Leo sat down on a nearby wooden bench in the flower garden, with blooming white roses behind him. After taking in the news, he couldn’t believe it. With the world spinning under his feet, he was grateful for the small bench. Everything around him seemed non-existent, including the sound of the birds chirping in the trees and the faint sound of people laughing inside the mansion. His mind revolved around what Angel had told him. He seemed to be lost in that world for a while before he felt a hand on his shoulder that brought him back to reality.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDDgiqkRdx
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiKG0io5wr
Eric looked down at Leo with a sad smile on his face. He could only imagine how Leo felt. Who could’ve thought a day like this would ever occur? No one did. What’s even worse was that Carly and Zac were together, getting along like they were just friends. The thought of them made Leo feel so confused and a little angry.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKttBnXNTw
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH98qXMPfah
“Hey, are you okay?” Eric asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ4IBnereg
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUBdXqJiql
“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Leo. He brushed off Eric’s hand on his shoulder.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVvZARjhzg
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHwtD6KXzP
“This is surprising for me too, Leo.” Trying to find the right words to say proved to be difficult for Eric. “I’m not going to lie, I don’t know how you feel. But you've got to understand that all that was in the past.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJmCRB2nTH
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGx3pzGCIE
Leo took a deep breath. “Honestly, I wish I didn’t know.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKFtQFZcZg
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztqXZWLJM5
“You were going to find out in one way or another,” said Angel, who stood a few feet away from them.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsytqms54pA
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo5vpU1gLk
Leo looked at Angel, who stood with a serious look on her face. He couldn’t help but wonder why she had to tell him. He wished he had never followed her into the garden. Later on, he started to wish he had never known her at all.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV4Anuubla
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz0WGQX4dd
“Well, if you ask me, I was better off in the dark,” said Leo.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTynxKmbmiB
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKziIU30JQ7
“Why am I not surprised?” Angel asked as she folded her arms. “You don’t see the big picture, do you?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNypMDaNfV1
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ967TWok6U4
“No, I don’t.” Leo stood up from the bench to face her. “Please, enlighten me.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPrlvEgQJb
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc43iMbuaVv
“Moving forward, we’re likely to encounter these incidences. Zac was reasonable enough to agree to keep Carly’s secret a secret. What if we happen to encounter someone who won’t feel the same way?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WoYEWnxGz
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwSRkX1A46
“Nothing like this is ever going to happen again.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEyjC5C3DP
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpNNKGURxM
“Stop being so ignorant, Leo.” Angel looked at him in disbelief. “New York might be a big city, but sooner rather than later, she might meet another one of her clients or someone who might have been associated with her at that club. The big question is how to deal with it.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxLBWbm4Om
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pIWSG81Ew
Leo shook his head. “You’re being delusional, Angel. Even if a former client were to meet Carly out in the street, they would ignore her. Yeah, maybe they might approach her, but she could easily lie that they got the wrong person and move on.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7joFFaGFR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RhDayrFXO
“Easier said than done,” said Angel. “We can’t ignore the fact that it won’t happen.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXEQHm7CXE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzh6BK1X1T
Leo shook his head. “So what if it does?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrJI6T8mta
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNEmWmlNFo
“You sound like you don’t care.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFu4xZmFX0
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPq2JbZ3uN
“I do care. For goodness’ sake, I do care, and I’ll do all I can to protect her.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0tkwcOH0r
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9eGjqoKCl
Angel and Leo looked at each other in silence, the tension in the air growing ever tighter. Angel broke contact first, as she looked the other way to catch a few deep breaths.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSteZXvbZE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVuz8OrmBc
“I don’t want anyone ever finding out about Carly,” she said. “Not now, at least. But I’m afraid, in one way or another, it will come out.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PQMVZ945o
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNNFMcOEY1
Leo couldn’t believe his ears. “What are you saying?” he asked. He turned to look at Eric, looking shocked before turning back to look at her. “Are you trying to say that you would want the truth to come out? Is that it?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9vk7iyxqX
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe4ymIomek
Angel sighed and, at the same time, closed her eyes before turning to look at Leo. “No,” she replied. “If anything, I don’t want the truth to come out, for it might expose our other lies. When it does come out, what are we going to do about it?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B7kMZ4pvU
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWhgUTXNUx
