Leanna

[Unexpected]

"Look at that, leaning at our gate. Isn't that––"

"Quick, get your phone!"

"That's––!"

Estela and I were on our way back to Azure Sky after our last afternoon class ended. I was not even surprised that she was staying in Azure Sky, the same building as Cain and me. Her unit was below Cain's penthouse.

As we neared the exit, buzzing noises and heated gazes drew our attention. We glanced to where the people were pointing their fingers and saw a handsome, eye-catching young man in his three-piece suit, holding a bouquet, leaning on the University's gate.

I was surprised. "That's––"

"Zhander!"

Before I could even get the name out, Estela was already hopping her way to Zhander.

Shock registered on Zhander's face before a warm smile appeared on his lips. "Little Stela, I should have known you're also attending here."

His eyes then slid to me, accompanied by a polite smile.

Awkward much!

I nodded in greeting and returned his smile.

I approached them, and Zhander extended his arm with flowers in hand. "For you. In commemoration of your first day in college."

My eyes widened, resisting the urge to glare at him as I signaled him with my eyeballs.

"What? That country bumpkin again?!"

"Does she knows Zhander too?"

"Why is she associated with the elites?"

Fortunately, Estela stepped in, grabbed the bouquet from Zhander's hand, and beamed at him.

"Ohh~ Zhander, you shouldn't have! Thank you so much!"

"Oh, it's for Estela Fay."

"I thought as much. There is no way in hell that Zhander Jansen will give a bouquet to a nobody."

"I heard the Fay's and Jansen's were longtime friends."

"Guess it's true then. Zhander even came all the way here to congratulate Estela, isn't that sweet?"

Zhander frowned. "Little Stela, those flowers are for Leanna."

I was glad his voice was low, so no one heard that part.

Estela tilted her head as she pointed at her chin. "Leanna is already dating my brother. She won't accept any gifts from boys besides my brother. But since we know each other, I won't throw your gift away."

"Did Cain put you into this?" Zhander asked, tone annoyed.

Estela didn't reply and just gave him a long toothy grin.

Zhander ignored her and flicked his attention on me. "Leanna, let's go out and celebrate your first day at school."

I was going to refuse, but Zhander cut in, "Grandfather wanted to talk to you. He's here together with me."

Uncle Luke?

It must be important if he wanted to meet me in person. I nodded without a second thought.

Estela clasped her hands. "Great! It had been a while since I saw Grandpa Luke."

Zhander raised an eyebrow her way. "You can come, but be good."

Estela puffed her cheeks. "You're wounding me. When did I ever not been good?"

Zhander ignored her and motioned for us to his car.

"That girl sure is lucky."

"How in the world did she associate herself with Estela Fay?"

"That bitch is riding someone else's fame."

The gossips were buzzing like annoying flies that no matter how hard I swat them away, they kept coming back and attack my ears.

I let out a respite breathe when the noise finally stopped as I rest my head on the backrest of Zhander's car.

Aghh . . . so much for my low-key and peaceful life at school.

----

[Story]

We arrived at a famous sushi restaurant owned by a renowned Japanese chef and went at the back door leading to a private Japanese style room where the cold, intimidating Luke Jansen was waiting on a cushion in a formal 'seiza' position.

"Grandpa Luke! How are you?! It's been a long time!" Estela skipped to the old man, hugging and kissing his cheeks before settling herself beside him.

Estela Fay was probably the only person who could hug and kiss Luke Jansen like any other ordinary old man.

Got to say, the girl has guts.

Uncle Luke didn't seem to mind as he nodded and gave Estela a warm smile. "It had been indeed a while. You're still as cheery as ever I see."

Zhander and I took our seat in front of the old man and cheery girl.

"Congratulations to the both of you for entering college," Uncle Luke said. Though his face was expressionless, his voice was higher than usual.

I shot him a knowing smile, and chimed, "It's all because of you, of course."

Uncle Luke raised an eyebrow before shifting his eyes on Zhander. "Can you give Leanna and me a minute."

Zhander probed his grandfather for a second and shot Estela a look. "Little Stela, let's wait outside."

Estela pouted, yet she didn't say anything. She took Zhander's hand, stood to her feet, and went out with Zhander in hand.

. . .

. . .

"Uncle Luke, what are you going to tell me?" I started, breaking the long silence.

It had been a while since Estela and Zhander left the room, yet he remained tight lip. I looked at him. This was the first time I saw the intimidating regal man this uneasy, though he was trying to hide it.

"How's your first day at school?" he asked.

My eyebrow arched. "Uncle Luke, you came all the way here to ask me about my first day at school?" I crossed my arms. "What are you really going to say?"

We locked eyes in prolonged silence before he averted his gaze and took a deep breath. "I heard you bought Zoe Collin's painting. One million, sell the painting to me."

I blinked. Slow and hard.

"I can give you the painting as a gift. I got it for free anyway," I said without a care.

Uncle Luke remained silent as he avoided any eye contact.

. . .

. . .

"That's it?" I asked.

He sighed, heavier than the last. "Do you want to hear a story?"

"I'm listening."

I sat straight, ears perked, ready for the story.

"In the past . . . ," he started, "when I was starting Jansen Conglomerate . . . I fell in love with a woman, a middle class born woman."

He paused and shot me a side-eye. When I didn't react, he continued, "The usual tragedy. My parents were against it and wanted me to marry a woman of important background. They threatened to disown me if I didn't. I didn't mind being disowned, but what I couldn't bear to let go . . . all my hard work. My life's work. Jansen Conglomerate, leaving it to ruins."

Uncle Luke closed his eyes for a moment. His eyelids trembled, jaw tightened. As he opened his eyes, I never saw a face full of regret like I did now.

"So, I agreed. I married the woman and let the woman I love married another man. She had a daughter, but life was never good to them. She died together with her husband in a car accident, leaving her daughter behind. I secretly helped her daughter until her daughter married a rich man, but that also didn't work out. The man had an affair with another married woman, and her daughter suffered depression and died not long after . . . leaving a small child behind."

My eyelids fluttered. I didn't know why Uncle Luke was telling me all of this. I stared at him, confused.

"The small child is Zoe Collin, and the granddaughter of the woman I love."

". . ."

I was lying if I said I was not shocked at the sudden revelation.

----

A/N

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