Leo felt the fear slowly infiltrating his heart. That was the fitting expression crossing Leo's mind right now. Surprisingly, Alana could evoke a much greater fear, something Leo never expected.
Leo gazed at Alana's sleeping figure beside him. Leo wasn't sure what he felt towards Alana. Leo knew that since Alana first appeared in his life, he perceived her as a threat. However, inexplicably, over time, that sense of threat eroded, and Leo began to worry that Alana might truly invade his heart.
As in the park some time ago, Leo felt confused about his feelings. For a moment, he experienced a carefree life as he looked at Alana's peacefully sleeping face and gently touched her cheek. That simple event allowed Leo to momentarily forget the anger and pain in his heart.
Leo's reverie was interrupted when Alana changed her sleeping position to face Leo. Like in the park, Alana slept with a serene expression. Leo felt the urge to stroke Alana's cheek again but stopped when his gaze fell downward.
Leo was annoyed seeing a part of Alana's chest slightly exposed. Leo thought, "Doesn't she have any nightwear other than this thin fabric?" Although Leo couldn't walk, his paralysis only extended below his knees, and Leo could still feel the stirrings typical of a normal man.
Leo didn't want to keep focusing on inappropriate thoughts, so he pulled the blanket to cover Alana's body. This action disturbed Alana's sleep. Alana opened her eyes and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I just want to help. I saw you shivering," Leo replied, making Alana smile.
"Slowly, you're starting to pay attention to me," teased Alana.
"Forget it, I just don't want you to bother if you catch a cold and get sick," Leo answered, turning his face away. Alana straightened her body, leaning her face on both elbows in front of Leo, and that position caused the blanket to slide down, revealing again the exposed part of her chest. Leo quickly averted his gaze.
"Is that the only reason?" Alana asked, but Leo remained silent, still turning his face away.
"It's okay, whatever the reason, I consider it your attention," Alana continued in the same position.
However, the next moment, Leo pushed Alana's head with his finger, urging her to lie down again. "You better go back to sleep. You disturbed me enough during the day; I don't want to be bothered by you at night," Leo said irritably while trying to lie down. Seeing this, Alana immediately got up and helped Leo arrange the pillows supporting his back for sleep.
"I can't sleep if I'm already awake," Alana whined, making Leo sigh. "That's your problem," Leo replied. "But you're the one who woke me up."
"No, I just covered you with a blanket."
"Yes, because of that, I woke up, so you have to take responsibility for putting me back to sleep," Alana whined again with her puppy eyes.
"It's up to you whether you want to sleep or not," Leo said, then began to close his eyes.
"Fine, I'll bother you if you don't want to put me to sleep," Alana threatened, but Leo ignored her and acted indifferent. However, it only made Alana smile. Slowly, Alana brought her face closer to Leo's, and the next moment, Alana truly made Leo's eyes widen as her tongue swept across his lips. Leo immediately pushed Alana away and stared at her sharply.
"What do you want?" Leo said angrily.
"I just want to go back to sleep," Alana replied, winking.
"And?"
"I want to sleep in your arms. Not difficult, right?"
"No way."
"Come on, we've been sleeping apart all this time; I feel so cold," Alana exaggerated.
"But if you refuse, that's okay. I'll gladly do what I wanted to do earlier," Alana replied, making Leo rub his face roughly.
"Come here," but the next moment, Alana grinned widely as Leo opened his arms and told her to come closer. Without wasting time, Alana tumbled into Leo's embrace, resting her head on Leo's arm, and hugging Leo's waist tightly.
"Comfortable and warm," murmured Alana while continuing to nestle deeper into Leo's embrace.
"Stop moving, or I'll push you away."
"Yes, yes, fine, but can you stroke my hair?" Alana said while tilting her face up, immediately getting a sharp look from Leo.
"Tsk, I'm just—," Alana's banter was cut off when Leo moved his hand on the top of her head gently.
"It seems I'm going to have sweet dreams," Alana murmured, tilting her face up even more. From this close distance, Leo could clearly see Alana's face, and for some reason, his heart beat faster. Leo was sure Alana could hear it this time.
"Hurry up and sleep," Leo said while shifting his gaze, choosing to look at the ceiling of the room. However, instead of stopping the teasing, Alana made Leo more flustered.
