Chapter 61

Chapter 61

“Can I have the Northwood Mansion?” Leanne asked, her voice tinged with an undeniable.

seriousness.

Curtis paused, the cigarette in his hand momentarily forgotten as he peered into the deepening night. His tone was enigmatic, “Why the Northwood Mansion?”

“Because it’s valuable,” Leanne stated plainly. ” haven’t lived in any of your houses exc

except

for this one and the one at Northwood.”

Curtis took a drag, the smoke curling into the chilly air, ghostly against the darkness, “If it’s value you’re after, this place is worth more than Northwood Mansion.”

In terms of value, the Crystal Cove Villas, his wedding gift from his parents, was at least three times more expensive than the Northwood Mansion.

“That was your parents’ wedding gift to you. You might need it in the future.”

“Do you think I’d live in that house after getting married again?”

Fair point. Suzan wouldn’t be too keen on moving into a house that had once symbolized his union with another woman.

“I don’t want it either,” Leanne retorted. “You and your lover can live wherever you like. Just give me the Northwood Mansion.”

“What do you want to do with it?” Curtis prodded once more.

“Is it so wrong to sell it for money?”

Curtis replied, “If it’s money you want, asking for cash would be simpler.”

Leanne’s irritation flared up. She’d been asked to make a request, but when she did, it was met with pushback.

“If you don’t want to give it, just say so.”

“The property fees at Northwood Mansion aren’t cheap. Can your salary cover them?” Curtis raised an eyebrow, his voice smooth and deliberate. “Plus, I quite like that place. It’s perfect for a winter getaway, the snow views there are outstanding.”

So, he

o take Suzan there for a vacation in the future?

already endured all the torment life could throw at her. If she had ast life, the punishment she’d received this time around was surely

d thought she could accept the end of their marriage calmly, but Curtis effortlessly stabbed at her already battered heart once more.

11:54

Chapter 61

Winter was setting in, and the outside cold enough to make anyone shiver

heat in her eyes, tear’s building up, threatening to fall.

there was a

She bit her lip, her voice strained and barely holding back a tremble, “If you want to see. snow, you can go anywhere. Take her to Iceland. The roads by Northwood Mansion are bad, one snowfall and they’re closed for ages. It’s not practical.”

Curtis let out an ambiguous chuckle.

“Do

o you really think that the road was closed for a month?”

His cigarette was done and he snuffed it out in a planter by the door. “Even if Stonebridge’s municipal services are subpar, they wouldn’t let a main route stay c

for a month.”

Leanne froze, a single tear teetering on the edge of her eyelashes.

“What do you mean?” she asked..

Curtis didn’t answer, nor did he look at her, as he opened his car door.

stay closed

“I’ll have Caleb send you al

of my properties tomorrow. Pick whichever you want. But forget about Northwood Mansion.”

He got into his Bentley and drove off, leaving Leanne to chase after him impulsively to know what he meant by his words.

During that month at Northwood Mansion, she had never doubted Curtis.

He said the road was still out, that the food was delivered by drones from the nearby community.

He complained about the lazy city officials, suggesting they might wait until spring thaw to fix things.

mused about how staying secluded there wasn’t so bad, just the two of them, forever.

e those all lies?

he fabricated them just to spend a few more days alone with her?

those days at Northwood, wasn’t it not just her caught up in the romance but him too, even if just for a moment?

These questions crushed Leanne with the merciless grip of iron.

What remained of her sanity stopped her from chasing the car any further.

As the Bentley’s tail lights vanished into the night, a gust of cold wind brushed her cheeks. Leanne’s tears finally fell.

Why did he tell her now? What good did it do to let her know all this now?

2/3

11:55

It only made her feel more pitiful.

Every ounce of love Curtis once had for her was a knife, each one lodged in her heart.

She couldn’t move or pull them out. Each touch was agony.

She would have preferred to remain in blissful ignorance, not knowing that Curtis had once gone to great lengths for her.

Laura heard the car and voices from outside but grew concerned when no one came in. Opening the door, she found Leanne standing alone in the desolate night, sobbing uncontrollably.

“What’s happened? Why are you standing out here in the cold? You’ll get sick again!” Laura was frantic with worry. “Where’s Mr. Curtis? Didn’t he come back with you?”

Leanne said nothing, steadying herself on the wooden staircase banister as she climbed back to her second-floor room.

Too drained to undress or shower, she wrapped herself tightly in her blankets and fell into a troubled sleep.

The next morning, her eyes were swollen from crying. She attempted to reduce the puffiness with some ice, but it wasn’t very effective. As she left for work, Laura was sweeping the yard, still fussing over her.