Chapter 131
Joy’s dilemma proved to be a tough nut to crack, and she couldn’t make it back. In her stead, Jeremy dutifully swung by every day to chauffeur Leanne to and from work.
By day, she was ensconced within the bustling hospital, and by night, she retreated to the high-security embrace of Crystal Cove Villas. Leanne wasn’t left to her own devices, nor did she encounter any more of the bizarre occurrences that had unsettled her that one day.
Donna rolled her eyes with contempt, “See, I told you these guys are all bark and no bite. They hide and talk big, but they wouldn’t dare to show their faces.”
Jeremy shot Leanne a text, saying he had a class reunion that evening and couldn’t pick her up.
Leanne replied, “No worries, I’m on the night shift today anyway.”
“Leanne’s on the graveyard shift, huh?” Amy fretted, “What if that creep decides to show up in the middle of the night?”
“Don’t jinx it, Amy, knock on wood,” Donna quickly interjected, before turning to Leanne with advice, “Make sure you buddy up when you head to the restroom, don’t go alone.”
Leanne nodded and opened her drawer to reveal her secret weapon, “I’m prepared.”
Amy’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Send me the link for that.”
That day, a patient showed up at the hospital sporting a swollen, blistered left eye – turned out to be a bacterial infection. He was treated with anti-inflammatory medication by the day-shift doctor.
Leanne was in the middle of documenting patient histories when the man’s condition took a nosedive. His left eyelid was ulcerated and sealed shut by swelling, and he was in excruciating pain, spiking a high fever. They had to rush him to the ICU.
Leanne grabbed her things in a hurry, rushing out only to double back and pocket her essentials.
After administering medication to control the infection and consulting with other doctors for an urgent
urgent treatment plan, hours had slipped by for Leanne. She had missed dinner, and the cafeteria had long since closed its doors for the night. She figured she’d order
takeout back at the office.
Meeting a nurse in the corridor, Leanne inquired about a patient who had just undergone surgery that afternoon.
After their exchange, she turned to continue to her office. Passing through a security corridor, she was caught completely off-guard when a hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her aside.
14:35
The hospited was riddled with ourveillance cameras, and it wasn’t even fon clock yet Most patients were chill awake, with relatives fingering in their rooms.
And the nurse she had just spoken with hadntjven walked far off
The notion that someone could be so audacious had never crossed Leanne’s mind
The instant terror crawled up her scalp, she cognized the pungent odor invading her nostrils
Ether
As a doctor, she knew all too well what it was a potent inhalation anesthetic that could knock a person out in an instant
In a flash, she reached into her pocket and sprayed her pepper spray blindly behind her.
A scream pierced the air as the grip on her slackened. Gasping for air and coughing violently, Leanne’s vision swam, and her limbs felt weak She groped for the door to the passage, driven by instinct
But she hadn’t anticipated an accomplice.
other curse sounded, and just as her hand brushed the doorknob, it was violently
per spray was wrenched from her grasp, and the scent of ether smothered her
senses once more.
Leanne tried desperately to hold her breath, kicking at the door with all her might, hoping to make enough noise to be heard.
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But the assailant was too strong, effortlessly dragging her up the stairs, a cloth soaked with ether clamped firmly over her mouth and nose.
The high concentration of ether swiftly sapped Leanne’s strength, her consciousness blurring into obscurity.
She drifted in and out of awareness, sometimes catching the distinct scent of a car’s interior, at other times feeling herself being guided, unsure of the destination.
She tried to scream for help, but no sound emerged, and she slipped back into confusion.
When she came to, she found herself sprawled on a couch.
Her wrists and ankles were zip-tied, and duct tape sealed her lips.
The anesthetic’s effects hadn’t fully worn off, and she felt groggy, her body weak, struggling to sit up.
Through her hazy vision, she saw a man’s robust figure seated across from her.
“You’re coming around quickly,” the man spoke.
That voice… It was Derek.
She remembered the malicious words on that card, the chilling intuition at her doorstep that night.
It was indeed him.
With her hands bound behind her back, it was difficult for Leanne to muster any strength. She managed to prop herself up on the couch, staggering in an attempt to stand.
Derek rose and pushed her back down.
“Keep your energy; you’re not getting out of this room.”
He finally cast aside his facade of respectability, his smile giving off an unsettling, predatory vibe.
“I wanted to be gentle with you, but you just had to be so vigilant.”
Leanne tried to speak, only managing a muffled whimper.
“Want to talk?” Derek ripped off the tape from her mouth.
“What the hell do you want?” Leanne demanded, her voice barely strong.
Derek stared intently at her flushed face and slightly parted pink lips, a dark gleam in his
eyes.
“Didn’t Curtis ever tell you not to stare at a man like that? I don’t want much, just to see
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14:35
what it’s like to have sex with Curtis’ women
Pervert
“There’s nothing between us, and we’re divorced
wouldn’t dare touch you if you weren’t Derek caressed her smooth cheek, Who would mess with Curtis leftovers?
Leanne tried to dodge his touch, her chest heaving with anger and fear, “If you’re so obsessed with beating him, why don’t you go after him directly? Wouldn’t that be more satisfying”
Derek paused, caught off guard Seizing the opportunity, Leanne wrenched free from his grasp and dashed toward the door, only to be yanked back.
Stop struggling You’re not escaping my grasp today. But don’t worry, I can be compassionate Just cooperate and I let you go after I’ve had my fill.
Leanne had no chance against the brute strength of a grown man, especially with her
limbs bound
She broke
res
Derek’s grip and screamed for help, but Derek laughed without ind scream like that.”
her ear, his voice deliberately low, tainted with vile amusement, “Just drtis is right next door. Maybe if you’re loud enough, he’ll hear you.”
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Chapter 133
Just beyond a thin wall, the hubbub of a spirited get-together filled the room, where drinks flowed and laughter abounded.
“Out of all of us, it’s Curtis who’s the biggest headache,” someone quipped.
The Class President was a natural organizer, a lover of tradition, who had been throwing these annual reunions since high school graduation.
Although Curtis had been absent for several years, the Class President persuaded him to make an appearance for his mentor Scott’s 60th birthday celebration.
Mr. Scott was at it again, recounting the good old days, stories he delighted in retelling year after year. Curtis hadn’t been around for the past gatherings, but now he was back, and Mr. Scott was all too eager to catch up.
“Remember that time you got into it with… the notorious troublemaker? Landed the poor guy in the hospital. It was a close call, but you managed to smooth things over.”
Curtis, lounging back in his chair, listlessly stirred his tea, clearly unenthused.
