Leopold gently stroked her hair, saying, "You're all heart and soul for strangers, but ice-cold to me."
Aurelia pouted, “Me? I’m black and white about my feelings. I can’t muster a shred of mercy for an enemy.”
Leopold slightly furrowed his brows, "Am I your enemy?"
"No, not at all," she said, shaking her head before her tone took a turn, "But you are someone who's hurt me."
The words hit Leopold like a sucker punch to the gut.
"Can we let bygones be bygones?" He pled.
She shrugged nonchalantly and picked up a lychee from the table, peeling and popping one into her mouth before spitting out the seed.
"Playing bodyguard lately seems pretty cushy for you. No more leeches clinging to you."
A smirk touched Leopold's lips, a chilly arc forming, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown. But don't worry, Kane won't have it like I did. I'll clear his path and sweep away every stumbling block for him."
Aurelia didn't doubt it for a second. Leopold's setbacks in business were all because of Mr. Chad's legacy of love debts. Thankfully, the man had an early curtain call, or the messes he'd have left behind could've been unimaginable.
Lust is a slippery slope. A man's greatest weakness might just be his inability to keep it in his pants.
"One good man can bring prosperity for three generations, while one scoundrel can ruin them," Aurelia mused, hoping the Stirling family wouldn't see another Mr. Chad.
Leopold chuckled, "You can rest easy. Chad's genes got filtered out in my generation, but I can't vouch for everyone else." Especially Arnold, with his not-so-short list of conquests.
Aurelia knew he was throwing shade and playfully rolled her eyes at him, "You should be grateful. In your bunch of brothers, there's only one true scoundrel. They may cause a ruckus, but when push comes to shove, they stick together."
Leopold couldn't deny that, hence why Arnold's share had never been shortchanged.
"Honey, it's getting late. How about we take a bath together?"
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