Begging For A Reconciliation

Chapter 54

Chapter 54

The boy looked at Leah cautiously. “Really?”

“Really.” Leah smiled.

“Okay! Let’s play hide and seek! I’ll hide. You can come find me once you count up to ten!” And off the boy went the moment he finished. “Let’s start!”

There was nothing for her to do anyway. It would be nice to get some exercise this way.

She counted to ten.

“Are you in place? I’m coming for you now,” she asked with great amusement after she finished counting.

A child’s voice came from behind a flower bed. “I’m hidden away! Come and find me!”

Leah was barely containing her laughter.

“I’m coming.” Leah pretended not to know a thing and wandered about the garden.

Thud!

Suddenly, her back hit a solid chest, and she froze in her tracks.

Startled, Leah turned around to apologize. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”

“Oh? So you did it on purpose.” An icy voice suddenly came overhead tinged with a teasing lilt.

Leah froze and looked up in surprise to see Han smirking at her.

He still looked as indifferent as ever but it seemed as if the sharp edge in his eyes had gone. He seemed more…approachable?

Leah shook her head.

It must have been her illness that gave rise to the illusion.

How could a devil-like Han Howard be approachable?

“I still have something to do. Excuse me.” Leah looked down, intending to escape.

Han grabbed her arm. “What’s the matter? Are you playing games with a little brat?”

He had happened to lift the curtain in his ward and caught sight of it all.

He saw her smiling as she spoke to a little boy.

The expression on her face… was a relaxed smile that he had never seen before. She was beautiful.

It was so beautiful that he suddenly had the urge to keep her happy at all times.

Leah blushed.

That was indeed the case but it was awkward to hear those words leave Han’s mouth.

Leah turned away. “It’s none of your business.”

Han crossed his arms and watched her with a calm expression. “Oh, I want to make it my business.”

Did the sun rise from the west today?

When did Han become so…bossy and unreasonable?

“What’s that look?” Han stared at her.

Leah shook her head. “I just thought you seemed different compared to before.”

“Do you know what I was like in the past?”

“…No.”

“You seem to know me quite well.” Han pressed on.

Leah bit her lip. Her voice grew softer. “You’re the lover that every woman in Linkville dreams about. It’s not hard to figure out when I hear rumors about you everywhere I go.”

Han frowned.

The furrow in his brows loosened after a while as he took on a more relaxed tone. “So, Ms. White used to pay attention to me.”

Leah was gobsmacked.

Why does he sound like he didn’t understand a word I just said?

“Miss! It’s been so long. Why haven’t you found me yet?!” The little boy scurried out and gave Leah a dissatisfied look.

Leah looked apologetic. “I’m sorry. I forgot.”

“Hmph! I’ll forgive you this time.” The boy waved his hand and tilted his head to stare at Han curiously. “Who’s the handsome man, Miss? Is he your boyfriend?”

Leah’s face reddened as she hurried to cover the boy’s mouth and whispered to him, “He’s not. That’s nonsense. He’s such a mean man.”

Han was rendered speechless.

Do I look that mean?

“Really?” The boy watched Han with wary eyes and muttered, “I don’t think he’s mean. He was smiling at you just now!”

“You’re still little. You won’t understand,” Leah retorted softly.

He’s smiling at her?

Even if he was, it was a smile to mock me.

Han then picked up the boy.

He bent down and stared placidly at the boy. “Why do you think I’m her boyfriend, kid?”

“Because you’re a good match with the pretty lady,” the boy answered innocently.

“Hah, you’re still a kid. Do you even know what that means?” Leah found the situation comical.

“Of course.” The boy was not ashamed to speak his mind and didn’t want Leah to look down on him. “A match means a pair. Like daddy and mommy, uncle and aunt…”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Leah hurriedly covered the boy’s mouth, afraid that he would continue.

The tips of her ears were turning red.

Han’s gaze casually flickered Leah’s way. That was when he caught sight of her reddened ears.

There was a faint amusement in his eyes.

“Oh, there you are, Ms. White!” A nurse rushed up to them.

Leah got up and asked, “Yes?”

“You’ve been discharged. Your friend is here to check you out,” the nurse answered. That was when she noticed Han who was standing beside her.

The man was tall and handsome and gave off an imposing air.

The nurse blushed. “Is he your boyfriend, Ms. White? You’re both a match made in heaven.”

Leah did not know what to say.

She couldn’t afford to explain any further.

…

Leah and Ian returned to Linkville that afternoon.

As soon as he entered through the door, Sasha greeted Ian. “You’re finally back Ian. I miss you so much.”

Ian felt conflicted when he laid eyes on Sasha.

He hadn’t known his heart back then. He saw his close interactions with Sasha as something shared between siblings.

And yet…

He turned to look at Leah.

He thought that he might have found the person he really wanted to be with.

So, he kept his distance from Sasha. His tone grew cold and distant. “Yeah, there were some small mishaps here and there.”

“It’s alright. The trip went smoothly, yes?” Mrs. White smiled at Leah.

Leah thought of what Sullivan Simmons had said to her and nodded with a smile. “It went well. Mr. Simmons is very appreciative of me.”

“Really? It would be great if you joined the orchestra.” Mrs. White held her hand as she praised her. “I just know the daughter of the Whites wouldn’t be lacking.”

Ian also smiled at Leah, affection dripping from his eyes.

Sasha, who watched the scene, felt a tremendous hatred in her heart.

She clenched her hands tightly in fists as the look in her eyes darkened.

Why…?

All this was supposed to be mine. But everything changed ever since Leah showed up!

She had to drive Leah out!