Chapter 35


    I seriously don''t get her.


    In a cold voice, Aidan spoke over the inte, "Contact Lux Jewelry to know how much Leanna


    McKinney''s termination fee is."


    "Understood."


    He received a report from Jonathan in no time. "Madam has previously signed the contract with their


    boss in person, so he''s the only one that knows the details."


    However, the boss of Lux Jewelry was currently on vacation in Cazkavia.


    Without hesitation, Aidan grabbed his coat and rose to his feet. "Book thetest flight ticket to


    Cazkavia."


    Jonathan did as he was told at the drop of the hat.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The contradicting sight of his boss'' impatience reminded him about the person who scolded him for


    mentioning Lux Jewelry and the so-called coboration that had ended years ago just ten minutes


    earlier.


    A weekter, Leanna was being discharged from the hospital. Although she had almost recovered, Zoe


    and Louis advised her to rest for a few days longer. Still, she could feel her limbs degenerating after


    spending days in bed in the hospital.


    Besides, she did not expect to see Zayn at the hospital. They were left alone after the sensible Zoe


    pulled Louis away.


    Silence filled the atmosphere until Leanna wore a smile. "Thank you for everything that you''ve done."


    "Leanna, you don''t have to say those two words to me. Ever," Zayn replied.


    She sighed as the awkwardness lingered in the air, making her want to flee the scene as soon as


    possible. "If there''s nothing else important, I—"


    "Leanna, I have something to tell you. Do you know who was the sponsor for The Emerging Designer


    Competition three years back?"


    Before she could even answer, he recounted, "Koyote Group is a subsidiary of Pearson Group."


    She paused. "What do you mean?"


    "I know that you went to see Mr. Hall with the hope of changing the sponsorship to Aeras into cash. He


    did help you with the appeal, but it was rejected. In other words, Aidan Pearson was the one who


    rejected the appeal."


    During the next two minutes of silence, Leanna digested the fact that Aidan, the sponsor, was the very


    person whomented on her as someone without a dream. She then smiled lightly. "So what if I


    know now? It''s been three years. What''s done is done. Besides, it''s not like he owes me anything. It''s


    reasonable for him to reject the appeal."


    Zayn grabbed her shoulders with red-rimmed eyes. "Leanna, if it wasn''t for him, you wouldn''t have to


    go through these. We could''ve—"


    "Zayn, it looks like I haven''t straightened things out with you. Even if I didn''t get married to Aidan, we


    wouldn''t havested till the end anyway." She removed his hands calmly.


    "Why not?"


    "I was too innocent back then. I failed to see the huge gap between us."


    His brows creased tightly. "Leanna, that''s not a problem."


    Still, she insisted. "It is a problem and a very big one. I might still have hope for the future if it wasn''t for


    him, but after marrying him, I finally learned that a rag-to-riches story ain''t as easy as I thought. I don''t


    wanna be on everyone''s lips and suffer from pointing fingers anymore."


    "That''s because he doesn''t love you. You wouldn''t be treated that way if he had loved you."


    The truth rendered her speechless. Even if she hade to terms with it, her stomach still churned


    when someone else pointed it out.


    The moment she parted her lips, someone dashed into the scene and pped her in the face. "Leanna


    McKinney, you shameless b*tch!"


    The metallic taste spread across Leanna''s mouth as she prodded the bleeding area with her tongue


    and returned the p.


    Anna, who had not foreseen Leanna''s counterattack, paralyzed in shock before attempting to fight


    back, only to be stopped by Zayn.


    He warned sternly, "Anna Pearson, behave… or else, I don''t know what I''m going to do to you."


    "Zayn, she pped me. You—"


    "Check who barked first, woman," interrupted Leanna coldly.


    Anna snapped, but he pulled her hand, which made her face flushed red. "Leanna McKinney, I told you


    that Zayn is mine. Only mine! Don''t you dare seduce him!"


    He pursed his lips upon hearing that. "Anna, I repeat. There''s nothing going on between you and I."


    "That''s not true! Our families are already nning for our marriage. It''s just a matter of time before we


    get together."


    His patience was wearing thin as she had been pursuing him round the clock after returning to the


    country.


    It was true that Zayn did not like her parents, but he ended up agreeing with the engagement for


    reasons that he himself was oblivious of. Resultantly, Anna presumed that they would get married on


    her own volition, therefore, pestering him more as days passed.


    Leanna did not bother her and bid him goodbye, "I''ll go ahead first."


    "Leanna…" After watching her leave, he lowered his head as he was aware that he was in no position


    to ask her to stay when he failed to settle his own mess.


    At the same time, Anna linked arms with him. "Zayn, let''s go shopping. I pre-ordered a bag a few days


    ago. It should''ve arrived—"


    "Anna, you''re a girl and I don''t wanna say nasty things to you. But I don''t like you and have no intention


    of marrying you either. If you keep acting up like that to Leanna''s face, don''t me me for not warning


    you when the timees." He shoved her hands in the meantime.


    She red at him in resentment. "It''s because of Leanna, isn''t it? You don''t like me because of her! If it


    wasn''t for her, you… I should''ve pushed her harder and killed her back then!"


    He frowned. "What did you just say you did?"


    At that moment, her gaze skittered around frantically upon realizing that she had made a blunder with


    her words before pushing him away. "Nothing! I did nothing to her. She had iting! It''s because she


    got married to Aidan without knowing her ce and now even flirting with you. That''s why."


    Having said that, she scurried away, leaving him standing alone with tightly fisted hands.


    …


    On the way home, Leanna leaned against the window while staring at the view outside. The glint in her


    eyes simmered, rendering her thoughts undecipherable.


    Zoe endeavored to enlighten the mood, but Louis stopped her in figuring that it would be best to leave


    her alone for the time being.


    As Leanna herself had told Zayn, Aidan did not owe her anything. Hence, it was reasonable for her


    appeal to be dismissed. Still, no matter how much she reminded herself that sometimes life would not


    work out as one wished, her reasoning would diminish little by little as time passed.


    It''s not even a hard request. What''s wrong with trying to ask for the things I need when I''m the winner?


    I doubt that it''s an unreasonable request. It''s not like I don''t wanna go to Aeras. Reality doesn''t allow


    me to do so.


    Due to that, Leanna''s action that was deemed valueless had be the reason tobel her as


    someonecking a dream. Had it not been the cruel reality, everyone would wish to have the chance to


    embark the journey to achieve their dreams.


    Throughout the three-year-marriage, she had familiarized herself with Aidan''s aloof and cruel


    disposition. Never once had she wished something from him. Not at all.