A Matter of Wife and Love
Chapter 88

Chapter 88 Leo Is Disappointed Because Of Elyse's Behavior

Jodie turned her head and walked over to Leo. "Leony, Elyse donating her corneas to you is not just about you; it involves our entire family! We can't possibly mistreat someone who has contributed so much, right? I heard that there is a world-class ophthalmology medical team that has successfully cured many patients initially deemed unsavable by doctors. Let's give Miss Clayton a proper examination. If there is something wrong with her eyes, we have to help her even if it costs half of our family's fortune."

As soon as these words fell, Elyse and Laura froze again, their ears abuzz.

There was no way Jodie would do something so kind.

She must have heard something somewhere, which was why she was trying to start something here.

"Jodie, this is between your brother and me. Can we solve this ourselves?" Elyse kept up with her flawless image and whispered as she held in her worries.

Her elegant and noble appearance highlighted how ignorant, rowdy, and vexatious Jodie was.

Jodie was so angry that she was about to blow a gasket. She raised her head to refute, only to see that Leo was massaging his nose bridge.

"Go home now, Jodie," he muttered.

"But Leony!" Jodie stomped her feet angrily.

However, she knew Leo's temper, which was why she stormed off without saying anything else.

Elyse felt the tightness in her chest relax slightly after she managed to get rid of Jodie. She finally felt more alive.

Laura, too, let out a breath of relief.

Leo turned to look at Laura. "Please get us two cups of coffee, Miss Harris."

"Yes, Mr. Alston." Laura then hurried off.

"Leony!" Elyse hopped over and linked her arm through his with a smile on her face. "Jodie is still young. Don't get mad at her."

Instead of replying to her, he opened the door and brought her into his office before closing it with a click.

A bashful smile quickly hung on Elyse's lips when she saw him close the door.

I bet he wants to spend some hot and steamy time alone with me.

Even though Leo had suggested they reconcile after returning to the country, they hadn't done anything more intimate than holding hands.

Elyse had long wanted to get closer to him.

Hence, she took the initiative to lean in and press her lips against his, only for him to evade her. With his long fingers pressed against the surface of the table, he suddenly announced, "Elyse, I'll take you to get your eyes checked."

"What?" Elyse, who was immersed in the joy of being alone with Leo, immediately froze in place when she heard that.

She began to tense up again.

Leo proceeded to make a call right there and then. "I'll get you the best ophthalmologist there is!"

"No!" She was so frightened that she panicked and jumped over to snatch his phone. She then blurted out loudly, "Sorry, but we don't need an ophthalmologist. Wrong number! Sorry!"

She only realized that something was wrong after she said that.

She forced herself to lift her chin and look at Leo, who glanced at her with eyes as deep and gloomy as the sea.

His eyes were clearly on the phone she was holding.

Seeing this, she lowered her hand very slowly before she looked at the phone screen.

It was empty.

Leo hadn't called anyone at all!

Wham!

It felt like something had hit the back of her head hard as she stood there in a daze.

She couldn't think of anything.

Her eyes were empty before fear, unease, guilt, and embarrassment swiftly flooded them.

She quietly bit her lip and the next moment, she was rushing at him and holding his sleeve tight. "Leony, I'll explain!"

He didn't make a sound.

He didn't scold her or yell. He didn't even ask what was going on.

But it was exactly this lack of response that scared Elyse.

She felt as though there were thousands of stones pressing against her sanity, and she was on the verge of breaking down. Now that she had completely been defeated, she abruptly covered her palms over her face. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she cried.

Leo continued to gaze at her with calm eyes. He wasn't surprised at all.

He already got the answer when he was sounding her out earlier.

However, it was evident that he was disappointed.

"What the hell happened to you?" he asked in a soft yet cold voice.

Elyse started to tremble all over. She was too embarrassed to face him!

However, she suddenly realized that he must be trying to protect her dignity by getting Jodie and Laura out of there even though he had his suspicions.

He still has feelings for me.

She immediately collected herself and pitifully tugged on his sleeves, her tears falling like waterfalls. "I... I only did this because I care too much about you. Leo, it's all because I love you!"

He looked down at the hand holding his sleeve with a dark gaze before slowly peeling her fingers off him one at a time.

Now that she was grabbing at air, she staggered and cried even harder. "Am I wrong for wanting to cherish you now, Leony? I know it's wrong to do this, but my love for you is true. Don't you want me to treat you wholeheartedly? I'm trying my best, Leony!"

"Elyse Clayton, whatever you claim you're 'trying your best' at, it's disgusting!" Leo finally spoke again. However, his words were as cold and hard as ice.

She peered at him in disbelief upon hearing that. It wasn't anger that covered his face; instead, his tense face was cold. However, that coldness felt hotter than a fire that burned her, making her a trembling

mess.

Elyse couldn't think of anything and it was as if there was an incessant buzzing in her ears.

Anxious, she threw herself in his arms to hug him.

However, he held her back with his hand.

They continued to stay at arm's length as he refused to let her get any closer than this.

"Do you think what you did is fair for the woman who donated her cornea to me?" he uttered.

She couldn't be more ashamed than this.

No matter what, she was a proud and loved woman. There was no way she would want to do something like this.

She didn't say anything for fear that her words would drown her.

Leo was a loyal man. Elyse knew that she wouldn't have a place in his heart if he managed to replace the woman who donated her corneas.

She tightly held onto his wrist. The more desperate she was, the more she wanted to get herself out of this pickle. And so, she started screaming again. "Weren't you the one who said that the woman who donated her corneas without wanting anything in return did so voluntarily? If she doesn't want to take the credit for it, what's wrong with me borrowing it for a bit to deepen our relationship?!" She was only hit by realization after she said all that.

What did I just...

Even though this was what she thought, she knew better than to say it out loud.

It was too late to take her words back now.

As expected, the disgust on Leo's face grew. He didn't even want to look at her a second longer as he pulled his hand back. "I'll have Laura send you home."

Even though he didn't say anything more, Elyse had a feeling they might be over!

Not wanting to give up, she looked at him. "What about us? When are we getting engaged?"

Despite hearing that, Leo only looked back at her without giving any response with his arms hanging limply by his sides.

Elyse suddenly felt embarrassed.

How could she dare to hope he would accept something even she couldn't come to terms with?

The engagement was the least of her concern now.

Leo turned away and made a call. "Laura, send Miss Clayton home."

After that, he strode out of the office without saying anything else.

Elyse felt her world crumbling as she looked at his retreating figure that radiated coldness.

I'm doomed!

There's no going back this time!

But this is not the ending I want!

Just as Laura pushed the door open and Leo was about to leave, Elyse rushed over and shut the door.

With her back pressed against the door, she forced herself to meet his eyes. "Leony, you have no right to push me away!"