ChaChapter 42 42 

friend Joy. 

other stien estatent as a church mouse, suddenly port into tours withouthout delirious and slant she dould hardly catch her breath in the and, the principinnately rely, Laura. She 

ont hathavathatap on the wrist. 

was veca he hur o her parents were done, so no one was left to protect lect ery nemenc non from her parents had shattered 

if being held in 

Thad rushed 

ing of hors houtwith Curtis, the noticed the child wearing a charm he controtheses but stare a little longer. 

and loved, 

no in no eles eyd: and sharnelessly teased. Like it? Want ne to swiDevice 

ome and 

never got 

hehe panacked cked and fanruff crying to his father. 

sappearines thetochetedolands from embarrassment and inne fit offit of 

Curtis, urtiss 

road hendust tunalorp Despite that, with a teasing grin, he pinched are way too sensisen solta no bang outwith me 

¡sionate. 

Lerly shameless Esther the war honte, she confided in him about heroon do-over. tecting him 10 take tachetoheart. 

ve her was take the fanesth kind and you’d find at a store. It was us sterolece that was incredily ende andearing cite green jade, still warmurm 

soctring acainst her skin. skin. 

THE 

nine found herself tearing appnerneas dawstpuno uncontrollably. Curtis 

BIS? 

by wiped them away widy his fingertipsertips.. 

stop crying, even escuros palms andre trenched. Finally, he cupped ner, unasked and undeniablerable 

by kiss was etched imo Leannes mesony formulong doumsess sleepless s, she would find herself back in that shew scene, neid in a warm 

the gentle voice of a roa comforang hendben bon’t cry from now on, 

. He began 

ion for them. 

rge sweet days. Curtis loved to tease har when she site slept, pinching offher breath until she woke up, dazed, only to by to be erased by his 

slept like a little piglet 

and sometimes affectionately referred to hates singerling 

ends andavas the life of the party wherever he were, wateLeae teanne 

11:57 

Chapter 42 

was more of an introvert, preferring to stay in unless she had plans with her friend Joy. But Curtis would ditch his buddies to stay home with her. 

Once, while he was on a business trip, Leanne got sick with a fever. She was delirious with illness, barely conscious, when she thought she heard Curtis speaking to Laura. She dismissed it as a hallucination until she felt the familiar warmth and scent of being held in his arms. The discomfort seemed to ease a bit 

She later found out that he had tried calling her several times to no avail and had rushed. 

back from work to check on her. 

During that time, Leanne felt as if she was floating on cloud nine, cherished and loved, slowly emerging from her shell to stretch out her delicate feelers. 

Occasionally, she’d get annoyed and throw a tantrum, waiting for Curtis to come and soothe her. When he teased her, she’d dare to punch or kick him, but Curtis never got mad. 

“With that weak grip, it’s almost like you’re trying to flirt with me.” he teased. 

Leanne was a slow burner, but the love Curtis gave was too intense and passionate. 

She couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love. 

As spring warmed the air, Curtis impulsively decided they needed a honeymoon do-over. 

At first, Leanne thought he was joking, but then she realized he was serious. He began working overtime, rushing through his business affairs to carve out a vacation for them. 

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