Chapter 348
After a long day of treating patients and handling emergencies, including a severe eye injury that needed immediate attention, it was already dark when Leanne finished her shift at the hospital.
When she stepped outside, she called her friend Joy to apologize for missing their earlier plans. “I’m so sorry. I stood you guys up.”
Their gathering had already wrapped up.
Joy responded with a light-hearted tone. “Don’t worry about it. We know how it is with your boss, always putting everything on your shoulders first. Austin and I just finished our things, too. Haven’t you eaten yet? I can bring you something on my way home.”
Leanne could hear Austin chime in on the other end of the phone. “What’s the rush? We haven’t finished our chat yet. Where are you off to?”
Joy’s voice faded as she moved away from the phone, sounding annoyed. “How on earth did you see my Facebook post?”.
Were they arguing?
At that moment, Leanne knew it wasn’t the best time to ask Joy for favors. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got food at home.”
With Joy tied up in a spat with Austin, the call got cut off all of a sudden..
As Leanne reached her front door, her smartwatch beeped. Puzzled, she pushed open the
door to find the lights blazing inside.
A chair was in the entryway where Curtis sat, legs crossed and arms folded, looking up with a gaze that seemed to be waiting for her arrival.
“What are you doing here?” Leanne asked, stunned by the unexpected scene.
Curtis silenced his watch’s alert and glanced at the time. It’s 9:47 PM.
His eyes briefly dropped to Leanne’s feet before returning to meet her gaze.
“I’m waiting for you.” His demeanor softened a bit as he stood up. “Had anything to eat yet?”
“Not yet,” she replied.
“Let’s go for dinner,” Curtis suggested, picking up his jacket.
“Isn’t it too late? Can’t we eat here?” Leanne was a bit confused.
“We’ll go to a diner,” he said, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Spend the evening with me, okay?”
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09:3
Chapte Chapter 348
Her resistance was faint. “I need to feed the cat first.”
“I’ve already fed him.” T
Without further discussion, Curtis led her out the door.
They arrived at a cozy diner hidden in a quiet alley, which stayed open late for night owls like themselves. The owner, also known as the chef, served them a hearty claw chowder, freshly cooked with a creamy, thick base and tender fish fillets that cooked instantly in the
hot broth.
Leanne was starving and ate eagerly, not noticing Curtis’ unusual quietness. He didn’t touch his food but leaned back in the wooden chair, sipping on aged whiskey.
Her mind wandered to Joy and Austin’s argument. They had just started dating, and Joy, known for her fiery temper, never backed down from a fight. Leanne worried and texted to check in but got no response.
Joy was probably too caught up in her argument to notice her phone.
Earlier in the day, Joy had wanted to irritate Curtis by posting pictures from a spa day with a handsome friend tagged, thinking Curtis wouldn’t see it due to his habit of not checking social media often. Unfortunately, Austin, whom she had blocked, somehow saw the post and sparked a jealous outburst. They had been arguing for two hours, with Austin using his debate skills to corner Joy, who stood her ground stubbornly.
Finally, Curtis broke the silence. “Are you full?”
“Yes,” Leanne nodded.
“Let’s go then.”
Back at the hotel room, when they entered, Curtis swept Leanne off her feet and carried her to the bedroom, playful and assertive.
Though he maintained a calm exterior, Leanne sensed his mood. There was a silent tension, an unspoken upset that hung in the air as he methodically helped her off with her shoes and socks, his movements precise and controlled.
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