Perfect Match: Irresistible Desire For You
Chapter 60

Leonard was shocked when he heard the name. He thought, ‘Is she none other than Ashley? As they say, you can wear out old iron shoes in a fruitless search, but by chance, you may replace something misplaced, which you hadn’t even looked for. I could not have expected such a coincidence: the girl I had independently chosen to be my granddaughter-in-law is already Joseph’s love interest.’ Mulling this over in his mind, Leonard felt happiness in heart. He replied in a placating and apologetic tone, “I am sorry, Zachary. I was unnecessarily aggressive in the moment. Please join me for dinner at my home when you have some free time. I hope to see you soon.”

The aggrieved Zachary had not yet recovered from Leonard’s attitude doing such a one-eighty, before the call was cut.

‘He casts me aside immediately after he has used me for what he wanted… I can understand though,’ Zachary thought. ‘He must be overjoyed that his frigid grandson is finally showing some signs of thawing. He probably just cannot contain his excitement and wanted to express his gratitude to me.’

Then Zachary realized that he had omitted to tell Leonard that this news was a secret, and he had leaked it to him. After careful consideration, Zachary felt that it was necessary to distance himself from this matter, or the consequences would be far-reaching.

To remedy the situation, Zachary called Leonard back posthaste. As soon as the call was answered, he did not waste time in explaining the situation. “Leonard, I forgot to tell you something. Don’t tell Joseph what I have just told you. Please!”

On the other end of the line, there was a moment of silence before Leonard responded in an unusual tone, “I understand.”

“Thanks. Sorry to have bothered you.” Zachary could hear the disappointment in Leonard’s voice. It was apparent that Leonard thought Zachary was being unnecessarily difficult and strict about the news. He had to purposely end the conversation and waited for Leonard to cut the call.

Leonard had actually been quite busy at the time. After hearing such great news, he had to make a plan. After hearing Zachary’s special instructions, he cut the call abruptly.

Since Zachary had told him that the name of Joseph’s “friend” was Ashley, Leonard had been in a state of excitement which lasted the rest of the day. As long as he imagined how wonderful the atmosphere in the mansion would be in the near future, he remained cheerful.

Leonard was apprehensive though. He knew that his grandson had a cold and unapproachable personality, so it would be difficult for him to win over a sharp woman such as Ashley. Therefore, Leonard spent the latter half of the day trying to devise a plan to speed up their romantic progress to ensure they would get married soon.

After carefully planning for the rest of the day and through the night, Leonard decided that the best idea was for him to invite Ashley over for having helped him on the last occasion they had seen each other. Leonard was active in his resolutions and ensured he carried out anything he had decided on doing. After careful execution of his plan, he succeeded in his purpose.

After finishing up her call with Leonard, Ashley had continued with planning her trip to Mexico. When she noticed it was almost time to see him, she neatened herself up and straightened her clothing, before getting into her car and driving to his home.

It took Ashley close to an hour to reach the address as provided by Leonard. Ashley had surmised that Leonard would have an ordinary residence. She thought he would live in the same state as the many elderly people she had assisted when she used to help at the old age home; she thought he would live in a small house. However, she was met by an expansive villa. She could see the sprawling, beautifully manicured gardens as she peered through the gate.

She repeatedly checked the address, thinking she must have come to the wrong place. Ashley remembered her first impression of Leonard, which was that he had an innate extraordinary demeanor. And now she had to admit she had been wrong. The old man was probably materially rich but his mind was in a poor state.

Just as Ashley was going over this in her head and pulled up to the mansion’s gate, it opened automatically. A middle-aged woman wearing servant’s attire came up to her and asked, “Are you Miss Guzman?”

“Hello! Yes, I am.” Ashley greeted her pleasantly.

“Hello, Miss Guzman. Our master has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Please drive in,” the servant said, respectfully.

Heading in the direction that the kindly servant had indicated, Ashley drove towards the mansion. Just as she had parked the car and began to alight from it, she was immediately met by Leonard who greeted her with a big smile. Ashley quickly finished jumping out of the car, nodded in greeting and said, “Hello, Leonard!”

“Ashley, nice to see you. Don’t be shy, come inside with me,” Leonard said warmly.

Following Leonard into the foyer, Ashley saw the mansion was richly decorated in a unique manner. From the outside, the house looked as if it were a classic mansion, with everything you would expect from such: a lawn, a swimming pool, a beautiful lake, a playground, and every other facility one could imagine. The inside was decorated in a more modern manner, showing aspects of fusion. There were many well-placed, elegant furniture. It was clear that this was the home of a very wealthy family.

At Leonard’s invitation, she took a seat in the lounge and a servant immediately handed her a cup of tea.

Leonard looked at Ashley, who was graciously sipping her tea, and asked kindly, “Ashley, do you like tea? If you don’t like it, we have other drinks, including coffee. Please feel at home here. Don’t be too reserved or feel as if you are just another guest.”

After taking a sip of tea, Ashley expressed her opinion on tea, “The tea ceremony is such a celebrated event. Tasting tea is an entire experience on its own, affecting your inner state of mind. This cup of Biluochun green tea is exquisite and sweet. Thank you for your hospitality, Leonard.”

Tea was her favorite drink. In Ashley’s opinion, tea was superior and more satisfying than any other drink, including coffee and juices. Not only did tea have health benefits, it was a significant and meaningful part of her country’s culture. Due to her love for tea, she had taken keen interest in the tea ceremony and could easily identify a type of tea just by tasting it.

Leonard had deeper understanding of Ashley. Seeing that she also loved tea and had taken the time to conduct research on it, he realized that they were two peas in a pod. He had to express his joy, “I did not expect you to be so knowledgeable about tea. I’m very impressed!”

The two of them began to passionately discuss the tea ceremony, making the atmosphere jovial and lively.

Later, Leonard took a walk with Ashley. The two of them chatted happily, getting along very well.

When it was time to cook, Leonard instructed the servants to leave the kitchen and give Ashley her space to cook. Leonard advised her that she cook for three, as his grandson would be joining them shortly.

At first, Leonard was afraid that Ashley may be tired, so he wanted to offer his assistance. However, Ashley was fond of the elderly and insisted that he relax rather than helping her. They eventually came to a compromise: Ashley would cook with the kitchen maid available for her instruction.