Chapter 1848


    Leah quickly broke free from Ernest and escaped from his room.


    Ernest shook his head with a bitter smile as she fled. Leah was always so avoidant when it came to


    issues involving him.


    However, she was endlessly bold when it came to others.


    Leah soon arrived downstairs and happened to meet Grace and Zayneing inside. Seeing them,


    Leah immediatelyughed.


    Meanwhile, Alice had gotten up from her seat in the living room to greet her sister.


    Leah went forward to hold Grace''s arm. She supported the pregnant Grace as they talked.


    Grace immediately smiled at Leah.


    A touch of appreciation shed in Zayne''s eyes.


    Leah was a very smart and caring girl.


    His eyes flickered, and no one had any idea what he was thinking.


    Meanwhile, Ernest had alsoe downstairs.


    Alice exchanged a satisfied nce with Grace.


    "Leah, are you hungry?" Grace asked with a smile.


    "I''m not really hungry, auntie. On the other hand, there''s something I need to discuss with you,"


    Leah looked at her and said with a smile, "I want to seek your opinion."


    "Okay, go ahead," Grace walked in with Leah.


    Leah nced over at Zayne after they sat down on the sofa. It seemed that he was rather


    unapproachable most of the time.


    She could not help but sympathize with Essie. Why would Essie fall in love with someone as


    unapproachable as Zayne?


    Well, everyone had their different preferences in love.


    Hence, she couldn''tment on Essie''s choice. She only hoped that Essie wouldn''t be hurt.


    Alice and Grace noticed Leah staring at Zayne and found it odd. Leah seemed to be up to


    something.


    Either way, Leah''s nce was a loaded one.


    Grace was puzzled as she looked over at Ernest, who wasing down the stairs. He raised his


    hands in a helpless motion as he looked back at his mother.


    However, it was obvious that he clearly knew something she didn''t.


    Before they could exchange any more information, Leah said, "Aunt Smith, I have a friending


    over to see Ernest and me today. I wonder if she could stay over this afternoon?"


    Grace was surprised. She figured that this must be someone important. If not, they definitely


    wouldn''t appear at such a peculiar time.


    "Sure, ask your friend toe. They must be a very good friend of yours," Grace replied agreeably,


    "The more the merrier, and it''s been a long time since our house has been this lively."


    "Thank you, Aunt Smith. You''re too kind that I''m getting embarrassed for asking such a question,"


    Leah was careful with her words, making Grace quite pleased.


    Grace then decided to ask, "What''s your friend''s name? Are they a boy or a girl?"


    "Of course it''s a girl, auntie. Why would I ask a boy toe over? Furthermore, I don''t have any


    male friends who are close with me," Leah smiled before exining, "Aunt Smith, my friend is called


    Essie Yarbrough, and she coincidentally has the same surname as Mr. Yarbrough here. She''s a


    cute, beautiful girl, and she''s bold and charming too."


    Hearing this, Alice and Grace immediately exchanged nces. They could seemingly read between


    the lines of what Leah said.


    They noticed a different lilt in Leah''s tone. This Essie girl was definitely someone special.


    Moreover, Leah had snuck an inquisitive nce at Zayne after she finished speaking.


    As expected, Grace spotted Zayne''s entire body going stiff.


    He looked up at Leah with a piercing gaze.


    Zayne was sizing Leah up, but she was unafraid. Instead, Leah just chuckled, "Mr. Yarbrough,


    what''s the matter?"


    An annoyed smirk curved Zayne''s lips.


    Did they set him up?


    Zayne did not enjoy being tricked regardless of whether or not the intentions were good.


    Thus, his gaze became even sharper.


    Leah couldn''t help but shiver. However, she felt that there wasn''t much to be afraid of. She was just


    a kid, after all.


    Was he going toe after her just because of this?


    Besides, she didn''t hurt Zayne either.


    With that, Leah met Zayne''s gaze and asked again, "Mr. Yarbrough, why are you looking at me like


    that?" Zayne just red at Ernest and uttered, "Ernest, keep your girlfriend in check. She shouldn''t


    be poking her nose in things that aren''t her business."


    Ernest smiled. He would obviously take his girlfriend''s side.


    "Uncle, I''m a little confused by what you''re saying. Since when did Leah ever poke her nose into


    anything? She''s not that kind of girl, and she never cares about anything that isn''t rted to her."


    Zayne frowned upon hearing that, creases of frustration forming in between his eyes.


    Then, he muttered while maintaining a steady re at Ernest, "So, both of you are going against me


    now, huh?"


