Chapter 249

Chapter 249

She looked like a little kid, bullied and bruised, desperately seeking the comfort of a haven to lick her wounds.

But Leanne’s home offered no such solace. The protectors of her peace had long since departed.

She spent the entire afternoon in bed, transitioning from the bright daylight to the deep night without a wink of sleep.

An unease crept over her while lying in the enveloping darkness, yet she lacked the energy to reach for the light switch.

She stared out at the twilight sky through her window, and the occasional passing cars reminded her that life went on, even as she felt stuck in a stagnant pool of silence.

It seemed her mind was empty, yet flooded with thoughts all at once, from the nightmare of her former workplace to the years she spent with the Richardson family, from her wedding day to the realization of being trapped in a deceptive agreement.

She revisited her entire life.

Fate never seemed to be on her side. Every time she got love, she ended up losing it, and everything she wanted always seemed to go against her intentions.

Then, the neighbor’s kid knocked on her door.

The plump little fellow announced, “Hey, Leanne, my mom made pot roast. Come over for dinner!”

Before she could politely decline, he enthusiastically grabbed her arm and dragged her over to his house. Leanne was still in her slippers.

His parents were home, a modest and warm couple. The lady of the house, apron-clad, greeted her, “Leanne, come on in. Dinner’s almost ready. Hey, Dave, get Leanne something to drink.”

“Coming up!” Mr. Waldron emerged from the kitchen with drinks like milk, juice, and soda. “We’ve got instant coffee, too, if you’d prefer. Just let Timmy know.”

He wasn’t tall, but his face was kind, a trait shared by his family.

Leanne hastily replied, “Milk’s fine, thank you. I really shouldn’t impose.”

“Don’t be silly. We’re neighbors, after all. Besides, Timmy’s been over at your place for meals enough times. Look, he’s put on two pounds.”

Timmy grinned proudly, showing off.

He handed Leanne a Rubik’s Cube to play with, but puzzle-solving was never her forte.

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Chapter 249 Chapte

After several futile attempts, she gave up, her progress in the negatives.

Thoughts of Curtis momentarily lifted her spirits, only to plunge again as she set the cube

aside.

Dinner was served, a spread of six or seven simple dishes, but it was a feast for the four.

Mr. Waldron curiously asked, “Didn’t we get asparagus? That soup would’ve been perfect with asparagus in it.”

Mrs. Waldron casually mentioned, “Leanne doesn’t like asparagus. She prefers lettuce. Pass it her way, will you?”

“Oh, right.” Mr. Waldron quickly moved a plate of lettuce closer to Leanne.

Leanne paused, then smiled. “Thank you.”

She had never dined with them, yet they knew her preferences as if they were family.

Typically, Leanne would keep her distance from neighbors, maintaining a polite but distant relationship. Yet here she was, dining in their home in her slippers.

Curtis was absent from the dinner, yet his presence was everywhere.

Leanne continued her routine of going to work and coming home, but her spirits were low, which lasted for days.

Amy noticed her friend’s off mood. “You’ve been looking a bit down lately. What’s up?”

“Just some insomnia.”

Leanne had struggled with severe insomnia a few years back, relying on medication to sleep. Though she had overcome her depression, her sleep quality remained poor, making insomnia a frequent visitor.

On a weekend afternoon, Joy returned from a business trip, luggage in tow, and made a

beeline for Leanne.

“See how much I love you? I brought you some pastries. I stood in line for two hours to get them.”

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