The Real Heiress's New Family Adored By All novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77 A Welcome Gift From Leighton

His manner was nothing like the gentle tone he used with Zora.

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There was a smile playing on his lips, yet Hallie could not shake the chill rolling off him.

She rubbed her arms and shot Leighton a hurt glance.

He was never one to stick rigidly to formal rules anyway-what was wrong with her being affectionate with someone she liked?

“Leighton.”

Kian stepped out of the car after finishing a call and called out to him in a soft, warm voice.

“When did you get back?”

Leighton’s expression softened, and he nodded at him.

“Kian!”

Hallie’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Kian, her cheeks flushing pink as she greeted him excitedly.

She hoped he hadn’t seen her clinging awkwardly to Zora just now.

If he had, she would never live it down.

“Got back yesterday,” Kian replied to Leighton first, then smiled gently at Hallie. “Hallie, I was in a rush and didn’t bring you a gift. I’ll make it up to you next time.”

The Marlow and Morgan families lived close to one another. When Hallie was little and her parents were away, Chet would stop by the Marlow Manor to play chess with Floyd, often bringing Hallie along.

Reed was far too rambunctious for Hallie to get along with, but she’d always liked the quiet,

calm Kian.

While Kian sat by the window reading, Hallie would pull up a chair beside him to do her schoolwork. Whenever she got stuck on a problem, he would explain it to her patiently and gently.

Hallie and Kian had always been close.

As they grew older, though, he left for college and later joined a research lab under his professor, rarely coming home. Little by little, they drifted apart.

“Just having you back is gift enough, Kian. I haven’t seen you in ages. How long are you staying

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Chapter 27 A Welcome Gift From Leighton

this time? Will you leave again soon?”

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Hallie shook her head shyly, her face still flushed, gazing at him with obvious anticipation.

Kian was almost never home because of his lab work.

The last time they’d met had been at her grandfather’s birthday party, more than half a

ago.

year

Looking at his warm, refined features, Hallie thought he’d grown even more handsome over the months-clean-cut and elegant.

He carried himself tall and composed, slender yet statuesque in every line.

“I won’t be leaving anytime soon. I’ve taken a position at Eastside Memorial Hospital.”

Kian answered earnestly, his brows relaxed and a soft smile tugging at his lips.

“Hallie, Zora is in your class. Please look after her for me.”

He lowered his gaze to Zora standing beside them and spoke gently again.

“You can count on me, Kian! No one’s going to bully Zora as long as I’m around.”

Hallie promised wholeheartedly.

“If you feel unwell at all, you have to tell me.”

More students were pouring into the school, and class would start soon. Zora got ready to head inside with Hallie, turning to Leighton and speaking earnestly.

She didn’t want someone so striking to fall ill.

It would break Jensen’s heart, and she would hate to see it too.

She hoped he would stay healthy; then whenever she felt bored, she could look at him and cheer up instantly.

Truth be told, Wendy’s phone call the night before had left Zora feeling upset.

But seeing someone so effortlessly good-looking first thing in the morning chased all her unhappiness away in an instant.

Leighton had long suffered from poor sleep, leaving his body worn down and his internal organs overtaxed. If this kept up, any illness he caught would be slow to heal.

Zora had planned to make him a set of vitality pills the day before, but Holden had interrupted her, and she’d never gotten around to it.

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Chapter 77 A Welcome Gift From Leighton

“I’ll take your words to heart, Zora.”

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Leighton noticed how clearly worried she looked, a faint, amused smile spreading across his lips. He reached into his suit jacket, pulled out a white gift box, and handed it to her.

“Huh?”

Zora stared at it, confused.

“A little welcome gift for you. We met in such a rush last time, and I didn’t get the chance to prepare anything.”

Leighton’s voice was smooth and sincere.

“Ah…”

Zora hadn’t expected another gift.

She’d received so many little presents lately.

“Please don’t think it’s too plain.”

Leighton covered her hand, placing the box firmly in her palm.

His skin was smooth and cool. Zora froze for a moment, caught off guard by the contact.

By the time she snapped back to her senses, Leighton had already pulled his hand away, the corners of his eyes curving with quiet delight.

“Thank you, Leighton.”

The gift was already in her hands, so Zora had no reason to refuse. She thanked him softly.

A faint mint scent drifted from the box in her palm-fresh, clean, exactly like the subtle fragrance clinging to Leighton.

Left inside his suit jacket for so long, the velvet case had soaked up his natural scent.

Jensen had told her before that Leighton was someone she could turn to if she ever ran into trouble, that she never needed to stand on ceremony with him.

“You’re welcome,” Leighton smiled lightly.

Zora and Hallie headed into the school together soon after.

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A Welcome Gift From Leighton

Zora, you actually know my cousin?”

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Hallie had watched Leighton smile at Zora like she was the most precious thing in the world, her eyes wide with disbelief.

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The Real Heiress & New Family Adored by All