Chapter 161
Devin slouched back in his chair, an arm draped casually over the backrest, one leg crossed over the other. With a cocky grin, he taunted, “So what? You say it’s yours and it magically becomes yours?”
“I ordered it, it’s mine-ever heard of intellectual property rights?” Joy reached for the wooden platter holding the pizza, but Devin slapped his hand down to stop her.
“Intellectual property, my foot! It’s just a pizza, it doesn’t have your name on it!”
Joy retorted with a snort, “Bullshit!”
Devin stood up, his face sour with irritation, “Wanna say that again?”
Leanne, who was walking towards them, tensed, worried that Joy might be at a disadvantage.
Before she could intervene, Devin’s eyes caught sight of her approach, and his belligerent demeanor quickly deflated into a sheepish grin.
Leanne puzzled over when she had become so intimidating.
Then Curtis’ deep voice resonated from behind her, “If you’re that hungry, why don’t you haul yourself back to town and eat your fill?”
“I’m not hungry anymore, okay?” Devin pushed the pizza towards Joy, looking thoroughly disgruntled. “Guess I’m the low man here now.
Without turning back, Leanne said to Joy, “Just take it and go.”
Joy picked up the pizza, triumphantly snorting at Devin, “Eat your heart out!”
As Leanne turned to head back to their table, Curtis caught her wrist.
Feeling her resistance and seeing the frown on her face, he loosened his grip, letting his fingers rest lightly around her wrist.
“Give me five minutes,” he pleaded, his stance humble, “Just to say a few words, okay?”
Leanne pulled her wrist away, “No.”
“Leanne,” Curtis’ eyes followed her retreating figure, “Can’t you trust me just once?”
Leanne paused in her tracks.
The whole diner fell silent after his words, the other patrons sensing the tension, uncertain of what to do next.
Only Joy was bristling with indignation, as if she might slap the pizza right into Curtis’ face.
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Chapter 161
“Trust you? I’d sooner believe I’m Elvis Presley!
“Shut up and eat your pizza,” Curtis brushed past her, striding to catch up with Leanne at
her table.
He didn’t care about the stares from everyone else; he approached Leanne, determined to have his say.
“Whether you believe me or not, at least listen to what I have to say. Let me explain things. to you, then you can decide if you want to trust me.”
Worried Leanne might be at a disadvantage, Joy started towards them, but Devin grabbed her quickly, “Don’t stir the pot.”
Joy, holding the pizza, couldn’t easily break free. “Let go of me, or I swear I’ll kick you!”
Memories of a less than pleasant past flashed through Devin’s mind, darkening his expression, “You’re stubborn as a mule, aren’t you?”
Finally, Leanne looked Curtis in the eye.
He was cloaked in an aura of melancholy, the usually proud and haughty Mr. Curtis now appeared deflated and forlorn.
The onlookers watched, but Leanne disliked being a spectacle. She tried to leave, but Curtis blocked her path by the table.
She pursed her lips, and all the grievances she had held back surged forth with her anger.
“Did I ever deny you a chance to explain? I don’t know who you love, and I don’t know what you’re thinking. You’re hot and cold; yesterday, you were declaring your love, and today, you can’t even spare me a glance. I don’t understand why. No one tells me why.
You were in Emberland for two and a half years, and it’s been almost three months since you’ve been back. A thousand days-isn’t that enough time for an explanation? Have you ever really tried to explain to me?”
Curtis’ breathing was shaky, filled with a tremor he was barely keeping under control. He cupped Leanne’s face in his palms, his eyes filled with remorse and self-reproach.
“I’m sorry, I’m an ass. You can hit me, yell at me, okay?”
Leanne shook off his hand, her gaze icy, filled with a sense of distance.
“Skip the apologies; I’m not forgiving you. And save your explanations; I don’t care anymore.”
She turned on her heel and left the diner, not looking back at Curtis, not caring for whatever expression he wore in the silence that followed.
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