“Nothing,” said Leo. “Because nothing will happen, and no one will find out.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjzOkbwBb1
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbUdv3EJ5J
“Well, we all never thought that Carly would one day meet Zac, who happened to be a client of hers,” said Eric. “I agree with Angel on this one. One day, Carly might be exposed, and it will compromise all of us.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTqZy2hSNR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmckgoJ02a
“As usual, you agree with her,” said Leo, looking at Eric.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn1PTyOBOn
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo9tuuIr4N
“It’s the way life is,” said Eric. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and all this mess goes with us to our graves. However, we don’t know what the future holds. We need to think of something, or else all of this—your relationship with Carly, especially—falls apart.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbtNnCMeIG
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUneuzKSaO
Leo looked at his cousin. He rubbed the side of his face with his hand and groaned in frustration. “I really wish you never told us, Angel,” he said, his eyes looking to the ground.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAEB00Pds8
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpBhHaNmHm
“Trust me, I wish this day never happened,” said Angel.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDonajAwSyt
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCtisz32Bf
“It was inevitable from the start,” said Eric. “We’re friends with the McAlisters after all. At some point, Carly and Zac were bound to meet.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhalhO2wBx
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaupHcDFC5
Leo slowly gave a nod of his head, agreeing with Eric. He started to wonder how things had gotten to this point so suddenly. Well, he knew from the start that being in a relationship with Carly was bound to have some dire consequences. However, it showed its ugly head at the worst possible time.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomTVxKq8SB
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSXoswqJcl
"Does Zac know that Carly and I are...?" Leo started to ask, but for a moment, he couldn't finish his sentence. It was almost as if he had choked on his words.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBkfa4a85O
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEj6wPQYEH
"No," Angel replied. "I would rather he knows about it when you bring it out in the open yourselves. The fewer people know about your relationship, the better."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CJt3xmstH
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TigwT91cw
Leo scoffed. "You know, I'm still not happy that you told me about Zac and Carly."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pX7aaDyuX
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLUx0odE7w
"And if she started to act funny whenever Zac was around, wouldn't you be suspicious?" Angel raised an eyebrow at him. "At this point, we're all involved, and this is the time to look out for each other. You can think cruelly of me, since I'm already used to it, but I care about what happens to my sister. Besides, all that happened in the past. So, I expect that you and Eric don't give Zac the cold shoulder."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwIoBPxKxE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEv6BGS3w6
"Hey, you should be telling him, not me," said Eric.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiOpu6XSmj
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZZ8ZiHMqI
"I know," said Angel, giving Eric a smile. "But I'm warning you just the same."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW5QO6TTSH
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl31KmR6Irb
"I'm guessing that's why those two are pretending to get along?" Leo asked, giving Angel a quizzical look.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0cmGdyyHR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV1r4s7ijm
"Carly never liked the idea of trusting Zac at first. I know you feel the same, but you don't have much of a choice."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWj635LRz3
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiLUnuDl2c
Leo hated that Angel was right, and he looked away angrily. Angel sighed, and that made Leo turn to look at her. This time around, the serious demeanor she had had fell away, and there remained a sad look on her face.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMSGPRwdRt
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILKQjQpTKE
"Maybe you need some time alone to think things over," she said. "I'll be inside."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubZGjAhtWj
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyB5s76qDi
Angel started to make her way out of the flower garden and back to the mansion. Leo watched her go, and the picture of her facial expression, engraved in his mind. He didn't know why, but he felt a little remorseful and thought he shouldn't have been so hard on her.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaoRAeZWyi
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP16BhXG2F
Eric came to stand beside him, also watching Angel. "Do you need me around?" he asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN02MXrk1H
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKk758IgXg
"No," said Leo. He sighed as he turned his face upward, looking up at the clear blue sky. "I need to think."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjoImta2LW
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkqZSqrNLg
Eric understood as he took a step forward, but then he stopped to say, "I know you might think Angel is against you, but just know she's looking out for her sister. In a way, she's looking out for you too."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHjshYlbBo
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK6pyD2voP
Leo brought his head back down to look at his cousin, but Eric had already started to walk away from him. He turned toward the bench he had sat on a little while ago, and he backed up a bit to sit back down. As he looked around the lovely flower garden, he couldn't help but wonder why Angel and Eric were right about everything.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cUiFt0RTU
