04
Ten years ago, Leonard’s family company was on the verge of collapse. His father,
overwhelmed by the pressure, jumped to his death, and his mother left with another man. The company was drowning in over 10 million in debt.
At that time, it was just Leonard and me against an impossible situation.
I still vividly remember my third day at the company when debt collectors cornered us.
A pot–bellied man in his fifties, flanked by a group of thugs, blocked us against a wall. With a sneer that sent chills down my spine, he pointed at Leonard and growled, “Kid, I’ll give you a
hance.”
Then, he jabbed a finger at me and continued, “Let her stay with me for a year, and I’ll write off three million. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay me back today, no matter the cost.”
The company had no money. Leonard begged them for an extension, but these were men who thrived on cruelty.
As the group surged toward me, their shouts and laughter echoing in the small office, I had only one thought: I had to protect Leonard and the company at all costs.
Shoving Leonard behind me, I grabbed a fruit knife from the desk and lunged at them.
I barely remember what happened next. I managed to take down three of them before I was beaten so severely that my ribs were broken, my hands were slashed, and my body was drenched in blood. Leonard held me as I collapsed, my vision blurring.
The police arrived just in time to save us, but I spent eight days in the ICU, hovering on the edge of life and death.
When I finally woke up, the soft morning light was streaming through the window. Leonard was slumped over by my bedside, his eyes swollen and red from crying.
I mustered a weak smile. “Why are you crying? I’m fine, aren’t I?”
..of
Hearing my voice, he broke down completely, his sobs shaking his entire body. “How silly you! Fighting them like that… you almost…
Leonard couldn’t finish. He buried his face in my arm, his tears soaking the thin hospital sheet. I reached up and patted his head weakly. “You protected me too, didn’t you?”
That incident left me with permanent damage. I struggled with severe asthma anytime! exerted myself physically, and the doctors warned me that my lungs would never fully recover.
The compensation from the attackers was 200 thousand dollars. It was what kept the company afloat during those desperate days.
But Leonard, young and brimming with pride, made plenty of mistakes in those early years. Trouble was constant, and every time, I stood in front of him, shielding him from the worst.
I loved him. I was willing to do anything for him, even risk my life. Back then, I naively believed that love meant unwavering devotion, no matter the cost.
And every time Leonard said, “I’ll never let you down,” my heart soared. Those words made all the hardship worth it.
12:08 Mon, 16 Dec
* 37%D vous beaten so severely that my hus were proken, my hands were slashed, and my body wus drenched in blood. Leonard held me as I collapsed, my vision blurring.
The police arrived just in time to save us, but I spent eight days in the ICU, hovering on the edge of life and death.
When I finally woke up, the soft morning light was streaming through the window. Leonard was slumped over by my bedside, his eyes swollen and red from crying.
I mustered a weak smile. “Why are you crying? I’m fine, aren’t I?”
Hearing my voice, he broke down completely, his sobs shaking his entire body. “How silly of you! Fighting them like that… you almost…..
Leonard couldn’t finish. He buried his face in my arm, his tears soaking the thin hospital sheet. I reached up and patted his head weakly. “You protected me too, didn’t you?”
That incident left me with permanent damage. I struggled with severe asthma anytime I exerted myself physically, and the doctors warned me that my lungs would never fully recover. The compensation from the attackers was 200 thousand dollars. It was what kept the company afloat during those desperate days.
But Leonard, young and brimming with pride, made plenty of mistakes in those early years.. Trouble was constant, and every time, I stood in front of him, shielding him from the worst.
I loved him. I was willing to do anything for him, even risk my life. Back then, I naively believed at love meant unwavering devotion, no matter the cost.
And every time Leonard said, “I’ll never let you down,” my heart soared. Those words made all the hardship worth it.
But the man who once vowed never to let me down now stood before me, trying to shove me out of the company in the most humiliating way imaginable. The betrayal cut deeper than I thought possible.
The weight of these memories bore down on me as I stared at Leonard, my voice trembling with anger and heartbreak. “Leonard, you know why I’ve done so much for this company. It’s
I
because I love you.
I love you! Don’t you remember what you’ve said to me? You promised you said you’d never let me down.”
Leonard’s lashes fluttered, and for a brief moment, I saw pain flicker in his eyes. He turned his head away and spoke in a low, measured voice. Thank you for your love, but I need to be honest with you,” he said. “To me, you’ve always been Denol Tech’s Employee Number One.
The promise I made was to repay you generously. If you misunderstood, that’s on you
At that moment, something inside me died. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as I laughed.
12:08 Mon, 16 Dec –
you! Fighting them like that… you almost….
437%
Leonard couldn’t finish. He buried his face in my arm, his tears soaking the thin hospital
sheet. I reached up and patted his head weakly. “You protected me too, didn’t you?”
That incident left me with permanent damage. I struggled with severe asthma anytime I exerted myself physically, and the doctors warned me that my lungs would never fully recover.
The compensation from the attackers was 200 thousand dollars. It was what kept the company afloat during those desperate days.
But Leonard, young and brimming with pride, made plenty of mistakes in those early years. Trouble was constant, and every time, I stood in front of him, shielding him from the worst.
I loved him. I was willing to do anything for him, even risk my life. Back then, I naively believer that love meant unwavering devotion, no matter the cost.
And every time Leonard said, “I’ll never let you down,” my heart soared. Those words made all the hardship worth it.
But the man who once vowed never to let me down now stood before me, trying to shove me out of the company in the most humiliating way imaginable. The betrayal cut deeper than I thought possible.
I The weight of these memories bore down on me as I stared at Leonard, my voice trembling with anger and heartbreak. “Leonard, you know why I’ve done so much for this company. It’s because I love you.
I love you! Don’t you remember what you’ve said to me? You promised you said you’d never let me down.”
Leonard’s lashes fluttered, and for a brief moment, I saw pain flicker in his eyes. He turned his head away and spoke in a low, measured voice. “Thank you for your love, but I need to be honest with you,” he said. “To me, you’ve always been Denol Tech’s Employee Number One.
The promise I made was to repay you generously. If you misunderstood, that’s on you.”
At that moment, something inside me died. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as I laughed.
OF
faughed.