Kiss
Alana kissed Leo's firm jaw.
"Good night, my husband," Alana whispered, then tightened her embrace on Leo.
oOo
"Looks like you're in a good mood?" Rose asked when she saw Alana staring at her phone, still smiling.
"Yes, of course. Today my online shopping app is offering massive vouchers," Alana replied absentmindedly while continuing to fiddle with her phone.
Rose sat not far from Alana, placing two glasses of juice for herself and Alana. "How's Leo doing?" Rose asked.
"He's still comfortable in his wheelchair and still being cruel to me," Alana replied casually, making Rose slightly annoyed.
"That's because you're stubborn. Auntie already told you to get closer to him."
"I've even stuck to him all the time, but he always pushes me away."
"That's because you're not serious about getting closer to him," Rose said while taking her juice glass and sipping it, while Alana shifted her gaze from her phone to Rose.
"Does he behave like that to everyone?" Alana asked curiously because it's very rare to see a smile on Leo's face, even though Alana is convinced that if Leo smiles, he would look much more handsome.
"No," Rose answered.
"Really? So to whom can he smile?" Alana asked enthusiastically.
"To Selena," Rose answered while staring straight ahead.
"Selena, who is she?"
"Leo's little friend," Rose replied, making Alana nod her head.
"Where is she now? Isn't it when Leo is like this, his little friend appears?" Alana asked curiously, making Rose look back at her.
"Your guess might be right. Auntie thinks she'll come to see Leo soon, and at that time, you have to be careful around her!" Rose warned, and it made Alana furrow her brows.
"Is she dangerous to me?"
"Yes, considering your position."
Occasionally, Leo gazes at Alana, who is engrossed in reading a magazine in her hands. Leo senses that Alana isn't just reading, but rather observing him or perhaps lost in thought. Squinting his eyes, Leo attentively observes his wife not far in front of him.What's going on with her? It's rare for Alana not to disturb him when they're alone in a room. At least this time, Alana isn't incessantly talking about unclear things. Maybe since she returned late this afternoon, Leo doesn't know where Alana spent the whole day, coming back with a disheveled face, and Leo doesn't care. However, her contemplative mood this time is a bit unsettling, making Leo worry that the neighbor's chicken might suddenly drop dead because Alana is lost in thought."Did she eat something wrong?" mumbles Leo softly, continuing to watch Alana. "Please fetch the book from the shelf over there," Leo says, returning his attention to the book in his hands. Alana looks over with a blossoming smile but doesn't get up
"Morning!!!" A greeting in the morning makes Leo immediately blink his eyes and turn to look at his side. Even though it's been over a week, Alana's presence next to him when he first opens his eyes still feels unfamiliar to Leo.Now, with Alana sleeping on Leo's arm and holding him tightly, Leo doesn't know when their positions got this close. Before going to sleep, Leo usually limits the distance between them with a bolster and some pillows so that Alana doesn't get too close, although Leo is not sure if that method would work.Leo's reverie is interrupted when Alana rises from her sleep and puts on her bathrobe. Leo remains silent, continuing to observe Alana who is tying her hair. Unconsciously, his eyes scan Alana from top to bottom. Leo misjudged Alana when he first saw her; Alana is not cute, but she's attractive. That's what crosses Leo's mind now."Do you want to take a shower now? I'll prepare the warm water," Alana says, making Leo quickly avert his gaze and awkwardly clear
Slowly, Alana exits the car and stands in front of a not-too-large cake shop. The shop seems devoid of customers. Alana contemplates, perhaps it's too early, or maybe it's already noon, while the cake shop is usually bustling. Is this what Pedro meant by saying the shop is almost bankrupt?"Huff," Alana exhales a long breath. Why did she agree to manage this shop? She herself doesn't know much about the cake business."Alright, Alana, it's already done. You can handle it," she says to herself while patting her arms. Alana steps towards the shop, slowing down as she stands in front of the glass door with a sign that says "open."Before opening the door, Alana takes a breath and opens it carefully. "Good afternoon, can we help you?" greets a waitress after Alana enters.Alana observes the not-so-spacious room. "Oh, I'm Alana, the wife—""Are you Mr. Leo's wife?" the waitress interrupts, making Alana nod, and the waitress stumbles."Sorry, ma'am, I didn't recognize you," she apologizes.