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9AkNw5z5Y
When Angel stepped back into the mansion, she was making a beeline to the ballroom when she heard the sound of a familiar voice in the foyer. She stopped to look around, and that was when she saw Mrs. McAlister standing alongside Mrs. McDonell and Kim. They had stopped to greet some people in the foyer. Angel couldn't help but hear the people around them were complimenting on how beautiful Kim looked. For Angel, Kim being here spelled trouble. Not when Leo was upset with the whole Carly and Zac issue.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhBlk3g9Zy
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjYMaGePo5
She started to turn around to make her way back outside when she saw Eric approaching her.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lY9uAiK3F
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nlB5sOx7P
"Is Leo still outside?" Angel asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7zonx9lZa
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWNMbgkTas
"Yeah, he didn't need me," said Eric. "Why?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8COzfg0sJv
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjYVc8ezm5
"Kim's here."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKJOB4lrGs
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6yGOrlT5d
Angel turned in the direction where she saw Kim, and Eric followed her eyes. He gulped immediately when he saw her.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAPjzOGG7i
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbBXgGADGt
"Should we warn Leo?" Eric asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzMv5U8uXl
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfDCE8fAhI
"For now, no one apart from us knows where he is," said Angel. "If any of us go out and warn him, they can easily spot us, and we would lead them straight to him."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32YHxltO5P
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOclvd2VEQ
“Good thinking. We better tell Zac and Carly, don’t you think?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdOLDvsQiU
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhelyOE8UC6
Angel gave a nod of her head. She turned to see if either Kim or Mrs. McDonell had seen her and Eric. They were still talking with the guests. Angel motioned to Eric to follow her into the ballroom. The place was now lively with guests. Many of Mrs. Harris’ old friends had settled on the chairs, ready for the game, but catching up with each other nonetheless. Angel saw Amanda, June, and Mrs. Harris at one end of the room, talking and laughing. She turned to the bar and found many people there, getting their drinks. There seemed to be no sign of Zac or Carly anywhere.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGW9bwZCyt
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMww5j3QLfR
“They must have walked out to the patio outside,” said Eric, after noticing the look on Angel’s face.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTWSLREynR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXZuA5aqrT
The two of them stepped out of the ballroom, and luckily enough, they found Zac and Carly talking to a man who seemed to be in his mid-40s. Carly noticed Angel and Eric coming over to them, and she addressed the man in front of her.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunP2N44Z2F
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbZCJMFy3f
“Ah, the lady coming here is my older sister,” said Carly. “Angel, we were just talking to Mr. McAlister about you.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUh27HEvSY
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcvLgnpyb2
Angel didn’t expect to be a subject of a conversation. What stunned her was the fact that the man Carly and Zac happened to be talking to was Mr. McAlister. She turned to look at him. Just like his son, he also wore casual clothing, a simple green t-shirt and cargo pants. No one would think that he was the owner of such a beautiful mansion.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3IkYF9fiu
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXiKldE6rh
“Nice to meet you, Mr. McAlister,” said Angel, smiling at him.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvTtlYgSff
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja0bFPjOHc
“A pleasure,” said Mr. McAlister, bowing his head at Angel. His blue eyes were similarly deep as his son’s. “I’ve heard so much about you from my mother-in-law.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL81EamDDd
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw5Dk2u8rb
“I don’t think she knows me very well,” said Angel, feeling rather embarrassed by his comment. “But it’s nice to know she’s been saying nice things about me.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0bkH0VEgR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50GQkBTWJc
Mr. McAlister went on to greet Eric, who greeted him back. Angel was about to excuse herself, when Mr. McAlister saw his friends seated around one of the garden tables and decided to join them. After he left them, Carly and Zac looked at both Angel and Eric with slightly worried looks on their faces.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjoNZYvnZZ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6hAB0HDFZ
“How did Leo take it?” Carly asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zWrBJ8mzR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd649ZbTqa4
“Not well,” said Eric. “But he’ll get over it. We’ve got bigger problems to deal with.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bPUu0GJnX
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nARhDAfom
“What?” Zac asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lrjj4BY9d
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFtd0L1hqe
“Kim is here,” Angel answered, her eyes falling on Carly. Carly’s eyes widened with surprise.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6kpq3Sh3g
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkPCtGsyVv
“So what if Kim is here?” Zac asked, looking confused. He looked at Eric and Angel, and after reading their faces, he understood. “There’s still bad blood between those two?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN907R7lXJ6
