Leon pulled up in front of the new Norwinder restaurant. He unbuckled his seatbelt and looked over at Zoey in the passenger seat. “Zoey, I did a pretty great job today. Don’t you think I deserve a reward?”
Zoey closed the file in her hands and arched her brow. “And why would I reward you?”
“I played the role of your fiancé perfectly. Not only that, I managed to drive your ex–husband away!”
“Did you really look into me?” Zoey couldn’t help but ask, pretending to be offended.
Ever since they’d started working together, things between them had grown more relaxed. However, the way Leon had instantly recognized Yves still caught her off guard.
“I just did some digging, and your past came up. It’s not my fault,” Leon muttered. “Still, even if I didn’t earn a reward, I definitely earned some brownie points, right?”
Zoey was used to his nonsense by now. She flashed him a helpless smile. “Fine. What do you want?”
“I want you to take me out to dinner! Right here,” Leon said as he pushed open the car door, walked around, and opened the door for her like a proper gentleman. He even held out his
hand.
Zoey didn’t expect his request to be so simple. So, she agreed and decided to go with him.
Later on, in the restaurant, Leon abruptly set his cutlery down and solemnly looked at her. ” Actually… today’s my birthday.”
Zoey was caught off guard. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I didn’t even have time to get you a gift.”
“It’s okay,” Leon cut in before she could say anything else. “However, since it’s my birthday… Can you grant me a wish?”
Upon noticing how uncharacteristically serious Leon was, Zoey nodded without much. thought. “Alright.”
Leon took a deep breath, his gaze gentle yet resolute. “I like you, Zoey. From the moment I saw you at the airport to everything that came after, the more I got to know you, the more certain I became.
“So, will you be my girlfriend? I want to stand proudly by your side!”
Zoey froze. Her eyes misted over, touched by Leon’s sincerity.
Chapter 25
2/3
For the past three years, she had felt small and invisible in love. Never once had she received
such a heartfelt confession.
At that moment, the man before him was slowly healing the wounds she had carried, in his
own way.
“I’d love to,” Zoey whispered as a genuine smile lit up her face.
A year later, Zoey came across Yves‘ name in the news. Apparently, he had sold off all his assets and left everything behind to live in seclusion at an ancient church.
As for Wendy, she’d been arrested for financial fraud and now faced an indefinite sentence
under the law.
Bryant and Daphne had actually come to see Zoey once after Wendy’s arrest. They wanted to mend their relationship with her.
However, Zoey had refused without a moment’s hesitation because she could accept Yves loving Wendy, but she couldn’t understand how Bryant and Daphne didn’t love their
biological daughter.
Still, she accepted the debit card they’d offered, but she never used the money for herself. Instead, she donated it all to charities back home.
The people who’d once filled her life had each met a different ending, and conflicting feelings
stirred within her.
Leon wrapped his arms around Zoey’s waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. “What’s on your mind? You seem really caught up in your thoughts.”
Zoey shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just feeling a little emotional all of a sudden.”
“Let me ask you something then.” Leon turned her around and looked into her eyes. “Between me and Yves, who do you think is more handsome?”
Zoey took in his childish expression and deliberately teased him, “Honestly? I think… Yves is
more handsome.”
Leon’s eyes instantly widened. “What? No way! I actually lost to him?”
Upon seeing him all flustered, Zoey couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Sunlight streamed through the floor–to–ceiling window, wrapping them in a warm, golden glow.
Zoey leaned into Leon’s arms. Every second of this moment was worth her cherishing.
Chapter 25
3/3
The pain of her past was now behind her, and the journey ahead was one she wanted to take with the right person, one step at a time.
