Love's Change of Heart

The atmosphere during dinner wasn't particularly harmonious, but it wasn't intense either.

Zoe accidentally bit into a chili pepper, and it burned her tongue. Just as she was about to get a glass of water, Daniel had already handed it to her.

Instinctively, she took the water and drank a few gulps, only to choke on it.

Daniel patted her back gently and said in a calm tone, "Take it slow."

With that, he put some pumpkin onto her plate and said, "Here, you'll feel better after eating this."

Zoe put down the glass and was about to say something when she noticed that the other three people at the table were all looking at them.

When she looked over, Aidan and Louis calmly averted their gaze while Leanna lowered her head down and continued eating.

Instantly, her face turned red, feeling as if she was going to explode.

When she used to see Aidan and Leanna being affectionate, she thought it was all sweet sunshine and butterflies. But she couldn't understand how it became awkward and uncomfortable when it was her turn.

At that, Zoe whispered to Daniel, "Eat your own food!"

Daniel felt wronged, not knowing how he had made her angry again, or maybe she didn't like pumpkin.

From what he remembered, she didn't seem to dislike this food that much.

After dinner, Zoe volunteered to wash the dishes. When Daniel followed the former, Leanna quietly backed out and took the chance to pull Louis to the balcony. "Have you fallen sick?" she asked softly.

Louis nodded in response. "I've taken medicine. I'm almost recovering."

Leanna looked at him and didn't say anything for a moment.

Louis rarely got sick growing up, but every time he did, it was because his body couldn't take the excessive emotional stress.

Louis coughed a few times, turned around, and looked at the drizzling rain. "It's getting colder these days. You should take care as well."

At that, Leanna changed the subject. "Was it Daphne who came to take care of you yesterday?"

"Hmm," Louis hummed. "You asked her to go to my place, didn't you?"

Leanna pursed her lips and nodded.

Louis leaned forward, casually resting his arm on the balcony railing, and said lightly, "I know what you want to say, but it's really not necessary. I did use to tell myself that I would be relieved after Jethro died, but it's only today that I realized it was never him who trapped me but the hatred bottled up inside of me.

"I've hated him since I was a child. I hated the fact that I was his son, and I hated everything he did. So I not only feel disgusted and resistant to everything about him but also afraid. Afraid that I will one day turn into him before I know it.

"He kept showing up in my dreams around the time he passed. He told me that I would never escape him, that even though he was dead, his dirty blood still flowed inside my body, making him my only relative in this world.

"He seemed to have taken up residence in my body, becoming my dark side. I'm terrified that one day he will control my mind and turn me into him."

Leanna's voice trembled. "Louis…"

She knew that Louis had always lived in Jethro's shadow and torment, and he seemed to have lost his last lifeline, especially after finding out that she wasn't Jethro's biological daughter.

If Leanna didn't know him so well and immediately clarified the situation, he might really have classified himself as the same as Jethro and distanced himself from her.

Louis continued, "Now that I know we have no blood relation, at least I don't have to think I'll end up being him. As for the rest…"

He paused, and the night shrouded all the emotions on his face. "You should have noticed that I have no feelings for them, including when I found her body before, and even at the funeral, I didn't feel any sadness. They are strangers to me."

After a while, Leanna finally spoke. "I understand. I won't force you on this matter anymore."

Louis said, "Everything can stay the same as before; no need to make any changes, and you don't have to deliberately distance yourself from them because of me."

Leanna knew he was referring to Daniel.

She fell silent for a moment before telling him, "William will go back to Highside soon."

Their chances of encountering would only be higher. There was no way to avoid it.

Louis said, "I don't have any desire to avoid him, I just don't know what to say, and there's nothing to say. I'm also afraid you'll be caught in the middle."

Leanna let out a sigh. "Let's talk about it when the time comes."

What would be, would be.

Moreover, William was still oblivious to it and hadn't met Louis yet, so nothing would come of her trying to cling to the situation here, either.

Louis glanced at the time. "It's getting late. I'll head back first."

"It's still raining outside, and you're still sick," Leanna said. "Let me drive you."

"No need, I'll take a taxi—" Louis argued, but before he could finish his words, a gust of cold wind blew, and he coughed hurriedly.

Just then, Aidan's voice came. "I'll take him."

Leanna turned around and found Aidan leaning against the wall behind them for who knew how long.

Not far away, Zoe and Daniel were wiping the table while constantly glancing in their direction.