Chapter 33: Not So Unacceptable

Leonard admitted nervously, "Yes… I didn't intentionally hide it from you. You didn't ask, did you? But none of that matters. I'm just here for the scenic project; Dominic is the investor, and you happened to rent my place. It's all just a coincidence."

Bella closed her eyes. She believed it was a coincidence. Dominic probably wished he never had to see her again, so how could he possibly have any intentions toward her?

She should have realized it earlier. The name Leonard Sawyer sounded familiar. No one dared to mess with the Sawyer family of Joville. Leonard was the youngest of three brothers. Although he didn't appear often in the media, he was inevitably mentioned.

After a while, she asked, "When I was in trouble, who saved me? I heard gunshots, and… I saw Dominic."

Leonard secretly broke into a cold sweat. "You must be mistaken. I was the one who saved you. Dominic hadn't even arrived in town. Besides, he's a businessman. Why would he be handling a gun?"

Was it really Leonard? She was now certain that the two "toy guns" he possessed were real.

Bella recalled the scene. Right after the gunshot, she was sure she saw Dominic. Could she have been mistaken? Given her blurry consciousness, it was possible.

Thinking too much gave her a headache, so she decided not to dwell on it. "Is that scumbag… dead?"

Since Leonard had fired the shot, the man probably hadn't survived.

Leonard smacked his lips. "I think since he wanted you dead, you shouldn't worry about whether he's alive or not. People like that are a waste of air."

Bella wasn't overly compassionate. She knew she had nearly died. While hoping the scumbag got what he deserved, she didn't want Leonard to cross any legal lines. "If it's irreversible, let's pretend it never happened. But if he's still alive, leave it be. I'm fine now, so just hand him over to the authorities." She wasn't worried that Leonard would get into trouble. For the Sawyer family, such trouble wasn't really trouble at all.

Leonard responded helplessly, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. You're the victim, so I'll follow your wishes. But don't worry, I'll handle everything."

Bella nodded, then suddenly asked, "Did you know about me before?"

Leonard figured there was nothing to hide. "Yes, I did. Dominic and I have known each other for years. I'm aware of who's around him."

Bella felt a wave of relief. She wasn't as disgraceful in Dominic's eyes as she thought. Ian finding out about her was a fluke, but if Leonard knew, it meant Dominic hadn't deliberately kept her a secret.

During the two days Bella was hospitalized, Dominic didn't appear. She hadn't expected that their next meeting would be so devoid of eye contact. He was a fleeting presence.

She had fantasized about facing him again, but their reunion was so sudden she had no time to process it.

She was treated at a city hospital, and on her discharge day, Leonard drove her back to the small town.

Learning that Dominic would be staying at Leonard's place for a while because of the scenic project left her conflicted. They would be under the same roof again. She couldn't understand it. He clearly loathed her, so why stay at Leonard's place? Shouldn't he be keeping his distance?

The final sentence "Chappe Not So Unacceptable" appears to be a typo and has been removed. The promotional sentence about Findnovel.net has also been removed as it is not part of the narrative.