"Pedro, is it true what I heard?" Leo asks to confirm. After Alana complained about the condition of the main cake shop owned by his late mother, Leo immediately sought confirmation from Pedro."Yes, that's true," Pedro replies."Why didn't you tell me?""I reported it to you, and you approved it.""When?" Leo asks with a slightly raised tone because he doesn't remember Pedro reporting about the chef's duties."I already mentioned that the chef who manages the shop is the old reliable person. Didn't you disagree with handing it over entirely to someone to manage the shop? You said you didn't trust it.""But you-""And you said it's better to trust that old person. Therefore, I entrusted everything to that one chef because he's the only old person we can really trust. Besides, his ability is quite good," Pedro interrupts Leo when he tries to interrupt the explanation."So, should we provide a fair salary for him?" Leo asks."Of course, we pay him higher than the average chef. Initially
"Ah, I should've called a masseur," Alana exclaimed while stretching her arms, catching Leo's attention momentarily from the laptop on his lap. However, it only lasted a few seconds; afterward, Leo refocused on his work, which irked Alana."At least offer to help me or inquire about my well-being after working all day," Alana grumbled, directed at her stoic husband. Leo, who actually heard his wife's complaints, remained silent and showed no intention of responding. Leo seemed accustomed to Alana's protests about his seemingly indifferent and unromantic demeanor."I've said it before; I never forced you to work, right? I can still provide for you," Leo said, prompting Alana to pout, which amused Leo. It was evident from the corners of her mouth that always lifted, creating a smile when he successfully teased his wife. However, the situation reversed when Alana displayed a mischievous smile and walked closer to Leo, instantly putting him on guard. Leo didn't know what crazy thing Alana
Leo was disturbed from his sleep when he felt someone continuously pressing their face against his chest. Blinking a few times to clarify his vision, Leo glanced to his side to find Alana still sleeping curled up tightly, hugging her body. Slowly, Leo lifted Alana's arm that was wrapped around his waist to avoid waking her, but as it lifted a few inches, Alana released her grip and hugged Leo's waist even tighter, causing Leo's body to tense when Alana's legs pressed against a sensitive area."How can she sleep like this?" Leo muttered, shaking his head in disbelief at Alana's sleeping habits that took up quite a bit of space. Despite having a Kingsize bed, Alana always seemed to occupy Leo's side, even though there was ample space on the other side.Leo attempted to free himself from Alana's embrace once again but, for some reason, was unsuccessful. He sighed heavily, realizing the only option left was to wake his wife. Leo intended to gently pat Alana's cheek, but his hand froze whe
Leo was slightly disturbed by the wide smile that had been on Alana's lips since earlier, making it difficult for him to chew the food in his mouth."Aren't you eating?" Leo asked, causing Alana, who was resting her chin on her hand, to shake her head."I had a full breakfast this morning," Alana replied with her enduring smile, maintained since they sat at this dining table 15 minutes ago. Leo raised an eyebrow upon hearing Alana's answer, and it seemed she understood the meaning behind Leo's gaze."What you gave me this morning left me satisfied," Alana said with a wide smile and flushed cheeks, causing Leo to choke on his own food. How could Alana continue talking about the morning kiss they shared? Alana immediately handed Leo a glass of water, and Leo quickly gulped it down. Leo gently patted his chest to help the food go down."Never bring up the issue from this morning or—" Leo's words stopped abruptly when Pedro suddenly approached them. Leo immediately stared sharply at Alana
Alana is enjoying a cup of hot tea with freshly baked bread prepared by Camila. The warm bread, accompanied by rising steam, keeps Alana focused on the flat object in front of her, trying to review the progress report on the pastry shop now under her supervision. Initially, the bakery was quite famous with several branches, but Alana didn't expect it to only maintain a few loyal customers who still buy pastries from the shop left by Leo's late mother."I need to start correcting what needs to be changed," mumbles Alana while scrolling through her laptop screen, trying to find references to bakeries popular on social media among young people. Apparently, in this day and age, the younger generation is more interested in places with unique vibes and suitable for selfies. Alana then scans her gaze around the room. The bakery remains the same as the photos she saw when it was first established, with no significant changes, except for the updated tables and chairs. Moreover, people pay more