When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)
Chapter 226

"Let's talk outside." Leo suddenly interrupted her. Then, he turned back around and set Bria on the ground before patting her tiny head. "I need to head outside to talk about something. I'll come back and play with you later."

Her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at him, but she still nodded.

While standing back up, he looked at Amelie and informed her, "I'll be back soon."

That surprised Amelie. Is he informing me of his whereabouts? Is there a need to do so? Perhaps this is the courtesy between the guest and the host?

After hearing that Leo was willing to talk outside, Elyse took the initiative to maneuver her wheelchair out the door. Following that, he strode outside.

Amelie considerately closed the door to prevent hearing about their conversation. When she turned around, she saw Bria still standing in her spot.

The smile on the kid's face was long gone, and she was currently looking at Amelie with her large eyes, tightly pouting her lips. "Will Daddy leave with that woman?" she asked.

Internally, she hoped that her daddy would stay because what child would not want that?

Amelie walked over and squatted down before embracing her. "Your daddy has his life and work, so he can't always stay by your side, but he's already trying his best to make time to be with you. So, you have to understand his situation. Alright?"

Although divorced, Amelie never wanted to become enemies with Leo, especially before their children. Therefore, she always tried to be as fair to him as possible.

"I understand." Bria was still unhappy, but she no longer felt conflicted.

"How about we play with your building blocks?" Amelie held Bria's hand.

Outside, Leo stood in the corridor that was coincidentally adjacent to the door to Amelie's home. When he saw her closing the door, he could not help but frown.

In the meantime, Elyse stopped her wheelchair before him and watched his every expression. Her eyes were slightly red as she pleaded, "Leony, I'm being bullied by everyone. My manager ignores me and turns a blind eye when the newbies steal my jobs. They've already taken away several acting roles from me. Even those sponsors are humiliating me! Please, help me."

At that, he finally withdrew his gaze from Amelie's door and looked at Elyse with a calm and emotionless countenance. "Did you ask me to come here just for this?"

"I don't have any other choice. That's why..." She bit her lips as tears fell from her eyes. Both of her hands clenched into fists, which made her look pitiful.

Though she was unwilling to complain to Leo, she could not do anything without his help. If she could, she would instead accomplish something before coming to him so she could show him how excellent she was. After considering her situation, she could only plead with him for help.

"For Ellen's sake, please help me."

Leo did not reply to her immediately, but his emotionless visage became gloomier and more distant. As the pressure around them dropped, which caused the air to dissipate, Elyse felt like she was struggling to breathe.

"Since this has nothing to do with Ellen, you can leave." Once he finished speaking, he walked away without any mercy.

"Leony!" At the sight of a merciless man, she could not hold back her gushing tears. "You can't leave me alone. You've said that although you can't return my feelings, you will repay Ellen's kindness!"

It felt embarrassing to use her sister to ask Leo for help, but Elyse could not care less about that. She was willing to do anything just to stand up again and crush those b*stards that hurt her!

"You can do nothing and live a peaceful life with the money I gave you." His voice sounded cold, and the meaning was clear-he would only make sure she would not starve.

Elyse did not know how to respond. What's the use of only avoiding starvation? Without actual power and status, I can't avenge all those grievances and humiliations I suffered! However, Leo was not in the mood to care about her feelings and had already reached Amelie's door by then. He pulled the door open, eager to return and be with Amelie and Bria. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard a voice yelling from behind, "Ellen. Ellen is back!"

The hand on the doorknob froze, and his lightning-like gaze shot at Elyse. It was so forceful and strong that it made her shiver in fear.

"Say that again!" When he said so, he had arrived before her wheelchair and gripped tightly onto the armrests. Then, he pulled her and her wheelchair over.

Since he was close, his gaze seemed more forceful and sharper than earlier, causing Elyse to stammer a while before muttering, "E-Ellen is back. I-It's true." She shrank her body, obviously terrified by his actions.

Leo fell silent again while staring straight at her like he was trying to see through her. A while later, he stood up without saying anything and entered the house.

Elyse was at a loss for words. He's leaving? Does he not care about Ellen's return?

"Daddy!" Bria jumped to her feet excitedly and disregarded her building blocks upon hearing the door lock. Then, she ran over and threw herself into Leo's arms.

He squatted and caught her before helping her steady herself. "I have something important I need to deal with. I'll visit you next time."

In response, she did not speak but pouted. She wanted to ask him to stay but remembered that Amelie said he was swamped.

He looked down and leaned his forehead against Bria's before rising to his feet and thanking Amelie, "Thank you for having me over tonight."

After saying that, he strode away.

An hour later, his limited-edition Porsche Cayenne stopped before the entrance of a small cottage. The entrance was in an alley with tall walls around it, making it seem quiet and secluded.

At the door was Michael, who had been waiting for some time. When he saw the car approaching, he quickly came forward to welcome the guest, after which the door opened, revealing Leo. "Mr. Alston, y-you're here," Michael greeted him while flatteringly bowed.

Since he was not tall, to begin with, he seemed even shorter and more slavish after bowing.

"Dad." Elyse opened the door and called to him.

Then, Michael sprinted over and helped her get her wheelchair.

"Where's Ellen?" she asked.

He pointed inside the cottage. "Inside. She's inside!"

As soon as his words fell, Leo dashed over at the speed of lightning.

The courtyard only had one single-story house. He scanned every corner of the cottage and walked toward the corridor that led to the rooms.

There were three rooms in the cottage, and two of them were open and empty. Therefore, he merely scanned across them before staring at the only closed door. He reached out and grabbed the handle. "Mr. Alston!" Michael ran over anxiously and grabbed Leo's hand. "You can't open this door!"

"Why not?" After shaking Michael's hand away in frustration, Leo questioned, "Isn't Big Eyes back? Where is she?"

Michael kept scratching his head while sneaking a peek at Elyse.

Then, she rolled her wheelchair over and explained, "Leony, don't be so anxious and hear me out. Ellen has been through a lot, so she's gotten very timid and easily terrified. You'll scare her if you barge in like that."

"Why didn't you tell me when we were coming here?" Leo's gaze looked furious.

"That's because... I forgot to tell you," she replied quickly.

His sharp gaze made her afraid to look into his eyes.

“Leony, truth be told, Ellen has been back for a few days, but she isn't mentally stable. That's why I didn't tell you about it. She screams at everyone and won't stop no matter what you say or do. Also, she's seriously malnourished and would faint if she gets too emotional. Would you bear to see her pass out from seeing you?"

At that, Leo slowly fixed his eyes on that door. Elyse lies pathologically, so her words aren't believable.

Therefore, he reached out and planned to push the door open forcefully.

Frantic, Elyse quickly came forward and leaned over to hug his legs. "Leony, please. Don't scare Ellen anymore. She's already been through hell! Sob!" she cried in pity as tears streamed down her cheeks. At that moment, he could only glance down at her.