“That’s nothing,” chimed in one of the guys, “Word was, you fought over a girl, right? Girls used to chase you around school; never the same one twice. You had your pick of the prettiest ones.”
The mention soured Curtis’ mood for days, and just when he was itching for a fight, someone walked right into his crosshairs.
With a smirk that was half feigned, half genuine, Curtis teased, “You never dated anyone, did you? Was it by choice?”
The classmate, who’d penned countless love letters that sank without a trace, bristled, “I was focused on my studies.”
“Oh?” Curtis’ eyes gleamed with mischief, “And which illustrious university did you. end up at? You never showed up to our top-tier college reunions.”
Someone tried to defuse the tension, “Let’s not dredge up the past.”
Suzan, ever the peacemaker, smiled, “We were just kids, all fun and games. Can’t take any of that seriously.”
Mr. Scott, eager to change the subject, added, “Who would have thought? Curtis turned out to be the most successful of us all. ElitePinnacle Investments, I hear you’re doing. quite well.”
The envious undertone was clear as the classmate added, “Well, his family owns a bank. How could we compete?”
“Jealous?” Curtis quirked an eyebrow lazily, sneering, “Maybe I’ll talk to my dad about
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Chapter 133:
adopting you”
The classmate’s face flushed crimson.
“Hey, has anyone seen Jeremy?” someone asked.
Jeremy? Curtis scoffed internally, “Jeremy was probably off chasing my wife”
Irritated, Curtis stood to step outside for a smoke and some fresh air.
As he rounded the corner, he spotted two classmates taking a break to puff on cigarettes
and gossip.
“Really? Are you sure you weren’t mistaken?”
“I took a photo,” one said, pulling out his phone, “Look, that’s her, right? We met her at Curtis’ wedding. Unforgettable beauty, I couldn’t possibly get it wrong.”
“That can’t be… And who’s the guy?”
“No clue. But they were all over each other, looking cozy.”
Mid-conversation, the phone was snatched away.
see Curtis, his expression icy, studying the photo on the screen.
aux-antique brickwork in the background matched the corridor behind him. The and woman in the picture were entwined intimately.
The man had his arm around the woman, who seemned either drunk or very affectionate, nestled against him.
Her head rested on his shoulder, her face half-hidden. Despite the blurry photo, Curtis
knew instantly.
That was Leanne.
The man’s back was to the camera, his face obscured, but he was clearly young. It was
not Jeremy.
Had Leanne learned to play the field?
Curtis’ face darkened, “Where was this taken?”
Faced with Curtis’ menacing glare, the classmate didn’t dare lie, pointing to a door, ‘Just in there, not long ago, maybe ten minutes.”
Curtis tossed the phone back and strode toward room 2666.
“Curtis?” Suzan emerged from the party, surprised at his haste, “Where are you going?”
The photographer sheepishly explained, “His ex-wife is in there with some guy.”
Suzan hurried after him, “Curtis, you and Leanne are divorced. Whatever she chooses to
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do is her own business, you have no right to get her about it
Curtis seated with rely and age Wher she has that food is to menas kis
cide
He raised his hand to pound on the door
Suzan
moned. “Are you prepared for what you might fed behind that deart
Curte het hovered an inch from the wood Henched it nightly a state coated in frost
unable to thew
Yes, they were divorced Who the saw or how many she saw was her choice
What business was it of his if she came to the club? Who was he to dictate where she
could go
What was he hoping to achieve by knocking? to hear her call him a meddler and tell him
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10
yelled at him with such cold contempt wishing he’d vanish from the earth.
Chapter 134
What the hell was he doing here, knocking on doors? To witness his ex-wife, Leanne, intertwined in the embrace of another man-making love the way they used to?
His buddies, tagging along for the ride, were desperately trying to talk some sense into
him,
“It’s Scott’s birthday bash, let’s not ruin the night.”
“Yeah, dude, you guys are divorced, right? We’re all adults here.”
“Curtis, I get it’s tough to swallow, but you gotta move on,” Suzan tried to reason with
patience, “Barging in there’s just gonna make Leanne look bad. You can’t let your jealousy put her in that spot.”
“Get lost.” Curtis could barely keep a lid on his
anger.
His friends fell silent, quickly retreating back to their booth.
Suzan pursed her lips, witnessing a side of Curtis she’d never seen before, a man
unhinger
? He’s right outside.”
side of the door, the mention of Curtis’ voice made Derek’s excitement surge
e was on some high. Gripping Leanne’s face tightly, he hissed, “Why’d you stop aking noise? Scream.”
Leanne’s cheek flushed red from his pinch, a visceral pain causing tears to well up against her will.
She kept screaming “Help.” but it seemed like no one outside could hear her.
The footsteps outside started to fade, and the flicker of hope for rescue dimmed, overpowered by a wave of despair that threatened to engulf her like a dark marsh.
Pinned down on the couch by Derek, her struggles and resistance were all in vain.
Curtis’ presence drove Derek into a frenzy, tearing Leanne’s clothing as she couldn’t hold back her fear and sobs, crying out desperately,
“Save me. Curtis, please, save me.”
Curtis, standing in the hallway, fumbled for a cigarette in his pocket and stuck it between his lips.
His hand, veined and trembling for reasons unknown, struggled to light up.
Blinded by fury, Curtis kicked the shiny metal ashtray stand against the wall. Gone was the composure and dignity of Mr. Curtis.
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The boiling rage threatened to burst his vens te wanted nothing more than to turer in and turn that man to dust.
“Leanne, how could you do such a thing?”
She was always tender and prideful in his presence, requiring gente.com/ing and carefia handling. A slightly raunchy joke in bed would cause her cheeks to flush as she playfully swatted at him. Now look at her, so capable, casually entangled with some guy, begging and embracing
She had never leaned into him like that.
What the hell was she doing in a private club with a man alone? What else could they be doing?
Curtis tossed the cigarette and strode back, his face dark as a storm.
To hell with freedom. Today, even if Leanne cursed him to his face, he was going to chop that guy into pieces.
“Mr. Curtis, please, calm down. The club manager, having received the news, rushed over a signaled his staff to block the door
didn’t matter who was inside, their top priority was to ensure client privacy. Mr. Curtis might not fear making enemies, but if they let him through today, they might as well shut down the club for good.
“Open the door,” Curtis demanded without even glancing at him, his gaze fixed menacingly
on the door
“Mr. Curtis, cool it. Did we fail to meet your expectations somewhere? It’s just these underlings, and they don’t get it. I meant to attend to you personally, got held up a bit, and rushed right over. Zack, fetch the vintage bottle from my office and send it to room 2888.”
