"You came just for him?" Leo's voice was as cold as ice. Amelie had grown accustomed to the coldness after four years of facing it almost every day in Alston Residence, so she simply lifted her chin nonchalantly and said, "Yes."
What? She agreed so readily! Leo felt as though a knife had been plunged into him, slicing away the joy and excitement he had just felt. All that remained was an overwhelming sense of suffocation, like a chest full of hard, cold stones that made it difficult for him to breathe.
Amelie naturally did not miss his subtle change. After years of being around him, she could still tell when Leo was angry. In the past, she would have been nervous and at a loss, racking her brain to find a way to calm him down. But now, she had no such intentions. She silently sipped her coffee, waiting for Leo to explode.
"Since you're here, let's eat together." She waited for what felt like forever, but all she got was this statement. Leo pushed back his chair, walked over to the coat rack, and took off his coat, draping it over his arm.
Amelie was speechless.
She looked at Leo in surprise. He didn't get angry, but instead wants to eat with me? She had thought he would leave silently like he used to. Leo lowered his eyes and looked at Amelie. There was a hint of helplessness in his gaze. "If there's anything you need to say, let's do it over a meal."
Outside the door, Eugene, too, was speechless.
He had come over because the secretary had conveyed Leo's earlier message, and only then did he realize how significant Amelie was to him. He felt guilty for having a random female secretary bring in the coffee. When he arrived at the door, he saw the two of them at odds. Eugene was not unfamiliar with this situation, but he couldn't just walk in. He stood there, frozen. Yet what he witnessed was the usually cold Mr. Alston becoming extremely gentle toward Amelie. He is putting his lover's needs above his own, even when provoked by a love rival! Is this the same boss I know?
Eugene was still in shock when Amelie spoke. "I've eaten."
Amelie stayed put in her seat. Then, Leo walked over, lowered his head, and pressed his nose against her clothes, sniffing lightly. Amelie didn't understand what he was doing and flinched away in fear.
"Did you eat with Toby?"
Amelie stared at him as if she was staring at a creature. Is he a dog? Could he really smell Toby on me?
"Yeah."
It wasn't really a secret, so Amelie nodded. Leo's face darkened again. Seeing this expression of his, Amelie was aware that Leo was not a softie, and he could do anything when he was angry. She wasn't afraid for herself, but she didn't want him to take it out on Toby. Since she came here to help Toby and not give him more trouble, she quickly said, "Toby and I are just pretending to be a couple. There's no way we would do something like that."
"Pretending?" Leo's face finally softened a little, and his expression became slightly warmer. Even if they were just pretending, he still didn't like it. He didn't say anything more, though. Given Amelie's attitude toward him, he knew that saying anything would only make her dislike him even more. He decided to let it go for now.
"In any case, you have to eat with me. No meal, no talk!" He finished speaking and walked out. He knew he shouldn't threaten her, but if he didn't, she probably wouldn't agree to eat with him.
Eugene was dumbfounded again at the door. Mr. Alston is so shameless!
Amelie sighed helplessly as she watched Leo walk away. She used to dream of him leading her by the nose, but he refused to do so. Now she had no feelings for him, but he was causing one trouble after another. Oh well, it's just to keep him company. I can do that. Reluctantly, she followed him.
"Toby?"
In the narrow corridor, Serenity, who was following Toby, didn't expect him to turn back. She was caught off guard and her face showed a brief moment of embarrassment and shyness as she bumped into him. But she quickly recovered and said, "I didn't expect you to be here too."
Toby looked at her with a deep expression, and the warmth that used to be on his face was gone; it was replaced by a hint of ice. Serenity felt anxious being looked at by him like this, so she could only clench her fists and cough softly. She coughed weakly and gasped for breath, looking very pitiful. While coughing, she secretly observed Toby's facial expressions. She couldn't see the tenderness of the past in his face anymore. Serenity frowned slightly and looked sad and helpless as if she were a pitiful abandoned little animal. Even so, Toby did not come forward to help her and always maintained a great distance from her.
Serenity had to raise both her hands and say, "I admit, I've been following you. I only did it because I care about you."
She looked up at him with a pair of innocent eyes, like a helpless little lamb. "I know you've been bullied by Mr. Alston lately, and I really want to help you."
Serenity bit her lip and her eyes were red. Her tears were threatening to fall. "I know you'll be unhappy, but I still went to find Miss Dillon. I'm sorry. I'm really just too concerned about you, and I can't bear to see you b-being bullied like this."
As soon as her words fell, Toby's eyebrows furrowed tightly. "You went to see her?"
"I really just want to help you," Serenity said with a trembling voice. As soon as she finished speaking, Toby quickly said, "Our relationship has long been over, and I made that clear last time. From now on, don't appear in front of her in any way!"
His words were calm and devoid of any emotions; he didn't even look at Serenity more than once. After he finished speaking, he turned and walked away. Serenity swayed on the spot and looked at Toby. He clearly wanted to go in and buy something, but now he would rather leave to avoid her!
Serenity couldn't bear it anymore and tears fell down her cheeks. "I know you hate me for not listening to you and marrying someone else, but it was your family that forced me. I had no other choice!"
She ran up to him, hugged him from behind, and said, "Toby, do you know how hard my life has been these years? I like you, but I have to be with another man... It's just like living a life worse than death."
Toby didn't move. He looked down at her tightly clasped hands and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Toby, what do you mean?" Serenity looked at him with a pair of pitiful and innocent eyes. "Don't you believe that I've been suffering all this time? Don't you believe that I love you? I've been enduring all this time just to give you time to grow stronger so that you can save me. Toby..."
"I believe you." Toby suddenly smiled, took her hand, and pulled her in front of him.
His expression softened as he said, "So you love me enough to be with me even if I have nothing, right?"
Serenity hesitated for a few seconds before nodding and saying, "Yes, Toby."
Toby saw the change in her expression and his smile deepened. He nodded and took out his phone in front of Serenity. "Okay, I'm going to call my father and grandfather now. I'll give up everything and start looking for work tomorrow. You divorce that man and we'll leave here together. We'll live life just like a normal couple. Maybe I can't give you a life of luxury, but I can promise you that we'll never be separated for our entire lives."
With that, he pressed a string of numbers on his phone.
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