The Traps of Black Swan

Once Dylan was sent to take care of his instructions, Leon poured some liquor into his glass and sat back on his chair to mull over if there is any chance Ava Kelly could be alive and all his troubles are linked to her.

If she was somebody else Leon wouldn't even care to give it a thought. But she is Ava Kelly who stubbornly gazed furry filled eyes back. Her own death didn't weaken her knees enough to drop on his feet to ask for mercy so if she is alive, he wouldn't be surprised to have her opposite him.

Maybe due to his experience or instincts, he knew she was capable of far too many things that many experienced men will fail. He had seen her meticulous project plan that won over top-notch experienced business analysts and planners, he is aware she wasn't a mere passing by a girl.

He had pitied her for borning in a family who didn't let her grow and spread her wings. He had sympathized with her for being a girl born in a world where she would be crushed by egoistic men like him.

Despite all these, he couldn't easily accept she could be alive. Until her decayed body was sent for a DNA test and proved the body belonged to Ava Kelly, he had kept a close eye on the case.

'How could she be alive?' He chugged the drink thinking if she was alive who is protecting her? Shawn Rivas? He didn't believe Dax Grant or Zain Kelly could keep her safe from his eyes.

Hayden Kelly is alone in his mansion and all he does is work and work so Leon Harmon believed even if Hayden Kelly put on an act, he wasn't capable of sending his precious granddaughter to the battleground filled with cunning men.

Chugging glasses after glass making all kinds of theories on the situation, he still failed to come up with any concrete statement of proof to say Ava Kelly is alive.

He watched the bride on his laptop, 'If she is President of Skylar, Aeon will know her.' He felt the easier way to know if Ava Kelly is President of Skylar is through Aeon Harmon.

Whereas the best man to tell the current name of Ava Kelly and her life status stood by the door of the study room, "Bro… I missed you." Drunk Sean grinned before running and throwing himself on Leon Harmon.

Leon hugged his little spoiled brother as his other hand shut the screen of his laptop, "Champ, why are you so drunk? I told you to have control over alcohol."

Sean stood up and leaned on the desk looking at Leon in his droopy eyes, "Bro, I don't want to get engaged to Sara Dawson. She is soooo annoying. Can't you complete the deal without engagement? Please…"

Sara Dawson, only heiress of Dawson Company and family. Leon and President Dawson are said to be the best business partners in the business but only they knew they were together to reap benefits.

Harmon Industries aspired to own the chemical manufacturing plant but the project was too big and Harmon couldn't invest completely. The board members weren't ready to take risk of complete investment. If it fails, it will affect all other departments and other business sectors of Harmon Industries.

Hence Harmon needed a large investment company or companies so that he could manage and start off the chemical plant. 

Merton was the suitable one so he had approached them but that company is fighting and plotting against Rivas Industries over Golden oil and gas. Leon warned him to play well else Aaron Rivas wouldn't let him survive long if he finds single evidence.

Hence he had to send a proposal to Dawson, but the heiress of Dawson is too much interested in Sean Harmon which probed her father to knot the wedding and business pushing Leon Harmon to a dead end.

However, Leon easily holds grudges and deployed his own plan there too. Since President Dawson dared to put a condition of marriage, Leon wanted it to complete and wait till he could turn the Dawson companies as Harmon Industries' subsidiary and acquire their wealth before getting rid of Dawson members.

Leon had asked Sean for help with a bunch of lies and muddle-headed Sean agreed on a condition. He will get engaged but he won't marry Sara Dawson. He will put on an act of fiance till they obtain the project then he will dump her for some reason or else they will create a reason to dump her.

All in all, Leon's brain was a big trash bin filled with schemes and lies as he searched for a solution to the unexpected and unreasonable problems of his life. 

Leon had thought he could get and have anything he wanted in his life and had a peaceful, pleasured life till Ava Kelly entered his life, more like he forcefully brought her into his life. 

