Chapter 48
“I was worried about Edwin, so I came to check on him,” Leon sald. His voice was gentle. His tall, imposing figate radiated an undeniable pressure as he stood up.
His deep, uneadable eyes lingered on Victoria’s face briefly before he continued, “Lock the doors and windows. I’ll be there soon.”
“Can you hurry-“Eva started to say, but before she could finish, a loud clap of thunder shook the sky.
“Ah!” she screamed.
At that exact moment, Victoria flinched Her fear was barely concealed.
Leon noticed it but instead of acknowledging it, he focused on comforting Eva over the phone. He soothed her until she calmed down. Only then did he hangup
As he prepared to leave, he glanced at Victoria, noticing how tense she was Casually, he suggested, “If you’re scared, put on your headphones.”
“I don’t need your unnecessary concern.” Victoria forced down her fear. Her time was sharp. “Go back to your precious Mrs. Quigley and stop getting in my way.”
Another crash of thunder followed immediately
Victoria remained emotionless.
Leon didn’t linger. He toyed with his phone as he stepped out of the small apartment that felt so mismatched with his status
A flash of lightning split the sky as he got into the car downstairs.
Glancing up toward the floor where Victoria lived, he gave an order. “Call Susie. Find a reason to send her over to Victoria’s place tonight.”
Ms. Sutton was sent abroad by her parents right after you delivered that massage to the Sutton family,” Henry reported matter–of–factly. “She won’t be back anytime soon.”
Leon tell
After a moment of thought, he typed out a message, “Your mother is afraid of thunderstorms. Go stay with her tonight.”
Edwin saw the message but didn’t reply
He could accept that Leon didn’t care much for him, but he couldn’t accept that Victoria was being abandoned–especially for someone Leon-claimed was “so important” to
To Waterside Manor,” Leon instructed.
He knew Edwin would follow through, so he didn’t send another message.
“Got it,” Henry replied.
The car sped toward its destination
The storm outside gew fierce. The thunderclaps were loud enough to shake the heavens. Leon’s brows knitted together slightly. His fingers idly scrolled over his phone screen, hovering over the chat labeled “Vicky.”
By the time they reached Waterside Mance, he still hadn’t sent a single message.
Henry opened the car door for him. Leon pocketed his phone and stepped out, as composed as ever. His earlier concern seemed nonexistent
The moment Eva saw him, she rushed toward him and threw her arms around his waist. “You’re finally back. The thunder was so loud”
“Gole down. I’ll stay with you,” Leon said, gently but firmly removing her hands from his body
She obediently climbed into bed, but after some hesitation, she bit her lip and spoke again. “Leon“:
His strikingly refined face remained expressionless. “What is it?”
“Can you hold me while I sleep?” She reached for his hand, and her voice was filled with quiet hope. “I won’t be as scared if you hold me,”
She knew she could make him hers as long as he was willing to share a bed with her..
Leon didn’t acknowledge her request. Instead, he tucked the blanket around her and sat at the edge of the bed. He was keeping his distance
“You don’t want to touch me, do you?” Eva asked, sensing his deliberate restraint. “You wouldn’t before, and now you won’t even lie down next to me.”
“Focus on recovering We can discuss other things when you’re better,” be replied flatly. “Be good.”
She knew better than to push. He didn’t like it when she brought up these topics
But it didn’t matter since Victoria was lay out of the picture.
One day, she would take Victoria’s place entirely.
