Chapter 128
eyes followed him to the butts on the ground. Someone had been lurking th
half an hour.
or nearly
“Why don’t you stay at our place for a few days?” Jeremy suggested, “You’ll feel safer with Selina around.”
But Leanne declined, “It’s too late to burden you now. I have another place I can go, se don’t worry about me.”
Respecting her boundaries, Jeremy didn’t push further.
The Crystal Cove Villas was recently transferred to her name, thanks to Caleb’s legal maneuvering, with Curtis nowhere in sight.
After Jeremy dropped her off at Crystal Cove Villas and helped her with her luggage, Laura’s face lit up, resembling a child who had just spotted their parents returning home, “Ma’am, you’re back. Shall I take your bags up? I’ve kept your bedroom spotless.”
“Are
you hungry? How about I whip up some late-night snacks for you? Maybe some chicken noodle soup or a hearty fish stew?”
Leanne calmed the overzealous Laura, “No need, Laura. I’m not hungry.”
Laura, pausing, glanced at Jeremy, “And you are?”
“I’m a friend of Leanne’s,” Jeremy replied, handing over the bags. Turning to Leanne, he added, “It’s late. Get some rest. You’re safe here. If you need anything, just call me. My phone’s on all night.”
Leanne expressed her gratitude, “I’m sorry for the trouble tonight.”
Jeremy smiled warmly, “Helping you out is no trouble at all. In fact, it makes me happy.”
It felt like a sincere gesture of warmth was extended her way, but Leanne hesitated, afraid it might be too much to handle.
With Laura watching intently, Jeremy cleared his throat, “I gotta go. Goodnight, Leanne.”
After tossing and turning all night, and with the cl headed to her room for a shower before collapsi
Pogromnunt, Leanne finally
to d
The tranquil bedroom was filled with her own con orting scent, and the gentle glow from the nightlight stood guard like a loyal knight, ensuring her safety.
Her childhood trauma from a kidnapping had faded over the years. Gone were the days of easy frights and nightmares. It had been years since she’d experienced the kind of foreboding that had gripped her earlier that day.
In the familiar space, her anxiety slowly dissipated, and Leanne drifted off to sleep.
Suddenly, she awoke to a shadow looming by the bedroom wall.
Terror washed over her, sending a chilling tingle through her scalp that prompted a gasp. She jolted upright, recoiling in her bed until her back abruptly collided with the solid safety of the headboard.
Her heart was practically at a standstill when she realized it was Curtis standing there.
It took a full two seconds for her heart to resume its normal rhythm. She grabbed a pillow and flung it at him.
“Are you out of your mind? Creeping around in the middle of the night, you know how scary that is?.”
The pillow thudded against Curtis, dropping to the floor. He bent down to pick it walked over to her.
up
and
“I didn’t mean to scare you. Just wanted to check on you. I don’t know you had such a hair-trigger,” he said with his usual nonchalance.
Furious, Leanne grabbed the pillow and started whacking him with it.
The pillow smacked Curtis square in the face. He winced and waited for her to draw it back before he opened his eyes, clicking his tongue.
“If
my nose had been fake, you’d have flattened it by now,” he said, rubbing his nose, “Feel better? If not, hit me again.”
Leanne didn’t hesitate to thrash him with the pillow, unleashing her fury as if he were her greatest enemy.
Finally, Curtis snatched the pillow from her grasp, his patience worn thin. “Do you want to kill me?”
Tears welled up in Leanne’s eyes, but she fought them back fiercely. Crying out of fear was just too humiliating.
Curtis paused when he saw the gloss of tears threatening
Despite her usual cool demeanor, Leanne was quite the back in front of others, only showing her tough exterior
It had taken Curtis a long time to persuade her to trust h tears fall freely in front of him.
#sheld
ugh to let those precious
During the first six months of their marriage, Leanne rarely cried After all, Curtis had gone to great lengths to please her, practically offering her his heart and soul.
Now, looking into her misty, angry eyes, Curtis felt a twinge of guilt. His voice softened considerably, “Am I really that frightening?”
He reached out to caress her cheek gently, only to have his hand swatted away.
“Didn’t you move out?” Leanne’s voice was barely above a whisper as she sucked in a breath, holding back her tears and trying to calm her erratic emotions.
Curtis patted the pillow back into shape and returned it to its place. Hands in his pockets, he asked out of the blue, “Who was that guy you brought home last night?”
None of your business.” Her voice was still tinged with the remnants of distress.
leremy?” Curtis stood by the bedside, peering at her in the dim light, “How far have yo vo gotten?”
“Mind your own damn business.” Leanne was now cursing.
Having composed herself, Leanne sat up and decided to confront him, “This is my place now. What gives you the right to barge in here without my permission?”
Curtis replied coolly, “I left something behind.”
“What is it?” Leanne demanded.
Echoing her tone, he retorted, “It’s my stuff. Why should I have to tell you?”
Flustered, Leanne rose from the bed, throwing on a robe, ready to deal with this nuisance once and for all, “Then find it and get out.”