Chapter 214: Leander & Yvonne at Gala

Leander drove in silence, his hands steady on the wheel, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the air between him and Yvonne. Yvonne sat quietly in the passenger seat, her arms crossed loosely, looking out the window. The earlier excitement from the island had faded, replaced by a quiet tension that Leander could feel but didn’t address.

After a while, Yvonne turned toward him, breaking the silence. “Leander, I’ve been thinking.” Her voice was soft but carried an edge of uncertainty.

Leander glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “About what?”

She hesitated, clearly trying to gather her thoughts. “About today. About the island, everything. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was amazing, but…” She paused, searching for the right words. “Why did you take me there?”

Leander didn’t respond immediately, the question hanging in the air between them. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, not out of anger, but because he knew Yvonne would eventually ask. It wasn