Chapter 30 – The Truth in His Eyes(Leonidas’ POV)

The estate was the same as it had always been—grand, elegant, and lifeless.

Or at least, it had been lifeless.

Until her.

Leonidas stepped through the doors, his presence commanding the immediate attention of the servants. They greeted him with bows and murmured welcomes, but he barely acknowledged them.

His focus was elsewhere.

His eyes searched for her, his chest tightening with an anticipation he wasn't accustomed to feeling.

And then—there she was.

Standing near the staircase, waiting.

A sight so delicate, so painfully his, that he had to force himself to move slowly, to suppress the reckless urge to close the distance between them.

She had changed—a soft, flowing dress hugged her frame, her hair cascading in waves over her shoulders.

His gaze flickered downward.

She was wearing the bracelet.

A dark, satisfied smirk ghosted over his lips.

She had kept it on.

The sight pleased him more than it should have.

But what pleased him more—she wasn't avoiding him.

She was waiting for him.

"It suits you," he murmured, his voice lower than intended.

She blinked, startled, and then, with a slight hesitance, lifted her wrist to glance at the bracelet.

"I… it's beautiful," she said softly.

Leonidas stepped closer.

She didn't move away.

Good.

He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Her breath caught.

Her body tensed, just barely.

She wanted to ask something.

He could see it in her eyes, the way she struggled with the words, with the weight of whatever had been on her mind since he left this morning.

But she said nothing.

And neither did he.

Not yet.

Instead, he simply offered, "Dinner?"

She nodded.

And just like that, he won again.

She was hiding something.

Leonidas watched her carefully as they sat across from each other at the long dining table, their meal elegantly prepared.

She was always quiet, always hesitant. But tonight, there was something different.

She was thinking.

Too much.

And if there was one thing Leonidas didn't like, it was not knowing what was on her mind.

He picked up his wine glass, swirling the deep red liquid before taking a slow sip.

She glanced at him, as if debating something, and then—

"How was work today?" she asked.

Leonidas lowered his glass.

That wasn't what she had wanted to say.

He could see it in the way she shifted slightly, in the way her grip on her fork tightened.

She was changing the subject.

He smirked slightly.

She was terrible at lying.

"Long," he replied smoothly, his voice even. "But my mind wasn't there."

Her lips parted slightly, and for a brief moment, she looked uncertain.

Leonidas leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his dark gaze locking onto hers.

"Is there something you'd like to ask me, Anastasia?"

She flinched, her eyes darting away.

His smirk grew.

So there was something.

Interesting.

She quickly shook her head. "No, I was just… asking."

Leonidas hated lies.

But hers?

Hers amused him.

Because she thought she could hide from him.

But there was nothing—**nothing—**she could ever keep from him.

Not for long.

Instead of returning to his study, he surprised her.

"Walk with me," he said, rising from his seat.

Anastasia blinked, startled. "A walk?"

Leonidas extended his hand.

She hesitated only a moment before placing her fingers in his.

The small gesture pleased him far too much.

Outside, the night air was cool, the scent of roses lingering from the garden. Lanterns flickered softly, casting golden light across the path.

They walked in silence at first.

But it wasn't uncomfortable.

If anything, it was… peaceful.

"Did you go outside today?" he asked, his voice smooth.

She nodded. "I spent some time here in the afternoon."

He tilted his head slightly.

But she said nothing else.

No mention of what else she had done.

No mention of the key she had found.

Ah.

So that was it.

His jaw tensed for a fraction of a second.

She had discovered something.

And yet, she wasn't telling him.

That was… unexpected.

His little Anastasia was keeping secrets.

How interesting.

Leonidas could feel it.

She was about to ask.

Her fingers fidgeted against the fabric of her dress, her lips parting slightly.

This was it.

But then—

She closed her mouth.

He exhaled sharply through his nose, amused and a little frustrated.

She was too timid.

Too afraid to voice what was weighing her down.

But that was fine.

She would crack soon enough.

She always did.

Stopping beneath a vine-covered archway, he turned to her.

His fingers brushed against her wrist, grazing the bracelet.

"You kept it on," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

She swallowed. "It's beautiful."

Leonidas smirked.

"Good." His grip on her wrist tightened slightly.

"It's meant to stay there."

Her breath hitched.

He could feel her pulse beneath his fingertips.

So fragile.

So helplessly his.

When they returned inside, he didn't let her go.

Instead, he led her to the lounge, pulling her onto his lap.

She stiffened for only a moment before relaxing.

His grip tightened around her waist, his fingers brushing idly against her side.

He leaned in, voice low.

"You were deep in thought when I arrived earlier," he murmured. "You're still thinking about it now."

She inhaled sharply.

"…It's nothing."

Leonidas chuckled, but it wasn't a pleasant sound.

"You're a terrible liar, Anastasia."

She shifted against him, uncomfortable.

But she didn't pull away.

And that?

That was his victory.

As she drifted off in his arms, he whispered something without thinking.

"I meant to bring you here much sooner."

Her body tensed.

But before she could react, he closed his eyes.

Leonidas fell asleep first.

His grip on her remained firm—too firm.

As if he was afraid she would slip away.

But Anastasia?

She stayed awake.

Listening.

Thinking.

And replaying his words over and over again.

"I meant to bring you here much sooner."

Why?

When?

For how long… had he wanted her?