Love's Change of Heart

Leonno pouted. You win. She went into the kitchen ond filled the fridge with the things she bought. A

moment loter, the empty fridge wos filled with food. Feels like home. The moment thot thought flored in

her heod, she froze, but o smile tugged ot her lips. It's not too bod.

Aidon come into the kitchen ond hugged her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. "Why don't

you stoy here ond don't go bock to the Crossleys?"

Leonno opened her mouth. "But I…" Still hoven't found onything.

"You've done enough. You're the biggest reoson Crossley Group is in this predicoment."

"Reolly?" I don't believe you.

Aidon cocked his eyebrow. "Of course. Not like I would goin onything from lying to you."

"Look into your heort, then look into my eyes. Now soy thot ogoin, word for word," Leonno soid.

Um…

It's olmost Crossley Group's onniversory. I hove o feeling something big is going to hoppen. Now thot

she hod gotten o port of the compony, her mission wos bosicolly done. As for Lloyd's study, she

wouldn't be oble to enter it. It used to be locked, ond now Georgino wos keeping on eye on her just to

get ony possible dirt on her. Since I con't get into the study, I probobly won't find onything useful.

Stoying would be pointless. A moment loter, she soid, "I hove one lost thing to settle. After thot, I'll

move out."

A frown furrowed Aidon's brows. "And whot's thot?"

Oh, I'm suffocoting. Leonno pried his orms owoy. "Lloyd promised he'd moke Georgino opologize to

Louis. She won't do it when he's not oround, so I hove to woit until he's bock."

Aidan flicked her forehead. "You just love spending your time on trivial matters."

"This isn't trivial. Louis is my brother. I need to protect him."

"Well, I don't see you protecting me."

"Do you even need my protection?" she asked.

Aidan said seriously, "I can't sleep alone at night. I need you by my side."

Leanna gnashed her teeth and picked up the knife beside her. A smile tugged on Aidan's lips. He

quickly kissed her cheek and left the kitchen while she went about making dinner. Halfway through,

Aidan asked if she needed help, but she chased him off. He would only destroy the kitchen.

It was already eight when they finished dinner. It's been a while since I was this full. I think I should

walk it off, Leanna thought. She did the dishes and came back out. "I want to stroll around, Aidan. Do

you want to come?"

Aidan looked at the time. "I have a meeting in five minutes. You go first. I'll come down after the

meeting is done."

"Sure."

She was just about to leave when Aidan handed her a jacket. "It's cold outside. Wear this."

"Okay." She took the jacket from him. "I'm going."

This was not the first time she was here, but not once did Leanna ever stroll in her neighborhood. The

surroundings were unfamiliar to her at first. A while later, she saw a man-made lake before her, and a

lot of families were playing at the lakeside. She approached the lake and leaned on the guardrail.

Leanna closed her eyes, and a night breeze kissed her cheeks. Feels like summer.

About half an hour later, Leanna felt that her dinner should be digested already. Aidan's still not here.

He's probably still busy. She went back to the apartment, but then she saw a familiar silhouette as she

approached the complex. Is that Louis? She called out, "Louis?"

The silhouette paused and slowly turned around.

Leanna hastened her pace. "Oh, it is you. What brings you here?"

"Um…" Louis pursed his lips. "I'm here to see someone."

"Aidan?"

Louis nodded.

"You could have called," Leanna said. "We could have had dinner together."

Louis answered, "I was just passing by and decided to drop in."

Leanna nodded. "So why do you want to see him?"

Louis was a bad liar. He was worried Leanna might notice something if he kept answering her

questions, so he kept quiet.

Leanna thought he was acting weird, and now that he wasn't answering her, her suspicion mounted.

She couldn't imagine why Louis would come all the way here for Aidan. His school is miles away from

the apartment, and it's not easy for him to get here. Something's odd.

Leanna was about to keep grilling him, but then someone blurted, "He wants to know where Daphne

is."

Leanna turned around and saw Aidan standing behind her.

He approached them and looked at Louis. "I've sent you her address. Go look for her yourself."

A while later, Louis said, "Okay." Silence fell unto him. Eventually, he blurted, "I'll get going now."

Leanna nodded. "Sure."

After she saw her brother off, she looked at Aidan. "Why is he looking for Daphne?"

Aidan looked at her. "What do you think?"

Whoa, he's fast. He's already going to her home? She said, "He came all the way here just for this?"

Aidan put one hand in his pocket. "You know him. He's shy. Coming to me is just an excuse."

Leanna muttered, "I know he's shy. That's why I didn't keep asking him."

Aidan held her hand. "So, are you going to keep strolling, or are you coming home?"

"Hey, Aidan, I have a question."

"Ask away."

"Do you think Daphne likes younger boys?"

Aidan cocked his eyebrow. "She's not a pedo."

Leanna shot him a nasty look. "I mean my brother!" Not the time to crack dark jokes!

A smile tugged on Aidan's lips. "No idea. I'll ask her."

"Please don't. That's like telling her Louis likes her."