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoJdRfGkKN
“Not exactly,” said Eric. “You can say there’s a little tension. Trust me, with the way Leo is right now, seeing Kim might spark a fire. So if she asks where Leo is, tell her you have no idea.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNui8qjysLi
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXb2AsKmXU
“Where is he anyway?” Carly asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzB3AjeaOy
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvikmoNVRg
“We left him in the garden alone,” Eric answered.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufKVeGpx7v
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE3W3Goj0a
“Okay, we’ll keep that in mind,” said Zac. “But what if they do meet each other?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhoe5UTgIn
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9TDgc3EzK
“By then, Leo will have cooled down, hopefully. I just hope he’ll be able to keep it together, not after what happened last time.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DvHt1UW3S
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlWaFEm8Pk
Carly and Angel looked at Eric, and they both knew what he meant. The night they had dinner with the Chos. Leo and Angel had told both Eric and Carly that Kim had been there. Carly felt relieved that she and Leo didn’t get a chance to be alone together. That would’ve been the day Kim found out about the two of them, and who knows what would unfold afterwards? Zac, who noticed the look, knew he wasn’t meant to butt in and ask.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrzxtFaW5R
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuhvY8WwdO
“Okay, if anyone asks, we don’t know where he is,” said Zac. He looked down at his left wrist to check the time. “The game is supposed to start in fifteen minutes. Angel, you better be ready.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqsrPD93SR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6qvwOgV7H
Angel gave a nod, and Zac made his way back into the ballroom. Eric said he needed another drink and asked the two women if they would need any. Angel hadn’t had the luxury of getting anything to drink, considering that she was welcoming the guests. She told Eric that she would have fruit juice instead. Carly asked for a dry martini. They settled at a nearby table while Eric went to fetch their drinks.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFyFAA6ekT
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSENabAxo9P
“How did he really take it?” Carly asked, looking at her sister.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZeWUhBJgR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb9dXgE84D
“You know Leo,” said Angel as she watched the people in front of her and those visible inside the ballroom through the open door and windows. “He has a temper. Of course, he didn't take it lightly.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ740taO6x5p
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VWFxQo0Xf
Carly was silent as she played around with her fingers on her lap. “I bet that’s why he wanted to be alone in the garden.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx14ga7yBP
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiGGnHTXek
“He’s stubborn, but he knows what he has to do. It’s just going to be hard for him to accept it. What happened will most likely happen again. We just have to know what to do when it does.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeijnWWHxpe
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I6uc7rEJj
“I’m not proud of what I’ve done.” Carly looked up at the sky. “I sometimes wish things could’ve been more different.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKswVoxuaO8
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhg85kzvT7
“Most people will criticize your past,” said Angel as she turned to look at her sister. “Only a few will understand that it’s the future and the present that matter. If you change now for the better, then well and good. If not, you’ll give them a platform to criticize you more.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwXtWBIuY4
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8314i7AEE0
Carly swallowed upon hearing those words. How she wished Angel had never told her that. Those words reminded Carly of her mother.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9o8lRHsxI
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVIBx2GSla
“And if it does happen again, what then?” Carly asked, looking at Angel.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBDrTuAGHk
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvpKFEe7y6
“Who knows? Maybe it won’t be as complicated as it was with Zac. However, there will always be difficult people. Those are the ones we should be careful around.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddLMXkDhWp
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtDgzCVOZc
Apparently, Carly was involved with such people, and she couldn’t help but feel guilty about it. She continued to watch the people enjoying themselves, trying to rub it off. When Eric came by with their drinks on a tray, she felt relieved.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYom0HMfaY
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM45855Mrs
“Kim is in the ballroom right now,” he told the two sisters as he served them. “Just by the way she’s looking around, she must definitely be looking for any one of us or Leo.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8k4qA0Qyg
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdG5QizKp3
“This is bad,” said Angel as she took her glass of mango juice. “I hope Leo doesn’t blow up in her face about that night. I wonder why Mrs. McDonell can’t accept that Leo doesn’t need Kim in his life. She’s trying to fix a relationship that will never mend.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPwZXAbiUH
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox23M7QmWg
“Oh, you know how she is,” said Eric as he sat beside Angel. “She’s stubborn.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwE6vfi6TG
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpmS75Wyad
Carly chuckled. “I see where Leo gets that from,” she said.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGOOLb7kpl
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xoo9bCyb7
