(Violet's POV)
“Leo,” I speak in a barely audible whisper. My eyes are still slightly blurry as I stare into his tear stained ones. Overcome with what seems like relief, he swiftly leans over and wraps his arms around my fragile body.
“I'm so sorry, Vee. I'm sorry,” he repeats over and over again. As I slowly stroke his disheveled hair and return his warm embrace, Leo's familiar scent washes over me. Our close proximity surrounds me in a bubble of comfort and I instantly relax.
“I know. It's alright,” I tried to reassure him. The first thing I saw when I woke up was Leo, slumped over and sobbing. Any resentment or fury that had boiled up inside me, vanished at the sight of his vulnerability.
“I guess you know my major flaw now, huh?” I joke in an attempt to ease his obvious distress. A frown forms on his handsome face as he shakes his head.
“Vee, I wouldn't call it that,” Leo states, his face drained of all humor. My cheeks grow warm as I find myself looking away. His gentle tone was so foreign to me, but somehow it stirred something inside that I couldn't explain.
A loud sigh is abruptly heard as Leo drops his head onto the bed. I giggle at his noodle-like posture before carefully playing with his hair. His usually well styled strands are in complete disarray and I can't help but move them even more.
“My mother used to do that,” Leo suddenly says, as if recalling a lost treasure. I freeze and withdraw my hand, unsure if I crossed a line or not. He turns his head to avoid my eyes and continues talking.
“I think she would have really liked you,” he states, an undertone of sorrow lacing his words. The air fills with a strange sensation and I remain speechless, unable to offer any words in response. After that, Leo goes silent, the stress of the day probably getting to him.
Still uncertain, I return my hand to his hair and start stroking it once more. Leo's breathing quickly slows and soft snores can soon be heard from his direction. We remained in this peaceful silence long into the night, completely unaware of how much had truly changed between us.
The following morning, Leo woke up before me and left a note saying he was going home to freshen up. “Back to your usual self, Mr. Mystery?” I think with mild amusement. A few hours passed and Leo had yet to return.
“This suffocating stale air is going to get to me soon,” I mumble out loud, stretching my arms in boredom.
“Then it's a good thing I just checked you out,” a deep voice suddenly replies from the doorway. Startled by his appearance, I give Leo a side glance as my heartbeat returns to normal. His charming smile seems extra bright and I can't hold his gaze for more than a few seconds.
“You could have knocked,” I sassily commented while rising from the stiff bed. Leo scoffs in disbelief before handing me a large bag. Inside, I find an assortment of clean clothes from home.
“Thank you,” I casually speak before heading towards the bathroom. Even without turning around, I can feel his smug expression watching me leave.
After a brief lecture from the doctor, we are able to quickly escape to the car. I climb into the passenger seat, but before I can grab the seatbelt, Leo is leaning towards me.
“What are you doing?” I quickly question, my heart picking up speed. His eyes glisten with something unfamiliar before a smirk graces his sharp features.
“Doc said you should take it easy for a few days,” he replies and a click sounds as he buckled my seatbelt. I blink a few times before turning to look out the window.
“I could have done it myself,” I mumble grumpily. A soft chuckle comes from his direction as he drives us away, the atmosphere electric. The drive back to the house is pleasant and uneventful, until Aunt Bella greets us upon return.
“Feeling better?” she inquires, her tone lacking all genuine feeling. I squint at her, debating whether I should bother or just walk past. Before I can come to a solid decision, Leo's firm grip takes my hand.
“Excuse us, but Vee needs more rest,” he politely remarks, guiding me into the house and past all the questioning stares. I can feel Aunt Bella’s burning gaze as Leo gently pulls me up the stairs.
I internally smirk at my Aunt’s offended expression before realizing that we've arrived at my room. Leo exhales a sigh and releases my hand, looking around the space. I shift my weight from one foot to another while admiring his well built figure.
“If anyone bothers you,” he finally speaks with his back still turned. “Tell me immediately, Vee.” His posture is stern, but his voice sounds like he might crack. Getting swept up in the moment, I take a few steps forward and close the distance between us.
Leo freezes as I wrap my arms around his waist. His back is firm and warm as I rest my face against him. Ever since my parents passed away, I have never felt safe and yet somehow, being close to this arrogant man makes me feel at ease.
“Thank you, Leo,” I say to him, my tone conveying the sincerity of those words. The room becomes awkward as no response is heard and the sounds of distant voices float through the air.
As if regaining his senses, Leo promptly removes my arms and rushes out the room. I turn to call for him, but he has already shut the door.
“I do not understand that man,” I think to myself as the sun sets in the distance.
