Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Leanne froze, tightening her knitted cardigan around her, shielding her nightgown from the chill.

Curtis slipped the cozy slipper onto her feet and let go. Leanne immediately planted her feet on the floor and stepped back.

Rising to his feet, Curtis softened his tone. “If you don’t want to stay in Crystal Cove Villas, I’ll transfer the deed of the Northwood estate to you.”

Leanne glanced at him. Her reaction was far more subdued than he had anticipated.

“No need,” she refused, “I am not interested in it anymore.”

It meant that the estate once held for her had vanished.

An inexplicable irritation surged within Curtis, unsettling him once more.

“One minute you’re all in, the next you’re out. Why are you so fickle, Leanne?”

“Well, one minute you’re offering, the next you’re taking it back. It’s hard to figure you out too,” Leanne responded calmly. “I told Caleb last time I don’t want the house and just liquidate it.”

“My company’s cash flow is tight right now. We don’t have that much cash on hand.”

Leanne said, “Then forget it. I want nothing.”

Her tone was even, not annoyed or bitter, just genuinely indifferent.

The generous compensation outlined in the agreement was already substantial. Leanne’s desire for the Northwood property was merely clinging to a semblance of affection from the past.

But if that affection was an illusion, the estate meant nothing.

She wanted nothing, but Curtis seemed irritated by her indifference, scoffing, “To dismiss such a fortune so easily, Dr. Castillo, you truly treat money as if it were dirt.”

“You’re broke,” Leanne found him exasperating

“I may be broke, but I have properties. Take Crystal Cove Villas. Move back in.”

Curtis couldn’t quite pin down his motives. Perhaps it was the scare from Joy earlier that day. He felt secure only when Leanne was close by.

He paused for a half-second before adding, “I’ll move out.”

Leanne didn’t want to tangle with him over trivial matters.

house, so be it. She could always sell it later.

he insisted on giving her the

Chapter 88

Who would complain about having too much money?

“Whatever. Have your lawyer draw up the papers and notify me. Your mother has been badgering me about it.”

“From now on, you don’t have to answer her calls. I’ll deal with her.”

After a few seconds of silence, Curtis changed the topic abruptly, “Leanne, your cooking is awful.”

Leanne was annoyed. “You weren’t supposed to eat it!”

Only then did it dawn on her. Had Curtis eaten the food she made the previous night?

Of course, it wouldn’t taste good after cooling down.

After Curtis left, Joy returned from the local supermarket with two large bags of groceries.

Leanne’s drowsiness was gone at their disturbance. She began to cook lunch after freshening up and storing the groceries in the fridge.

“Isn’t it a bit late for breakfast?” Joy commented.

Focused on a recipe, Leanne didn’t look up at her. “Lunch.”

“Dan

by remarked, “isn’t it a bit early to start cooking lunch?”

was the excitement for her new beginning or Curtis’ parting jab that sparked titive spirit, Leanne was determined to master the art of cooking.

ou want onion-roasted chicken or chicken pot pie?”

it I have both?”

e pondered for a few seconds. “Then let’s have some beef steak.”

followed the recipe to the letter, measuring the spices down to a fraction of a gram sed on the ingredient ratios.

When the meal was ready, Joy, who had been tidying the house like a plow horse, found her dead phone in a box of miscellaneous items.

“No wonder I couldn’t find it!”

The table was set with beef steak, clam chowder, roasted lamb chop and fruit salad, and four crabs that Austin had just bought, which was visually appealing.

Joy’s mouth watered. “Wow! Is it the learning power you nerds have?”

Leanne brimmed with confidence. “I think I might have a gift in this.”