“Still. The more she tries to fix things, the more she makes them worse,” said Angel. She took a sip of her juice and later added, “Kim is the worst one of them all. She really can’t let Leo go.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWahNYFqJi
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUp1FtpFTr
Angel remembered the conversation she had with Kim not too long ago. She could only hope Kim was looking for Leo to apologize for what she did at the hotel. If not, then there’s nothing much Angel could do.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGRo2kvtd0
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeu70iQFVt
The three continued to have their drinks in silence when Zac appeared by the doorway of the ballroom. He beckoned Angel. The game was about to start. She quickly finished her juice and started to make her way inside. Carly and Eric remained at the table after telling Angel that they would come inside to help with the elderly if there was any need for it.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT52nVuyc3
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpe479KWlz
When Angel got to the door, she asked Zac if he had seen Leo anywhere nearby.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRPUGi1iJW
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9afFB9mY7
“No,” he replied. “I bet he’s still in the garden. But I did meet Kim, though. She had asked for him.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO6HsNpTP0
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcZj7Wzfa9
Angel looked around, hoping not to bump into Kim as well. She would eventually. Zac mentioned that they should go to their designated seats at the other end of the room. They made their way to the table, facing the people already settled to play the game. Apparently, even children who were old enough to play also settled among the old folk.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPZWjVpMyr
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8uJkSt7wp
Mrs. McAlister stood beside the table with the microphone in hand. She obviously wanted to say a few words before the game began. Looking elegant in white, Mrs. McAlister smiled at the guests before her. She began talking in the microphone to get people’s attention. After the room settled, she began first by greeting everyone and thanking them for appearing for the event. She introduced her son and Angel as the people in charge of the game. She wished everyone all the best and for the best person to win. Also adding that there were prizes for the winners. She handed the mic back to her son, who was to call out the letters and numbers on the bingo balls Angel picked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYdtjqB6sM
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFbTFoS3DG
While the bingo game was underway, Leo, who was still in the flower garden, realized that he had stayed there for too long. It was best for him to go back inside the mansion. He had already made up his mind. As much as he didn’t want to go through with it, he saw no other option.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ulh3ICNVT
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44qabKYYIf
He stood up from the bench and made his way out of the flower garden. As soon as he got back inside, he noticed there weren’t many people in the hallway. The sound of Zac speaking through the mic echoed in the hall outside the ballroom. The game must have started, he thought to himself.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRbrnIEBn7
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQpGptt2WS
When he entered the ballroom, he found many of the elderly and a few children already settled for the game and holding up their bingo markers. He spotted Eric across the room, slowly walking around those who were playing the game in case anyone needed anything. His eyes turned to the far end of the ballroom, where Angel and Zac sat. A few people stood around the walls of the room, silently watching the game. A good number of guests had gone outside to socialize more loudly and merrily.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUONz6iyk0m
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cu9Rl7yPw
When he looked to his left, he saw Carly, who, just like Eric, slowly walked around the room. She looked up and saw Leo. That made her stop in her tracks as she studied his face. For a moment, she gave a grim look, and it only took Leo’s smile to change it. She sighed in relief and smiled back at him. That was a sign that all is forgiven, and he was willing to move on.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUCFdaqxl3
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjCZmd5yWG
The lovebirds’ moment disappeared abruptly when someone appeared beside Leo. The smell of the person’s perfume made Leo aware of their presence. He turned to look. Standing there, looking gorgeous in her pink dress was Kim.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15GLXvZIZa
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosqs1YJHK1
“Hi, Leo, I was looking for you,” said Kim.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnpGFl2jXV
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWmbXxqzYV
A few elderly women seated nearby turned their heads to hush at Kim, telling her to be quiet. That drew everyone’s attention to Kim and Leo. Angel, who was rolling the bingo ball container, saw Kim standing beside Leo, and a grim look fell on her face. Eric, on the other side, could only watch and hope that Leo wouldn’t explode. Carly stood there helplessly. The last thing she needed was to come in between them. That would only make things worse. So, she quickly looked away, turning her attention to the children playing the game.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XBG7JsYBs
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDqGvFwj7f
“Can we talk outside?” Kim whispered to Leo.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9prP8X4yz8
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UAkbk1EK8
Before Leo could refuse, Kim wrapped her hand around his arm and slowly started to drag her with him, leading him back the way he came. Eric, who saw the whole thing, looked over at Carly, hoping that she didn’t see that. Sadly, he found her turning her head with her lips set in a straight line and her eyes staring blankly elsewhere. Angel had also seen what had happened, but she had already picked out a ball that she showed to Zac. She didn’t want to look out of focus. When she turned to Carly, she couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceucbE9bUg
