Leslie’s life consisted of meticulous housework and unappreciated dedication to her fiancé, Peter. When a mistaken delivery of a beautiful necklace leads to the breakup of her engagement, Leslie sets out to clear her name and find her true love.
Leslie, a middle-aged woman with a knack for organization, begins her day as usual with heavy housework. Her mornings are filled with the comforting routine she has perfected over the years.
She carefully irons shirts, smoothing out every wrinkle with precision. She hangs them in the correct order, ensuring the colors are sorted just right. She holds a list of tasks and recommendations she wrote for herself in her left hand.
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Since childhood, Leslie has loved making lists. They helped her with homework, cleaning the house, and even organizing parties for friends.
This innocent habit has turned into a constant life hack for her, making her daily routine more manageable and satisfying.
After ironing, it’s time for cleaning. Leslie glances at her list and starts dusting it. She turns mundane chores into a game, finding joy in completing tasks in order and making them more enjoyable with each checkmark on the list.
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She hums a little tune as she dusts, vacuums, and tidies up the living room, transforming her chores into a pleasant activity.
Finally, Leslie’s favorite part of the day arrives: cooking. She joyfully finds one of her lists with a lasagna recipe, Peter’s favorite dish. She loves cooking for Peter, even though he rarely shows appreciation.
She starts by preparing the ingredients, humming a familiar tune. The smell of tomatoes, garlic, and cheese fills the kitchen, making her smile.
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Everything is almost ready when she suddenly hears the doorbell. “So early?” Leslie thinks to herself, checking the clock, as Peter usually comes home later. Wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, Leslie runs to the door and, opening it, sees a courier.
“This is Apartment 4421, right?” the courier asks hurriedly.
“Yes, yes, that’s correct. Who is it from?” Leslie inquires, curious about the unexpected delivery.
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“It’s not specified, miss…” the courier replies, glancing at his clipboard.
“Still Miss, but that will change soon,” Leslie adds with a small smile.
“Great…” the courier responds without much enthusiasm, handing over the package. As soon as Leslie takes it, he waves and quickly heads back to his car.
“Have a good evening, miss,” he calls out as he leaves.
Returning inside, Leslie opens the package and is shocked by what she sees.
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It’s a necklace with multicolored gemstones. She had never seen anything like it. “Peter? Could it really be my Peter?” Leslie thinks to herself.
Who else could it be if not her future husband? But this was so unlike him. Even the ring he gave Leslie was made of simple, cheap metal with a small stone. He never gave anything like this, and even giving flowers was a special occasion for him.
Finally, Leslie smiles broadly, puts on the necklace, and admires it in the mirror.
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She feels a rush of excitement and joy, something she hasn’t felt in a long time. However, her joy is short-lived. Suddenly, she smells something burning. “Darn! The lasagna!”
She rushes to save dinner but it’s too late; the food is burnt. She stares at the charred lasagna, feeling a pang of disappointment, but then glances at the necklace around her neck, and her smile returns, if only slightly.
The doorbell rings again, and this time it’s definitely Peter. Leslie rushes to the door, her heart pounding a bit faster. As soon as the door opens, Peter, a tall, stern man in a suit, steps inside.
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His face, set in a permanent scowl, immediately conveys his intolerance for mistakes. He coldly walks past his wife, handing her his jacket without a word of greeting.
“I’m home…” he mutters, his tone devoid of warmth.
“Welcome, dear! How was your day?” Leslie asks, trying to sound cheerful.
Leslie carefully hangs the jacket and follows Peter into the living room. She notices the tension in his shoulders and the hard line of his mouth.
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“As usual…” Peter replies gruffly. He suddenly stops, sniffing the air. “Wait, what’s that smell?”
Leslie feels a pang of anxiety. “Sorry, dear, I got distracted and…”
“The food, you burned the food!” Peter interrupts, his voice rising with anger. “How many times! I work all day like a horse, and at home, I find charcoal instead of dinner!”
“I got distracted by a gift, sorry…” Leslie tries to explain, her voice trembling.
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Peter, in a rage, turns and sees the necklace on Leslie’s neck. His eyes narrow, and he points at it aggressively as he approaches her.
“Where did you get that!?”
Leslie takes a step back, feeling the intensity of his anger. “What do you mean where, didn’t you give it to me?” she stammers, confused.
“Liar! I knew you had someone else. How foolish I’ve been! How long has this been going on?” Peter’s face contorts with fury.
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“Dear, you misunderstood. It must be a mistake. I’ll return the necklace immediately,” Leslie pleads, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Return it to whom!? Your lover? I can’t believe I wanted to build a family with someone like you,” Peter snarls. He takes off his ring and throws it on the floor with a clatter.
“Pack your things! Be gone by morning!” he shouts. After these words, he slams the door to his room, and the house falls silent. The echo of the door slam seems to reverberate through Leslie’s entire being.
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Leslie stands there, stunned. Everything happened so quickly that she felt as though her world had just crumbled.
Tears begin to stream from her eyes as the reality of the situation sinks in. She doesn’t even know what to do next. Wiping her tears, she goes upstairs, feeling numb.
