Love’s Change of Heart novel Chapter 263

Zoe collapsed onto the sofa out of fatigue as soon as they got home. "It's so tiring to prepare for the Christmas. The next time I visit my mom, I won't pick a fight with her anymore."

"You can still make it if you leave now. It won't be Christmas until tomorrow," Leanna suggested.

However, Zoe refused without a second thought. "Although I pity my mom, I'd rather not listen to her nagging. I'll go back once I find her a handsome son-in-law."

Leanna smiled. "If you bring home a handsome guy, your mom might drive you out with a broom."

"She's really hard to please," Zoe said with a sigh.

Not long after, the doorbell rang, and Leanna went to open the door, only to find Elijah standing outside.

"I went to the studio to look for you guys, but it seems like you've taken the day off one day in advance. I couldn't get through to your phone or Zoe's, so I've decided to stop by here myself," Elijah explained.

After a pause, he continued, "Leanna, I have something I need to talk to you about."

When he called the two women, they were probably in the elevator, which would explain why they did not receive the call.

Leanna took a step back and invited, "Come on in."

Zoe was in the kitchen gulping water when Elijah came in. She was afraid that if she did not keep her mouth occupied, she might begin to play cupid.

As Leanna went to pour Elijah a glass of water, she shot Zoe a strange look and asked, "What are you doing?"

However, Zoe quickly waved her off. "N-Nothing. Don't worry about me."

Hearing this, Leanna shrugged and returned to the living room with a glass of water.

After putting the glass in front of Elijah, she sat on the chair at the side. "What can I do for you?"

He pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Leanna, I have a favor to ask of you."

"I will do my best to help you with whatever you need. You don't have to be so courteous. You've helped me a lot in the past."

After a few seconds, Elijah slowly spat out, "Can you follow me home tomorrow night?"

This took Leanna by surprise, but before she could react, Zoe, who was drinking water in the kitchen, immediately coughed a few times.

Before Leanna had the chance to refuse, he spoke up again, "I know it's an abrupt request. That's why I hesitated for so long before I came and asked."

"Follow you home?" Leanna asked tentatively.

He nodded. "I'm not young anymore, and my parents have been urging me to get married for the past two years. They even said they'd introduce me to a girl. Some time ago, I really had no choice, so I told them I had a girlfriend. Now, they're asking me to bring her back home."

Zoe immediately understood what he meant. He wanted nothing more than for Leanna to pretend to be his girlfriend and spend Christmas with him.

Although it was all an act, the narrative would change as soon as she followed him home.

Zoe couldn't deny that this was a really good excuse. There were no flaws in this plan of his.

When Elijah saw how quiet Leanna was, he spoke again, "Leanna, I know that you won't agree, but it's just that my parents are old, and I don't want them to worry. That's why I lied. It's fine, I can just tell them tomorrow that it was all a lie and that I don't actually have a girlfriend."

When Leanna heard this, she pursed her lips. She couldn't bring herself to reject him.

Earlier, she even said that she would help him with anything.

Plus, she really did owe Elijah a lot of favors.

"Leanna, you don't have to feel forced. It doesn't matter. I'm just asking to see what you think about this. If you're burdened, just pretend like I didn't show up today and I didn't ask such a thing."

"I'm not burdened. It's just that…" She trailed off.

Forget it. It's just a favor. Overthinking is a curse. Plus, this is just an act to make his parents feel at ease, she thought to herself.

Then, she nodded. "Okay. I'll follow you back tomorrow."

Hearing this, Elijah breathed a sigh of relief, and a slight smile appeared on his face. "Then, I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon."

"Do I need to prepare any presents?" she asked.

"No, I'll prepare them."

After he left, Zoe finally put down her glass of water and walked over from the kitchen. "Are you just going to agree like that?"

"It's… hard to reject."

"You're right. He even mentioned his parents. I won't be able to refuse as well. After all, every parent worries about their children. He just wants to not make his parents worry as a filial son."

However, if people found out that Leanna went to Elijah's house to celebrate Christmas, the news would definitely blow up.

Leanna let out a soft sigh. She glanced at her phone and changed the subject. "Why isn't Louis back yet?"

As she asked, she walked away to give him a call.

Zoe did not answer as she sat on the sofa, ate grapes, and sighed.

Leanna went to the balcony while she waited for Louis to answer the phone. When he picked up, she immediately asked, "Louis, where are you?"

"I have something to do. You don't have to wait for me for dinner. You can eat first."

After what happened last time, she started to doubt him. Hence, she frowned and asked, "What do you have to do? You're not fighting your classmates again, are you?"

"That's absurd," Louis answered.

"All right. Don't be home too late."

"I know."

After she hung up the phone, she continued to lean against the railing and looked into the distance. No one knew what was on her mind.

…

At the same time, at the Pearson Group, Aidan's eyes fell on Louis' phone. "Is that your sister?"

Louis hummed in agreement.

"What did she say?" Aidan asked.

"She asked me when I would be going back." Louis did not seem to want to talk about this. Instead, he just asked, "What did you say I have to do just now?"

"Help me observe Daniel and see what his intention is behind approaching the Crossley Family."

"Then?"

"What do you mean by then?" Aidan retorted. "It'd be amazing if you could get this much information on him. Don't think too far ahead."

Although Louis frowned, it was undeniable that what Aidan said was right. Louis couldn't refute his statement.

Then, he got up and said, "If that's all, I'll make a move."

"Hold up." Aidan stopped him before asking unhurriedly, "What has your sister planned for tomorrow?"

Louis knew what Aidan was thinking of without him even saying it. "We'll be eating at home, but I don't think she'll welcome you."

Immediately, Aidan's lips hooked up. "You're still young. You'll understand when you have a girlfriend next time. The more a woman refuses, the more she is actually looking forward to it."

Louis was rendered speechless by Aidan's logic and turned to leave while ignoring him.

Once Louis left, Aidan instantly called Jonathan. "Get ready. We'll be going to Leanna's house tomorrow night."

"Are you not going back to the Pearson Family Estate this year?" Jonathan asked tentatively.

"The whole family is in shambles. Why do I still have to go back and feign that we're in peace?"

Jonathan kept quiet before he answered, "Okay."

Then, he spoke up again, "President Pearson, the Zielinski Family had been very restless recently. They've tried to stir up trouble with Mrs. Pearson several times, but we managed to stop them."