Chapter 32

Under the lights, Kelly's eyes were bright and determined. Leon had been standing at the entrance for half an hour, silently watching her. Her movements were practiced, her work organized and smooth. He had heard from a friend that she had been working here for almost two years. No wonder she studied so late every night—she was spending her energy on this too.

Dron's gaze softened, and he said gently, "Hold on. Right now, the most important things are your studies and your child. Even without the child, your health matters. A person's energy is limited. Pushing yourself like this can easily become too much."

He couldn’t forget how she looked waking up every morning with dark circles under her eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with being independent. But wings don’t grow overnight. I hope that until yours are strong enough, you’ll let me be the one you lean on?” His voice sank into Kelly’s ears, word for word, carried on the breeze, and stirred something in her heart.

His tone was incredibly tender. The light cast flickering shadows across his gentle, refined face. Kelly’s eyes suddenly welled up. She quickly lowered her head, not wanting Leon to see her like that. A hand landed lightly on her head, giving her a gentle caress.

“Be good, and quit your job. A university professor can’t even support his wife, that’s just embarrassing.”

Kelly let out a teary laugh and nodded. “I’ll talk to my boss tomorrow.”

“Good,” Leon’s tone was full of affection. His face flushed without her realizing. She followed behind him step by step as they walked toward the car.

“Are you hungry?” Leon’s voice came from ahead.

Kelly shook her head, “Not really.” She had a late dinner and would definitely have a glass of milk before bed.

“Don’t you want some popcorn chicken?” he asked with a teasing lilt. She knew he was poking fun at her. Her cheeks turned pink, and her voice turned a little coy. “Leon!”

Leon, walking in front, let out a soft laugh. Back home, Kelly studied as usual in the study. Leon was in the kitchen, standing by the stove where a small pot of milk was warming. He stood quietly, eyebrows lowered in thought, the light outlining his profile. His pale skin seemed to glow.

The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Leon walked to the living room and bent down to pick up the phone from the table. The call was from his friend, Julian Westwood. They were high school classmates and had kept in touch occasionally even while Leon was studying abroad. The night Leon and Kelly got together had been at a party Julian organized.

Chapter 33

Julian now worked as a doctor at Unity Gal Hospital. His loud voice came through the phone. “I’m just checking to see if you’re still alive, you ghost.” Leon tested the milk’s temperature, then turned off the stove. “I’m still here.”

“What have you been so busy with lately? Tried to ask you out a few times and you said you weren’t free. Since when are university professors this busy?” Leon sounded a little resigned. “I really haven’t had time.”

“Then, tell me what’s keeping you so busy.” Julian wouldn’t let it go.

“Planning a wedding. And taking care of my wife and child.”

“W-What?” Julian nearly bit his tongue. “Leon, since when did you start cracking cold jokes?”

Leon’s voice remained unusually calm. “I’m not joking. I’m married. I have a wife and a child.”

A sharp inhale came from the other end. “Wait. Give me a second to process this,” Julian said.

Leon remained perfectly patient as he calmly took the cup of milk out of the pot. After about ten seconds or so, Julian’s voice came again. “So, what you’re saying is you’ve only been back in the country for just over a month, and in that time you got married and had a kid?”

“Yeah,” Leon replied.

“Don’t tell me your kid’s already old enough to run errands,” Julian said.

“No. The kid’s still in the belly.”

“What are you doing right now? Let’s meet up,” Julian’s voice was urgent.

“I’m heating milk or waiting.”

Julian was momentarily speechless. He wondered what kind of surreal scene that would be.

“Leon, what’s going on? You suddenly got married? Did your parents force you into it?” Julian couldn’t believe it.

“No, te was just a little accident, but it’s within enntml,”

That wasn’t under Leon’s control.

“Don’t tell me your wife’s a foreigner and the baby’s mixed race.” Jolian knew he wouldn’t get anything useful out of him over the phone, so he pressed, “When are you free? Let’s meet. Bring your wife too.”

Leon gave some thought. He didn’t mind introducing Kelly to his friend, but he would have to ask her first.

“I’ll ask her.”

“The milk’s getting cold. I’ll get back to you after I ask her,” Leon said before hanging up.

Julian stared dumbfounded at his phone. Did his friend of ten years just hang up on him over milk? Now, Julian was even more curious about this woman Leon had married. He had known Leon for years—probably better than anyone else. From high school, Leon had been a standout. Brilliant, admired by everyone. Though…