Free Web NovelChapter 38: Chapter 39
As Leon closed his eyes, Laiva shifted beside him. She reached out, wrapping her arms around his torso and pulling him close under the blanket.
...
Morning arrived softly, pale sunlight streaming through the curtains and bathing the room in a gentle glow. Leon stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Laiva’s arms were still draped around him, her body warm and snug against his. He exhaled slowly, careful not to disturb her as he untangled himself from her embrace.
Swinging his legs off the bed, he reached for his shirt on the nearby chair. Just as he was about to slip it on, a soft, sleepy voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Leaving already?" Laiva murmured, her words thick with drowsiness. She propped herself up on one elbow, her hair tousled in a way that only added to her charm.
"I’ve got some things to take care of," Leon replied, buttoning his shirt and running a hand through his messy hair.
He turned slightly, catching a glimpse of Laiva out of the corner of his eye. Her figure was as striking as ever, her curves effortlessly drawing his attention. Leon gulped, quickly averting his gaze and focusing back on his shirt.
Laiva sat up fully, the blanket slipping from her shoulders to pool around her waist. "Is that really the reason," she asked with a faint smirk, "or are you just running away?"
Leon froze, unsure how to respond. Her words caught him off guard, but so did the teasing gleam in her eyes.
"..What can I even say to that?" he muttered, struggling for an answer.
Before he could deflect, Laiva swung her legs out of bed and stood, the movement deliberate. She closed the distance between them, her hand lightly grasping his wrist. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"If you really want to leave, I won’t stop you," she said softly. "But at least stay for breakfast."
Leon raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a faint grin. "You’re offering to cook for me?"
"Obviously," she replied, a teasing edge in her voice. "You spent the whole night here; the least I can do is feed you before you run off."
He couldn’t help but chuckle at her sass. "Fine. But I’m only staying because I’d hate to offend the chef."
"Sure," she said, rolling her eyes as she headed toward the kitchen.
A little while later, the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air. Laiva set a plate of warm, golden omelets and bread on the table. Leon sat down, eyeing the meal with mild surprise.
"I didn’t know you could cook this well," he said, taking a bite and realizing just how hungry he was.
"There’s a lot you don’t know about me," she replied, sitting across from him with her own plate.
Leon smirked. "Fair enough. But this is good."
Just as they were settling into the meal, a knock sounded at the door. Laiva quickly stood and walked over, peeking outside. When she saw who it was, she opened the door.
"Emily, good, you’re back just in time—food’s ready," she said warmly to her daughter, who stepped inside.
Emily nodded, glancing around. "Um, Mom... is Leon still here?" she asked softly.
Laiva smiled. "Yes, he’s inside. You can go talk to him."
Emily hesitated for a moment before nodding and walking further into the house. She spotted Leon sitting on the couch and approached him slowly.
"Hey, Emily. Back from the hospital?" Leon greeted her with a casual wave.
Emily fidgeted, her hands nervously clasped together. "Yeah, I just got back," she said, her voice uneasy.
Leon tilted his head, noticing her discomfort. "Everything alright?"
Emily glanced toward her mother, who had returned to the kitchen, then stepped closer to Leon. "Not really," she admitted. "There’s... something I need to tell you."
Leon set his coffee cup down, leaning forward slightly. "What’s going on?"
"You... remember those two guys who were following me that night?" she asked hesitantly.
Leon nodded, his expression serious now.
"Well... I saw them again when I was coming back. They didn’t approach me, but I think they followed me for a while. I felt like I should tell you... but don’t tell Mom. She’s already really stressed."
Leon’s brows furrowed as he absorbed her words. He leaned back on the couch, his hand resting on his chin. "They followed you again?" he asked.
Emily nodded, her unease evident. "Yeah. They didn’t do anything, but it felt like they were watching me. I tried taking a different route home, but they kept showing up."
Leon let out a slow breath, his mind already working through the possibilities. "You did the right thing telling me," he said firmly. "I’ll handle it. For now, stay here and don’t go out alone."
Emily nodded, feeling slightly reassured by his steady tone. "Thanks, Leon," she said softly.
He offered her a faint smile. "Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure this out."
Laiva’s voice called out from the kitchen, interrupting their conversation. "Emily, do you want some breakfast? I made extra."
Emily forced a quick smile and turned to answer. "Uh, no thanks, Mom. I’ll eat later."
Leon caught her glance and gave her a small nod, signaling that they’d handle this quietly. Once Laiva was distracted, Leon lowered his voice. "Alright, Emily, listen. Next time you see them, don’t engage. Just act normal and get somewhere safe, okay? If you think they’re following you, call me or police you know."
"What about you?" Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you going to do?"
Leon smirked faintly, the tension in the room easing slightly. "I’m going to make sure they think twice before bothering you—or anyone else—again."
Emily looked unconvinced. "Leon, just... don’t do anything reckless, okay?"
"Reckless?" Leon said with a raised eyebrow. "Me? Never."
Despite her worry, Emily let out a small laugh. "Fine. Just be careful."
Laiva returned to the living room, wiping her hands on a towel. "What’s so funny?" she asked, glancing between the two of them.
"Oh, nothing," Leon said smoothly, standing up. "Emily was just filling me in on her day. I should probably get going, though."
"You’re leaving already?" Laiva asked, a hint of disappointment in her tone.
Leon gave her a reassuring smile. "Just for a bit. I’ve got something to take care of, but I’ll be back."
Later that evening, Leon stood in the shadows near the alley where Emily said she had spotted the two men. The dim streetlights flickered, casting long shadows across the uneven cobblestones. Leon had positioned himself carefully, blending into the darkness as he waited.
It didn’t take long before he heard footsteps. Two men emerged from the far end of the alley, their voices low as they talked.
"Think she noticed us today?" one of them said.
"She might’ve," the other replied. "Doesn’t matter. We’ll handle it when the time’s right."
