Chapter Seventy-Two

EVELYN’S POV:

Leonard picked me up in a bridal style and carried me back into the house. He brought me to a room filled with medical equipment. Almost immediately, a doctor appeared, setting his focus on my injured leg as Leonard gently placed me on the bed.

The doctor began to examine my injury. As he explained its severity to Leonard, I could see the unrelenting seriousness etched on his face. His expression was dark and unreadable, but I could sense his frustration.

I, however, wasn’t ready to deal with his anger or frustration. I only wanted to go home, to speak with my father and clear my head of the turmoil that was growing with each passing moment.

The doctor administered pain relief and carefully wrapped my leg in bandages. He advised me to avoid moving it unnecessarily.

“She won’t have any reason to move it,” Leonard interjected, his tone firm.

Once the doctor left, I turned to Leonard. “I want to go home. Can you take me?”

Before he could respond, his mother walked into the room. Her expression, unlike before, was softer, almost remorseful. She approached me with an apologetic air.

“Evelyn,” she said gently, “you have to understand that I had no idea what was going on. I’m deeply sorry for the way I acted earlier. I should have thought things through before speaking. Please know you are always welcome here, and you have my blessings with Leonard.”

Her words were surprising. I didn’t know whether Leonard had compelled her to say them or if she truly meant them. But as I listened, her sincerity was evident.

“It’s alright, ma’am. I hold no grudge against you,” I replied, though my heart was still heavy. “But I’d really like to go home. Please, can you ask Leonard to take me?”

For a brief moment, guilt flickered across her face, and I knew she genuinely regretted her earlier actions. But no matter how sincere she was, I still wanted to go home.

“Evelyn, dear,” she said, her voice tender, “I want to make things right with you. Please stay. I won’t get tire of hosting you, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the changes you’ve brought to Leonard. You’ve helped him become a man.”

“Changed him?” I asked, startled by her statement.

She nodded, smiling. “Before you came into his life, Leonard was... different. Uninterested in everything, disconnected. You’ve brought him to life.”

She went on to share stories about Leonard’s past—stories, only then I realized why it had taken him so long to ask me out. Though I hadn’t been with him for long, her words made me feel like I’d made a meaningful impact.

As her stories unfolded, the tension in my heart began to ease. That night, Leonard’s mom and I spent time bonding, and I started to see her as a mother figure.

Still, the thought of Dana’s threats lingered in my mind. Her words and the so-called evidence she claimed to have against my father refused to leave me in peace. I needed to speak with him, but for now, Leonard’s mother seemed intent on keeping me close.

The next morning, she made breakfast herself. I joined her in the kitchen, engaging in lighthearted conversation as she cooked. Her warmth was contagious, and I began to enjoy her company.

Leonard eventually joined us at the dining table, his face lighting up when he saw how well his mother and I were getting along. He didn’t need to say anything—his joy was clear.

For the first time in days, I felt at peace. The only thing missing was my father’s presence.

As I tried to reconcile my thoughts about Dana, I reminded myself that her words were manipulative, and the evidence she had could easily have been fabricated. Still, I needed to know why my father had offered her money. Deep down, I believed in his innocence.

During breakfast, I couldn’t help but compliment Leonard’s mother on her cooking. “Now I see where Leonard got his culinary skills from,” I said with a smile.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “He cooks?”

“Not just cooks—his meals are perfect,” I replied, praising him.

Leonard, trying to suppress a blush, looked away. It was the first time I’d ever seen him blush, and it was endearing.

“This boy has truly become a man,” his mother said, her pride evident.

We continued our meal with lighthearted conversations, and when we were done, Leonard carefully carried me back to my room, making sure not to aggravate my injury.

Once inside, he took my hands and made a familiar promise: to always stand by me. Though I’d heard it many times before, this time it felt more genuine.

Later, Leonard helped me to the bathroom and bathed me gently. His care and attention were unwavering. The doctor arrived again to check on my leg, reapplying medication and wrapping it in fresh bandages. Thankfully, the process was less painful than the day before.

After the doctor left, Leonard took a quick shower. He walked out of the bathroom dripping wet, heading toward the towel on the bed. Our eyes met, and I couldn’t stop the blush that crept onto my face. Embarrassed, I looked away.

“You can look all you want,” he teased, chuckling softly.

When he finished dressing, he led me to the balcony. We sat there, enjoying the city view while sipping on refreshing drinks.

As the breeze brushed against us, I decided it was time to open up. I told Leonard everything—Dana’s threats, the messages, and how they were gone. His calm reaction surprised me.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said simply.

His composure unnerved me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking or planning, but I chose to trust him and pushed the troubling thoughts aside, allowing myself to enjoy the moment.

My phone buzzed, interrupting the peace. It was a call from my father.

“Dad!” I answered quickly, his voice filled with concern as he asked about my wellbeing.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, though my voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty. After a brief conversation, I hung up, relieved to have heard from him.

Moments later, an email notification popped up on my phone, followed by another, and another.

I hesitated to open them, fear gnawing at me. But Leonard urged me on, his calm demeanor steadying me.

With trembling hands, I opened the emails.

What I read made my heart drop. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t stop them from spilling over.