She quickly packs her suitcase, knowing that arguing with Peter is pointless, but he will do as he pleases. Maybe when he cools down, he’ll forgive her, she thinks, clinging to a sliver of hope.
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Leslie places her belongings in the suitcase methodically, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
She looks around the room that once felt like home but now feels foreign and cold. Each item she packs holds memories of the life she thought she was building with Peter.
With a heavy heart, she zips up the suitcase and sits on the bed, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her.
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To prove her innocence, Leslie decided to find the sender of the necklace to explain everything and hopefully get Peter’s forgiveness.
She looked around the house for the gift receipt, and after some searching, she found it tucked inside the packaging.
The address on the receipt was unfamiliar to her, but she was determined to clear her name. With a deep breath, she grabbed her purse and set out for the address.
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Upon arriving at the house, Leslie was amazed to see a huge mansion. The driveway was long and lined with tall, elegant trees.
She parked her car and walked up to the grand front door, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. Gathering her courage, she knocked on the door.
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A butler opened it, his expression neutral but polite. His eyes flicked to the necklace around her neck, and without hesitation, he said, “Come in, Mr. Rodri is expecting you.”
Leslie was taken aback by his words. How could Mr. Rodri be expecting her? She followed the butler through the grand foyer, which was decorated with beautiful paintings and chandeliers that sparkled in the light.
She felt a bit out of place in her simple clothes, but she reminded herself of why she was there.
The butler led her to a large, elegant office. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with volumes of all sizes.
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Behind a large mahogany desk sat Mr. Rodri, a distinguished-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes.
“Good afternoon,” Mr. Rodri greeted her warmly. “Please, have a seat.”
Leslie sat down, feeling slightly more at ease. “Excuse me, there’s been a misunderstanding. I received your necklace, but it was obviously sent to me by mistake,” she said quickly, wanting to explain the situation as soon as possible.
Mr. Rodri listened calmly, his expression thoughtful. “I apologize; it was indeed a mistake. You and my sister have the same address in different cities, and due to carelessness, the necklace was sent to you instead of her.”
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Leslie extended her hand with the necklace and handed it to Mr. Rodri. “It’s very kind of you to travel so far to return such a valuable item. You could have sold it or just kept it,” Mr. Rodri responded in surprise.
“That would be wrong,” Leslie said, shaking her head. “And there’s one more important thing. Because of this misunderstanding, my wedding was called off. My future husband is very jealous and didn’t believe it was a mistake…”
Mr. Rodri looked even more surprised. “Is it worth marrying someone who doesn’t trust you?” he asked gently.
Leslie looked down, her eyes filling with tears. She had been asking herself the same question but hadn’t dared to confront it. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
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Mr. Rodri seemed to consider this. “It’s already late. Why don’t you stay for dinner? We can discuss this more, and in the morning, we will go to your husband together to explain everything.”
Leslie hesitated. She didn’t want to be a burden, but the thought of facing Peter alone was daunting. “That’s very kind of you, Mr. Rodri. Thank you,” she said softly.
Mr. Rodri smiled. “Please, call me John. And it’s no trouble at all. You’ve had a long day. Let’s take care of this together.”
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At dinner, Leslie feels as she has never felt before for the first time everything is for her. Mr. Rodri personally prepared everything, and Leslie only had to enjoy the food.
She didn’t even notice how she started talking to Mr. Rodri, laughing sincerely. For the first time in many years, she felt relaxed.
She wasn’t afraid to say or do something wrong; she felt safe around Mr. Rodri.
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They drank wine and laughed at each other’s jokes until Leslie suddenly stopped herself as if forbidding herself to be happy.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Rodri. My fiancé is waiting for me at home. Maybe I should go to bed.”
Leslie got up from the table and was almost gone, but Mr. Rodri gently grabbed her hand and stopped her.
“I have to confess, Miss Leslie, what I told you about my sister wasn’t entirely true.”
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“You see, I’ve long suffered from loneliness, finding it very hard to meet someone who values me for more than my money. I sent that necklace randomly, losing hope of ever finding love, but it ended up with you.
“I understand this is difficult for you, but I would like to spend more time with you if you’re willing.”
“I… I would like to, but…” Leslie’s eyes filled with tears, and she ran to her room. She couldn’t understand her feelings. She did everything for Peter, and she wanted to return to Peter so he would forgive her.
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But around Mr. Rodri, she felt genuine, drawn to him. “This is wrong,” she told herself, closing her eyes in bed.
In the morning, Leslie and Mr. Rodri set off to see Peter. The car was filled with tension, a heavy silence hanging in the air.
“Sorry about last night, it was the wine…” Mr. Rodri said, breaking the silence. Leslie gently placed her hand on his.
“It’s okay, you have nothing to apologize for,” she reassured him, giving a small, comforting smile.
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When they arrived at Peter’s house, the tension only grew. Leslie took a deep breath as they walked to the door.
Inside, Peter looked up, his expression a mix of anger and sorrow. Together, Mr. Rodri and Leslie explained everything.