Several people hovered around Curtis, trying to appease his anger.
“Are you going to open it or not?” Curtis’ voice smoldered with barely contained rage, “If you don’t, I’ll kick it down myself.”
“No, Mr. Curtis, what’s this about?” The manager’s face was a mask of distress, “You’re a guest, and so are they…”
“Out of my way.” Curtis was on the edge of the eruption, “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The staff blocking the door trembled, unsure whether to move.
The manager tried to say something else, but Curtis suddenly fell silent as if listening for something.
“Did you hear thar
The manager blinked in confusion, “Hear what?”
Chapho 144
“She’s calling for me, Curtis said
“I don’t hear a.”
Before he could finish, Curtis’ tool slammed against the door
The staff, frightened, scrambled aside, lucky not to be taken down by the dow
Bang.
The solid door was kicked open and hit the wall with a deep thud.
Curtis saw the scene inside, and like a sudden chift in weather, the storm unless w fury.
The onlookers instinctively tried to peek inside, but before they could obale, Curtis slammed the door shut with the back of his hand.
Chapter 135
Derek had his fair share of conquests but Leannewas the one who really made him work.
for it.
It was all because she insisted on going camping with Curtis that day, her moans so alluring, the sweet, desperate whimper of her voice as she tried to hold back, yet couldn’t resist. Every time he remembered, it sent a tingle down his spine.
Maybe if she had been a bit more brazen, he might have lost interest. Or, perhaps if she hadn’t been Curtis’ girl, he wouldn’t have been so obsessed with having her for a little fun. Derek dared to assault her as he felt untouchable. Leanne was the perfect target, sheltered and thus inexperienced, well-educated with a strong sense of pride, and a respectable job that made her care deeply about her image.
Would she dare go to the police, risking her future and reputation?
Would she have the face to seek help from her ex-husband Curtis, a man who had left her
or another woman?
With photos and videos in his possession, it would be like a chain around her neck. With a little sweet talk, she might even come to him willingly.
What he didn’t count on was Curtis showing up.
Derek had bided his time until Curtis was officially divorced, too cowardly to cross him
otherwise.
When Curtis entered, Derek panicked a little, but seeing Curtis’ dark, menacing expression, he also felt a surge of satisfaction.
So, Mr. High-and-Mighty Curtis could lose control over a woman.
Curtis saw Leanne tied up, her eyes brimming with tears, and his rage turned violently. murderous. His neck veins bulged as he strode forward, flipping Derek off her.
“You’re asking for it, you son of a bitch.”
His punch landed squarely on Derek’s face, sending him crashing to the floor. Before he could get up, a kick to the chest sent him flying.
Curtis went over to help Leanne up, his fingers wiping the tears from her cheeks.
His palm was wet with her tears. Her lips, white from biting, he touched gently, comforting her to release her bite.
From a nearby fruit bowl, he took a knife and carefully cut through the ties on her wrists. and ankles.
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The skin was red and broken, tiny beads of blood evident from her struggle.
Curtis felt a choke of anger, his eyes reddened by the fury.
Leanne felt like she was rescued from a rope dangling over a cliff, utterly drained of strength.
Curtis’ warmth was incredibly comforting in the aftermath, her attempt to speak turning into uncontrollable sobs.
Curtis wanted to hold her, to reassure her, but there was still an unresolved issue in the
room.
After cutting the ties, Leanne’s hands clenched like rocks, trying to hold back the brink of collapse.
Curtis removed his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, then took off his custom wristwatch and pried open her clenched hand to place it inside.
“Hang on to this,” his voice was hoarse but controlled, trying to sound calm and relaxed, “This watch is one of a kind. If you break it, you owe me.”
Leanne’s white-knuckled grip eased.
Curtis stood, pulling the jacket over her head to shield her view.
“Good girl. Don’t look,” he whispered above her head.
Derek, propped up by the table, managed to stand and saw Curtis approaching with a dark look, “Mr. Curtis, you’re interrupting my fun right in the middle of it. That’s not gentlemanly of you.”
t very
Curtis grabbed the front of Derek’s shirt and slammed him against the wall, “Who gave you the right to touch her?”
Derek’s head thudded against the wall, dazed, his tone defiant, “You dumped her, didn’t you? Why do you care so much, even forsaking your own dignity, Mr. Curtis?”
“Who told you I let her go?” Curtis’ aura was threateningly dark, “Since when do you have a say in my business?”
Derek sneered maliciously, “I just figured, someone like her, how could you let go? Ms. Wright sure isn’t as pretty.”
Curtis’ face turned stormy, “Shut up, or I’ll make your end quick.”
Derek was no fool at this stage. Rather than just standing there waiting to be attacked, he threw a punch at Curtis in an attempt to snatch the upper hand..
Curtis caught his fist and retaliated with a brutal punch straight to Derek’s jaw.
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Derek spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and lunged at Curtis with a fury that seemed to urge from the depths of hell. The two men quickly became entangled in a vicious brawl.
Derek was no pushover. Even though Curtis, in his blind rage, had the upper hand, Derek fought dirty. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a nearby table and smashed it against. Curtis’ back.
The heavy lead-free glass shattered on Curtis’ shoulder, drenching him with the amber liquid in an instant.
Curtis didn’t even try to dodge. Seizing the moment, he landed a solid kick to Derek’s gut, sending him crashing backward over a round table. His spine hit the table edge hard, twisting his face into an expression of pure agony.
Before Derek could scramble to his feet, Curtis was on him, grabbing his right hand, the one that had dared to touch Leanne, and twisted it backward with a savage jerk.
Derek’s scream was a piercing one. Curtis, with an iron grip on his collar, dragged him in front of the glass coffee table in the center of the booth, then grabbed his head.
“You should count your lucky stars I came in when I did.”
Before Derek could decipher the meaning behind those words, Curtis had already slammed his head onto the coffee table.
The whole piece of tempered glass vibrated with a deep thrum.
Derek’s head was ringing, and a crimson stream flowed down his forehead.
It was or
only now that he realized Curtis had left no room for mercy in his strikes.
He genuinely wanted to end Derek’s life.
Derek flailed with his left hand, grasping at Curtis’ arm in a vain attempt to push him away. But the muscles in Curtis’ arm were as unyielding as iron, immovable. He yanked Derek’s head back by the hair and smashed it down again.
Blood trickled from the corner of Derek’s mouth as his hands fell limply to his sides.
