Leanna

[The Reason]

"Leanna, we should hurry and have your dress made." Zoe was all smiles, basking in happiness and excitement. She was already daydreaming from the silly smile on her face.

"No need. I have tons of dresses in my unit." I didn't want to spend money on the debut of someone I didn't like. There's probably one I could wear out from the hundreds in my wardrobe.

"Speaking of dresses. Why aren't you with us last Saturday?" My attention shifted to Estela, who was sitting the whole time in silence. I sensed something was wrong with her. Most of the time, she was not this . . . behaved?

"Oh~ you know . . . just some business problems," Estela said dismissingly. She looked to the other side and sipped her cup with a loud slurping noise.

However, pretend as she might, I was not going to let her off.

"Is that why Cain left for a month? What kind of problem is it?" I probed.

Estela's eyes flickered on me, trying to discern something on my face. I didn't waver under her gaze, and she sighed at my stubbornness to back down. 

It was better if she tell me or we wouldn't be going anywhere until she spilled the beans and I get the information I wanted from her.

"Well, for my brother to be with you," she started, "he broke all relations with the Goldwood. That includes millions or even billions worth of investments and deals. Of course, my brother already made arrangements and preparations. But never did we expect that they would be so shameless as to withdraw all their money in one go without even issuing a warning. Now, my brother was forced to fly to different parts of the globe to make major decisions on what to . . ."

Estela rattled on and on, but I was stuck at the realization that the reason why Cain left was because of me.

Because he wanted to be with me –– the Fay's lost billions worth of money?

I caused all of this?

There was ringing in my ears and for a time, my mind was blank.

Estela stopped talking when she saw my guilt-stricken face while Zoe stared at me with worried filled eyes.

"But, but of course, it's not your fault! In the long run, it will still be those people who will lose money. With my brother handling the problem, consider it done and over with!" Estela explained with smug confidence.

I cleared my throat and coughed between my fists.

"How many months until you recover your losses?" I said with a serious face and business-like tone which made Estela and Zoe glanced at each other.

"Well, it will take a year or two at most, but with my brother at work, you don't have to worry about a single thing!" Estela forced a laugh as she squeezed my hand, letting me know that everything was under control.

I didn't respond, my eyes on my teacup, thinking of something. After seconds, the two girls paralyzed faces loosened upon seeing my blossoming smile.

Eventually, we were back to chatting and laughing without a care in the world until lunch break was over.

After our class, I went home and turned on my computer. Not long after, Victoria Goulding's beautiful face appeared on my screen.

----

[Now or Never]

"ALL OF IT?!"

Vic's words resounded in my unit with a loud startling tone. The volume of her voice could probably wake up the dead. 

"All of it," I repeated Vic's words with never before heard determination and finality.

Vic didn't hide the shock on her face. It was like she was frozen solid with mouth hanging open. Michael was also surprised, but he recovered within seconds.

"Leanna, are you sure? We are speaking about all your money here!"

I understand the panic and hesitation in her voice. I was going to invest all my money in the Fay's Business Empire.

It's now or never.

This action of investing all my money was also an act of willingness to give my all to Cain. 

What can go wrong?

If Cain betrayed me, at most, I'd probably go insane. My heart would break, never whole again. My body dead, and my soul disappear into the great beyond.

What's there to fear, right?!

"Vic, I've made my decision."

. . .

. . .

"Leanna, it's not even a month that you settled in New Haven, and yet, you've already become enamored with Cain Fay's charms?" Vic didn't hide the disdain in her tone and the disgust on her face.

I flashed her a helpless smile. "You can say that."

. . .

. . .

Victoria inhaled a big breath of defeat.

"I can't talk you out of this, can I?"

I stared straight at her with resolute eyes and said, "No, you can't. My decision is final."

Vic shook her head with a scowl on her lovely face. "You've become another one of those crazy fans of Cain Fay."

I beamed at her, which made Vic frowned even more. Apparently she was not a fan of the Fay's. Well, Vic was never a fan of second generation young masters. She preferred hardworking people who had nothing and climbed their way up in the ladder of success.

"Please do it now, Vic. And Michael, prepare the necessary papers, I want this whole thing done and over with as soon as possible."

Vic opened her mouth but was stopped by Michael.

"As you wish," he said with his usual baritone voice.

I nodded and said my goodbyes when Michael spoke, "I'm glad to know you're motivated by something now."

Then they logged off.

. . .

. . .

Motivated?

I stifled a laugh.

You can say I have found something that I wanted to protect and fight for.

Money, it would come and go. But the moment, the now –– it would never return.

I didn't want to hold anything back because of uncertainties.

Let the future come, I'll live every moment in the present.

----

A/N

Smash that vote and gift button if you like the story ^^

You're awesome!