Chapter 141 

Leo’s face grew serious, the playful tone from earlier replaced by something heavier. 

“What’s this about the money you put on my card?” he asked, his eyes searching mine 

I stood from my desk, brushing it off with a shrug. “It’s nothing. Forget it.” 

Before I could take a step, Leo caught my wrist, his grip firm but gentle. 

“No. You’re not leaving until you explain.” 

ghed, knowing where this was going. 

“That money was supposed to come out of my pocket, Leo,” I said softly. 

His hand slid down my arm, pulling me into his embrace, 

His voice was low, laced with concern. 

“But the amount you transferred is far more than those debts. You’re trying to prove something, aren’t you?” 

I smirked, letting him pull me closer. 

There was a glint of determination in my eyes as I said, “Everyone assumed I married you for money back then. I’m paying you back, Leo. I want them to see that I can make my own way, that I don’t need anything from you.” 

Leo’s breath hitched, his chest tightening as he held me tighter. “And what were you after, then?” 

He knew the answer. He’d known it for years, but he needed to hear it from my lips. 

Silence hung between us for a long moment. 

When I finally spoke, my voice was quiet. 

“Before, I came for you–for you as a person.” 

As soon as the words left my lips, Leo’s arms enveloped me completely, pulling me into a fierce hug. 

His hold was so tight I could barely breathe, but I didn’t want to pull away. 

Our hearts beat in sync, the thin layers of fabric between us doing little to mask the warmth of our bodies or the rhythm of our shared heartbeat. 

He lowered his voice, his words trembling, “When I was in school, I was nothing, and then I was wounded in the war. Why did you never think of giving up on me at that time?” 

There it was again–the doubt he always harbored. 

Back then, when he was at his lowest, he couldn’t fathom why someone would marry him. 

He’d always believed I only stayed because of my parents‘ debt, that I had no choice. 

Each time he lost control, he feared I’d leave, compensating me with money as if it could soothe the damage. 

I raised my hand to his cheek, the warmth of his skin grounding me. 

“Because we’re mates, Leo,” I said simply, my voice filled with the certainty I felt deep within. “From the first moment we made love in college, I knew. 

I knew you were the one I’d be tied to for the rest of my life, whether you remembered that or not.” 

The wind outside rustled the trees, casting shadows on the walls of the dimly lit room. 

It felt as if the night itself wrapped around us, cradling us in the moment. 

Leo’s breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling as he leaned in closer. 

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Chapter 141 

In one swift movement, he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me over to the couch. 

He placed me down with such care, as if I were something fragile he never wanted to break. 

I was going to push him away, but at this moment, I recalled that image from many years ago 

That time, not long after joining the academy, I had spent that crazy and blissful night with Leo at the lakeside flat. 

In a moment of my trance, his fingers brushed lightly over my face, tracing the lines of my cheek. 

His eyes, those deep pools of emotion, stared into mine with a kind of tenderness I hadn’t seen in years. 

He started brushing his lips against mine, hesitant at first. 

then the kiss deepened, and I felt all the emotions we’d been holding back come crashing through. 

His hands moved gently over my body, and I responded, feeling the heat build between us. 

The world outside faded away as we became lost in each other, the weight of the past falling away like old memories. 

As we lay there, wrapped up in one another, I finally felt like we were on the same page. 

“Does that mean… you’ll give me another chance?” His voice was almost pleading. “A chance to catch back up?” 

I smiled, but I didn’t give him a straight answer. 

“Maybe. But you know,” I teased lightly, “there are plenty of other men who are after me now. You’re not the only one.” 

Jealousy flickered in his eyes. 

3 

“We’re mates, aren’t we? Am I really no different from the others?” 

142 

Chapter 142