Curtis’ eyes were cold and terrifying, and with the impassive detachment of someone handling a dead fish, he smashed Derek’s head into the coffee table for the third time.
Crash, the tempered glass shattered.
Derek lay amidst the broken glass, his vision blurred with blood, unable to even crawl.
In his fading consciousness, he finally understood Curtis’ earlier words.
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He should be grateful Curtis had come in when he did nothing. Derek hadn’t had a chance. to act, but it was also the reason he was still alive.
Otherwise, Curtis would have left him dead right there..
Curtis himself was far from unscathed, with his shirt stained with whiskey and his nape cut by the broken glass, blood soaking his collar.
He breathed heavily, straightening up, and grabbed an antique tablecloth from a nearby small round table to wipe Derek’s blood from his hands.
Once done, he tossed the soiled cloth onto Derek’s body and walked away.
Leanne had been shielded from witnessing the brutality of the fight, only hearing the muffled sounds of fists hitting flesh and the violent crashes, followed by the loud noise of shattering glass.
Curtis’ heavy footsteps approached her, and he enveloped her in his arms.
“It’s over,” he said, his forehead pressed against hers, his voice a low growl as if restraining something, “Leanne, it’s all over.”
Remembering the moment he’d walked in and seen her clothes ripped, crying out his name in despair, Curtis felt a breath-stealing pain in his chest.
He was eternally thankful he hadn’t walked away but had instead kicked down that door.
He couldn’t bear to imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t come in or hadn’t heard her cry out for him.
Curtis’ breath shook almost imperceptibly as he calmed himself, then stood. “I’m taking you home.”
up
and said,
Outside the room, a tense and anxious crowd had gathered, hearing the chaos inside but too afraid to enter.
Just as they exchanged uncertain looks, the door swung open. Curtis emerged, carrying Leanne in his arms, leaving behind a room in complete disarray.
He had draped his suit jacket over her, covering most of her body securely, hiding her from
view.
Her face, tucked into the crook of his neck and partially veiled by his clothing, was rendered unrecognizable.
The
gaze.
manager caught one glimpse before Curtis’ icy glare sent him swiftly averting his
Curtis’ voice had regained its steady composure but still carried an undercurrent of frost as he spoke to Suzan, “Tell Jerry and Aaron to wipe those photos clean, If they don’t want to cross me, they’ll keep what they saw to themselves.”
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Suzan opened her mouth to speak, but Curtis Had already looked away.
“Make a list of the damages here, and someone will come to take care of it,” he said coldly, scanning the club’s staff, “As for tonight’s events, if I hear even a whisper of it outside, I’ll hold you accountable.”
The manager paled, quickly assuring, “You can trust me. On my life, it won’t leak.”
Curtis didn’t wait to listen, stepping away with Leanne in his arms.
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Chapter 137
Suzan watched with a furrowed brow as he walked away, cradling Leanne in his arms, her heart sinking with reluctance.
Why the hell did he still care about Leanne after they divorced?
The manager was quick to have someone check on Derek to ensure he was still breathing before he could let the lump in his throat settle back down into his stomach.
What in the world was going on?
He swiftly issued a stern warning to a few staff members who were clueless about the incident, then called out to Suzan, who was about to leave.
“Ms. Wright, I saw you have your phone on you. To ensure no pictures were taken of the incident, please open it so I can check.”
Suzan’s already sour expression soured further. “I didn’t take any photos.”
“Don’t get upset. It’s just a precaution, nothing more.”
ake any photos. How could I have?” Suzan snapped back in a cold
you to manage your people, not to check up on me.”
maintained a placating smile while standing his ground. “Mr. Curtis’
ons included everyone present. If anything were to leak, I couldn’t explain it to
Ms. Wright, I know you’re not like that. Just cooperate with us for a quick check, and all be good.”
What right do you have to inspect my phone? You do realize it is a privacy violation, right?”
The manager looked uncomfortable. “Well, technically, we don’t have that right, so we’re asking for your cooperation. If you don’t wish to, that’s fine, too. I’ll explain the situation to Mr. Curtis later. Given your relationship with him, I’m sure it won’t be an issue.”
Suzan reluctantly opened her phone gallery for him to inspect with a face like thunder.
The manager returned her phone with a grateful, albeit apologetic smile. “All clear. Thank you.”
When she returned to the private room, several pairs of eyes looked her way.
“Where’s Curtis? How long does it take to step out for a smoke?”
Jerry and Aaron kept mum after returning, and the others were oblivious that Curtis nearly turned the club upside down while he was supposedly out for a cigarette.
Suzan mustered no smile. “He’s gone.”
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“Gone? Everyone looked surprised. “Why would he leave without saying anything? He even left his coat.”
“Something must have come up. You know investment bankers hardly get a moment to themselves” Scott said understandingly. “Suzan, could you drop his coat off to him later?” Holding Leanne, Curtis got into the car, and Jake was stunned.
Seeing Leanne curled up in his arms, crying, while Curtis’ expression was darker than ever, yet his touch remained gentle as he cleaned her tears, Jake dared not ask a single question and drove toward Crystal Cove Villas,
When they arrived, Leanne had calmed down significantly, her sobs subsiding.
Curtis carried her out of the car and, upon reaching the door, realized his fingerprint no longer worked, the password prompt showing incorrect.
He scoffed, “You really went ahead and changed the password, even deleted my fingerprint.”
Still dabbing at her eyes with the back of her hand, Leanne tried to get down and open the door but Curtis stopped her. “Don’t move.”
idered for seconds, then punched in a series of numbers.
The door swung open.
Leanne, who had barely stopped her sniffles, was speechless.
Curtis’ dark mood lifted a bit when he saw her astonished expression.
“No matter how many times you change it, I’ll still figure it out.”
Once inside, Leanne tried to get down, but Curtis didn’t let her. He carried her to the upstairs bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.
He fetched some antiseptic for her wrist wound. He applied the stinging medication with. care, and although it hurt, Leanne just bit her lip and endured.
Chapter 138
After applying the medication, Curtis gently removed the jacket wrapped around her, hist eyes darkening as they caught sight of her form blouse, revealing a patch of her shoulder. The sight made his blood run cold with rage, and he felt an almost uncontrollable urge to drag Derek back there and tear him apart to vent his fury.
He wanted to peel off Leanne’s soiled clothes. She instinctively recoiled, trying to protect herself.
Curtis took a deep breath to quell the anger inside and softened his voice in reassurance. “It’s just me. You don’t have to be scared. Your clothes are dirty. Let me help you out of them.”