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnc3w8Hk9p
When Leo and Kim stepped out of the ballroom and into the hall, Leo brushed aside Kim’s hand around his arm and took a few steps before turning to look at her. Kim looked at Leo with a smile on her face.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzClHYpgEno
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH93u5z6ztN
“You’re a hard man to find,” said Kim. “I was looking for you, and I thought I would find Eric and ask him where to find you. But it wasn’t easy to find him either.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnfNZNtgEO
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6j7Jc1pnp
“What is it you want, Kim?” Leo asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42TjZY2qLC
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebGuNLlZw4
Kim opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. It took her a few seconds to gather herself. “I want to apologize,” she said. “About what happened the last time we saw each other.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPu8FpvSzD
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j8dBLUllh
Leo raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t like what you did,” he said. He was upset, but he sounded calm. “What were you expecting to see by following me like that?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxKLRjp552
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PiXjSeRAw
“I’ll be honest with you,” said Kim. “I wanted to see your new lover.” Her eyes fell to the floor, feeling a little ashamed for saying it.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMIA4T90MQ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWCnRYDHyG
“I bet you were disappointed when I caught you.” Leo put his hands in the pocket of his trousers. “You didn’t look surprised like we met by accident. You and Trina looked guilty, and I knew you had been following me. Angel, in the end, told me you had been in the area for quite some time.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWSSNhcGwG
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHJSj1fQrG
“Yeah, I know, and I feel so stupid for doing that.” Kim looked up at Leo. “That’s why I’m asking you to forgive me.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcZlyr9vDH
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw1GCrlRaI
Leo looked at Kim, wondering how to answer that. He was still upset with her after her little stunt, but if he didn’t want to ever bring up this issue again, he had to do one of the things he despised to do.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzSbpUSMAm
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMDkfGJjUb
He sighed. “I forgive you,” he said. Kim’s eyes brightened up with delight when she heard those words. A smile even appeared across her face. “But don’t take it the wrong way here. Just because I forgive you doesn’t mean this brings us closer.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObiol5XH8x
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvt05kdRmg
“I know,” she said, her cheeks starting to blush. “By forgiving me, this is a sign that you still have a caring heart.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxobLCJfaU
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqbJwE7A4r
“I’m just doing this because I don’t want to ever bring up this matter again. If I may ask, what were you going to do if my lover happened to be around that day?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCj2wzG7HVP
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJEsgnm1HN
Kim looked taken aback by that question. The smile on her face slowly started to disappear. This was the last thing she needed right now.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2asCsMhuq
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJrsHuZFr2
“Why are you asking me that question?” Kim asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY6nvRqUeB
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95NIeUOm8z
Leo took some time to answer. “Because I know you,” he said. “You’re impulsive, and I know you’ve been dying to know who my lover is. Who knows what you would’ve done if you did? I bet it would be something unpleasant.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Z8IVgEvf
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLPkqqardn
Kim shook her head. “That’s not true,” she said. “I would never do that.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L9BWzHMtR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBe00eZjQE
Leo scoffed. “Anyway, I’m not going to argue with you there when you know I’m right. You shouldn’t come after me, begging for my attention. I have a life to live, and so do you.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y7dESzfzN
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zxp3QnN9E
A voice of a woman shouting “bingo, bingo” rang loudly into the hall. What Leo was grateful about these games was that it didn't take too much time. They were obviously going to go for another round of bingo.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR8Zw30hcn
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna4cTf1ufC
Leo turned to look at Kim, who was looking back at him. There was a look of hurt in her eyes, and sadly, there was nothing that Leo could do about it.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggWQMYig5i
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKS0XN0ew6
“I better be going back in there,” said Leo. “I’ll see you around.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrC4u2HagP
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuhVj1mjiy
Just as Leo was about to take a step towards the door leading to the ballroom, Kim blocked his way, standing in front of him. She looked set on not moving aside.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IHKbtJsF3
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2GSJj4Zxe
“Kim, please move,” said Leo.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90HfEdEESl
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2YpTb2Mit
“I’m not going to end this conversation like this,” she said.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6ElA1yeGu
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iWhgt8s2C