(Leo's POV) I quickly close the door to Violet's room and hurriedly make way to mine. After reaching safety and solitude, I run my hands through my hair repeatedly. “Why did she do that? It caught me completely off guard,” my mind screams in confused pleasure. I'm still thinking about her gentle touch when a stern knock comes from the door. Before I have time to respond, it opens to reveal my unamused father. “What were you thinking?! Taking time off work just to be next to that pathetic woman's side! Have you lost all reason, boy?” he criticizes with no remorse. I'm tempted to remind him that my actual age is twenty-four, but know it would only anger him more. “She collapsed, father. It is only right that as her fiance I stay with her until she has recovered,” I attempt to reason with him. His face morphs into a scowl and the look in his eyes scorns me without words. “Get your priorities right, boy. She may be your future bride now, but I can easily arrange for that to be chang
(Violet's POV) The mud splashes up and coats my pants in a thin layer of grime as I watch Leo walk into the distance. My face is burning with anger and it is nearly impossible to turn any thoughts into words. I grip the unwanted umbrella in my hands as I look down at the splashing rain. Deep inside, I had a feeling Leo didn't know what was said. However, if there was even the slightest chance that he did, then I'd be a fool to trust him. “Even if it's true, he didn't have to be so heartless,” I mumbled to myself, recalling the encounter from last night. The Previous Night After Leo bolted out the room, I cleaned myself up and started heading to bed. Before reaching the plush sheets, there was a knock at my door. “Leo?” I asked while tugging open the wooden door. Standing before me was an older gentleman with an almost grim expression. “Ms. Bennet, I believe we need to have a chat,” he plainly states. My gut starts to spiral, alerting me to the outcome of this conversation. “O
(Leo's POV) Violet blinks a few times before shifting to grab a cookie. I nod at the confirmation of my suspicions and patiently wait to see if she will tell me herself. “I know you don't want this marriage either,” Violet quietly begins, her eyes still on the coffee table. “But somehow, being called too sickly to even be near you felt unnecessary.” Her voice sounded so raw and it wasn't long before gentle drops fell from her eyes, leaving small water spots on her pants. I move my hand towards hers, but stop before it could reach. “I never said that, Vee. That was all my father's doing. He sees emotions and trauma as weakness. I know that better than anyone,” I try to comfort her. Violet's red tinted eyes gaze up from beneath her dark hair and I catch a glimpse of an expression I have witnessed countless times. It was the same look I always wore after my mother left, one that shows how completely alone someone feels. Quickly, I lean over and grab the worn leather notebook from
(Violet's POV) The gardens had quickly become a place of refuge for me from the glaring cold of the mansion. Since it was made clear I'm not allowed to leave without prior permission, the beauty of the many colorful flowers eased my anxiety. “Slightly,” I smugly think as Leo's face pops into my head. Thanks to him, I now have my mother's journal, which I keep safely tucked under my mattress to avoid the prying eyes of a certain aunt. “Vee!” I hear her call from behind. Aunt Bella is almost incapable of speaking to me without raising her voice. It's as if the sight of me infuriates her for some reason, not that becoming close is a major concern of mine. Ignoring her screeching voice, I continue to admire the small purple flowers before me. Aunt Bella's heavy steps halt beside me and displace the gravel on the path. “How're things going with Mr. Whitlock?” she inquires, a displeased air glazing her speech. I scoff at her determination to control my non-existent relationship. “My in
(Leo's POV)Upon hearing that Violet had been found unconscious in the gardens, I postponed the rest of my meetings and raced back home. Despite the backlash I was to face, all that consumed my thoughts was making sure she was alright. Bursting through the front doors and up a curved staircase, I didn't even pause when passing my father and Violet's Aunt.I would later find out that the harm done to Violet was intentional and inflicted by her own aunt. Before I could throw that devious excuse of a human off the property, Violet wobbled in front of me, her expression unreadable.“Why won't you let me help you?” I had asked, but my aching heart was soon silenced as she made it clear that there was no trust between us. After Violet returned to her room, warmth still lingered in my chest and provoked me to do what I did next.I carefully opened the door to Violet's room and placed the crisp flower on the floor. The house echoed with hushed whispers as I then proceeded to take confident
(Leo's POV) My eyes sweep across from one side of the table to the other as the collection of nervous looking men shift in their seats. It was seen as unusual for me to call a meeting without any particular reason and created an atmosphere of uncertainty. I smirk as I allow for a few minutes of silence to pass before speaking, a tactic to make all the participants on edge and more likely to slip up. “I want to call for a vote to force Daniel Whitlock off the board of directors,” I confidently announce with little to no warning. Their reactions are as I expect with most of them gaining wide eyes and breaking out into cold sweats. “Sir, we need a valid reason to go about such a drastic action,” one sniveling looking man nervously laughs, a few others nodding in his favor. I lean back in the leather chair and rest my head on my hand. “They're more worried about keeping their income than anything, so let's start with that,” I think to myself amused. “There are quite a number of
(Violet's POV) Many days have passed since Leo and I last saw each other. After the incident, I was graciously granted permission to go out on my own, so long as I had a bodyguard. Aunt Bella strangely left me alone and was scarcely seen on the property. On this rainy day, I braided back my black hair and requested that Jason, my assigned guard, escort me to the movie theater to catch a showing. I had long since adjusted to the constant surveillance placed on me, but lately it seemed bizarrely tailored to my habits. “Jason, is everything alright with Leo?” I asked during the drive. He gives a kind smile and glances back using the rear view mirror. “You need not worry, Ms. Bennet. Mr. Whitlock is merely occupied with work,” he reassures me. I slump in the backseat as the trees roll by. To someone else, it might seem as though I was worried about him cheating. After all, it was still common knowledge that we were engaged. “Not for much longer, probably,” I think as my harsh wo
(Leo's POV) Violet's dark eyes peer up at me between the soft waves of her hair. A gentle breeze sways the leaves, causing a rustle to interrupt the silence. As we remain still, mere inches apart, it feels like my heartbeat can be heard across the city. A loud pounding paired with an unavoidable attraction guides my arms as they wrap around Violet's soft body. To my shock, she leans back into me and holds my arm. Though our height differs greatly, I refuse to let it deter me as I lower my head into the crock of her neck. “Leo, can we eat?” Violet quietly asks, her voice uncertain. I pull back enough to laugh, enraptured by her cuteness. Sliding my hands down to take her’s, we both slowly approached the area I had meticulously set up. After careful consideration, I had decided on this pond for our evening together. Though I admit my experience with romantic gestures is extremely limited, the privacy was guaranteed. I watch with tense musicals as Violet settles on the blanket an