Chapter 238
Chapter 238
For the entire afternoon, Naomi and Wendy did not return. Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
Meanwhile, Leanna was slowly getting the hang of things. She was not as clueless as she used to be during the day when it came to taking care of the baby.
In actuality, the baby slept most of the time. When he woke up, Leanna would either grab a toy and play with him, or get Aidan to make some milk.
Although the b*stard kept a cold expression throughout—albeit full of reluctance—he did not decline for some reason.
The afternoon sunlight shone on his face, and for a dazed moment, Leanna thought she was seeing things.
As if they were a family of three and everything was perfectly natural…
Sensing her gaze, Aidan looked at her. "What's wrong?"
Leanna pursed her lips and rose to her feet. "Please help me take care of the baby, President Pearson. I'm going out for a bit."
With that, she did not even wait for his approval before hastily walking out of the yard.
She walked along the street for a few minutes, then came upon the spot where she and Aidan used to
cruise around the lake.
She stood under the shade of a tree as she gazed in the distance. Her expression was calm, but her thoughts were unfathomable.
Some time later, footsteps resounded behind her before the slender upright figure stood next to her.
Leanna took a deep breath. "Why are you here, President Pearson? You're supposed to look after the baby."
"He's sleeping, so there's not much to do. He can't run anyway." Aidan glanced sideways at her. "If I don't come out, you're the one who's going to run away."
"I just came out for some fresh air." She lowered her gaze.
With that, she looked at Aidan again. "President Pearson, can you leave me alone for a bit? I don't want to see you right now."
He responded indifferently, "When have you ever wanted to see me?"
Leanna fell silent.
He had a point, but she was feeling irritable and sullen right now. Just the mere sight of him irritated her.
"I mean it. I just want to be alone for now," said Leanna with a solemn expression.
At that moment, someone in the boat near the dock asked in local dialect if they wanted to hop on.
Leanna affirmed, then took two steps down the stairs. Subsequently, she looked at Aidan and reminded, "Don't follow me. Just spare me some kindness."
Aidan remained silent.
After getting onto the boat, Leanna found herself drifting slowly into the distance. When the man could no longer see her figure, he finally averted his gaze ever so slowly.
Suddenly, Jonathan popped up out of nowhere, asking in a quiet voice, "President Pearson, do you wish to go after her?"
"No, it's fine," Aidan responded calmly.
He knew what Leanna was thinking.
Turning around, he glanced at Jonathan. "I asked you to stay inside, didn't I? What are you doing out here?"
"Madam Fletcher and her friend have returned," replied Jonathan.
Some time later, he answered a call before informing, "President Pearson, everything is ready. Do we still proceed with the plan?"
Aidan gazed in the distance, his tone calm as he said, "Tell them to clean it up. I'm not going."
"Understood, sir."
With that, Jonathan left.
In reality, Aidan came to Highside this time to deal with Anna himself.
However, he did not expect to run into Leanna here.
I guess President Pearson has changed his mind.
On the lake.
Leanna stared into the distance and her expression was mournful.
If her child were still alive, he might be a few months old by now.
He would probably be like Wendy's grandson and lie worry-free in a cradle. He would smile whenever he saw her, and he would purse his lips and threaten to cry if Aidan appeared.
Leanna hugged her knees and her thoughts drifted uncontrollably far away.
Time passed and the sun slowly set. The sky also darkened gradually as the cold wind blew in intermittent breezes.
Leanna could not help but sneeze a few times, so she said to the boatman, "I would like to head back now."
"Oh, sure!" The boatman paddled as he chatted with her, "This is your second time here, isn't it?"
She nodded. "I got in your boat last time as well."
"I knew it. You looked very familiar earlier. I remember you came with your husband last time. It's been a few months and I remember recommending a few tourist spots to him back then. How were they? Not bad, right? Our love lock bridge works wonders. All the couples who went there stay together forever."
Stunned, Leanna took awhile to regain her composure.
No wonder Aidan crossed half of a city to bring me somewhere so far for a meal last time. It was because of this.
As the boat reached the dock, the entire sky was already covered in gray.
When Leanna was getting off the boat, she accidentally stepped into the air as she was distracted by her thoughts. She almost tripped and staggered, but at that moment, a large hand supported her steadily.
After regaining her balance, Leanna was silent for a few seconds before asking, "Have you been waiting here all this while, President Pearson?"
"Yes. If you got too depressed and jumped into the lake, I can save you quicker."
Leanna gritted her teeth and suppressed the urge to step on his feet without sparing him a glance as she ascended the steps and left in strides.
Trailing behind, Aidan asked in a softer voice, "Are you feeling better?"
"I can't feel better when I see you, President Pearson."
"Then, try to overcome it or just close your eyes."
Leanna was speechless.
She felt that she must be very fortunate to be alive right now despite the infinite times he had angered her.
Just as she arrived at the entrance to Naomi's house and was about to head in, Aidan grabbed her wrist. "Let me bring you somewhere else."
Pausing in her tracks, Leanna mocked on purpose, "Not the love lock bridge again, I hope?"
"If you want to, we can actually do that."
"No, thank you!" She gritted her teeth.
Aidan curved his thin lips, then pulled her along and stuffed her into the black Maybach parked at the side.
After a twenty-minute drive, the car pulled up at the jetty.
On the surface of the sea was a cruise ship, which was slowly departing away.
Leanna turned to look at Aidan, slightly confused.
He held the steering wheel with one hand as his long fingers lightly tapped on it. "Anna is on that ship."
"Oh," Leanna answered after a long while.
Aidan looked at the cruise ship and uttered slowly, "Leanna, I'll make them pay for everything they did to you."
"Even so, you can't change the ending." Leanna's expression was calm.
"No one knows how things will end until we've reached the ending."
Leanna turned around, feeling as if Aidan was hinting at something.
Still, from his way of putting it, he probably would not tell her.
When the cruise ship sailed into the distance, Aidan finally averted his gaze and restarted the engine before stepping on the gas pedal to leave.
On their way back, Leanna leaned against the window and stared dazedly at the lights as their shadows flickered outside.
She had sighed for the umpteenth time when she looked up to see that they had pulled up at the entrance to the old street where the love lock bridge was located.
Leanna widened her eyes in disbelief as she stared at the b*stard next to her. "President Pearson, you —"
Yet, Aidan's expression was completely earnest. "You wanted to come here, didn't you?"