Chapter 18
Leo por
I stood there blankly until she was completely out of sight. It didn’t make sense. The calculations began to add up in my mind. The linle girl 1 had just seen was about the age Leah’s child would be, based on the timeline when the left
I clenched my fists by my side, anger bubbling beneath the surface. Then I turned and headed back to the apartment.
I had come to the mall earlier because they had recently signed a contract with my company, and I was here for a low–key inspection. Never in my wildest imagination would I have expected to bump into that little child–the one who had tripped and fallen in front of me.
I had picked her up and gently asked who her mother was. Surely my ears weren’t deceiving me, even if my eyes had been playing tricks. That little girl called Leah her mother.
Furious, I drove back to the penthouse. Ella was waiting in the living room when I arrived.
“Neil. I was waiting for you to show up,” she said, looking at me with a knowing expression.
I stared at her for a moment, my thoughts clouded with frustration. Then, without a word, I grabbed her hand, pulling her close. My lips found hers in a kiss that seemed to shock us both. Ella’s eyes widened in surprise.
The last time we had kissed was during that night at the hotel. It was shortly after I had last seen Leah. Ella had needed a place to stay, and I had taken her there, trying to be supportive. She had kissed me that night, but I had warned her not to do it again–I was still trying to process my divorce. Ever since then, she had kept her promise, waiting patiently until I was ready
But now, here I was, kissing her again.
Yet, something was missing. Our lips pressed together, but the spark I was supposed to feel wasn’t there. I pulled away.
“What was that about?” she asked, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
I stared at her. I must have suppressed my feelings just because of how distracted I was in this search for Leah, when I didn’t even want her. She had gone and built a life with a whole other man, a child, and everything. Here I was, wasting my time
Ella tilted her head, confused.
“Ella?” I called, straightening my posture.
“Yes?” she said softly.
“Pick out a fancy restaurant for tonight. A good one, for a date,” I instructed, turning away and heading toward my room.
Tonight, I was going to remind myself who I truly wanted.
I was dressed in a suit that Ella had picked out for me. She stood beside me in a black dinner gown, her hair gleaming from the excessive product she had applied, and her makeup heavier than I’d ever seen it. She clung to my arm with excitement.
“This is the best restaurant in LA,” she said with a wide grin. “I’ve been doing my research. You know, this feels just like old times. I’m glad you’re finally coming to your senses. I’ve waited long enough for this.”
Her voice carried enthusiasm as we walked into the restaurant.
The restaurant was a Michelin–starred gem, one only ever reserved for special guests. The staff escorted us to our private
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table, and Ella’s excitement bubbled over
“You know, this is brilliant,” she said, her smile widening “I can’t wait to tell your mom. I know she’ll be thrilled! You still haven’t spoken to her after the move, have you? She was so upset when you packed up and decided to work in the LA branch of the family company. In had to come with you, and I’m glad you let me
I nodded absently, letting her words fill the silence
Then, her chatter came to a halt, and my heart stilled as I caught sight of an image in the reflection of the polished wall
behind us.
Leah
She was laughing, her head tiled back in pure joy. And beside her, smiling just as brightly, was Max. They were on a date.
“Neil, is everything okay? Ella’s voice drew me back to the present.
I realized I was gripping my glass tightly, so tightly that my knuckles had gone white.
I didn’t want to care about Leah or interfere in her life. She had chosen someone else, and I had no reason to concern myself with her anymore. She had moved on. So why shouldn’t P
But my chest burned. Leah was here with Max, and I was here with the woman I had wanted to spend my life with this entire time. And yet. I couldn’t help but think how foolish she was.
My fist clenched, and I closed my eyes tightly. She shouldn’t be here not when her life was still in danger.
Then I saw her get to her feet and begin to walk away from her table.
“Neil, are you even listening to me?” Ella’s voice trembled slightly, her brows furrowing as she searched my face for answers.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I muttered, standing to my feet. My eyes never left Leah as she moved toward the back.
“Okay, but hurry back. Our meal will be here soon.” Ella called after me, her tone a little off as she narrowed her eyes at me.
1 trailed behind Leah, watching as she turned a corner toward the bathroom. Without thinking. I stepped forward and grabbed her hand, causing her to gasp.
“Neil?” she whispered, startled.
I pulled her out of the restaurant, away from the noise and prying eyes.
“What is wrong with you?” I asked her.
I grabbed both her wrists and pinned them to the wall behind us. “What are you doing here?” I demanded.
My God, she looked breathtaking. Her sleeveless leather dress showed off half of her tits and the curve hugging dress. displayed off her hips in ways I had never seen. She was gorgeous and despite myself, I thought I felt a shift in my pants.
“I’m starting to think you’re stalking me,” her lips pulled into an amused smirk. For a moment I was reminded about the situation from the mall. Her child with that man, and I knew I was overstepping my boundaries.
“I should be asking you that,” I snapped back. “Shouldn’t you be hiding away safely when you know your
life is in danger?”
She pulled her hand away from my grip, shoving my chest and creating distance between us. She folded her hands across
her chest.
다.
“We were just on a celebratory date because the suspect was caught,” she said, her voice firm. I watched as she reached into her purse for something.
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I raised one eyebrow, frowning and pocketed my hands. What do you mean?
“He turned himself in to the police, she said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting the butt.
I was caught off guard but my expression remained the same
I
“What?” My confusion deepened.
“It turns out he was an unsatisfied customer. I guess he had a bad experience a few years ago when one of our staff was rude to him. So, he decided to take revenge against the brand.
I narrowed my eyes, processing her words, by tracking down and attempting to kill the owner of the brand.”
I still hadn’t wrapped my head around how Leah had grown to be a huge influence in the fashion industry
“Some people are that crazy.” She shrugged one shoulder, huffing the cigarette smoke in my face.
“But why would he turn himself in? I muttered, more to myself than her.
“He seemed unstable, the police said they would be taking him in for mental evaluation or something,” she took another huff
of the cigaretic
I frowned, pulling it away from between her lips, tossing it to the floor and stomping on it.
“Are you fucking insane?” She raised her voice, reaching into her purse for another. I held her hand, stopping her before she could light it.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s not him.”
“What?” Her brows furrowed.
“That isn’t the man who’s after your life.” I told
