into the room.
• This solitary clip proved insufficient, devoid of audio, and failed to exonerate Leon in any manner.
• "Any hidden cameras inside the room?"
• The manager's demeanour shifted, hastily asserting, "Absolutely not! We uphold a sterling reputation; such devices have no place here."
• In an instant, Leon's bodyguards seized the manager, pressing his head firmly onto the table, their demand ringing out sternly.
• "Do you have them? Tell us the truth!"
• The manager winced in agony, feeling as though his arms were on the verge of being wrenched from their sockets. With a cry of pain, he relented.
• "Yes, yes, yes! Spare me, please!"
• The towering figures of White Financial Group's security detail loomed over him, their imposing presence instilling a fear that rendered the manager's legs unsteady.
• The discovery of pinhole cameras within hotel accommodations no longer came as a shock. Leon's expectations were modest, yet he dared to hope. And to his astonishment, his quest bore fruit.
• Under the intimidating gaze of several bodyguards, the hotel manager reluctantly produced a hard drive, his countenance suffused with shame.
• "This is a first for me. I swear, it won't happen again."
• In that instant, Leon had no time to ponder the hotel's code of conduct. He promptly dove into the hard drive's contents, pinpointing the footage from the pertinent date within the room.
• As he reviewed the footage, every interaction and conversation with Nova unfolded vividly before him.
• A grin of satisfaction spread across Leon's features. "Brilliant!"
• Armed with this irrefutable evidence, he could now rectify the misunderstanding with Yamila once and for all!