Chapter 88


    "Ms. Shaffer, I—"


    "Listen to me first, Leanna." Wendy''s expression was grave. "I''ve known since you moved here that


    you had a rough time, but there are some things that Naomi and I dare not mention lest you get upset,


    so we never touched upon the subject. Still, as you know, I''m a person who speaks my mind, and there


    are a few things that I can''t help but say," she continued. Then, after pausing for a moment, she


    commented, "That ex-husband of yours is really an *sshole."


    Upon hearing this, Leanna was rendered speechless, whereas Aidan was puzzled.


    Just as Wendy was about to continue, Naomi touched her arm to signal her to stop. However, the


    former said, "Don''t stop me, Naomi. Now that I''ve brought up the subject, I have to finish saying what I


    want to say. Leanna, just forget about that guy and cherish the one before you."


    Sensing the chilly aura emanating from the person next to her, Leanna quickly said, "You got the wrong


    idea, Ms. Shaffer. I-It''s not what you think it is. He and I divorced amicably."


    "Divorced amicably? That''s bullsh*t! Even if you two are divorced, you''re still pregnant with a baby, yet


    your ex-husband leaves you to fend for yourself! Say, is this even humane? Anyone with a bit of


    conscience wouldn''t have let you leave your hometown ande all the way here while being


    pregnant. Not only do you have no one to rely on for support, but you have no one to turn to for the


    injustices you suffered."


    Leanna felt that her head was going to explode. "Really, Ms. Shaffer, I—"


    Wendy let out a sigh while continuing to hold her hand. "Leanna, don''t force yourself to smile anymore.


    I''ve been through this before, so I know how you feel," she said. Then, she continued, "Come over,


    Harry."


    Harry stood up and came between them.


    Wendy held Leanna''s hand in one hand while taking Harry''s hand with the other. "Both of you are good


    kids. Trust me, Leanna. Harry is reliable, and he loves you sincerely. He''ll surely take good care of


    you."


    Seeing that she had set the mood, Harry took advantage of the situation and said, "Leanna, I really


    don''t mind your past. I know that you might not know much about me yet, but it''s okay. I just hope that


    you''ll give me a chance to prove my feelings for you."


    Leanna looked somewhat stunned without saying a word.


    Thinking that she had tacitly agreed to it, Wendy was about to put their hands together, but Leanna


    suddenly retracted hers. "Sorry, b-but I think I can''t."


    Harry''s eyes darkened for a moment.


    Wendy let out a sigh as well. She said to Harry, "This kind of thing can''t be rushed. Let''s wait until some


    other time."


    Harry was in low spirits when he returned to his seat.


    Leanna''s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She was stunned just now because a certain man


    quietly held her hand under the table while Harry was talking. Not only that, but he evenced his long


    fingers with hers little by little so that their fingers interlocked. She turned to re at him, but he merely


    raised his eyebrows slightly while throwing his head back and drinking calmly, as though nothing had


    happened.


    Everyone at the dining table fell silent after this. However, Leanna felt ill at ease all over; she realized


    that Aidan had no intention of releasing his grip on her hand at all. What''s the matter with this *sshole''s


    sudden fit of madness?!


    At the end of the gathering, the neighbors said goodbye to each other and left. Pulling himself together


    with some difficulty, Harry said, "President Pearson, let me see you off."


    Aidan replied impassively, "It''s not necessary. You seem unwell, so you should go back and have a


    good rest."


    As he was talking, Leanna secretly tugged on her left hand and finally pulled it out of his grasp.


    Just then, Aidan added, "I''d like to stroll around a little. I just need Miss McKinney''spany."


    Leanna, who had finally heaved a sigh of relief, was stupefied to hear this. Who the hell agreed to


    that?!


    Harry''s lips quivered as if he wanted to say something, but he found that he had no right to do so.


    Moreover, Aidan was a married man, so he probably wouldn''t have any interest in a pregnant woman.


    After Harry left, Aidan looked sideways at the person, who looked extremely reluctant, sitting beside


    him. "Miss McKinney?"


    Wendy patted Leanna on the shoulder. "Leanna, Aidan''s calling you."


    Leanna forced a smile and gave a hollowugh. "Is that so? I didn''t hear it."


    Aidan added, "Thank you for yourpany, Miss McKinney."


    This *sshole is quite good at pretending, thought Leanna.


    When they left themunity hall, only a row of streetlights could be seen along the river outside.


    Walking ahead silently with her head down, Leanna just wanted to reach the other end of the street as


    soon as possible to send Aidan away.


    Aidan put his hand in his trouser pocket while following her unhurriedly from behind. "Miss McKinney,


    aren''t you gonna introduce these ces to me?"


    Leanna bit her lip before looking back with a smile. "I just moved here two weeks ago, so I''m not very


    familiar with the neighborhood yet. Just look around as you please, President Pearson. Or would you


    like me to get someone else to give you a detailed introduction?"


    "Can you get someone here who''s even prettier than you?"


    Leanna let out a sneer. "Didn''t you just say that I looked so-so?"


    Aidan stopped in his tracks. Looking at the surface of the river, he slowly retorted, "I was talking about


    my wife, Miss McKinney. Why would you think that I was referring to you?"


    Leanna was rendered speechless. Look what he''s saying! Is that something a human being is


    supposed to say? She stood a meter away from him. "President Pearson, didn''t you notice that you


    messed up everyone''s arrangements?"


    Aidan didn''t care much about it, though. "Is that so? I thought they were quite happy."


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Leanna was at a loss for words. He''s quite confident about himself, huh?


    Aidan looked back at her. "Or are you trying to say that I messed up your chance of getting together


    with that guy, Miss McKinney?"


    Leanna replied, "Probably. If you hadn''t been present, I''d probably have agreed to go out with Harry."


    "Miss McKinney, if you regret it, you can still go back to Mr. Mills now. I believe that he''ll be very happy


    to be made a fool of."


    How Leanna wished she could kick Aidan into the river right now. Suddenly, she realized something


    and asked tentatively, "President Pearson, are you drunk?" Yeah, that exins it. Only when he''s drunk


    will he not sound sarcastic, cold-hearted, and harsh. That exins why he held my hand earlier.


    Indeed, many came to toast him over dinner just now, which he epted.


    Aidan didn''t answer her, though. After a while, he said impassively, "I also grew up in such ane as a


    child."


    Leanna was startled for a moment before realizing what he meant. No wonder he showed no


    impatience or irritability despite the rowdy surroundings and the hubbub of voices, she thought.


    This was also his first time telling her something about himself, but he seemed to have no intention of


    saying anything else. Instead, nobody knew what he was thinking as he stood there for a long time.


    Just then, a gust of wind blew past them, and Leanna couldn''t help but sneeze.


    Aidan slowly looked back at her impassively. "Leanna."


    "Huh?" What a familiar tone of voice. Has he sobered up?


    Aidan asked, "Anna said that the baby in your womb is Zayn''s. How are you gonna exin this?"