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!

I strolled into the kitchen, craving a glass of blueberry juice. The moment the deep purple liquid filled my glass, memories of my grandfather surfaced. I wondered how he was doing. Had he eaten today? Was he being taken care of? My gut told me Ophelia had found new ways to manipulate his dementia, twisting his fragile mind to her advantage. And then there was Fiona—sly, opportunistic Fiona—who had made a habit of taking whatever I cherished. I couldn't believe we had ended up like this. It felt like we had switched places in some twisted fate, and the thought of it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I turned to see Cassie leaning against the counter, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.

I forced a polite smile. "Hi, Cassie."

45. Life in Leo's. Lila pov