Chapter Seventy

LEONARD’S POV:

I headed back upstairs, where I met Evelyn struggling to put on her heels. I helped her out, and together, we left the room. As we were heading downstairs, a loud noise boomed from outside. Evelyn immediately clung to me, her body trembling with fear. I gently rubbed her palm to assure her that I was there, And she was safe. The noise grew louder, and she turned to me, her wide eyes filled with questions.

Understanding her unspoken words, I simply smiled and led her outside.

“No way,” she whispered, disbelief etched in her voice as her gaze landed on the helicopter waiting outside. She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of surprise and wonder.

I leaned in, placing a tender kiss on her lips.

“Uhmm... uhmm, make sure you both are safe,” came the unmistakable voice of Mr. Wyatt.

“Yes, Dad,” Evelyn responded softly, stepping into the helicopter. Soon, we were airborne, our hands intertwined the entire ride. The silence between us was filled with light conversation, stolen glances, and occasional kisses.

“I love you so much, Leonard,” Evelyn suddenly blurted out, her voice breaking the hum of the engine.

The confession caught me off guard. I smiled and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I love you too,” I whispered, though my voice was barely audible over the noise of the helicopter.

The view of the city from above was breathtaking—just like our relationship. Beautiful. Stunning. Perfect.

When we landed on an open field, a car was already waiting for us. The security was noticeably tight. We walked over to the car, and I opened the door for her.

“Thank you,” she said, flashing me a smile as she stepped in.

As the car rolled forward, I noticed her mood shift slightly. Her once-curious and playful demeanor seemed to fade into uncertainty.

“Where are we going?” she asked softly, her voice laced with hesitation.

“Why don’t we keep it a surprise?” I teased, flashing her a reassuring smile.

“But my curiosity might not let me survive the surprise. Can I at least get a hint?” she asked with a playful pout.

“Alright... it’s somewhere private,” I replied, keeping the mystery alive.

She didn’t seem entirely satisfied, but she didn’t press further. The rest of the drive was filled with lighthearted jokes, cuddles, and stolen kisses.

When we finally pulled up to the driveway of my mom’s house, Evelyn looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

“Where is this, Leonard?” she asked as we stepped out of the car.

“You’ll find out in a bit,” I teased, taking her hand and leading her inside.

In the living room, my mom stood with her gaze glued to the television. She didn’t even notice our presence. My attention shifted to the screen, where news about Evelyn’s dad’s case was being reported.

I glanced at Evelyn, who now had tears brimming in her eyes. I squeezed her hand gently, trying to reassure her that everything would be okay.

“Mom, do you think he’s guilty?” I asked, breaking the silence.

Startled, she turned around, her hand flying to her chest. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to surprise you,” I said with a small smile.

She sighed. “He might not be guilty, but why hasn’t he come forward to say anything yet? The last time anyone spoke on his behalf, it was his daughter. Since then, there’s been complete silence. Dana Gregory just released some so-called evidence, and with that, it’s hard not to believe her claims.”

“Mom, maybe he’s just taking his time to address things carefully,” I tried to reason with her.

Her gaze shifted to Evelyn, who was still holding onto me. My mom’s expression softened as her eyes lit up with recognition.

“Oh, son, you have company? I’m so sorry, my darling,” she said, motioning for Evelyn to come closer. She embraced her warmly.

After exchanging pleasantries, the cooks served dinner. As we sat down to eat, my mom’s curiosity seemed to grow.

“Your guest looks very familiar,” she finally said, her tone probing but polite.

“Mom, this is Evelyn Wyatt. She’s my girlfriend,” I introduced her curtly.

“Wyatt?” my mom repeated, her eyes widening in shock.

“Son...” She seemed to want to say something but held back. “We need to speak privately,” she finally said, her voice firm.

I glanced at Evelyn, who looked visibly uneasy. “Mom, can it wait until after the meal?” I asked.

She sighed, clearly displeased. “Don’t take too long,” she muttered before leaving the table.

I turned to Evelyn, who now had tears streaming down her cheeks. I took her hand, squeezing it gently. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”

After dinner, I led her to a guest room. “Evelyn, I’m so sorry. She’s not usually like this. I’ll go talk to her and sort things out, okay?”

She nodded silently, her eyes filled with emotion.

“Leonard, what has come over you?” she fired at me the moment I stepped in.

“Mom, don’t you think about how your words affect others? You displayed your disapproval in front of her without considering her emotions,” I said, my frustration evident.

“Who leaves one cousin for another?” she shot back. “I’m starting to believe Mr. Wyatt is guilty. Betrayal seems to run in their family. No wonder he—”

“Mom!” I interrupted sharply. “I’ll take anything from you, but I won’t let you talk about the woman I love like that. You have no idea what’s going on, so please, mind your words.”

“Leonard, you’re being unreasonable,” she said, shaking her head.

“No, Mom. Evelyn is an angel,” I insisted.

“An angel? What about Caleb? Think about this, son.”

I sighed, trying to calm myself. “Mom, there’s so much you don’t know. Let me explain.”

After what felt like hours of conversation, I managed to help her see things from my perspective. She eventually agreed to apologize to Evelyn for her behavior at dinner.

Feeling relieved, I went to call Evelyn, but when I opened the door to her room, it was empty.

“Evelyn?” I called out, but there was no response.

Panic ran through me as I searched every corner of the room, including the bathroom. She was nowhere to be found.

I stormed out, my heart racing, and immediately pressed the alarm button in the security room. An announcement was made to comb every inch of the house.

My mom sat on the couch, her face pale. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she blamed herself for the situation.

“She must be so hurt,” she whispered, her voice trembling.