He ran around from hospitals to hospitals, to different countries hiding his identity for three years to get well, and now there is a sea of new uncontrollable problems that are too mysterious to solve.

Upon all those troubles, he had to take care of the spoiled brat. Leon stood up in front of Sean and tried to coax him rubbing his head, "Sean, won't you help your brother? It's just a matter of a month, then I will personally solve this without troubling you. Just bear for some time, please?"

Sean frowned, still disliking how he will have to face Sara Dawson everyday and she would try her all to control him. He couldn't understand why Sara likes him when she knows clearly how he lived all these years.

Leon continued, "How about I arrange for you to go out of the country and enjoy right after engagement? I will fabricate as education or business for the Dawson family so that you don't have to face Sara Dawson. By the time you return, I will handle them."

'Out of the country to enjoy.' It enticed Sean Harmon. He hugged his brother and heartily said, "Bro, you are the best."

Leon sighed internally and helped Sean to his room. He removed his shoes and jacket before pulling the comforter on him. Leon left after making sure he dozed off with a wide smile on his lips.

Leon entered his bedroom where Eliza was reading a book. She saw him quickly, helped him to take off his vest coat, and asked, "Shall I prepare a bath for you?"

Leon hummed sitting on the armchair rubbing between his brows as his thought again drifted back to the time they were torturing Ava Kelly. He could still feel her agonizing cry whenever they struck at her, yet she didn't utter a word to ask them to let her go or ask others to save her.

'Was she fed up with her life she gave up to live? Was she in love with Vance Hays and was disheartened? Vance Hays!?'

Leon jerked up. 'If Ava Kelly is alive, why will she let off Vance Hays and…' His thoughts were broken by a sweet concerned voice.

"Leon, shall I help you? You look exhausted." Eliza Lane asked as she held his arm helping him stand.

Eliza Lane, he might never get a woman who could love him despite knowing he can't give her sexual pleasure, beats her whenever he is angry, and knows he had physical relationships with many.

The only thing he hates about her is her drunken state. It's like she is totally a new person and cries out for everything. He knows why she behaves that way when she is drunk. 

She can't talk about her pain, invisible wounds with anybody, can't vent her frustration of his physical torture and those get out of her heart when she is drunk. She had no reason to be happy but smiles all day at the maids or Sean.

He silently followed her and went to the bathroom. He just stood letting her take care of him before entering the foamy relaxing bubble bathtub. Eliza washed his hair very carefully without letting the shampoo run down to his eyes and before helping him wash up.

It was relaxing for him but he hated how his body doesn't react to her touches wherever it may be. Before three years, they had a wonderful wedding life despite him having his external marital affairs. But now he was just a dead log.

He rinsed off the lather under the shower while Eliza patiently waited and wrapped him in the bathrobe when he stepped out. They were very quiet without conversing which was actually better for Eliza.

Just like how she might have taken care of her child, she took care of him, dried his hair, and massaged his head until he stopped her and slept holding her in his embrace.

But Eliza was wide awake. Once upon a time, she felt secure in those arms but now, she feels nothing but emptiness.

She couldn't understand where her life was going and how long she was going to live like this. She doubted if one day she might go insane and admit to a psychiatric hospital.

Why? Due to Leon Harmon.

If one day, he lets her take care of him like a baby in need of pampering, another day he beats and tortures her senseless, the very next morning he will take care of her like most precious treasure tending to her wounds, brushing her teeth, feeding her food.

Has he lost his mind? Eliza doubted it too. Because she knows how he has been suffering for three years and he couldn't speak about it with anybody hence she was his venting hole. Or probably she is discarding his torture and only cared to see his wounds.

Despite knowing he had faked his emotions to be in favor of the Lane family when they got married and she had fallen in love with the ideal man facade of Leon, she just couldn't get out of this psychopathic married life. 

Or is she afraid that he might torture her or destroy the Lane family?