Chapter 49


    Chapter 49


    Leanne clenched her fists tight as she spun around to him, her voiceced with a mix of indifference


    and challenge. I can shrug off your insults, but is this the way you talk about your brother? Is he that


    unworthy in your heart?”


    Curtisnded his icy gaze unwaveringly on her face. “He’s not. You might be.”


    A sharp pang hit Leanne’s heart, a choking sensation rising in her throat, making every breath a


    struggle.


    “It takes one to know one,” she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I might have. misjudged


    someone, but at least I’m not unting Suzan around town like a trophy. What right do you have to


    judge me?”


    “Why brin


    bring Suzan into this?” Curtis frowned, evidently thinking she was making a mountain out of a molehill.


    “Kyle was like a father to her. Now that he’s passed, she’s just paying her respects out of the kindness


    they shared since childhood. What’s wrong. with that?”


    “You always have an excuse. Bringing her to the memorial service is sentimental, but how about jetting


    off to Embend under the guise of business?”


    Leanne gripped the banister with one hand, her knuckles white. “Tell me, Curtis. Did you fuck her


    during those cozy nights in Embend? How many times?”


    Laura, hearing Leanne return, was about to step out of the kitchen when she caught the explosive


    exchange. Hiding by the kitchen door, anxiety written all over her face, she watched the argument


    escte. Unable to hold back, Laura rushed out to defend Curtis.


    “Madam, you shouldn’t talk like that. Mr. Curtis isn’t that kind of man!”


    “And what kind is he?” Leanne shot back.


    Laura choked on her words. “I mean he would hever be unfaithful!”


    Leanne was calm, almost too indifferent. “Wasn’t it you who whispered about his affairs, about how he


    ran off to Embend to chase an old me?”


    Laura turned pale as Curtis’ piercing gaze shifted towards her. Panic-stricken, she waved her hands


    frantically, “No, I never said that!”


    She realized toote that Leanne’s past leniency had been nothing more than courteous


    straint.


    generous, sharing with Laura the bounty of workce benefits, the gifts the precious food deliveries


    that were too much for one person, and the Donuses. Leanne wasn’t one to fuss over the oddzy day,


    and Laura had it easy With her light workload.


    Laura had mistaken Leanne’s kindness for weakness, but now she saw a different side of Leanne. It


    was a side even more intimidating than Mr. Curtis himself.


    Laura didn’t dare utter another word and scurried back to the sanctuary of the kitchen.


    Curtis, his expression as cold as stone, tossed his half-smoked cigarette into a cup on the coffee table


    and stood up, striding towards Leanne.


    He towered over her, his height even more apparent as he approached. Curtis’ brown eyes bore into


    her, his voice icy. “Who told you I slept with her? Were you hiding under my bed?”


    “If not her, then who?” Leanne was expressionless. “Or are you going to tell me you’ve been a saint


    these past couple of years? You are a notorious yboy. Do you event believe yourself?”


    “A yboy?” Curtis darkened his face with anger. “So in your eyes, I’m just a man driven by lust,


    unable to stand loneliness?”


    Leanne had once made up every grand excuse for his behavior and had once loved him. enough to


    justify it all. But now, as she looked into those same handsome and charming features, she felt not an


    ounce of love.


    “Are you not?” she asked, her tone steady and indifferent.


    If it wasn’t for restlessness, why did he pursue her while his hearty with Suzan?


    If it wasn’t for lust, how could he have loved her so passionately, only to withdraw so abruptly?


    Curtis let out a bitterugh, his anger morphing into mockery.


    “Fine. I’m a ve to my desires. I’m a yboy. I’m so damn restless I can’t go a day without a woman!”


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Grinding his teeth in fury, he suddenly scooped Leanne up in one swift motion before she could react.


    With powerful strides, he carried her up the staircase.


    Caught off guard, Leanne found herself airborne, her slippers tumbling down the stairs as she dangled


    upside down, her soft belly pressing against the hard ridge of his shoulder. Instinctively, she clutched


    the fabric of his shirt for bnce as Curtis made his way to the upper floor.