Leanne relaxed her grip and obediently let him undress her. Curtis got a long-sleeved nightgown for her to wear and helped her into bed.
She was unusually docile and silent, lying there with her eyes open, not speaking or crying, like a lifeless doll.
Curtis’ phone rang with a call from Jeremy. Glancing at the caller ID, he picked up.
Jeremy’s voice was heavy with concern. “Curtis, have you seen Leanne today? Her phone’s off, and she wasn’t at the hospital when I checked. I’m worried something’s happened…”
He was on his way to a homecoming party when he heard from Joy, who just returned from a business trip, that she couldn’t reach Leanne, so he rushed to the hospital. Not finding her there and with one of the doctors mysteriously absent, Jeremy had hesitantly decided to call Curtis.
Despite the complicated nature of their current relationship, Curtis’ involvement could make things easier if Leanne was in danger..
Before Jeremy could finish, Curtis interrupted, She’s with me.”
There was a pause on the line as Jeremy processed the implications of “She’s with me.”
“You didn’t go to the homecoming party?”
“I did,” Curtis replied tersely and coldly.
Silence fell.
“Do I need to report to you? Who are you to her anyway?” Curtis thought, irked.
But perhaps how Leanne had cried in his arms earlier, her tears soaking through his s
shirt, leaving a patch still damp on his shoulder, softened him. The crimson stain of her blood mingled with her tears.
Jeremy was concerned for Leanne’s safety, and Curtis wasn’t unreasonable.
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“She’s fine. She ran into some trouble, but it’s handled now.”
Jeremy visibly relaxed. “Good to hear she’s okay.”
Curtis hung up without another word,
He intended to clean himself up, especially since Leanne was a clean freak and wouldn’t be thrilled with him getting into bed like this.
But seeing Leanne’s vacant stare, he couldn’t leave her alone.
If Leanne got mad, so what? It wouldn’t be the first time she scolded him, would it?
Sliding under the covers, Curtis pulled Leanne’s curled-up body into his embrace.
Her cheek bore a bruise from Derek’s grip, stark against her smooth skin.
“Does it hurt?” he asked softly, tracing the mark with his fingertip.
The warmth of his embrace thawed her rigid body, and his voice was gentle. When Leanne ought she had regained her composure, his kindness stirred her emotions like the calm a after a storm, waves beginning to churn again.
She took a shuddering breath, trying to hold her tears back.
“Cry.” Curtis said softly, “It’s okay to let it out.”
At his words, Leanne could no longer hold back the tears. At first, she tried to stifle her sobs, but soon, she couldn’t contain them any longer, burying her face in his chest and crying out loud.
Curtis was heartbroken. He kissed her hair, forehead, the corners of her eyes, murmuring consolations, the epitome of tenderness.
“Leanne, you’re killing me,” he whispered, kissing away the salty trails on her cheeks. “I promise he’ll never hurt you again.”
14 36
Chemipto 139
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She knew her words had been harsh because only harshness could drive him away.
Regardless, she wouldn’t lie there without Curtis, and his comfort was well-intentioned. She had been a bit too cruel.
She got up from the bed and went downstairs.
In the living room, Curtis sat on the couch, his dirty shirt discarded and a first-aid kit beside him. He was struggling to treat a wound on his left shoulder.
Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he looked up, then quickly averted his gaze.
Leanne shuffled over and took the saline solution from his hand. “Turn your head.”
Curtis gave her a perplexed look but complied, revealing a cut on the back of his neck.
She cleaned his wound, applied iodine, and placed a sterile bandage. Then she grabbed an ice pack for the bruise on his shoulder, left by a bottle’s shattering impact.
“That’s cold,” Curtis hissed.
“Just bear with it,” Leanne replied.
They fell into silence, the villa wrapped in a quiet hush as the deep night flowed through the windows, bringing a touch of something, a subtle, lingering sorrow that belonged to no one in particular.
Maybe it belonged to the house that had witnessed three years of marriage.
Curtis turned away, and Leanne couldn’t see his expression. After a moment, she heard him ask, “Why don’t you wear the locket I gave you anymore?”
Leanne’s lashes trembled slightly. “Because it’s from you.”
Curtis scoffed, “Because the danger comes from me, right?”
Leanne replied, “I said that to upset you on purpose. Don’t take it to heart.”
“Why would you want to upset me on purpose?” Curtis grunted. “I was comforting you. Are you that ungrateful, needing to push me away to feel better?”
Perhaps the recent brush with danger and the relief of survival allowed them a rare moment of calm conversation like that.
Leanne explained, “I don’t want to depend on you.”
“Why?” he pressed.
“You tell me.” Leanne glanced at the clock, timing when to remove the ice pack to avoid frostbite. “We’re divorced.”
Without warning, Curtis spun around, grasping her hands in his.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he could no longer contain the tumultuous feelings. Lifting
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his deep eyes to hers, he said earnestly, “Anne, let’s get back together. Can we try again?”
Leanne’s hands were sandwiched between his warm palms and the ice pack, a torturous. contrast of hot and cold.
Under Curtis’ intense gaze, she stayed silent for a long while before shaking her head.
“No.” she said.
The heat in Curtis’ eyes gradually cooled as he looked at her detached, calm face.
“The person I hate most in this world is the one who kidnapped and killed my parents. The second is you, Curtis.” Leanne spoke slowly, as if the slower she spoke, the less likely she would awaken years of suppressed grievances. “These three years of marriage to your were painful, even more so than my days alone in the orphanage.”
Curtis’ grip loosened, and his voice was rough. “Do you hate me that much?”
Leanne replied, “I’ve hated you but never disliked you.”
Curtis’ features were handsome, with a roguish charm when he smiled.
Che ched him quietly for a moment.
want to live well, preferably far away from you.”
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When Derek came to the hospital last night, he slipped through the blind spot of the surveillance cameras, unnoticed by anyone. The incident ended as silently as it began.
No one knew about Leanne’s abduction the night before.
She only got a scolding from her boss, Ruben, for being absent from duty.
After leaving Ruben’s office, Leanne walked down the corridor past a few maintenance. guys taking down the old security cameras.
The office buzzed with chatter about the hospital’s plans to upgrade and add many new.
cameras.
Amy quipped, “Heard the new system has full coverage. They want to track every mosquito that buzzes into this place!”
Donna was incredulous. “How did our tight-fisted director suddenly decide to splurge? We’ve been asking him to replace the broken ones for ages, and he acted like it was a
matter
d death.”
s good for us. No more creeping around on night shifts, and Leanne won’t ry about that creep anymore!”
ware that the creep had been dealt with, Amy patted Leanne’s shoulder to offer omfort.
