"Here comes your wife, Boss," Assistant Zhang voiced out.
Today was Leo's first of returning to the country after he left on the day after his wedding. Soon, after the plane landed, he was scheduled to attend his grandfather's birthday banquet.
Leo Zhen bore an elegant and poised appearance dressed in a black suit. As his hair was slicked back, few strands falling on his forehead, his sharp features held aggression in them.
He leaned against the car casually. Darkness clouded his eyes, leaving his thoughts hard to guess. In his hand was a cigarette he took a long whiff of..
He lifted his head.
Leah held on to the skirt, lifting it while she carefully descended down the stairs. The yellow dress worn by her was simple yet suited her.
Her hair was pulled into a braid; cheeks dusted in pink; and color of peach touched her lips. Although she looked like an average gift who would get easily get lost in crowd, her hazel eyes held youthful liveliness to them.
Standing in front of her unfamiliar husband, she lowered her line of sight and timidly greeted, "Husband."
Instead of maintaining politeness, Leo threw away the cigarette from his hand, stomping with his feet to extinguish it.
He stepped closer to her, his cold and intense deep-set eyes falling on her. Leah instinctively felt fear rise within her bones, taking a step backwards.
But the man prevented her from escaping. His hand extended, pinching on to her chin. Leah made a face of discomfort as Leo pinched closer to her. The scent of his strong, musky cologne filled in her senses.
"Husband?" He mocked. "Aren't you aiming too high?"
Leah's eyes widened in fear.
He sneered. "What? Are you worthy of being my wife now? A lowly, pathetic illegitimate daughter from the countryside. I am too ashamed to be associated with you."
The woman struggled under his grip. "If you dislike me, I will not call you husband anymore."
Instead of releasing her, Leo pulled her close and warned, "Just because I am taking you along tonight doesn't mean anything. Don't think you managed to climb the status."
Leah closed her eyes. "I never intended to. If you don't like—"
"First, I don't need you to open that mouth of yours. Not in front of me or even tonight. Who knows what you might say and embarrass me? Just be a silent doll. If you dare to act smart with me, you wouldn't be able to handle the consequencesm."
The light in her vibrant eyes dimmed.
Leah hesitated for a second before nodding her head.
As the memory of their first meeting flashed through his head, the guilt twisted his insides. He was filled with so much unjustified hatred and hostility towards a helpless young girl.
It was truly pathetic.
Nevertheless, knowing how Leah was slowly observing his changes in emotions, Leo smiled and said, "Is that so? But I think if you put on more weight, you will only become lovelier."
Leah was taken aback, and her cheeks flushed red from her husband's sudden compliment. She avoided looking at the man with a smooth tongue and continued to stuff herself with food.
Leo's phone rang up then.
Excusing himself, he stood up and went to a little distance before receiving the call.
From where Leah was, she could listen to snippets of the conversation.
"You finally decided to contact me?" Leo questioned.
"Your assistant has been stalking for past two days," came a playful voice from other side of the phone. "I can't ignore it even if I want to."
"Edward Gu, what about cooperating together? I have got a great project you'd be interested in investing," Leo brought up, hoping to tempt the man on other side of the phone.
A chuckle left Edward's mouth.
"The media wasn't exaggerating it. The golden boy had indeed fallen to his bad times," Edward commented, ridicule evident in his voice. "I have no interest in jeopardizing my business."
Leo didn't get offended. A flash of sharp glint crossed through his eyes while his tone was full of confidence.
"Edward, I am extending the golden branch to you. I might not be this generous always. Do you think this tiny adversity will be able to hold me back?"
Although in the eyes of the rest in the country he was a downtrodden waste, Edward understood the potential behind Leo Zhen.
When he was abroad, Leo started his side business that rest in the Zhen Family might not be aware of. As long as Leo leaves the country, he was start with a fresh slate reputation.
"Still as arrogant as ever," expressed Edward. "Are you planning to stay in the country?"
Leo pulled his lips into a thin line. Although leaving the country would make it easier for him with no one obstructing his path, his thoughts wandered off to Leah.
Leah will lose her sense of security more and feel uncomfortable if he shifted to a foreign country with her, especially where she didn't understand the language of.
And she didn't yet trust him fully.
"I will stay here," Leo answered.
Edward was taken aback. It didn't suit Leo's proud personality to stay here after the media threw dirty water on him every other day. He would be too disdainful of the place.
Because Leo spent many years abroad consecutively, he didn't have strong ties to the country either.
Leo then asked, "Are you in?"
In a laid-back manner, Edward yawned and answered, "Why not? When else will I get the chance to reap benefits from you? Make an appointment and come over to me with the proposal.
You have to make sure it satisfies me. There are too many people lining up for this Young Master's attention."
Leo rolled his eyes. In his previous life, he wouldn't bother to seek cooperation from Edward Gu. Although they were named rivals, Leo never bothered to place him in his eyes.
But currently, he had to admit Edward was his best choice. He had his own ideas and wouldn't get swayed. His uncle wouldn't be able to place pressure on him.
And as much as he hated it, Edward's thought process aligned with his mostly.
He exchanged a few more words with Edward before hanging up the call.
"Husband," Leo heard a soft voice call from behind.