After they finished their meal and discussed the main reason for organizing the charity dinner, Leander slumped in his seat, trying to relax and bring some comfort to himself by sipping on whiskey. More than half of the guests had moved away, leaving scant seats everywhere, except for a few. Grabbing the cocktail glass on the table, Leander turned around, observing the environment before glancing at the time. He then caught sight of Vivian, who sat alone opposite the long table. He quickly looked away, feeling like he didn't have any business with her. Moments later, Leander realized none of the Hawthorne family had come to greet him. How could he not meet with those who invited him? Unbelievable. His gaze fell on Vivian again, who was discussing it with some ladies nearby. Giving her an intense gaze, Vivian faltered in her conversation, constantly lost for words. Leander didn’t stop there. He started giving charming, seductive smiles to draw her attention while still staying in h
“Yeah, it's now left to you, Vivian,” Leander said, looking up at her, his voice serious.Vivian’s words came out in a rush as she fidgeted with her dress. “Hold on, please, Leander. I will get back to you in the next five minutes. I need to meet my parents.”Leander leaned back, raising an eyebrow, a hint of impatience in his gaze. “But what should I do if you don’t arrive on time?”“Well, I don't know. You just have to be patient with me, and I am sure you will because I trust you,” Vivan stammered, her breath escaping with every word she said. The next moment, she turned away from Leander, walking quickly, her heart racing with fear that he might leave before she returned.She found her parents on the bohemian couch in the living room, deep in conversation. Her sudden entrance caught their attention, breaking their discussion.Vivian paused, guilt washing over her. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry for the interruption.”Her father’s eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. “Why did you rush in like th
Leander flinched at Richard’s response before declaring, “Oh, alright. No problem. I won’t impose on you an apology. His voice hardened. “But I guess I’m justified in not integrating myself into your family because I’m not ready to do so.” Aria’s gaze dropped, unable to meet his eyes. “Don’t do that, Leander. It’s just... complicated.” Leander’s expression was twisted with scorn. “Complicated, huh? You abandoned me without a word, and now you call it complicated?” Richard’s jaw tightened, and his face flushed with indignation. “Leander, we don’t owe you an explanation.” Leander’s eyes narrowed with unyielding resolve. “Alright then. If you won’t apologize, I’ll take that as my cue to leave. But remember this—I won’t forget what you all did. I won’t forgive it.” Aria reached out, her voice trembling. “Leander, please—” Leander cut her off, his tone as cold as steel. “No, Mrs. Hawthorne. I’ve heard enough. You had your chance.” Turning to Vivian, who stood frozen, eyes wide with
Camila and Marcella, still watching from the sidelines, exchanged amused glances. “It looks like Mr. Perfect doesn’t have all the answers,” Marcella exclaimed. “He can’t even handle a simple ticket, let alone a relationship,” Camila added with a sly grin. Leander finally stopped scrolling, realizing he wasn’t going to find what he was looking for. He turned back to the bouncer, frustration etched across his face. “There must be a mistake. We purchased them.” The bouncer held up a hand, cutting him off. “Look, uh, if you don’t have the tickets, you’re not getting in. Please, step aside and let the others through.” Leander clenched his jaw, his frustration reaching a boiling point as he and Lindsey were forced to move out of the way. “Uh, I guess money can’t buy everything, after all,” Marcella whispered, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Camila shook her head in mock pity. “Especially without a clue on how to keep a relationship—or even get into a club without making a
With composure regained, Leander started the car and set off, determined to locate Lindsey. But no matter how hard he tried, she was nowhere to be found. The sense of failure weighed heavily on him, leaving him anxious and deeply troubled. Leander could hardly believe the drama unfolding around him. “Something must have gone wrong,” he muttered, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. Gripping the steering wheel, Leander’s knuckles turned white as he pressed harder on the accelerator. His mind raced with thoughts of what had just happened. The gravity of the situation pressed down on him, making it difficult to breathe. He had seen Lindsey upset before, but never like this. Her pale, stricken face replayed in his mind, alongside the damning photos—those haunting images looping endlessly in his thoughts. How could this have happened? How had he let it happen? A wave of nausea hit Leander, forcing him to pull over. He gasped for air, his heart pounding in his chest. With a f
Finally, Leander and Wyatt made it to Lindsey’s residence, successfully executing the plans they had made together. Leander’s heart raced faster as they got closer to the entrance, but he was fully prepared for what lay ahead. As anticipated, they encountered Lindsey, who warmly welcomed and accepted both of them. He turned to Wyatt, whispering, “Uh, let’s hope this goes well.” Wyatt took a deep breath as he settled into a couch, staring at the corners of the room before finally landing his gaze on Lindsey, who was bringing with her bottles of rich red wine and three glasses. After everyone was seated, Lindsey turned to face them with a warm, welcoming smile that belied the tension of their past. Leander's breath caught in his throat, but he steeled himself and stepped forward. “Hi Lindsey,” Leander began, his voice steady but with an underlying pool of emotions. Lindsey looked at them, her eyes softening, and she nodded slightly. “Of course, Leander. It's good to see you bot
Wyatt’s expression tightened with concern as he leaned forward. “Lindsey, please,” he urged, his tone sharp. “It would help if you could tell us who sent you those photos.” Lindsey met his gaze, hesitating before shaking her head, her brows knitting together in a mix of confusion and caution. “I’ll tell you later. For now, it’s safer if I keep it to myself, especially since you look so eager to find out.” Leander’s frustration bubbled over, and he couldn’t hold back. “Lindsey,” he shot back, his voice hardening as he locked eyes with her. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll find out the truth myself if I have to.” Lindsey’s eyes slightly widened, but she remained firm, her silence saying a lot as the tension escalated. “Till that day comes, goodbye!” Leander stood up, his chair scraping against the floor as he pushed it back. The finality in his tone left no room for argument. Her face held a blend of regret, anger, and something unsaid as she watched him. Without uttering a single word
Leander sighed, clearly in a hurry. “I’m not interested in chatting right now,” he replied curtly. The man, sensing the urgency, persisted. “Please, I’m begging you. I need some advice, and I’ve heard you’re the best person to ask.” Leander stopped, his frustration wavering. He assessed the man’s earnest expression and decided to listen. “Fine, what’s this about?” The man explained his business struggles, detailing how he was on the brink of a major deal but lacked crucial guidance. Leander listened with a growing sense of empathy. After a moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his business card. “Here, take this. It’s my card and an exclusive pass to visit me at my office. We can discuss this further there, okay?” The man’s eyes lit up with gratitude. “Thank you so much, Mr. Goldstein! I really appreciate it.” Leander nodded curtly. “Just make sure you’re prepared. I don’t have time for casual talks.” With that, he turned and headed towards his car, the man watching