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!

The date I had with Lila still lingered in my memory, vivid and warm, like a treasured photograph. It was the best thing that had happened to me in a long while—a rare evening where reality felt better than any dream. I couldn't believe that everything I had ever wished for with Lila had come true—though, admittedly, not without some complications.

I'll never forget the glint in her eyes when I told her how much I liked her. There was something electric in her expression, a blend of surprise and curiosity. And then came her playful question, half-serious, half-teasing: "So… is it true you turn into a beast every full moon?" I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity. "Not quite," I had replied, my smile masking the truth behind her joke.

Because, well—she wasn't entirely wrong.

50. Trauma. Leo pov