Chapter 109: Chapter 109

Leanne shivered as a gust of brisk autumn wind tousled her hair.

Curtis shut the door behind him, cutting off the draft. He shrugged off his heavy coat and headed to the home bar He took a pristine glass from the shelf. The clink of its base against the countertop rang clear and sharp. He reached into the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. As Leanne was to head upstairs, his voice, frostbitten as if it had tumbled through a snowdrift, stopped her in her tracks.

“You don’t think you’ve got a shot because he called off the engagement, do you?“

Leanne’s ascent faltered, and she turned around.

“What are you talking about?”

The sound of ice cubes clinking filled the quiet as Curtis poured the amber liquid over them. The color deepened on the surface but couldn’t seep into the core of the ice.

You’ve always had your eye on my brother. Happy to hear he’s back on the market?” He took a swig of his drink. “Too bad, even if you and I split, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”

His tone, laced with scorn, stung. Leanne wanted to argue but couldn’t deny the truth in his words.

Compared to Curtis, who had a knack for being cutting, she would have preferred Phillip.

She had once asked Jennifer, why not him? Phillip was single and unattached, while Curtis had been with Suzan. By order of age or emotional availability, it would have made more sense for her to be with his brother.

Jennifer had dismissed her as fanciful. “Phillip is the heir. He’ll take over the family business. His marriage must be strategic, not just to any woman.”

Leanne had no input in the decision to marry, let alone whom to marry.

Leanne wouldn’t have married into the Richardson family if she had a choice. If she had a choice, she would have chosen Phillip, not Curtis.

1 had married your brother, it would have been better than this farce with you,” Leanne Curtis grip on the glass tightened. “Leanne, what dream world are you living in?” Just because you married me doesn’t mean you’re worthy of my brother. His marriage is a business merger, a bargaining chip at the negotiation table. It’s about stacking interests, consolidating resources, networking…

creating enough value for the Richardson family.”

His voice was as loy as the drink in his hand. “Do you bring that kind of value?”

“fect that I might shattes:

eutre centing mensus fece udgmental New Mewtores You cant quite SESTURA QUE FRUITS B Seeting Lute sheshing me dess but not wanting to disture Pees TOM TE STOVE Leme teat Cursetum, his hand on the coorknee, only to fine Of course to a rat coter from isce.

Lobier our Cums amos agret i mason Leane this is my room. Why are you The reproom at awals een Cums Leannes childrece room was cownstairs next to Saans a moden space ter ter wetting she had her celongings moved there though tre sedom aver gette: She could count on one hand the nights spent in this room.

BuSTE TEC TO TOT of the time. Her cid space was for other uses “Go crash in the guest room,” Leanne suggested and lowered here to avoid string any midnight gossip in the house.

“Why would I ditch my bed to sleep in the quest room? Curtis voice was a low growl, barely containing his frustration. “Just open up.”

Leanne stood her ground, her voice muffled through the door “Suit yourself You seem to love wandering off and sprawling out on that king size out in the yard, anyway.

“Great, just perfect.” Curtis sounded ready to blow a fuse. “What did I do to warrant this? You’re like some karmic joke on me.”

The silence outside the door stretched as Leanne dried her hair and settled into bed, flipping the lock again. As she was dozing off, there came another knock. Assuming it was Curtis, she called out irritably, “Can’t you just call it a night?”

But it wasn’t Curtis. “Leanne, I’ve brought you something.” Sarah’s voice sounded from the other side.

Leanne opened up to find Sarah bearing things like a few sets of clothes for the next day, her favorite skincare and makeup essentials, and her trusty phone charger.

“Mr. Curtis had me fetch these for you.”

Had Curtis gone out shopping amid their spat?

While taking the items, Leanne said, “Thanks, Sarah.”

“Don’t mention it,” Sarah replied. “Try to get some rest. You’ve got work in the morning.”

With Sarah gone, Leanne secured the door again and lay in bed, the soft glow of the floor lamp casting a comforting light. But something nagged at her, and she got up, crouching to inspect the floor lamp closely. It was like the ones at Crystal Cove Villas, with no visible wires. They must have been cleverly hidden away. When had they installed these?

She had always feared the dark, prone to nightmares, so a nightlight was a must. The glaring brightness of a table lamp was too harsh, and the dimmer ones left shadows. lurking in the corners.

These floor lamps, however, traced a gentle outline around the room, banishing darkness without intruding on her sleep.

But Curtis had no such need for light when sleeping..

Leanne hadn’t paid much attention before and couldn’t recall when these lamps were installed. They had been there since their first night together after the wedding.

Confounded by the intricacies of electrical wiring, she soon gave up her investigation.

The living room downstairs was quiet, the family at rest. Having delivered her package, Sarah tiptoed into the kitchen for some soup and carefully opened a door to a bedroom.

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