Mr. Rodri apologized sincerely before stepping back outside to give them space.
Peter turned to Leslie, his eyes softening. “I’m sorry, Leslie. I regretted my words the moment I said them. I miss you so much.”
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He took out Leslie’s ring, which she had left behind, and got down on one knee. “Please, let’s start over. Put the ring back on.”
Leslie looked at the ring, then at Peter. She couldn’t extend her hand. Her eyes filled with tears as she turned towards Rodri’s car. She watched him, ready to drive away forever.
“Everything is as you wanted, Leslie. What’s wrong? Why are you hesitating?” she asked herself. The sound of Rodri’s car engine starting snapped her out of her thoughts. At that moment, Leslie realized she didn’t want to go back to her old life.
“Sorry, Peter. Goodbye,” she said softly and ran back to Rodri’s car. This time, she was sure she had made the right choice.
She felt a sense of relief and newfound hope as she reached for the car door, knowing she was heading toward a future where she could truly be happy.
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Liam Payne: Former One Direction star dies in Argentina
Tributes have been pouring in for the 31-year-old singer who fell from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in the capital Buenos Aires.
Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
The 31-year-old singer suffered “extremely serious injuries” after falling from the third floor at the hotel in the capital Buenos Aires, police said.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentinian television that Payne, who had a seven-year-old son with former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, fell into a courtyard of the CasaSur Hotel in the city’s Palermo neighbourhood.
The official declined to answer questions about how he came to fall from the balcony.
Mr Crescenti said authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting a post-mortem.
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Meanwhile, a transcript has been released of the emergency call the hotel desk manager made to 911 after the fall.
The hotel manager is heard saying he has a “guest drunk with drugs and alcohol”, adding: “He is breaking everything in the room.”
He later tells the operator they “need to send someone with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger because he is in a room with a balcony”.
The hotel manager continues: “We are afraid he could do something that threatens life.”
The 911 operator says the police and emergency medical workers have been sent to the scene.
Argentinian media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan earlier this month.
Fans flocked to the hotel after news of Payne’s death broke, with many expressing shock and heartbreak.
One Direction fans from across the world have also been sharing poignant tributes to Payne on social media.
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In the hours before his death, photos shared from the singer’s Snapchat account showed him with his partner Kate Cassidy.
There was also clips, including one where he said it was a “lovely day here in Argentina”.
It appears the videos were filmed earlier in the week and then posted in his final hours.
“Just enjoying coffee and breakfast, even though it’s like 1pm,” he said. “Literally sleep in every day until like 12. We’re such losers.”
The star spoke about “going to ride some horses” and said: “Think I’m going to play polo again which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.”
“It’s going to be a nice day,” he added.
Payne had embarked on a solo career after One Direction announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus in 2015.
The band was formed on The X Factor in 2010, with Payne featuring alongside Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles. They were mentored by Simon Cowell who had also created the show.
The group finished third before signing with Cowell’s “Syco” record label and going on to become one of the best-selling boybands of all time.
Payne’s relationship with Cheryl, who was a judge on the X Factor, began in 2016 and ended in 2018. They named their son Bear.
Britain’s Got Talent, another show created by Cowell, has cancelled its auditions in Blackpool today in light of Payne’s death.
It comes as tributes from the entertainment industry have been pouring in for Payne since news of the tragedy emerged.
In a post from its official X account, the team at the X Factor wrote: “We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne.
“He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world.”
Separately, Dermot O’Leary, a former host of the show, posted a photo of himself and Payne on Instagram, writing: “The worst news. I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.”
TV presenter Rylan Clark, a former X Factor contestant, said: “Extremely sad news. (Very) tragic and so young. RIP Liam.”
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Hip hop icon Flavor Flav, boxer Chris Eubank Jr and former Cultural Club singer Boy George are also among those who have paid tribute.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also offered his condolences, with his official spokesman saying: “The Prime Minister’s sincere condolences are with Liam’s family and friends at this time.
“One Direction were one of the biggest bands in history and their music had a huge impact on many millions of fans around the world.”
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Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, had a complicated personal life and spoken openly about his struggles with alcoholism and mental health. He was also diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.
He had previously spoken about suffering with suicidal thoughts, admitting that he was “lucky to still be here”.
In 2019, Payne addressed his mental health on Sky show Straight Talking with Ant Middleton, where he spoke about his struggles with fame.
Describing fame as like “having a weird midlife crisis”, Payne said: “For some certain circumstances, I’m quite lucky to be here still.”
Since October 2022, Payne has been linked to influencer Cassidy, recently posting on Instagram that they “make each other better people”, and adding: “For the first time in my life I’m happy to be me and that’s priceless.”
He was previously engaged to Maya Henry, with their relationship ending in 2022.
Earlier this week, it was reported she had issued legal proceedings – instructing lawyers to issue a cease and desist letter to Payne – and she posted a video on TikTok claiming the singer had been repeatedly sending her unwanted messages.
Last week, the Sun reported Payne had parted with his management company and shelved plans for a second solo album.
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