“What else is there to say?” Leo asked as he shrugged his shoulders.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gpapNq7wE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95hhPHrl0Y
“Don’t you care about me at all? Don’t you think I've got the right to know who she is that stole your heart from me?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgT8Jaqoqf
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK6QJwKwTm
“Kim, your voice is getting a little too loud. And no. I don’t think you’re ready to know who it is. Not with that attitude.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTNUndlffr
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03hapHuL8c
“Why are you protecting her? It’s not like I’m going to do anything.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zs3cJO6DM
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08KTSVQKFs
“Says the person who isn’t over our breakup. I can’t tell you who she is until I’m sure you can handle moving on. Right now, I clearly see that you can’t.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIRX4JbwpJ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3RVz9S7OZ
The door to the ballroom that stood ajar opened up a little, and a young man stepped out. He walked past Leo and Kim. They remained silent until he was out of sight.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw9yqm8Fy0
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyofzdKlqk
“I promise, Leo, I won’t do anything rash,” said Kim.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mLtlsY3Cp
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBKtQbGD5n
“No,” said Leo. He was firm with his response, and Kim could clearly see that her whimpers weren’t going to work on him. “Not now, Kim. Not like this.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLBwNQk99Y
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8AWIPbzgK
Before Kim could think of another way to persuade him, Eric appeared at the door. Leo could never have felt too relieved to see anyone.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn80K7jkv5p
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqTqHGx281
“Leo, I need some assistance over here,” said Eric. Kim turned around to look at him. “We need to clear out some chips on the papers for the next round, and there are a few people who have trouble getting them off since they are old. You could come help too, Kim, if you want.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vRhlrGywy
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB2DALGOce
“I’ll be right there,” said Leo. He turned to look at Kim, hoping to say a few words to her, but nothing came to mind. She looked at Eric with an angry frown, upset that he had to interrupt them. He walked past her and joined Eric inside the ballroom.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVZvtzaSn8
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDlG9GTf34
“Thanks for that,” said Leo when he and Eric approached the tables.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm82IsonCV
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5OyKfG0QH
“I figured you needed the help,” said Eric. “And we really do need your help with those chips.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVozJsHtoX
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdPe2RQ2Bv
“Never have I felt relieved to help out with anything.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIZ5me2X47
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeA4rUW5Al
Leo heard footsteps behind him, and he saw Kim enter the ballroom. She was making her way to the patio, where the lively people were. As she passed, she gave Leo a side-ways glance. Judging by the look, Leo could tell that she was upset.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AXzzU7YyF
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMr9uXWDZH
Three rounds of bingo were played, with three different winners. Amanda happened to be one of them, for she won the last round. Her grandsons, Angel and Carly, went to congratulate her. Amanda couldn’t help but express how excited she was over winning the game and that it was her first time.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0KF9dZ2kF
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TCBkjpzjc
Mrs. McAlister and Mrs. Harris presented prizes to those who won. Afterwards, the place became more of a social event, with those who were outside coming in. The helpers had to arrange the tables and chairs for the elderly as if in a dinner-like manner, in case anyone wanted to help themselves with some food and needed a place to sit.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu6mSGibqE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbUwixdQYJ
Leo has stepped out for a bit with a glass of wine, out to the patio and to the lawn. The sun was slowly starting to set, and he had a clear view of it. He had a feeling they might have dinner at the McAlisters, considering the amount of food that had been brought in. With so many people around, all he wanted was to be alone.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TgPSPYPMM
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IDT5kz9Wv
He took a sip of his wine, so lost in the beauty of the setting sun that he didn’t hear soft footsteps coming from behind. It only took him a minute to realize that Carly was standing beside him.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyATxQd4z3
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJH7YqlF5Y
“Hey,” she said to him.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTBSCNPPJe
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJguCjEPVn9
“Hey,” he answered back.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SbutO5ahW
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrn4nXfwZ7
There was a brief moment of silence before Carly spoke. “You’re not mad, are you?” she asked.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlbp7iruxn
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8KthAOdwg
“Mad about what?” He asked with an eyebrow raised and looking confused.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB1qKSMWpF
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjbSVpdUEY
“This thing with Zac and me?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZuTvfnmAJ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWST7yiv8N
Leo chuckled. “I had just forgotten about it. To be honest, I was so busy that it never once crossed my mind. Until now.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP7NhxUj8N
