By admin On her way to work the next morning, Alyssia ran into Leonard right outside her apartment complex.
Joseph was nowhere to be seen. Only Rocco offered a respectful smile and said, “Ms. Clairmont, the Clairivera Group owes you an explanation regarding that photo… It won’t take up much of your time.”
Not far behind him, a Bentley sat with its windows tightly shut, obscuring the view inside.
But there was no mistaking it–this was Leonard’s car.
Alyssia had messaged Theodore in the first place just to avoid dealing with Leonard.
Little did she expect that, after all the twists and turns, she would still end up having to face him.
But this time, Alyssia didn’t hesitate–she stepped right into the car.
She thought to herself, ‘I’ve let it go. My heart is calm now, so there’s nothing to fear.‘
The moment she got in the car, Alyssia’s gaze grazed over Leonard’s familiar face.
She immediately averted her eyes.
Leonard had lost weight.
In her memory, whether it was Leonard’s slender, handsome teenage years or his young adulthood when his features became more chiseled…
He only appeared tall and lean, almost delicate in build. But Alyssia knew better–beneath those clothes was a powerfully built man, his sculpted muscles and striking lines putting Greek statues to shame.
But with just a fleeting glance, Alyssia could tell Leonard had lost weight–his hollowed cheeks were the most telling sign.
Leonard had always possessed excellent natural bone structure–a prominent nose bridge and jawline–to–chin prop ons that were the very definition of masculine perfection.
At his prime, his godlike features could captivate everyone. But now, after losing weight, his face seemed to have shrunk, his striking features almost too much for his slimmer face to contain.
Those charming eyes he inherited from Beatrice now carried an even cold glint. While his mother’s eyes naturally brimmed with alluring charm, on Leonard, they created an even more striking contrast than before.
Alyssia thought to herself, ‘So many women are captivated by Leonard–what they find most irresistible is his gaze.
‘And I was no exception before.
‘When Leonard looked at me, his gaze was icy, but there was always a faintly seductive tilt at the corners of his eyes. That clash between his aloofness and subtle allure was exactly what gave him that signature aloof–yet–alluring charm–effortlessly making
women’s hearts flutter.
‘Now that he was thinner, his hollowed cheeks and prominent features seemed slightly mismatched, only intensifying that dangerous appeal.‘ Alyssia realized.
There was a morbid allure to his gauntness now—the kind that would surely make even more women fall for him, or awaken theice
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savior complexes…
‘The car accident and gastritis must have taken quite a toll on his body, right?‘ Alyssia thought to herself,
But she knew she no longer had the right to care about him.
No, even if that right were handed to her now, she would refuse it.
Alyssia thought, ‘All that passionate devotion I poured into him–what good did it ever do?”
Leonard’s gaze upon her was even more fleeting than Alyssia’s hurried glance.
He slouched in the back seat, an elbow propped on the window’s edge, his fingers pressed to his lips as he gazed absently out the window.
Leonard explained, “My father sent me to give you an explanation. The Clairivera Group has already dealt with the person who leaked your parents‘ photos.”
“Thank you.” That was all Alyssia said.
An air of emptiness faintly filled the spacious backseat..
A vast distance separated Leonard and Alyssia.
In the past, this distance would have been unbearable for Alyssia–she’d seize every chance to cling to Leonard.
But now, with him sitting so far away, she had no intention of ever closing that gap.
At that moment, Leonard suddenly realized just how little he had to say–his words felt so limited.
To his surprise, apart from the matter of that photo, he couldn’t find a single thing to talk to her about.
‘Why, after over a decade together, had I never once felt awkward or uncomfortable? When did that change?“…..ondered.
No, it wasn’t him who had changed—it was her, Leonard realized.
Leonard suddenly realized that in the past, there had never been any awkward silences between them because Alyssia had always kept their conversations alive.
‘She always had so much to say–chattering about her life, always curious about mine. Sometimes, I even thought she was a bit too talkative.
‘The moment the conversation lulled, she’d instantly come up with a new topic.
