Not with the person who is always trying to her life.
Melisa waited , waiting but don't get any reply ,She felt a cold weight settle in her chest, as if she had been cast into an abyss. Just as the silence stretched unbearably, a low chuckle broke the stillness.
Startled, she turned toward Leonard, only to find him chuckling softly. But there was no warmth in his laughter—only a hint of self-mockery, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as if lost in thought.
After a moment, he finally shifted his gaze to her, his eyes carrying amusement but also something deeper, something unreadable.
"Melisa," he murmured, his voice steady yet carrying an undertone ofSomething else,like a vulnerablity that he never shown before . "Do you really think I would love Olivia?"
She hesitated, her fingers clutching the blanket as uncertainty flickered in her eyes. "I don't know," she admitted. "You never say much about your feelings… how am I supposed to know?"
Leonard scoffed softly, shaking his head. "If I loved Olivia, do you think I'd be here with you right now?"
Melisa bit her lip, her thoughts still tangled. "But that day," she began hesitantly, "you willingly took Tris's place as the groom, knowing Olivia was the bride."
Her voice wavered, confusion laced in her words. She wasn't accusing him—just trying to understand. And yet, when she met his gaze again, there was a flicker of something bitter in his expression, something that made her own uncertainty grow.
But this time, Leonard turned his head away, closing his eyes as if shutting her out. His expression was unreadable, but the furrow in his brows betrayed his frustration.
Melisa felt a pang of discomfort settle in her chest. She wanted an answer—needed it—but seeing the tension in his features, she hesitated.
Swallowing back her unease, she sighed softly and let the silence stretch between them, choosing to withdraw—for now.
The night had been long for both of them, yet it eventually passed. The faint moonlight streaming through the window cast a soft glow over them, its gentle radiance in stark contrast to the storm of emotions brewing within the couple lying in bed.
As dawn broke, Melisa stirred awake, only to find herself alone. Since the past few weeks, Leo had always waited for her to wake before they went downstairs together.
Frowning, she reached out, her fingers grazing the spot where he had slept. The sheets were cold to the touch—he had been gone for a while.
When Melisa went downstairs, she saw Uncle George just as he was leaving for work. She greeted him, and he responded with his usual gentle warmth before heading out.
Aunt Eleanor, who was seated at the dining table, beckoned her over with a warm smile. "Come here, dear."
Breakfast passed with Aunt Eleanor happily chatting about her recent outings with friends. Melisa listened quietly, nodding occasionally, but her mind was elsewhere.
As they finished, Aunt Eleanor placed down her utensils and gave Melisa a knowing glance. "Did something happen between you two?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "Leonard left so early today—without even eating breakfast."
Melisa tensed. She knew exactly what Aunt Eleanor was referring to, but she had no words to explain what had transpired the night before.
Seeing her silence, Aunt Eleanor reached out, gently caressing Melisa's hand. "Don't worry, dear. Every couple has their little troubles—it's normal. What matters is working through them together."
Before Melisa could respond, Aunt Eleanor smoothly changed the subject. "Anyway, his company is on your way to the office, right? Help me bring him lunch."
Melisa hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, unable to refuse.
To avoid being late for work, Melisa left an hour earlier than usual.
After instructing the driver to make a stop at Leonard's workplace, she settled comfortably in the back seat as the car pulled away from the house.
It took less than twenty minutes before they arrived in front of a towering building. The sleek glass exterior reflected the morning sunlight, making it look even more imposing.
Telling the driver to wait, Melisa stepped out and entered the building. However, just as she reached the lobby, a woman at the reception counter stopped her with a polite but professional smile.
"Hello, ma'am. Do you have an appointment with someone?" she asked courteously.
Melisa hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm here to deliver something to Mr. Leonard."
The receptionist's smile remained polite, but there was a hint of desdain in her eyes. She had seen many women's plans to lure their handsome CEO
nevertheless she still acted professionally "Do you have an appointment, ma'am?"
Melisa frowned slightly, clearly seeing her desdain. She hadn't expected to need one just to deliver lunch. "No, but—"
Before she could finish, a voice interrupted. "Miss Melisa?"
Turning, she saw a man in a gray suit approaching. Recognizing him as one of Leonard's assistants, she gave a small nod.
"You don't need an appointment. I'll take you to him," he said politely, gesturing for her to follow.
Relieved, she walked beside him, but a strange unease settled in her chest. Leonard had never left so early before, and remembering today's morning action of his, she wondered—was he avoiding her?
Would he even be happy to see her here?
Was it the right choice to come.