Curtis fixed her with a look that was hard to read.
"So, you didn't tell me," he said, too sharply. "You suspected it had something to do with the Richardson family, and you thought I would take their side. Is that it?" Leanne replied, "I never thought that."
"Then what did you think?" Curtis pressed her, offering a chance to explain.
"I wish more than anyone that your family wasn't involved. If I could, I wouldn't want to suspect Mary, Maddox, or Jennifer."
"How do you expect me to react when you say you suspect my family of being behind your parents' demise? And how am I supposed to face you or Grandma if they were innocent?"
Mary had always been so kind to her, and so had everyone in the Richardson family.
A sourness filled Leanne's nose, and warmth rushed to her eyes. She pinched the joint of her thumb and forefinger as if it could ease a little of the pain.
"They're your family. Getting you into this means asking you to choose between believing them or doubting them for my sake."
Curtis stood up and walked over to her, crouching before her. His fingertips gently wiped away the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.
"Whether it's difficult for me is my decision, my consequences to bear. You don't need to worry about me. I'd rather you rely on me first whenever you're facing anything instead of carrying it all by yourself." Leanne's tears fell even harder, stringing together like beads.
Curtis patiently wiped them away until his palms were all her tears. He then stopped, looking at her.
"Leanne, I have only one question for you."
She lifted her tear-blurred eyes to him.
Curtis knelt on one knee before her, his gaze holding a complex, hard-to-define meaning.
"Have you been secretly investigating it behind my back, already deciding that if it turns out my family is indeed behind your parent's death, you'll leave me?"
"Your recent clinginess, kisses, declarations of love, do you genuinely enjoy being close to me, or are you treating each day as if it's our last?"
It felt like her heart was breaking, more painful than she could imagine.
Leanne had always avoided thinking about this question, evading the thought every day.
Without uncovering the truth or reaching a dead end, she didn't want to make that choice.
"I've never thought about it," she buried her eyes in her palms.
Curtis lifted her head, forcing her to look at him, refusing to let her escape. "Then I'm asking you now. If that day comes, will you leave me?"
His persistent gaze left Leanne with no place to hide.
Could she still be with Curtis in good conscience if the Richardson family had harmed her parents?
"I don't know..."
As she spoke, she watched the warmth in Curtis' eyes cool off. Outside, the continuous drizzle and oppressive atmosphere seemed to encapsulate the garden named after her. Curtis let go of her and stood up.
"That's fair," he said with desolation and self-mockery, "It's your turn to leave me."
Suddenly, a wave of overwhelming sadness engulfed Leanne. She reached out to grab his hand. "Curtis..."
Her fingers brushed the back of Curtis' hand, but he turned and walked away.
As the door opened, a chill wind sneaked in. Curtis didn't grab an umbrella before striding into the rain.
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