Chapter 193
Chapter 193:
As soon as Valeria hung up, she released a long, weary breath.
Turning toward Leonino, she couldn’t help but voice her frustration. “In business, Mr. Wilson is unstoppable. But in love? He’s utterly hopeless p>
Leonino responded with a quiet smile, his gaze settling on her with amused curiosity. “You know, Valeria, you’re great at reading other people’s love lives. But when it comes to your own, you seem a little blind p>
That caught Valeria off guard. She didn’t appreciate being treated like some sort of case study, so she shifted gears with a stiff tone. “Weren’t you supposed to be picking out a gift for your mom today? My shift’s done anyway—let’s go p>
They had once played the part of a couple just to trick Leonino’s mother. Now that the wedding had been called off, Leonino felt the need to make it up to her—and was determined to drag Valeria along for the gift hunt.
Valeria hadn’t intended to get pulled into his family matters again, but to steer clear of more questions, she gave in with clear reluctance.
Once they arrived at the mall, Valeria chose a simple but elegant diamond necklace.
Leonino complimented her choice, reaching for his card when an unfamiliar voice called out nearby, “Go ahead and get it! If my girl likes it, the price doesn’t matter p>
The sound made Leonino pause, his shoulders stiffening almost unnoticeably. Valeria caught the change in him and glanced toward the voice. Her body froze.
Across the way, at another jewelry counter, a man and a woman stood close, laughing together.
The woman, clearly younger, was dressed in a revealing outfit, clearly trying to turn heads.
And the man standing next to her—It was Gregg. Leonino’s father.
The moment Valeria glanced their way, the couple’s eyes happened to lock with hers.
Gregg paused briefly, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face as it turned red.
Trying to cover the awkwardness with confidence, Gregg approached with the woman on his arm and introduced her stiffly. “This is, uh… a distant cousin. She’s visiting Cheson for the first time, so I’m showing her around p>
Find the magic on gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․𝒸𝗼𝗺
The excuse was so flimsy that Valeria had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. Leonino, on the other hand, didn’t bat an eye. He simply offered a polite smile and said nothing at all.
Just as Gregg prepared to walk away with a sigh of relief, the woman beside him leaned in with a charming smile and said, “Leonino, that necklace looks stunning. Is it a gift for your girlfriend p>
“It’s for my mother,” Leonino replied without missing a beat, his voice cold and restrained.
The woman flashed a teasing smile, her tone dripping with forced sweetness. “Your mom must be getting up there in age, right? I’m not so sure a necklace like that would look right on her. Why not just give it to me instead p>
Leonino stayed silent, but his lips thinned into a hard line, and the veins on his hand became sharply visible. Valeria couldn’t stay quiet any longer.
She raised her chin and stared the woman down, her voice sharp with cutting sarcasm. “You’ve got some audacity! It’s not enough that you parade around with someone else’s husband and let him spoil you, but now you’re eyeing the necklace his son chose for his mother? You really don’t know the meaning of shame p>
Her words made it crystal clear what kind of relationship the woman and Gregg really shared, and Gregg’s face flushed with fury.
He pointed a finger at Valeria and said, “Who the hell do you think you are, meddling in my family’s business p>
Just as Valeria opened her mouth to speak, Leonino beat her to it with a sharp, dry laugh. His voice carried a chilling edge as he addressed his father, saying, “I’ve kept quiet about your affair, even after seeing it with my own eyes. Maybe extend me the same courtesy and keep your opinions about my friend to yourself p>
“You p>
Gregg had been shamed in front of everyone, his face frozen in an awkward mix of discomfort and humiliation. He shot his son a sharp glare, then turned on his heel and hurried off with the woman.
“We’ve chosen the gift. There’s no need for me to stick around—I’ll make my leave p>
Wanting to avoid adding more strain on Leonino, Valeria promptly made her exit as soon as Gregg was gone.
Before she got too far, a flicker of hesitation made her stop. Turning back, she called out, her voice softer this time, “Listen… if you or your mom ever want to talk, I’m just a call away p>
She added, “Anytime p>
The words tumbled out so quickly that Leonino barely had time to register them before she disappeared into the crowd.
He watched her tall frame fade into the distance, and in that quiet moment, it struck him that beneath her cool, unshakable exterior was a heart full of warmth and quiet kindness.
He realized he was falling for her—deeper and deeper.