Forty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a residential building. Leanna sat in the car, looked left and right, and realized she was parked in the same spot where Aidan had brought her previously. Then, she opened the door and got out of the car. The community was very large, and there were many people, so she had no clue where to start. Thus, she found a place with a good view, sat on the bench, and waited, which was the most straightforward but inefficient method.
She couldn't ask Aidan, as he would definitely not tell her. Moreover, he would take precautions against her, which would be ineffective. She might as well try her luck like she was doing now, just in case it worked.
Hence, she just sat motionless, staring at everyone who came in and out of the community. Time passed minute by minute, and soon, the sky gradually darkened. She took out her phone and looked at it, then sighed silently; it seemed she still had no good luck. She put her bag on her back and turned around, but she had just taken a few steps when she saw a figure walking toward her.
Leanna stopped to take a better look, and sure enough, it was the young woman Aidan had taken her to see at the mall last time. Noticing her stare, Celia looked over and was surprised for a moment, but she was actually more baffled instead. "Miss McKinney?"
Leanna approached and nodded at her. "Hello."
Celia said, "Miss McKinney, why—"
Leanna interrupted, "I happened to be doing something nearby and passed by here. I remembered that Aidan brought me here last time and said that you lived here, so I stopped by to have a look. I didn't expect to meet you by chance."
She glanced at what Celia was holding in her hand. "Did you just buy the groceries? Are you going back?"
Celia reacted and replied, "Yes... I just came back from buying groceries."
Leanna smiled. "Your bags look quite heavy. Let me help you. I bought something for the little boy too. I would like to go up and see him."
Not quite expecting her to say this, Celia was stunned for a moment and subconsciously wanted to refuse. Nevertheless, Leanna had already taken the bags from her hand, so she swallowed her words. If she declined directly, it seemed like it would be too obvious and make Leanna more suspicious.
Celia said quickly, "Since you're here, Miss McKinney, please stay and have some food with me. I'll go buy some food."
After that, she wanted to take the opportunity to walk away. But Leanna stopped her and smiled. "There's no need to go to so much trouble. I still have something to do. I'll just go up and see the little boy, then leave since I haven't seen him for a long time."
"Then... There is no fruit at home. I'll go buy some."
A fruit stand was next to them, so Leanna said, "I'll go buy some."
No matter what, it didn't seem right to go to someone else's house empty-handed. When Leanna walked to the fruit stand, she glanced back and noticed that Celia was following behind her without any unusual behavior. Leanna tilted her head, looked away, and bought some seasonal fruits. However, when she was not paying attention, Celia took out her phone and quickly sent a message. When Leanna looked over, she pretended nothing had happened and smiled at her.
After buying the fruits, Leanna followed Celia upstairs. Celia took the initiative to speak. "Miss McKinney, I read on the Internet that you set up a studio by yourself, right?"
"Not alone; it was with a friend."
"Oh, that's still quite amazing. There are very few people who are as beautiful and capable as you, Miss McKinney."
Leanna smiled. "It's just a stroke of good luck."
Celia said, "Miss McKinney, don't be modest. Luck and capability are both important. I have seen your designs, and they are very well done. Sometimes I envy you. If I have your skills, I will not..."
Halfway through speaking, she stopped.
Leanna asked, "What's wrong?"
Celia laughed. "It's nothing. It's just ahead, Miss McKinney, let's go."
"Sounds good."
Celia approached the door and took out the key to open it. After looking inside, she turned around and said to Leanna, "Miss McKinney, please come in. The house is a little messy, so please don't mind it."
"It's alright; it's normal for households with children to have many things."
Celia put all the groceries and fruits she bought on the table, walked to the bedroom, and carried the little boy with big eyes out. "Miss McKinney, please help me take care of the baby, and I'll make dinner."
Leanna held the little boy carefully as if afraid of scaring him and then lowered her voice. "Okay."
Celia hurriedly took her things into the kitchen and finally let out a breath. The little boy seemed thrilled to see Leanna. He was gurgling in his arms all the time, clenching his fists with his little hands and waving them happily in the air.
The corners of Leanna's lips curved up, and she sat down on the couch with the little boy in her arms. She wanted to find a toy for him to play with, but none were visible in the living room. Thus, she carried the little boy to the nursery to get a toy for him. When she was about to leave, Leanna stopped, looked around the empty room, and frowned slightly.
She carried the little boy to the door again, and her eyes fell on the shoe cabinet. She then looked around her. In this room, there was no trace of another person living there, which made it even weirder. How could Celia leave such a small child at home and go out shopping alone? This was outrageous.
At this time, Celia came out of the kitchen and stood in front of Leanna. "Miss McKinney, sorry for troubling you. Here, give me the child."
Leanna smiled and handed the child over. She said slowly, "Are you taking care of the child alone?"
Celia's scalp was tingling from Leanna's sudden question, and she didn't know how to answer for a long time. "That's not true. When I'm too busy, I will a-also ask the neighbors to take care of him for me."
Leanna realized she hadn't thought of this before, but then she suddenly said, "Oh, so your neighbor helps you to take care of the child. What about your husband? I remember you have another child, right? Is he in kindergarten or elementary school?"
"U-Um…"
There were drops of sweat on Celia's forehead.
Leanna said again, "I don't see any photos of you, your husband, or your other child here."
When Leanna spoke, she always kept a faint smile, as if she was just asking casually. But Celia knew what she meant. After all, President Pearson had already explained it to her in advance. Otherwise, she wouldn't have done that in the mall.
Celia was nervous when the doorbell abruptly rang, and she hurriedly said, "I-I'll go open the door."
The door opened to reveal an ordinary-looking young man and a five- or six-year-old child. The man said, "Darling, don't be mad at me. Even if you don't want to talk to me, for the sake of the child, come home with me."
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