Lily watched as Leo walked away, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She was frustrated, confused, and more than a little annoyed.
Why was Leo being so secretive? And what was the point of this charade, anyway? "bastard" she cursed after him
As she stood there, trying to make sense of everything, Lily heard a faint barking sound coming from the hallway. It was Fifi, the little Pomeranian.
Lily smiled, feeling a sense of comfort at the sight of the little dog. She scooped up Fifi and cradled her in her arms.
"You're the only one around here who doesn't seem to be hiding any secrets, aren't you, Fifi?" Lily whispered, scratching behind Fifi's ears.
Together, Lily and Fifi walked out into the garden, enjoying the cool morning air and the sound of birds chirping. As they strolled, Lily couldn't help but think about Leo and his secrets.
What was he hiding? And why was he being so secretive?
As they walked, the garden seemed to grow quieter, the only sound the rustling of leaves beneath their feet.
Lily felt a sense of peace wash over her, despite the turmoil that was brewing inside her. She was determined to get to the bottom of things, no matter what it took.
And with Fifi by her side, Lily felt like she could face anything that came her way.
As they walked through the garden, Lily noticed that Fifi seemed to be enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. She smiled, watching the little dog run around and play.
Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, walked alongside them, pointing out the different types of flowers and plants that grew in the garden.
"Mr. Leo has always had a love for flowers," Mrs. Jenkins said, smiling. "He's particularly fond of roses. He says they remind him of his mother."
Lily's ears perked up at this, curious about Leo's past. But Mrs. Jenkins didn't elaborate, instead pointing out a patch of colorful tulips.
"Those are lovely," Lily said, admiring the flowers.
"Yes, aren't they?" Mrs. Jenkins replied. "Mr. Leo has a real eye for beauty. He's always been particular about the gardens, making sure they're perfectly maintained."
As they continued their stroll, Lily couldn't help but wonder about Leo's past. What had his childhood been like? And what had happened to his mother?
But for now, she was content to enjoy the beauty of the garden, and the company of Mrs. Jenkins and Fifi.
As they walked through the garden, Mrs. Jenkins smiled warmly. "You know, Mr. Leo's love for flowers comes from his mother, Mrs. Clara Moretti. She's an avid gardener and always had a beautiful garden at their family home."
Lily's curiosity was piqued. "Oh, really? I didn't know that."
Mrs. Jenkins nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Moretti is a lovely woman. She taught Mr. Leo everything he knows about gardening and flowers. He's always been very close to her."
Lily felt a warmth in her heart at the thought of Leo's relationship with his mother. It was clear that he loved and respected her deeply.
As they continued their stroll, Lily noticed the variety of flowers that surrounded them. There were roses, tulips, daisies, and many more. Each one was carefully tended to, and it was clear that Leo took great pride in his garden.
"I can see why Mr. Leo loves flowers so much," Lily said, admiring the beauty around her. "They're so peaceful and calming."
Mrs. Jenkins smiled. "Yes, they are. And Mrs. Moretti always said that flowers have a way of bringing people together. I think that's why Mr. Leo has so many flowers in the house - to remind him of his mother's love and wisdom."
Lily felt a sense of wonder at the thought of Leo's mother and their special bond. She couldn't help but feel a little closer to Leo, knowing that he had such a loving and supportive family.
As they finished their walk, Lily turned to Mrs. Jenkins. "Thank you for telling me about Mr. Leo's mother. It's lovely to know that he has such a special relationship with her."
Mrs. Jenkins smiled warmly. "Yes, dear. Family is very important to Mr. Leo. And I'm sure he'll always cherish the memories he has of his mother."
As they walked back to the mansion, Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the thought of Leo's mother and their special bond. She had always known that Leo was a complex person, but she was starting to realize just how many layers he had.
When they arrived back at the mansion, Mrs. Jenkins excused herself to attend to some household chores, leaving Lily alone in the foyer.
Lily looked around, feeling a sense of restlessness. She had nothing to do until Leo returned from work, and she was starting to feel a little bored.
Just then, Fifi, who had been quietly following Lily around, suddenly darted off towards the stairs, barking excitedly.
Lily laughed and followed after her, curious about what had caught Fifi's attention.
As she climbed the stairs, Lily noticed that Fifi was heading straight for her room. She followed the little dog inside, and was surprised to see that Fifi had somehow managed to get onto the bed and was now curled up in a little ball, fast asleep.
Lily smiled and shook her head, feeling a sense of amusement at Fifi's antics. She sat down beside the little dog, stroking her soft fur and feeling a sense of contentment wash over her.
As she sat there, Lily couldn't help but think about Leo and their situation. She was still getting used to being engaged to him, and she wasn't sure what the future held.
But as she looked at Fifi, who was now snoring softly beside her, Lily felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she had made the right decision in agreeing to marry Leo, no matter how unconventional their situation might be.
Meanwhile, Leo was sitting in his office with his best friend, Steve. He looked livid, his eyes blazing with anger.
"You won't believe what Chloe did," Leo said, his voice low and menacing.
Steve's eyes widened in surprise. "What happened?"
Leo took a deep breath before launching into the story. "I caught her cheating on me. With some random guy. In my own hotel room."
Steve's face turned red with anger. "That's outrageous! What did you do?"
Leo's expression turned cold. "I left. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me angry."
Steve nodded in understanding. "I don't blame you. But what about Lily? How's she handling all of this?"
Leo's expression softened slightly. "She's...different. I'm not sure what to make of her yet."
Steve smiled. "That's what makes her interesting, don't you think? Try giving Lily an opportunity to love you, Leo. You never know what might happen."
Leo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Steve's suggestion. Could it really be that simple?
Just then, Leo stood up, nodding to Steve. "I should get going. I have some things to attend to at home."
Steve nodded in understanding. "Yeah, take care of yourself, man."
Leo walked out of the office, his mind still reeling from the events of the previous night.
As he arrived at the mansion, he was greeted by the sound of Lily's laughter. He followed the sound to the hallway, where he found Lily admiring the portraits on the wall.
She looked beautiful, her eyes shining with amusement as she reached out to touch one of the frames. Leo felt a sudden urge to tease her, and he snuck up behind her, making her jump.
Before she could react, Leo started chasing her around the hallway, his long legs striding easily as he gained on her.
Lily squealed, laughing as she tried to evade him. But Leo was too fast, and soon they were both tumbling to the floor, holding their bellies in laughter.
Just as they were catching their breath, Chloe walked into the hallway, a look of shock on her face.
Leo didn't even glance at her, his eyes still shining with amusement as he looked at Lily.
But Lily's face turned bright red as she scrambled to her feet, trying to compose herself.
Chloe's eyes narrowed, her face twisted in anger. But Leo just stood up, brushing himself off, and turned to walk away.
"I don't think we have anything to discuss, Chloe," he said, his voice cold and detached.
Chloe's face turned white with rage, but Leo just kept walking, leaving her standing alone in the hallway.