“You’re a grownup. Have you never searched your own body before?” he laughed more evilly.
“You rascal!” she cursed him with a blushed face. “I’ll go wash the beddings and make breakfast.”
Vincent raised his eyebrows. “No problem. It’s a deal. You can’t refuse me next time!”
Leila couldn’t stand him any longer.
She rushed out quickly, almost bumping into the wall. Vincent burst into laughter behind her.
Leila was so embarrassed. Why could he discuss such private things with her while looking so calm? She didn’t know Vincent indeed. How could he be such a man?
Until the stimulating smell had faded in his room, looking at the clean bedsheet and floor, Vincent shook his head. Even he himself was confused about what he had done last night. He guessed that he must be drunk.
Vincent lit up another cigarette. It seemed that his physical strength hadn’t recovered yet. He felt so tired. It turned out the masturbation was such a tiring thing. Finally, he stood up and walked into the bathroom.
Leila had never expected that she would saw this side of Vincent. When she recalled what she had seen, she couldn’t help blushing and her heart hammered. However, he took it for granted -- he even told her what he had done face-to-face, and he asked her to clean his room.
Right then, when she was standing in the laundry room and looking at the dirty beddings in the washing machine, her face was still blushed. She felt extremely embarrassed. She couldn’t help wondering whether others would still worship the business legends created by him if they knew that the famous Vincent was such a man.
However, who else could know this side of him?
Thinking about it, Leila felt quite lucky. He was even willing to show this side of him to her. Did it mean that he didn’t take her as an outsider?
However, when recalling his conversation with her father in the study last night, she felt sad again. Perhaps, she should find a chance to talk to her father, asking him why he would do that and what he had done to offend Vincent.
It was the weekend. After having the breakfast prepared by Leila, Vincent went to take a nap for recovering his physical strength. Leila went to the university. Since her thesis would be reviewed on Monday, she went to the university earlier and check on her laptop.
As expected, Vincent had sent her laptop back.
She turned it on and noticed that all the files in it were still there. Nothing was missing. In an instant, she breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t imagine what Vincent would feel if he had opened the file with the password. Fortunately, he had done nothing.
Leila entered the password and opened the file. Having a glance at the content, she confirmed that nothing was touched in there. She closed the file right away. With both her hands on her face, she inhaled deeply. Then she turned off the laptop with a blushed face.
After leaving the dormitory, she went to her parents’ house. She wondered how she could question her father. Since her mother must be home, how could she ask her father without letting her mother know?
Standing at the door, she was so hesitating, but the door was opened from the inside.
Leila shivered. Looking up, she found her parents walking out arm-in-arm. Seeing Leila at the door, they both were surprised. Mabel asked, “Leila, why are you here? Haven’t you been here yesterday? Isn’t Vincent at home? Doesn’t he have a weekend?”
“Mom, I just passed by your house, so I just want to drop by and leave soon,” Leila explained in a hurry, casting a glance at her father.
Brian seemed to understand something. He said, “I’ll go have a walk with your mother in the park. Would you like to join us? If not, you can wait for us at home.”
“Well, I won’t disturb your lovers’ world in this case. Dad, Mom, please go ahead. I’m going home now,” said Leila calmly in a soft tone.
Mabel seemed to have felt something wrong. She pulled Leila’s hand. “Leila, are you all right? Why do you look so pale? Your eyes seemed to be swollen. Have you cried last night?”
Leila was taken aback. She immediately explained with a smile, “Mom, how could it be possible? I drank too much water before going to bed last night. Perhaps my metabolism didn’t work well.”
“Really?” Mabel looked doubted, subconsciously glancing at Brian.
“It’s for real! I’m not a kid who likes crying. Mom, you know me well, don’t you?” Leila said with a smile, “What would cause me to cry, anyway? Please don’t feel so insecure!”
“I’m just worried about you.” Mabel pat Leila on her hands. “I’m glad if there’s nothing happened.”
“What could happen to her? Haven’t you seen it yesterday? Vincent treats her very well. What else are you worried about? All right. Leila, I’ll call my driver to send you home.”
“No, thanks, Dad. I’m used to taking the bus. I like it.” Leila twitched her mouth to a smile. “I’m taking off now!”
Since she couldn’t have the chance to ask her father, Leila felt somewhat disappointed but uneasier.
Vincent treated her in that way -- looking for her in the rain and providing her with a warm embrace when she needed the help the most. Leila couldn’t help but heave a sigh. ‘Vincent, you asked me to choose between you and my family. Do you want me to cut ties with my father? Why do you have to get me involved if you want to break up with my father?’ her inner voice asked.
As soon as she arrived at the bus stop, she received a call from Vincent. “Where are you now?”
“I’m waiting for the bus,” Leila answered him honestly.
“Where are you waiting for the bus? In the future, if I ask you, you need to tell me the exact location.”
“I--” Leila glanced at the address and answered, “I’m in the bus stop next to Municipal Government Community. Now I’m going home.”
“Wait for me there. I’ll be there in ten.” After he finished his words, he hung up the phone directly without waiting for her response.
For some reason, Leila felt scared when facing that man. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she always felt guilty like a thief. She was afraid that Vincent would ask her why she came to her father. If he still wanted to force her to make a choice, she would be in a dilemma for sure.
Since he said he would pick her up, Leila could only sit on the chair to wait for him. She dared not to refuse him, afraid that he would get angry. She looked in the direction from time to time, afraid that she would miss his car.
Ten minutes -- he must be downtown. She wondered what he had done. When she went out, he was still napping. Recalling that he needed to take a nap because he had masturbated, she felt embarrassed and guilty. Indeed, she was his wife and she had the obligation to sleep with him. However--
Sitting below the stop board, Leila stared at the cars passing by, lost in thought.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Moment in Destiny
the writing is quite childish, but maybe it's just the translations...