Curtis' reaction was not at all what Leanne had expected.
Instead of agreeing readily, his eyes were enigmatic. Leanne couldn't read his mood.
The only thing clear was that his face lacked the joy that should have been there.
"Why?" he asked. "Don't you like it there?"
She had spent two and a half years alone at Crystal Cove Villas, battling depression. The house, meant to be a symbol of their union, had become a bastion of suffocating memories instead.
On her saddest and most disappointing day, she left that place. Curtis didn't want to force her, so he never suggested she move back.
"The past, good or bad, is the past. Now and in the future, loving me is all that matters." In the last few minutes, Leanne had thought it through and made her decision.
The house was full of his allergens and immunotherapy wasn't a quick fix. Staying in hotels wasn't a long-term solution either.
Being loved gave one courage. It was their marital home, not some inferno. She wasn't that timid.
"Curtis, I love you too," she said softly, "I care about you."
Curtis figured out, he didn't know quite when, that she'd totally stolen his heart.
Her palms were so gentle, yet they kneaded his heart with a sweet ache. Gazing into Leanne's earnest and clear eyes, he was effortlessly floored.
He walked over, cupped her face, and playfully molded it into various expressions.
"What are you doing?" Leanne protested, pulling away from his hands.
Curtis finally released her poor cheeks, pulling her head into his chest and gently rubbing the back of her neck. "We'll move tomorrow."
The move was all arranged by Curtis from Leanne's clothes and books to the minutia of her personal belongings, even the cat.
In just a few months, the cat had amassed more possessions than Leanne.
Leanne worked late that day. By dusk, she was picked up by Jake in his car.
Halfway through the drive, Leanne realized something was off. The route to Crystal Cove Villas required a right turn, but Jake continued straight.
Leanne thought he'd made a mistake, but Jake had over two decades of driving experience and was always reliable. She spoke up, "Jake, did you forget to turn?"
The two had reconciled recently, and Jake was in high spirits daily, "No mistake, just sit back and relax. Mr. Curtis is waiting for you."
His mysterious tone only piqued Leanne's curiosity more.
Driving through the bustling Stonebridge area, they entered the affluent city center.
A familiar landscaped wall came into view, deepening Leanne's confusion.
The gates of Alpine Elegance, designed in a classical archway style with three passages, stood open. The central luxurious gate crafted from precious wood was wide open, and a distinguished figure stood beneath it.
Confused, she stepped out of the car and walked towards Curtis. "Why are we here?"
Curtis didn't answer but instead turned her gently to face the gate.
"Look up," he instructed.
Obediently, Leanne looked up. The previous sign of Alpine Elegance had been replaced. The rustic and gold-leaf script now read...
"Leanne's Castle?" She thought she might be reading it wrong. "What? Why is my name up there?"
"Because from today, it's yours," Curtis explained, capturing her surprised gaze as he took her hand and led her through the gate.
As night fell, the stone path was lined with courtyard lamps. The wall lights cast a soft orange glow, lighting up the entire garden without a trace of darkness.
Sᴇarch the FindNovel.net website on G𝘰𝘰gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.
Report
