Victoria_Xoxo

He chuckled. “What’s with the face?”

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re blushing.” His voice held a teasing lit, and I could practically hear the smirk behind it.

“Oh.” I raised a hand to my cheek, rubbing absently, only to feel the warmth spreading across my skin. My lips twisted into a small, guilty smile.

Leo’s eyes gleamed with amusement. There was something about the way he looked at me—steady, knowing—that made me uneasy. Not because I felt uncomfortable, but because I had spent so long misunderstanding him.

Why hadn’t I seen his loyalty from the start? Why had I assumed he wanted me for business, for something transactional? A pang of guilt settled in my chest.

“This place is…” I started, glancing around, searching for words.

He leaned back slightly, one arm draped over the chair. “Deserving of a heiress,” he finished smoothly. “I had a work break.”

A warm rush of gratitude filled me, but it was quickly dampened by a lingering thought. Cassie had mentioned something earlier—something about Ophelia storming into Leo’s office. My fingers curled slightly against the tablecloth.

Kill Lila!

Today was surprisingly the first time Mr Gilmore was displaced from his room that he stayed in for a long time. I and Grin Hilda helped him out of his dark cold room, and man, his eyes narrowed on their own, he limped and the dementia was taking a heavy toll on him.

We settled him on the dining table where he requested Lila's presence. I feared he was going to discover the imposter wasn't Lila but some stranger, and probably threw a fit but Ophelia assured me otherwise.

"Lilaaa, where's she?" He threw the question at Grin Hilda as she set his plate and spoon.

"She'll be out in a jiffy." She answered hurriedly, took a brief glance at where I stood behind Mr Gilmore, then faced down.

26. Fine Deception. Mason's Pov