Chapter 270
The living room was eerily quiet, the type of quiet that felt almost desolate.
Leanne made her way up the stairs to the second floor, stepping into the master bedroom. Both the hall light and the floor lamp were on, just like they used to be when she lived here, with the faint sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
It made sense to take a shower after moving stuff around and getting dirty, but his suits. were all still hanging in the closet, not one missing.
There were half-drunk cup of coffee on the dining table, the laptop left open, the jacket thrown over the back of a chair, the freshly changed sheets on the bed…
And then there was the photo frame on the bedside table, capturing their moment at the top of Echo Summit.
All these signs pointed to him being here for reasons beyond just moving things.
But why would he choose to live here alone?
Leanne’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion, unable to piece it all together.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the sound of the shower stopping. By the time she realized she wanted to leave, it was already too late.
The bathroom door suddenly swung open, and Curtis stepped out, loosely wrapped in a towel.
Perhaps because he was alone, the towel was slung haphazardly around his waist, his hair damp and messy, with a few wet strands hanging over his forehead.
Gone was the usual formal attire, replaced by a physique that was lean and muscular, exuding a sense of strength that was just right,
Their eyes met unexpectedly, both of them frozen in place.
Curtis settled his gaze on her face, stirring ripples in the still waters of his heart.
In the soft light of the bedroom, he said, “Didn’t expect you to come by at this time. Should you close your eyes to give me a moment to disappear?”
Leanne was taken aback by his words.
He remembered what she said.
“I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Turning, she walked out of the room and sat on the living room couch, clutching a pillow while waiting. Soon, Curtis’ lazy footsteps descended the stairs.
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Chapter 270
He had changed into casual home wear, his hair still damp, giving him a relaxed and lethargic appearance that somehow made him seem less distant.
He brought over two glasses of water, one warm and one cold, placing the warm one in front of Leanne and asking, “Is it okay if I stand in front of you, or would you prefer I stand behind?”
Leanne was slightly amused by his comment. How long have you been staying here?”
Curtis took a sip of water before answering, “Forty-one days.”
He was always on point with the details. Leanne had to rack her brain to match this up with their shared history.
This means he relocated here right after he dropped by her place that day.
“Why?” she asked.
His expression, usually serene, now held a trace of complexity. He looked deeply at her with a slight smile on his lips. “Wanted to experience what it was like for you back then.”
Living alone in this house, he was waiting for a lover who never returns.
Just forty days, and he already found it unbearable.
She had waited for him for over nine hundred days.
The endless and hopeless waiting would drive even the strongest minds into despair, let
alone someone as sensitive as her.
Leanne turned away, her fingers idly playing with the corner of the pillow.
After a moment, she faced him again. “You don’t have to torture yourself like this. No. matter how much you try to play the pity card, won’t feel sorry for you.”
“I didn’t intend for you to find out.” He used to hide the bedside photo during the day, fearing she might suddenly come back and discover it.
Curtis said, “This was what I owed the Leanne of the past. It has nothing to do with you
now.”
He always had his justifications, and Leanne couldn’t argue with that. “The house is already being eyed by a buyer. It will be sold soon. You should move out.”
He wanted to ask her, “Do you really have the courage to sell it?”
But he didn’t.
She didn’t enjoy her time here. What was there to hold onto?
Leaning back, he sighed deeply, suddenly regretting, “If I knew, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”
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Chapter 270
He didn’t want to let go.
Initially, he wanted to leave the house to her because everything in it was built for her. He never expected she would sell it.
Leanne glanced up from her phone. “You insisted on giving it. If you’re that attached, you can buy it back from me. I’d prioritize you as the buyer.”
Curtis scoffed lightly. “As if I have nothing better to do, contributing to the sluggish real estate market.”
Leanne stood up, preparing to leave.
“Are you leaving already?” Curtis’ voice was thick with unspoken words.
It had been so long since they had a face-to-face conversation when both were sober, and he greedily wished for more time.
“The car’s here,” Leanne stated.
Curtis put down his glass, hands in his pockets, trailing behind her lazily.
As Leanne reached the door, about to step out, he casually mentioned, “Leanne, it’s snowing.”
She turned, her look clearly questioning his sanity, “Are you serious?”
She had indeed forgotten.
The unspeakable regret stirred in Curtis like lemon juice, knowing she only softened towards him when drunk, whimsically demanding snowmen.
With a cryptic smile, he philosophized, “Be careful when you’re scolding me in the future. It might seem like you’re scolding me, but you could be scolding yourself.”
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