Chapter 48
Leanne, as she had for over a decade, took the scolding without a word of defense or retort. Jennifer was heartbroken and didn’t carry on for long before she dismissively waved Leanne away.
When Leanne emerged, Curtis’ figure was nowhere to be seen. He must have left with. Suzan, not bothering to wait for her.
Leanne felt no disappointment, no sense of loss. It was almost an expected realization.
Unfortunately, this place was too remote, and Uncle Kyle who lived there had not been in the best of health, spending his days convalescing in his house halfway up the hill.
Getting a cab here was easy, but hailing one from the mountain was a different story.
Leanne walked along the winding mountain road for a while, watching with frustration as her increased fare on the ride-sharing app still attracted no drivers.
She was about to bite the bullet and increase the fare even more when Phillip’s carp up beside her.
“Need a lift, Anne?” he offered.
“No, it’s alright,” Leanne said quickly. “I’m waiting for Curtis.”
Phillip’s steady gaze held hers for a few seconds, making her embarrassed.
pulled
She had only wanted a plausible excuse to decline, but it was too easily seen through. Curtis was long gone, and Phillip, his older brother, must have known.
“Just get in,” Phillip said, without pressing further.
In the end, Leanne climbed into the car.
After a moment of hesitation, she chose to sit in the backseat.
Having just made a spectacle of herself in front of everyone, she couldn’t bring herself to sit beside him.
Although it might seem like she was treating Phillip as a chauffeur, compared to that jerk Curtis, Phillip was a gentleman and would probably not take offense.
Lean opened her social media and scrolled through until she saw Suzan’s morning
ist landed.”
photo showed her at the airport tarmac, her long hair and trench coat-billowing in the wind as she looked off into the distance, the picture oozing artistic flair.
Leanne’s eyes, however, were drawn to the corner of the private jet in the background.
It was a Gulfstream G650, Curtis’ private jet, which he used for his trips between
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Emberland and home. He had apparently brought Suzan back.
As they neared the city, Leanne received a call from the hospital. One of the patients had at complicated condition, and Ruben wanted her to come back and consult on the treatment
plan
After hanging up, Leanne spoke up, “You can drop me off at the subway entrance.”
“Headed to the hospital?” Phillip guessed, catching the gist of her phone conversation. “It’s not far. I’ll take you there.”
At the hospital, Leanne stepped out of the car and leaned down to thank him.
Phillip replied simply, “No need for thanks. We’re family.”
Leanne thought to herself, not for much longer.
Even on weekends, the hospital didn’t close its doors. For public hospital doctors, working overtime was the norm and working extra hours was standard fare.
By the time Leanne finished her shift, it was late. She returned home, exhausted, to replace a light on in the living room.
Someone was there.
She set down her bag and looked over to see Curtis sitting on the couch, his left arm draped over the back, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, filling the air with its
scent.
His suit jacket was off, the high-quality black dress shirt making his features look more haughty and cold.
Upon seeing Leanne, he glanced at the time and his expression turned dark..
Leanne was tired, not just physically.
She changed her shoes and headed inside. As her foot hit the first stair, Curtis’ voice floated over.
“You seem pretty comfortable sitting next to my brother,” he casually mentioned, though his tone was hard to decipher. “Do you often sit with him when I’m not around?”
Leanne couldn’t be bothered to engage. “I made a mistake.”
A lash of mockery in Curtis’ laughter. “You mistaken your husband, eh? Did you have to be
with him to realize it wasn’t me?”
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