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwqAoyRBwV
“I know it’s weird…”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds2B443M2l
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCu9ywPnnU
“Carly,” Leo interrupted her. “That’s all in the past. As much as I would like to keep a grudge, you knew Zac before you knew me. I shouldn’t be jealous at all. He’s an annoying prick, yeah, but I can’t blame him for that either. The last thing I want is to be mad at you.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcSd37bh5q
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3tDzNurQ9
Carly smiled. “That’s a relief. If there weren’t many people around, I would’ve hugged you.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdagtLV0cK
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NzrZuZypd
“Tell me about it,” said Leo as he turned around to look at the guests that remained outside. “Let’s not draw any unnecessary attention.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtg9vV1tDW
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6iECsKWpl
“And what about Kim? What did the two of you talk about?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbvx8heQAq
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHCcK7Y8PL
“The incident at the hotel when we had dinner there. And also, she wants to know you. Or let me say it in her words: The woman who stole my heart from her.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqs9EhxWay
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPHKWMG6KS
Carly rubbed the back of her neck. “She must be really mad, huh?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53YPajlnt3
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNd8gv5MYR
“Yeah, but I’m not going to tell her until she settles down. Better yet, she’ll know when everyone else does.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6x5kTPTGq
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcsvtSCAVD
“We still have time. And what are you going to do about your mum? It’s clear to see that she brought her here to try and bring you two together.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHCwZnHgpZ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpdd3qzjcY
“It’s annoying, but I’ll have to have a talk with her one of these days.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEI7MuJYa9
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrv87tgCNn
“Leo! Carly!” came Angel’s voice behind them. The two turned around to see her approaching them. She wore her white jacket over her shoulders, as it was getting chilly now.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPJU2IZOeu
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEapcNvY87
“What is it?” Carly asked when Angel came closer.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh8mUTbalF
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGY338WMem
“Zac’s girlfriend is here, and Zac wants to introduce you to her,” Angel answered. “He made a show of how you and I are like goddesses, and she wants to see you for herself. So that’s why I came to find you. They’re in the hall outside the ballroom.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqwBbPpVF2
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7u1jCD3Up
“Fine,” said Carly. She turned to look at Leo. “Aren’t you coming?”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E1EPZfFOr
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyULSJIktna
“Yeah, I’ll follow behind you,” he said.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Jlz3lAflC
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7S9cPiBp1
“Before I get there, I need to stop by the bar to get a drink. Let’s go, Angel.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyJlotcHyX
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkkjYO55s1
Carly took off quickly before Angel. In trying to catch up with her sister, Angel also hurried. In doing so, her white jacket slipped off her shoulders and fell on the green grass. She stopped in her tracks and turned to pick it up. However, Leo already got to her jacket and picked it up for her. He placed the empty glass he was holding on a nearby table.
Leo closed the distance between them. Before Angel could reach out her hand to grab it, he swung the jacket over her head and made it rest over her shoulders. Angel looked stunned at the gesture that she was almost lost for words. For some reason, her cheeks started to tingle.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEwmyOljGL
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLKWpf0kB6
“Thanks,” she managed to say. “You didn’t have to do that.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6funPt7i4
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pw1ogHJyv
“It’s nothing,” he said.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPKmEqTNZJ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lGuLO3jHP
Leo still held on to the collars of her jacket, and Angel realized why she was blushing. The feel of his fingers tucked under the collars slightly touched her neck. His hands soon fell away, and he placed them in the pocket of his trousers. He gave her a cool look with his eyes, and that made Angel blush even more.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdWariK2Uu
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s6JFsUMt3
“Are you okay?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “You look shocked or something.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ9ZgkPxWu
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9f3G4VPLB
“I’m fine,” said Angel, quickly drawing her head downward. “Let’s go.”
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jzp58ceL9
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl2kIflj0v
She quickly turned around and started to make her way back into the ballroom, with Leo following behind her. She shook off the feeling and told herself it was nothing. Leo, on the other hand, didn’t seem bothered by her reaction or what had taken place.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErLfP7Aema
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEuDKmPkdV
Standing by the window inside the ballroom was Kim, holding a glass of champagne. She had seen the little incident between Angel and Leo. That sent her mind buzzing with thoughts. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who had seen them
.
ns3.16.107.122da2
