Leap OF Fate

After venting his anger, he asked his men to trace Serene's past movements.

He'd give it to her for her careful planning. She even thought of getting their children out of the school's roll. Justin watched the surveillance videos his team put together. It showed Serene and her children leaving her apartment in the morning. Then the different times the city's surveillance captured images of the car she's driving at every traffic light she stopped.

He watched her and the twins enter a hotel. Then at half past 3, he saw her leave the hotel. He sneered as he zoomed at the image. At first glance, the woman and the children looked like Serene and the twins, but he knew better. The body build, height, even the outfits were the same. It's easy to pass them as Serene and the twins if you did not pay close attention.

His jaws clenched. She used such an amateur trick on him. He could not believe that his men continued to play victim on these kinds of tricks repeatedly. He paid them too much, and they just kept on falling into the traps she laid out.

Two years ago, she lured her men by showing herself and their children shopping and dining in New York. But it was only a diversion. While they turned the whole state upside down, she had safely returned to Coast City, and established a gallery. Top it off with the fact that she hid under his nose by doing business in Hyacinth Bay and even owning a property. Had it not been for the painting, he wouldn't get a clue that she's in the country.

He's about to turn Coast City upside down when Fate delivered them to him, through none other than Crystal. Who would have imagined because of Crystal's support for Mary's clothing line and her admiration of Felicity Pax, his and Serene's paths would cross? Crystal. He sighed. She's another complication he'd have to deal with. He'll take care of her later. What's more pressing is to lure Serene out. Now, she made them believe she went to New York only to go to god knows where.

The demanding ringing of his phone disturbed his thoughts.

"Speak," he spat.

"Um... I'll be fitting the dress tomorrow. Do-do you want to come?" Crystal stammered.

Justin did not speak for a while before saying, "OK" then hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, in a hotel suite in Hyacinth Bay, Al and his wife, Susie came in.

"Shen, how's everything?" Al asked.

"Hi Susie, Al, they're in New York now. Justin was in the airport earlier and saw her. So he knew I did not leave," she explained, sounding frantic.

"Relax. For as long as you and the kids do not leave this suite, you'd be fine. I'll take care of everything in Ellis Inc."

"That's right, Sis. Just take it easy," Susie said, patting her shoulder. "Where are the twins? I missed those munchkins."

"They just fell asleep. They got tired from playing in the pool all day."

"Shen, just remember: because Justin knew you did not leave, he'd wait for you to contact the people close to you - your parents, Mary, us, and Viv. Make sure to always use the secure line," Al reminded her to which she just nodded her agreement. She and the children were caged in this hotel suite for the time being until everything cools down or when they could come up with another plan.

The night had been long for Serene. She felt agitated thinking about Justin's move. Did she just put her children in jeopardy? In her desire to protect them, she put them more in harm's way by taunting Justin.

She did not expect Justin would come to the airport to stop them. What she envisioned was, he'd get the news a little later when her decoy had arrived in New York. Between the decoy's departure and arrival time, she and the twins would slip to the port and head back to Coast City. But he found out about the double earlier than she wanted. Now that her trick got exposed and has triggered him, hers and her children's bubble got smaller. She sighed.

They used to be lovers, now they're reduced to a cat and mouse trying to catch each other. Unfortunately for her children, they're caught in between. All she wanted was for them to grow up worry-free and have the best childhood, but her mistake threatened that simple dream.

She did not understand why Justin wanted her children when he's about to be married. He'd soon form his own family. If he had her children, what would become of them? Outsiders who'd just make do with whatever time and affection he had to spare? Hell, no! They're far too precious for that. She did not risk her life for them to settle for scraps. She'd rather have them grow up knowing they did not have a father rather than feel they're not good enough for him.

By now, Justin is likely scanning all the city's surveillance cameras to trace them. The sea had been their secret escape route, and they did not want to burn it. It's just fortunate that she and her children had left the hotel before Justin turned it upside down. He must be smoking furious from the trick she pulled on him.

Serene couldn't be anymore right. Justin never felt angrier that he felt today. His heart was at his throat as he drove to the airport. Each second of waiting in that damned cafe was torturous. And for what? He fell right into her trap.

Only one thing was sure, something's holding Serene back from flying abroad, otherwise why would she find a decoy rather than go abroad herself. Whatever that is, he'll find it out. Oh, it better not be for another man!

His team did not sleep the night as they scoured information about Serene. And all their searches ended in the hotel they were last seen entering. He turned the hotel upside down but did not see her shadow. She simply could not vanish! He's 100% sure they're still in Hyacinth Bay. He secured all Hyacinth Bay's exit points-land, sea, or air. It's just a matter of time before she shows herself, and when she does, he'll teach her a lesson!