    "Uncle, what are you talking about? How could I ever go against you? You''re my uncle, not my


    enemy," Ernest was still all smiles and even shot Leah a yful nce.


    On the other hand, Leah found Ernest so incredibly handsome when he backed her up.


    She gave Ernest an admiring look.


    She really wanted to run into his arms and kiss him. She wanted to tell him that he looked so hot


    defending her.


    However, Leah decided to restrain herself in front of all the adults. Instead, she just gave Ernest an


    adoring look.


    Love was the only thing in her gaze.


    Grace and Alice immediately understood that something was going on.


    They all looked at Leah in a hurry, and Grace seemed very excited. She eximed, "Leah, where''s


    your friend? Ask her toe quickly!"


    "She''s on the way," Leah grinned in response. She knew that Grace must have caught on quickly.


    She couldn''t help but admire Ernest for having such a quick-witted family.


    However, Zayne growled, "Don''t try me, Leah Winston. No one in Northern City has ever dared to


    do so."


    Leah immediately blinked and shot Zayne her best puppy dog eyes, even making a big show of


    slumping her shoulders pitifully.


    It was as if she was incredibly intimidated.


    Ernest frowned and immediately walked over. In front of everyone present, he held Leah''s hand and


    supported her.


    Leah immediately stole a nce at Ernest, wanting to tell him that she was not afraid.


    It was just an act.


    However, she was too embarrassed to say it in front of so many people.


    Thus, she could only remain silent.


    Leah''s behavior made Zayne frown, but he didn''t say anything in the end.


    On the other hand, Grace was the one to speak up, "Zayne, stop looking so fierce. You''ve scared


    Leah."


    "Grace, I don''t think this girl is suited to be Ernest''s girlfriend," Zayne was very blunt, "She''s too


    strong-willed and too nosy."


    His words were honestly quite insulting indeed.


    Everyone gasped at his poor choice of words.


    "Zayne Yarbrough," Grace''s tone was serious as she reprimanded him.


    Leah''s face drained of blood as she heard that.


    However, she quickly got herself under control. Since she wasmitted to doing this, she had to


    deal with the consequences.


    She calmed down and made herself look unfazed. She even had a faint smile on her face.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    However, Ernest was terribly upset at this and he looked at Zayne angrily, "Uncle, I don''t need


    anyone telling me what sort of person my girlfriend is. Don''t you think you''re being too unforgiving?


    You''ll never understand how amazing Leah is."


    It was normal for Ernest to defend his girlfriend in front of everyone.


    Leah did not speak, but she was extremely moved.


    Grace added, "Zayne, I understand that you''re in a bad mood today, but your words are too harsh.


    Once spoken, you can never take them back, don''t you understand?"


    Alice quipped, "Zayne, where''s your usual gentlemanly behavior? Why are you so aggressive


    towards Leah?"


    Zayne narrowed his eyes at Leah, warning her.


    Leah shivered in fear, and everyone instantly turned to look at her.


    Grace then said to Zayne, "Zayne,e and have some tea."


    She poured a cup of tea for Zayne, hoping to divert his attention.


    However, Zayne still shot a cold nce at Leah and snorted, "If you have the guts to provoke me,


    you should have the guts to bear all the consequences. Don''t think you can escape from the


    consequences scot-free, little girl."


    Leah took a deep breath.


    Then, she straightened up and looked directly at Zayne, replying, "Mr. Yarbrough, you''re scaring


    me. I don''t know what you mean, and I have no idea why Essie''s arrival means provoking you. Do


    you have anything going on with Essie? If not, why do


    you say all of these mean things to me?"


    Alice burst into boisterousughter as soon as Leah said this and shed a thumbs up at Leah,


    "Nice one, Leah. Don''t be afraid of him!"


    Zayne frowned and red at Leah, "So, you''ve finally decided to tell the truth, huh?"


    "I never lied in the first ce. Instead, I think you''re the one that''s lying. You''re definitely affected by


    this girl, and yet you won''t admit it. Instead, you choose to insult and threaten me. I have no idea


    what Essie sees in you, Mr. Yarbrough. To be frank, I don''t think you deserve Essie at all."


    Leah''s tone got increasingly agitated towards Zayne, and her words only grew sharper by the


    minute.


    "You think everyone should worship the ground you walk on. Furthermore, you take advantage of


    the fact that Essie is crazy in love with you and leave her out in the cold. You''re a cruel man


    indeed," Leah continued her tirade. Since she''d already offended Zayne, what''s a few more insults


    thrown into the mix?


    The insults and threats she''d suffered were no worsepared to the pain Essie had gone through


    by loving this man.