Leanne hummed in agreement, “Coffee, anyone? My treat.”
“Yeah,” Amy beamed. “You’ve treated us a lot lately. Hit the jackpot or something?”
Leanne replied, “Got a little divorce settlement.”
Unable to hide her envy or her curiosity, Sandra sneered, “How much did your ex cough up for you to be throwing money around like this?
“Enough for me to quit my job on a whim,” Leanne said as she opened the patient file from the night before. “And you know rich folk like us tend to be capricious. I might take you along me when I resign, so don’t tick me off.”
Muttering about Leanne’s arrogance, Sandra’s frustration was evident as she slammed a folder onto the desk with a snap.
Amy laughed. “Money sure does speak volumes!”
The year was winding down, and with the bank’s year-end financial closing, paperwork
from various branches stacked up like mountains. Having only several hours of rest each day, Phillip had not returned to the Richardson Manor in days.
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When the busiest times had passed, he managed to find time for a meal at home.
As he drove into the driveway, he was on a phone call. When he turned onto the path, his headlights illuminated a figure on the front steps.
Snowflakes drifted through the air while Curtis stood on the doorstep and was on his third
cigarette.
Seeing Phillip get out of the car, Curtis walked over.
Ending his call, Phillip turned to Curtis and asked, “What are you doing out here in the cold?”
“I’m waiting for you,” Curtis replied, his breath and cigarette smoke mingling in the chilly air, his face showing a trace of fatigue, his eyes deep with unspoken thoughts.
“Waiting for me?” Phillip was surprised. He pocketed his phone and extended his hand for a cigarette. “Something on your mind?”
sed the pack, and Phillip lit one up.
orothers stood side by side, puffing away in the cold wind. Both shared similar features and tall, commanding statures, though their demeanors were quite ent, one composed and restrained, the other nonchalantly aristocratic.
Finally, Curtis spoke up.
“Phillip, you into her?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Leanne.”
Phillip paused, turning to look at him. “You been drinking? What’s with the nonsense?”
“Don’t worry about me. Leanne’s got a thing for you. And you’re my brother. If you love her, I won’t stand in the way,” Curtis said, flicking ash, his casual tone belying his true feelings. But did he not care?
Phillip was shocked and confused. “What are you talking about? Leanne loves me?”
Curtis insisted, “I’m serious. No joke.”
Phillip had been tense up these days, his nerves taut like strained strings, exhausted without proper rest. And freshly returned home for a breather, his dear brother had thrown him for a loop.
While rubbing his temples, Phillip tried to process the information, eventually landing on the most plausible explanation. “Did you two fight again?”
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Curtis couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity, but his laughter was as fleeting and thin as a wisp of smoke, never reaching the frosty depths of his eyes before being scattered by the wind.
He and Leanne were like a modern-day War of the Roses. The word “again” was inevitably part of the sentence whenever someone mentioned them.
“We didn’t fight this time,” he said, taking a drag on his cigarette while watching the snowflakes dance beneath the streetlamp’s glow.
Curtis used to despise winter, which was too cold, bad weather, all hassle, and
inconvenient.
But the best times with Leanne were in that one winter season.
They stayed at the Northwood Mansion, no one to disturb them, nothing to trouble their peace. It felt like the whole world consisted only of each other.
Leanne was like ice wrapped in stone, requiring gentle, patient, and persistent warmth.
Once the stone heated, the ice inside melted into a subtle trickle of water first, then slowly into the sweetest honey.
Curtis had tasted that sweetness.
On Christmas Eve, in front of the hospital, even a man like him, often branded as cold-hearted, had stood in the biting winter snow waiting for her..
Leanne ran
an toward him, cheeks flushed, whether from the heat or the excitement of the
crowd’s cheers. It was hard to tell.
She carried with her the cozy warmth of indoors, flinging herself into his arms, snuggled against him, looking up into his eyes with such focus, such brightness.
For a moment, Curtis believed he had thawed her frozen heart. That belief lasted until the day he returned to grab his passport – he had planned a surprise honeymoon as a means to make it up to her.
As he ascended the stairs, he overheard Jennifer talking to a friend.
“Leanne is a real catch,” the woman praised, “beautiful and well-behaved, and she seems so in love with Curtis. I saw them at the diner, utterly smitten.”
Jennifer was dismissive. “In love? She wanted to marry Phillip not long ago. How much real affection can she have for Curtis?”
The woman was surprised, “Really? I had no idea.”
Jennifer continued, “She’s always had a soft spot for Phillip. If he came home, she’d be
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waiting in the living room. For Curtis, she never bothered. But she must be delusional to think Phillip would marry her.”
Curtis had believed he was the first choice in that marriage until that moment.
He stood in the shadow of the staircase, his heart turning into ice, cold and painfully sharp at the edges.
His mother favored his older brother, willing to sacrifice him. The girl he treasured wanted to marry his brother, not him.
The two women he loved most didn’t love him in return.
What was he then?
He was the lighter end of Jennifer’s scale, easily sacrificed when necessary.
He was Leanne’s fallback option, only considered when his brother wasn’t available.
“Curtis, maybe you should talk to Leanne again. I don’t think she loves me,” Phillip said, “She was drunk that night, crying and asking why you don’t love her.”
Remembering Leanne in his arms, tearfully asking, “Have you ever loved me?” made Curtis’ heart clench, his gaze growing colder by the second.
“She was asking you. She was holding you.”
“She just mistook me for you.” Frowning, Phillip explained.
Curtis smiled, countering, “How do you know she was mistaken but not speaking her truth through the wine?”
Phillip fell silent.
“I think there’s been a lot of misunderstanding between you two.”
“There’s no misunderstanding. Leanne admitted it herself.”
Curtis felt the irritation rising again. Why should he magnanimously step aside? What kind of martyr did he think he was?
But his heart sank again when he recalled Leanne being bullied by Derek.
She didn’t want his protection, but he couldn’t let her go.
“Phillip, I can’t stand the thought of her with someone else. If it’s you, at least I know she’ll be safe. She adores you, and if she could marry you, at least one of her dreams would
come true.”
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Phillip watched Curtis in silence.
Curtis had always been the free spirit of the family, a rebel since childhood.
Despite the family’s wishes for him to steer clear of the family business, he had a gift and found ElitePinnacle Investments and crafted his legend on Wall Street.
