Alexis firmly pushed Leonel away. She walked across the room, filled with a distinctly masculine scent, to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Opening it, she looked out over the courtyard she had known since childhood. Everything was so familiar, yet so distant now.
In a low voice, she addressed Leonel, “You can’t just come and go as you please. The world doesn’t work like that! Yes, you might have come back and you might still have feelings for me. But what does that matter? Your pursuit feels like a burden to me now. Frankly, it’s disrupting my life.”
Leonel approached her slowly, listening as she continued, “Before you came back, I was doing just fine on my own. A woman doesn’t need to be married to live a fulfilling life.”
He was well aware of this.
Alexis, with her status, had the liberty to lead whatever life she chose, surrounded by anyone she desired.
Yet, despite how selfish or shameless it might seem, Leonel couldn’t bear the thought of letting her go.
He wrapped his arm around her, resting his face against her slender shoulder.
Alexis let out a light sigh.
“I need to rest now. Leonel, please, let’s not create a scene.”
Before she could finish her thought, Leonel suddenly scooped her up in a perfect princess carry. Caught off guard, Alexis began pounding on his shoulder.
Angela’s Library
“Put me down! What are you doing?” she demanded.
Undeterred, Leonel opened the door with one hand, still holding her.
As they moved through the hallway, a cool draft swept through, prompting Alexis to instinctively draw closer to Leonel for warmth.
He looked down at her, their faces nearly touching, and felt the addictive sensation of their skin lightly brushing against each other.
Alexis shot him a glare, but in a spontaneous moment, Leonel leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Both of them froze momentarily.
Despite their past intimacy and romantic encounters, this simple kiss stirred a flood of memories.
Alexis recalled her 18th birthday, a day they spent together.
It was a summer evening in an outdoor tent, and after she blew out the candles on her small cake, Leonel had leaned down and kissed her.
Back then, they were not in a relationship but just childhood friends.
Yet, the feelings from that time were incomparable.
Alexis had once thought she would marry Leonel after university, never expecting him to leave her.
This fleeting kiss brought back those youthful memories, leaving Alexis with misty eyes.
They remained that way until he carried her into her childhood bedroom. Her body tensed as she asked in a strained voice, “Leonel, what are you doing?”