Chapter 175


    Chapter 175


    Curtis stood at the hotel entrance, the biting wind ruffling his jacket, like a brooding statue watching


    their car disappear into the night.


    As he slid into the passenger seat, Devin, who had witnessed the entire day’s events, cleared his throat


    and produced a glossy, high-definition photo from his bag.


    Curtis nced at it casually, but his eyes quickly fixed on the image.


    “Where’d you get this?” he asked, lifting his gaze.


    “I snagged an extra shot this morning when we were all posing for the group photo,” Devin said, a hint


    of pride creeping into his voice, “What do you think of the angle I picked, huh?” It was indeed a great


    shot, capturing only Curtis and Leanne.


    The majestic mountains and the brilliant sunrise created a vivid backdrop, with the two of them


    standing side by side at the summit. Curtis, with his strong, chiseled features, and Leanne, with her


    picturesque beauty and an air of gentle grace, outshone even the breathtaking scenery behind them.


    The frustration Curtis had carried down from the mountaintop seemed to ease a bit at the sight.


    “You’re not so bad, kid,” he said with a half-smile.


    He reached out to take the photo, but Devin pulled it back teasingly.


    “I reckon this one’s worth more than hers,” Devin said with a cocky flick of the photo. “So, bro, what’s


    your offer?”


    Curtisughed despite himself, “You in cahoots with them now? Or maybe you’d pr ride in their tank


    instead?”


    In the “tank,” Selina was rolling her eyes at Joy. “Have some dignity, will you?”


    “I’m only fleecing the bad guys, not your brother,” retorted Joy. “A man’s wool is there for the taking-if


    he’s willing to pay, I’ve got a whole gallery on my phone ready to sell.”


    Her tone was fierce, “I’ll bleed him dry!”


    Selina surreptitiously pulled out her own phone, “Speaking of which, I’ve got quite the collection


    myself.”


    Leanne, after hearing an exaggerated ount of the day from Selina, didn’tment on Joy’s scheme


    to profit from her photos.


    Joy


    y was brash, but she had her limits. Her phone was full of tasteful images of Leanne-nothing too


    revealing, just in case it ever got lost and turned into a scandal.


    1/2


    Chapter 175


    Curtis’ odd behaviortely now made sense to Leanne, who gazed out the window, wondering if the


    divorce papers woulde through as smoothly as nned in four days.


    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    “I don’t get him,” mused Joy. “Making a loss on such a deal today.”


    Selina stroked her chin thoughtfully, “Do you think, maybe, he’s been acting a bit strange around


    Leanne recently?”


    Leanne, resting her head on her hand, blurted out, “He told me he loved me today.”


    A brief silence fell in the vehicle.


    Then Joy turned to look at her, sighing meaningfully, “Honey, you should get some more sleep. You’re


    talking nonsense now.”


    Selina burst intoughter, “He loves you? Oh, that’s hrious!”


    Leanne just sat quietly…


    After returning to the city, Selina intended to stay at Leanne’s ce but was unceremoniously


    kidnapped by Joy, “She’s got work early tomorrow, don’t bother her.


    f restless in


    Back at home, Leanne tidied up a bit, soaked in a warm bath, and found herself. bed, perhaps from


    oversleeping during the day


    After lying awake for a while, she got up and rummaged through an old box of odds and ends,


    retrieving a memory card encased in a transparent box.


    She plugged the card into herputer, and soon the photos stored on it appeared on the


    screen.


    They were from a time when she and Curtis were snowed in at Northwood. The camera, initially


    purposed for capturing scenic views from their trip, ended up brimming with pictures of her instead.


    Curtis had taken them all-Leanne eating, reading, or simply daydreaming.


    Many were candid, catching her unguarded moments, revealing her most genuine self.


    As Leanne flicked through them, she realized how often she had smiled back then.


    There were a few videos too. Initially, Leanne had awkwardly tried to block the lens with her hand, but


    eventually, she let it be.


    Curtis loved to secretly film her sleeping, and thest video was from one quiet morning.


    Captured in these digital memories was a side of her life she hadn’t fully appreciated until now-a side


    that, despite the impending end of her marriage, still glowed with the warmth of unexpected moments.