He was silver-tongued, so charming that he could talk anyone into or out of anything, and girls flocked to him like bees to honey.
He was a master of the slopes and the seas, an expert in skiing and sailing as if there was nothing he couldn’t learn.
Phillip had never seen him quite like this before.
“I can’t stand the thought of her with someone else. If it’s you, at least I know she’ll be safe, Curtis finally admitted.
What defeated sentiment must the proud Curtis be harboring to utter such words?
Phillip felt a complex swirl of emotions before he replied, “Curtis, have you ever considered how we would get past Mom and Dad? Anne divorcing you to marry me, are you trying to give them a heart attack?”
“Don’t worry about Mom and Dad. I’ll handle them,” Curtis said with his characteristic cocksure brevity, sparking Phillip’s curiosity.
“How are you planning to ‘handle’ them?” Phillip asked.
Curtis took a drag on his cigarette, smirked, and replied, “When the time comes, I’ll tell them I’ve discovered I like men and bring home some pretty boy. What would they prefer, a son-in-law with a beard or Leanne?”
Phillip’s speechlessness was plain as day on his face. “Quit joking around, Curtis. Grandma was hospitalized again recently. Just say it outright if you want to hasten her
death.”
Snuffing his cigarette, Phillip gave Curtis one last look before entering the house, leaving him with one final thought, “You’re too close to the forest to see the trees, Curtis.”
The new shift schedule was out, and Leanne’s night shifts had significantly increased.
Even Amy couldn’t stand it. “Ruben’s really out of line. Isn’t this blatant sabotage? Loading you with patients and scheduling you for the worst shifts.”
Leanne took her schedule to Ruben. “Ruben, this schedule seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?”
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Polishing his glasses, Ruben replied without looking up, “Leanne, you’ve been getting too bold since your man stuck his nose in the hospital issue last time. Do you think the whole department should tiptoe around you because you’ve got connections?”
Leanne was rendered speechless. Was he unfairly accusing her in advance? His audacity had her floored.
“And what have I done exactly?”
Ruben put on his glasses and tapped on the table for emphasis. “Just look at your attitude now. Isn’t it arrogant to question my scheduling?”
“If standing up for fairness is arrogant, so be it,” Leanne retorted, placing the schedule down. “I just hope for a minimum level of fairness. Our department usually does one shift every six days, but I have too many night duties this month, like eight. Can you justify that?”
Ruben had his excuses ready. “Donna has two kids to care for and an ailing parent at home. She needs fewer night shifts to get home early. Isn’t it right to consider a colleague’s difficulties? And Dr. Chase’s wife just got pregnant, with complications. He needs to be at home, and then there’s…”
“I get it with Donna. I often cover her shifts,” Leanne cut through his rhetoric, undistracted. “As for Dr. Chase, we know he doesn’t head home after his shifts. And Sandra is single and unattached, yet she has only three this month, even fewer night shifts than Donna.”
“Sandra’s been having heart troubles recently and needs her rest. Look at you, nitpicking/ not an ounce of generosity in you!” Ruben grew livid, resorting to pulling rank when he couldn’t win the argument. “You can’t even perform your duties properly, skiving off during shifts. I should be docking your performance, yet here you are, always stirring up trouble! This Ophthalmology department is too small for your ego. You fall in line and follow orders, or if you can’t handle it, go and ask the director for a transfer!”
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Leanne’s demeanor was notably more composed than his. “Can we stick to the facts, please?”
“Am I not discussing the facts with you? I’ve got surgery to attend to soon, so quit wasting my time!” Ruben gathered his things and headed for the door. “You’re sorely mistaken if you think your connections give you the right to strut around the department! If you’re so capable, why don’t you go and cry to your man and have him give my position to you? You can be the chief physician!”
After saying that, he yanked the door open and stormed out, leaving a wake of his fury behind.
In the hallway, Curtis leaned casually against the bulletin board, examining the posted. duty roster.
Several young nurses and doctors craned their necks to get a glimpse, whispering among
themselves.
Ruben had seen this big shot just last month and hadn’t forgotten him that quickly.
He hadn’t expected his words to be so prophetic, as if he’d conjured the man by mentioning him.
Leanne was also surprised to see Curtis. She wondered what brought him there if he had no business in the ophthalmology office.
Ruben cleared his throat, his stern face suddenly blossoming into a smile as he
approached Curtis with due respect. “Mr. Richardson, what brings you to our department today?”
“Just passing through.” replied Curtis.
Leanne scoffed internally. What kind of grand boulevard did he stroll to pass by the eye clinic?
Curtis seemed genuinely interested in the duty roster, studying it before tapping on one of the names gently. “Dr. Castillo’s name seems to pop up more often than the others.”
He flashed Ruben a slight, almost sanctimonious smile. “Is it because her name has a
nice ring to it?”
Ruben was stunned.
Leanne was speechless. What game was he playing?
At least he didn’t call her ‘my wife’ or ‘my darling, which made Leanne feel more at ease.
Ruben’s facial muscles twitched, his earlier authoritative aura completely deflated as he feigned an exasperated, “Oh, that roster’s all messed up. That new intern can’t seem to
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get a handle on Excel and made a complete hash of it. Didn’t I ask her to fix it? Why hasn’t the new one been put up yet? Zack! Get her over here, pronto, and change this thing!”
He then moved to tear the flawed schedule off the wall.
“Jeez, these
I
interns! I don’t know what schools are teaching them these days. They can’t manage the simplest tasks.”
Curtis’ smile held a mocking edge. “Understandable. Medical school certainly didn’t teach them how to flip flop like this, did i
Ruben froze.
ind it?”
“Anyway, I’ve got surgery to attend to. Leanne, why don’t you chat with Mr. Richardson?” After that, Ruben hurried off.
Leanne turned to Curtis. “What are you doing here again?”
Curtis slid his hands back into his trouser pockets, giving her a lazy glance. “Is the hospital your personal property? Am I not allowed to visit?”
“You are.” Leanne turned to leave.
Curtis’ hand emerged from his pocket, catching her wrist.
Leanne pulled away. “What do you want now?”
Her disgust made Curtis’ mood sour further. He withdrew his hand, face blank. “Grandma’s been hospitalized. Aren’t you going to check on her?”
Leanne’s expression tensed immediately. “What happened to Mary?”
“Don’t t get all worked up. Grandma had high blood pressure, but it’s under control now.” Curtis said, then added, “You know, probably stressed out because of you.”
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Leanne stepped into the hospital room as Mary had finished her lunch.
