Chapter Sixty: Dirty Secrets

EVELYN’S POV:

He paused, his gaze piercing mine as though he was waiting for permission to speak. His intensity was palpable, but I said nothing. I just stood there, staring at him, my emotions swirling in a confusing storm of anger, hurt, and vulnerability.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me, and I barely made it to the bathroom in time before throwing up. My stomach churned violently, and tears streamed down my face as my body heaved. Leonard appeared moments later, crouching by my side. He helped me clean up without saying a word, his hands steady and comforting.

“I’ll be fine,” I murmured, my voice hoarse. “Just… excuse me for a moment. I need to take a bath.”

He nodded and left the bathroom, giving me the privacy I needed. The cold water from the shower was both soothing and shocking, washing away some of the emotional turmoil, if only temporarily. I took my time, letting the water cleanse me physically and emotionally.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, I noticed that Leonard had neatly arranged my toiletries and laid out a nightgown on the bed, just as he’d done the last time. It was a small gesture, but it made me pause. I slipped into the nightgown, feeling its soft fabric against my skin.

 He took my hand without a word and led me downstairs. The tension in the air had softened, but my mind was still clouded with doubts and unanswered questions. I wasn’t sure if I believed him or not, but for now, I followed.

In the kitchen, he handed me a glass of water, which I gratefully drank. “What would you like to eat?” he asked, his voice gentle.

I told him my choice, and he slipped into an apron, moving around the kitchen with practiced ease. It was strangely domestic—almost too normal for the chaos of the night we’d just had. Sometimes I wondered how someone as rich as him could be this perfect, even in the kitchen.

The awkwardness hung between us like a silent third party, but I forced myself to wait patiently. This was his moment to explain, to tell me what exactly was going on between him and Samantha. I wasn’t sure I could trust his words, but I had to hear his side of the tale.

As the aroma of the food filled the kitchen, I realized just how hungry I was. My stomach growled, and I felt a pang of impatience. Leonard, ever meticulous, didn’t take long, though. Soon, he placed a beautifully plated meal in front of me.

The first bite melted in my mouth. Despite the circumstances, his cooking was as exceptional as always. We ate in silence, the tension lingering but muted by the simple act of sharing a meal. When we finished, Leonard cleared the table, and we headed upstairs together.

Back in the bedroom, Leonard took my hands in his, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were serious, filled with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. “A thank you wouldn’t be bad for someone who just saved your life,” he said, his tone lighter than I expected.

I didn’t respond, my expression guarded.

He sighed and began again. “Evelyn, listen to me. I have absolutely nothing to do with Samantha anymore. She’s in my past, and I need you to understand that I’ve never faked anything with you. Everything I’ve done, everything I feel for you—it’s real. I’m being as honest as I can be.”

He paused, searching my face for any sign of belief. I stood still, my emotions warring inside me.

“My heart hasn’t found peace since yesterday,” he continued, his voice breaking slightly. “I couldn’t stay focused, couldn’t get you off my mind. Evelyn, I need you to believe me. What I feel for you isn’t just some fleeting entanglement. It’s real. Samantha is from three years ago, and she’s not part of my life anymore.”

His words hung in the air, and I felt a knot in my chest begin to loosen. Slowly, I stepped closer to him, and before I could stop myself, I kissed him. He hesitated for a moment but then kissed me back, his arms pulling me closer. The kiss was passionate, a mixture of longing and relief.

He pulled back after a while, his breathing uneven. “Do you believe me Evelyn?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded. “I do,” I whispered. And I meant it.

For reasons I couldn’t fully explain, I trusted him. Maybe it was the sincerity in his voice or the way he looked at me. Leonard was my peace—a calm in the storm of my life. I might not have had much experience with love, but I knew enough to recognize that his feelings were genuine.

He kissed my hands, then my forehead, and finally my lips. “I’ve missed you so much, Evelyn,” he said softly.

The rest of the night passed in quiet conversation. We talked about the pictures on the internet and, inevitably, about Samantha. He told me how their relationship had ended three years ago after he caught her cheating. He’d seen suspicious messages on her phone, and one day, he’d walked in on her with someone else.

“She showed up at the restaurant yesterday out of nowhere,” he explained. “I was as surprised as you were. I thought she’d moved on by now, especially with her family’s status. She has options—plenty of them.”

He told me that she’d even hidden the fact that she had a child during their relationship. As he spoke, I listened intently, not judging her but feeling relieved that my suspicions had been addressed.

The night ended on a lighter note, and I fell asleep on his chest.

When I woke up the next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains. I had a splitting headache—a hangover from the night before. I turned to see Leonard still sleeping peacefully beside me, one arm draped over my body. Carefully, I slipped out from under his arm and got out of bed.

Downstairs, I poured myself a glass of water and took a painkiller to ease the throbbing in my head. As I stood by the kitchen counter, I heard a gentle knock at the door. It was cleaner. I let her in and went back to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

I whipped up some omelets and a fresh salad, arranging everything neatly on a tray before heading back upstairs. When I entered the bedroom, Leonard wasn’t on the bed. I set the tray on the bed stand and was about to sit down when I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind.

“Good morning, princess,” he whispered, his voice warm and gentle.

A smile spread across my face as I turned to face him. His eyes were soft, filled with a warmth that made my heart flutter. He kissed my forehead, a tender gesture that sent a wave of calm through me.

“Good morning,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Thank you for yesterday.” I added .