‘She used to chirp away like a cheerful little songbird.‘ he thought.
Unless Leonard gave her a look, signaling her to be quiet.
Alyssia would obediently fall silent–but even then, her adoring gaze never stopped following him, not even for a second
Leonard thought, ‘Back then, she always wore white dresses, yet her entire being radiated vibrant colors–glowing like sunshine.
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‘But now…‘
Leonard couldn’t help but steal a glance at her.
Alyssia was wearing a yellow dress with tiny checks today.
Leonard knew she was on a tight budget now–there was no way she could afford any expensive clothes.
Even the shabbiest fabric and the most ill–fitting cut couldn’t conceal her exquisite curves or natural grace. Her waist was still supple, and beneath the hem of her skirt, her long, shapely calves peeked out–perfectly proportioned and impossible to ignore.
Leonard averted his gaze.
Alyssia sat there, quiet as a stranger.
She dressed in radiance, but withheld all her sunshine from him.
“That’s all. I’ll be going now,” Alyssia broke the silence first. “Please thank your father for me again.”
“I’ll drive you to work. It’s on my way,” Leonard said curtly, cutting her off before she could get out of the car.
At Leonard’s words, the driver started the engine.
Alyssia froze for a split second–just long enough to miss her chance to leave. She could only watch helplessly as the scenery outside the window slid away.
“When do you get paid?” Leonard asked, completely out of the blue.
Alyssia blinked in confusion. ‘Wait, what?‘
Leonard tossed a card her way.
“When you get paid, transfer half your paycheck to this account,” he said.
A few seconds passed before Alyssia scoffed, “Since when do you need pocket change?
“Fine,” she cut in before Leonard could respond, gracefully picking up the card. “I’ll transfer it on time. If you’re bold enough to take it, I’m bold enough to send it.”
‘True, those were my words.
‘Last time, outside William’s house, when Leonard blocked my way, I just blurted out something random to get away.
‘Who would’ve thought he’d actually take it seriously?”
‘Forget it,’ Alyssia thought. ‘I’m not going to argue with him.‘
Before Alyssia could slip the card into her bag, the light suddenly dimmed.
A heavy weight forced her deep into the seat–Leonard loomed over her, pinning her down firmly.
“Can’t you talk properly now?” His eyes burned with a dangerous glint, warning signs of impending fury.
Alyssia obediently fell silent.
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Leonard grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Is this how you treat everyone else out there? Alyssia, answer me!”
Alyssia had no choice but to meet his gaze.
Her eyes held a misty clarity–cold and detached–effortlessly stoking Leonard’s fury.
Leonard snapped, “Who are you putting on this ‘wronged–by–the–world‘ act for? Is this how the Riveras raised you?”
Leonard couldn’t understand why he was so furious.
Did he really need her measly money?
He was offering her a way out.
But instead of taking it, she just kicked it away.
Alyssia was pinned helplessly–she couldn’t move at all. All she could do was turn her face away, refusing to meet Leonard’s eyes.
‘People really are something, aren’t they? Alyssia thought to herself. ‘He used to treat me like this, but now that I’m giving him just a taste of his own medicine–not even one percent of what he did–he can’t handle it?‘
Her blatant contempt was a reckless dance on Leonard’s minefield.
His voice dripped with venom. “You sent that text, demanding an explanation from the Clairivera Group as if you had every right! Even though the person involved had contributed to the company, we dismissed them without hesitation for your sake.
“But you, Alyssia–the Rivera family has never wronged you, yet you casually cast aside all the care and protectio you!”
e’ve given
Alyssia finally met his gaze, her eyes calm and distant. “It was never the Riveras who wronged me.”
Everything between her and him had long transcended the boundaries of the Rivera and Clairmont families.
‘I can’t deny the Rivera family has been good to me. But Leonard… he never was.‘ she thought.
Even now that Leonard had dealt with the executive who leaked the photos, she couldn’t muster a shred of gratitude.
Alyssia looked Leonard in the eye and asked calmly, “Where did that executive get those photos from?”