Sarah was clearing away the barely touched meal tray with concern. “You can’t keep skipping meals, ma’am. Your body needs strength.”
“I just can’t eat,” Mary sighed from her reclined position on the bed.
As Sarah turned to leave, she saw Leanne, and her face lit up with relief. “Look who’s here, ma’am!”
Leanne called out softly, “Mary.”
For a fleeting moment, joy sparkled in Mary’s eyes, and she sat up eagerly, but then, for some reason, her spirit seemed to deflate. She turned away, lying back down, and pulled the blanket over herself.
She was shutting the world out.
Sarah continued fussing. “Leanne, please, talk some sense into her. She’s hardly eaten a thing these days.”
Leanne approached the bed and teased the lump under the blankets, “What’s wrong? Don’t
see me, heh? I can leave, you know.”
it to
Mary emerged from her cocoon, her face a picture of distress. “How could I not want to see you? I’m just ashamed.”
Leanne assumed it was about her recent divorce from Curtis and picked up the untouched chicken soup. “It’s not really that serious.”
Sarah hastily rearranged a small table. “I’ll go wash some fruit for you two.”
Once Sarah left the room, Leanne sat beside the bed, feeling the warm bowl in her hands.
She spooned the soup and fed it to Mary, who reluctantly took a sip despite her lack of appetite.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work? Who ratted me out?” Mary guessed immediately. “Was it that little rascal again?”
“You can say that again,” Leanne said, noting Mary’s pallor, worse than when she’d feigned illness before. “Didn’t you promise to tell me if something was wrong?”
“I’m so ashamed,” Mary repeated, her head bowed low. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gone through all this.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s not your fault,” Leanne reassured her.
Mary sighed heavily. “It’s all on me.”
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Leanne kept spoon-feeding her, but soon, Mary couldn’t manage another bite. Setting the bowl aside, she took Leanne’s hand in her wrinkled grasp and sighed deeply.
“When I was at death’s door, all I could think about was you. After you went off to college, you never really came back home. I know you never saw the Richardson family as home. The thought of you out there on your own, so alone, it just ate at me.”
your
She reflected on her life. With its share of hardship and joy and facing her mortality, there was just one thing she couldn’t let go of.
“I wasn’t worried about the others, but you… You’ve always been so tender-hearted. I feared you’d be bullied without anyone to stand up for you. I had nightmares of your crying all alone. It’d wake me up in the middle of the night, and I couldn’t get back to sleep. I couldn’t rest in peace without knowing you were well settled.”
“When VectorVista was in trouble, I thought of that harebrained scheme in desperation.”
Leanne was stunned. “You arranged that psychic?”
“Curtis grew up around me and always had a soft spot for teasing you. I saw he had some affection for you, and I figured it’d be a good match if you two could make it. If not, you’d legally get a good sum of money after three years, enough to keep you secure for life…
Tears of remorse began to stream down Mary’s cheeks. “I never intended to throw you into the fire.”
Leanne stared at the slowly cooling bowl of chicken soup, lost in thought.
Mary’s voice was heavy with guilt as she clutched Leanne’s hand. “It’s all my fault…”
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Should Leanne blame her? She wasn’t even sure herself.
If Leanne blamed Mary, she had to acknowledge Mary’s good intentions and desire to shelter and love her.
But if Leanne didn’t blame Mary, maybe Leanne wouldn’t have needed to marry Curtis, compelled by the words of a so-called guru, talking about fate and karmic obstacles.
She had been on the verge of breaking free from the Richardson family, her path with Curtis slowly diverging.
He would’ve continued to be the golden boy, basking in the spotlight, while she, after graduation, would’ve become a humble family doctor, living separate lives in two unrelated worlds.
Over time, the shared childhood under one roof would fade into an insignificant chapter of
their lives.
There might have been a trace of regret. After all, Curtis had dramatically influenced her life, leaving bold marks of love and hate deeply etched into her.
The upside? She wouldn’t have endured this soul-crushing ordeal.
Leanne sat silently for a long time before she dabbed Mary’s tears with a tissue.
“Let it go,” she finally said. “It’s all in the past now.”
“You’re so soft-hearted, child. That’s how people take advantage of you!” Heartbroken, Mary collapsed onto her pillow. “If you won’t punish me, then I guess I’ll just have to do it
. I’ll fast. An old sinner like me doesn’t deserve the pleasures of good food. Whe Sarah? Don’t cook me any nutritious meals anymore. I’ll eat bread and water. There should be no more fried chicken for me. I don’t deserve it. I should just have plain toas
Leanne couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. “You’re not punishing yourself but punishing Sarah. People will accuse her of elder abuse.”
“Then I’ll make a pilgrimage to repent for my sins.”
“Can’t you just stay?” Leanne felt a pang of reluctance to let her go. “Stay with me a little. longer. With you here, nobody dares to bully me.”
Mary’s heart melted, and she reached to embrace Leanne. “Okay, okay. I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you.”
Returning with a bowl of fresh fruit, Sarah saw them talking and quietly stepped back, not wanting to intrude.
After finally soothing the temperamental Mary and tucking her into bed, Leanne stepped outside, closing the door gently behind her.
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Curtis was coming in, carrying a bag from the diner.
Leanne didn’t speak to him, and he asked, “Where are you off to?”
“Work.”
She tried to walk past him, but Curtis caught her arm. “I brought you lunch. Eat first, then
go.”
“I’m not hungry,” Leanne said, trying to pull away.
But Curtis held firm. “Skipping breakfast, missing lunch, and leaving dinner to chance? Are
you planning to starve yourself into a skeleton for a medical exhibit?”
“That’s none of your business,” Leanne snapped back. “I’m not hungry right now.”
“Then, at least keep me company while I eat.”
“I’m a doctor, not a paid escort. You can eat by yourself.”
Half-teasing, half-serious, Curtis retorted, “Which escort service has employees as feisty as you?” He softened his voice again. “Leanne, can’t you do as told for once?”
“And why should I listen to you?” she shot back. “You played dead when we got married, and now you’re playing the ghost of the husband, looking for relevance. Can’t you, for once, stand where you’re supposed to?”
“I am standing where I’m supposed to be. Don’t forget we’re still within the cooling-off period before divorce.” He looked at her with half-lidded eyes, a lazy smile on his lips. “You know what the cooling-off period means, don’t you? Or do you need me to explain it to you again?”
Leanne turned her face away. “No need.”
Undeterred, Curtis pulled her closer, insisting on clarifying, “It means that I, Curtis, am still legally your husband, Leanne. You can even call me ‘dear’ if you like.”
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