Leanna

[In Love]

"Uncle Luke, so you . . . ," I paused, finding the right words to say my thoughts. "You, doing all of this is because you wanted to atone for the woman you love . . . through Zoe?"

"Yes, that sums it up."

Uncle Luke sighed and looked at me with his milky blue eyes.

"Leanna, I had a choice back then . . . I made Jansen Conglomerate as it is now, I could make it again even if I was disowned . . . But I didn't . . . and that remained as my life's greatest regret."

When I didn't say anything, he added. 

"Leanna, no one taught Zoe on the ways of high society. Her father doesn't care for her, and her mother died when she was still a toddler. She might be crude, but she has a good heart. She's unruly, but––"

"Uncle Luke," I cut him, "I get it. You don't need to tell me anything. I already like Zoe. And besides, we've already become friends the moment we saw each other." I beamed.

Uncle Luke stared at me for a moment. He flashed me the warmest smile, the first I ever saw on his face, and it was gone the second I blinked.

He raised his hand, and like automatic, Zhander and Estela entered the room and sat on their previous seat.

"Grandpa Luke, so fishy," Estela said, eyes narrowing at the old man. "You better not tell Leanna to break up with my bother." She elbowed the old man.

The girl has guts!

Uncle Luke smirked. "Hmp! Even if I did, she wouldn't heed it. She's practically fallen for the man's charms."

I blushed hard, and Zhander turned stiff beside me.

"You bet she is!" Estela agreed with a voice so high it pierced my ears. Then she flicked her charming eyes on me. "Leanna, I'm warning you now. If you try to break up with my brother . . . he'll kidnap you and imprison you in a lone island."

She narrowed her eyes to scare me. I knew she meant it as a joke, but no one was laughing. I had this feeling that Cain would really do that.

"She has already fallen hard on the man. Can't you see her eyes sparkled every time Cain's name is brought up?" Uncle Luke retorted, and they chuckled together.

I shot them a pointed look. "Can you at least pretend that I'm right here in front of you?"

Zhander abruptly stood, the table quaked when he did. "I'll go get some air," he said and went out.

. . .

. . .

"Someone's in a bad mood." Estela held her chin and grinned playfully.

Uncle Luke sighed. "That's why he's still a kid. Can't even distinguish between love and like."

He then took a long glanced at Estela. "When will you stop teasing him?"

"As long as he keeps treating me like a little sister," Estela answered coolly, smiling as she tilted her head from side to side.

Stunned and confused, I threw her a questioning look.

Estela raised her shoulder in a cute half-shrug. "Zhander and I are in love with each other. But the funny thing is, the guy doesn't know. He thinks that his feelings for me are like that of a little sister. Hilarious, right?!" she said in a singsong tone like she was describing the weather.

After a moment, my brain finally caught up. "Oh . . . so that's why he's looking at you funny." Then my brows crumbled so hard it hurts my head. "If it's mutual love, why aren't you two dating?"

Estela giggled. "Tehehehehe, it's fun that way. I can tease him to my heart's content."

My nose wrinkled in disdain. "You do know that he's pursuing me, right? Can you two get together, so that's one less problem for me?"

Estela just chortled. "Don't worry. He's only interested in you 'cause you're a new challenge to him. Just like his previous girlfriends. Once he's tired and bored, he'll stop."

My eyebrow rose. "You do know that you've just hurt my feelings, right?"

Estela giggled while Uncle Luke shook his head.

----

[Pluffy]

"You know, Estela, your sister, is taking linguistic and in the same class as me?" I cupped my chin and leaned closer to him.

We were eating the delicious dinner he made when I decided it was about time to discuss the things that were bothering me.

"Mmm . . . , she always wanted to study linguistics," he said, eyes on his food.

My eyebrow rose in skepticism.

". . . Right. And do you know our Russian professor looks like one of your personal bodyguards?"

"Mmm . . . , coincidence."

I sighed in surrender and changed the topic. "You know, I have so much free time. I only have classes from Monday to Wednesday."

I stared at him, couldn't hide the expectation in my voice. "Maybe, we can watch a movie or go somewhere during those times I don't have a class?"

Cain paused, and he finally returned my gaze. His face sank as if the world was ending.

"Leanna . . . ," he said, voice so strained like the letters were heavy. "In these few days . . . I will be coming home late."

The way he threaded his words made me paused, and my expression fell from my face. I shook my head and forced a smile. "Oh, it's okay. We can do it some other time then."

. . .

. . .

Ahhh . . . this feeling again.

"We have a list of possible software to develop, do you want to take a look?" Cain changed the subject after a moment of silence.

I smiled despite the tightness of my heart.

"Sure, I'll look at it later."

We then finished our meal in awkward silence.

----

After I checked and pointed out suggestions to better improved the list of software he showed me (thanks to my cheat code for that) he kissed me in delight before pulling me into my bedroom.

"Cain, what's going on?"

I giggled when he sat me on the bed and covered my eyes with a handkerchief.

"It's a surprise, don't peek," he said. Even if I couldn't see his face, I knew he was smiling based on the contagious happiness in his voice.

I sensed that he left the room, and after a minute, he returned. I felt him standing in front of me. After a while, something fluffy and furry and heavy was laid on top of my lap.

"Alright, you can remove your blindfold."

I removed the handkerchief and was welcomed by big round eyes and fluffy white hairs. My hand covered my mouth in disbelief. Tears of overwhelming happiness brimmed in my eyes.

"Do you like it?" Cain softly said as he wiped away my tears with all the gentleness he could muster.

"I-I love it!"

I cuddled the Tibetan Mastiff puppy in my arms. The little bear licked my face, and I giggled in delight.

Cain frowned and seized the puppy in my hold and put it down on the floor. The little furball, sensing its freedom, roamed around the room, wagging his tail in excitement to explore his new home.

I reached my arm to cuddle him, but Cain grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bathroom.

"Cain, what should we call him? It's so cute and fluffy! How did you know I love dogs?! Should we call him piglet?! Or fatty Cain?! Since you're the one who bought him."

I barraged him with questions, oblivious to the cold man's irritation.

----

A/N

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