Chapter 245
Chapter 245
Before her flight from the airport, Belinda sent Leanne a video.
She and Jada sat on Curtis’ private G650 jet, earnestly expressing their gratitude for her care over the period.
As a single mother raising a sick child, the most support and concern she received was from a doctor without kin in the world.
At the end of the video, her eyes brimming with tears, she emotionally said, “Dr. Castillo, if your parents would be so proud if they could see you now, how well you’ve turned out, and how exceptional you are.”
Leanne only saw it after her shift at noon, and by then, the plane had been airborne for over three hours, already beyond the country’s borders.
After watching the video, she smiled.
If her parents were still around, knowing how Curtis teased her, they’d have her back.
Failing to reach Curtis by phone and receiving no reply to her messages, Leanne checked her phone throughout the day, but there was no word from him.
When her shift ended, she called Caleb.
The call connected, and she got straight to the point. “Where’s Curtis?”
Unruffled, Caleb replied, “I was out for business today and didn’t catch up with Mr. Curtis. He’s got a dinner event tonight. If it’s not urgent, ma’am, you might want to try reaching him tomorrow.”
After hanging up, Leanne called Jake.
Knowing Curtis would likely need a driver for a dinner involving drinks, Jake was her next
guess.
Less composed than Caleb, Jake hesitated in his response. “I took the day off. Alan is driving Mr. Curtis today.”
Leanne paused for seconds before replying. “Wasn’t Alan fired?”
Jake fumbled over his words, couldn’t string together a clear comeback.
Shrugging it off, Leanne ended the call.
Devin, who had pulled an all-nighter, woke up late in the afternoon, his hair a mess and his face utter exhaustion. He noticed the man meticulously reviewing documents on his couch, legs crossed, and watched him for several minutes.
“Making my place your office, really now?”
10.12
“It’s too risky outside, laying low for a bit.” Curtis didn’t even look up. “Clean up will you?”
this pigsty,
Dragging himself out of bed, Devin began collecting the scattered cola cans on the table and the assorted trash on the floor into a bag.
His phone rang somewhere amidst the chaos, and he frantically searched. “Where’s my phone?”
“Oh, here.” He fished out the phone from the trash bag.
The caller ID nearly made him drop the phone. After juggling it and trapping it between his knees, he looked up with panic and alarm. “It’s Leanne.”
He showed Curtis the screen before asking, “Should I answer?”
“Go ahead,” Curtis said. “Play it by ear.”
“What am I supposed to say?” Devin frowned, answering the call, and immediately started
rambling.
“Leanne, oh… What? Curtis? No idea. I’m in Kenya watching The Great Migration. Look at that zebra. It does give you crosswalk vibes…” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
That was the most far-fetched excuse of the lot, and Leanne knew Curtis was intentionally avoiding her.
The following day was the deadline to pick up their divorce papers.
Cutting through the nonsense, she said, “Animals migrate in the summer.”
Devin scratched the back of his head. “Guess this zebra got left behind then.”
Leanne took a deep breath, barely containing her frustration. “Give the phone to him.”
“To whom?” Devin played dumb. “The zebra?”
“To Curtis.”
“I told you, Curtis is not in my place.”
Leanne’s tone turned sarcastic. “I thought you were in Kenya. How come you are at home
now?”
Devin instinctively glanced at the man on the couch.
Curtis set aside the documents, extending his hand.
As Devin was about to pass the phone, Curtis withdrew his hand. Instead, he pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket to wrap around the phone before taking it.
Picking up the call, Curtis acted as if nothing was amiss, even finding the mood to tease her. “Looking for me, huh? What got you so clingy today?”
10:12
Leanne went straight to the point. “Tomorrow morning, nine o’clock, I’ll be waiting for you. at the city hall.”
She hung up before he could respond.
The following morning, the city hall basked in the warm sunlight. Leanne had waited for two hours, and several people showed up.
A delivery guy brought her coffee and breakfast. A restaurant owner from across the street provided a table and chair, worried she’d get bored. And a magician stood beside her, performing tricks to
entertain her.