Chapter 164: A DANGEROUS DISCOVERY

LEO

Sienna said she was going to call back after taking a shower.

I had been sitting alone by the pool, waiting patiently for her to finish showering so we could call.

Silently, my imagination went wild. Crazy thoughts that made me smile to myself began to fill my mind.

I requested that she undress before me earlier, but she turned me down.

Hmm. I might just need to take my revenge on her soon. Maybe I could start by rejecting her calls.

But is that really possible?

It won't work out. My entire being would rise in protest against my mind if I ever tried that.

Sienna is the air I breathe. Everything about me craves and yearns for her. She has engulfed my whole being—all of it.

Now, I sat by the poolside, smiling sheepishly to myself, and everyone around me probably thought I was behaving strangely.

"Mr. Leo."

A voice came from behind me.

I slowly turned in the direction of the voice.

It was Sarah.

She stood there with a glass of fresh fruit juice in her hands.

I hadn't realized she had been standing there, waiting and watching me.

"Here," she said, handing me the juice. "I thought this would make you feel better."

I took the glass quickly, as though I had really been craving it.

"Oh, thanks for your generosity."

"You're welcome, Mr. Leo," she replied, her eyes fixed on me.

From the way she looked at me, I could tell a lot was swirling through her mind.

She cleared her throat, and I put the glass down.

"Uh, is it okay if I speak to you about something?" she asked politely.

My hands tightened around my phone as I shifted my gaze to her.

"Why not? Come sit here with me," I said, joy streaming from within me.

She sat down, leaving a little distance between us.

"What is it you want us to talk about, Sarah?" I asked.

The air around her thickened, her eyes burning with concern.

"I'm worried, sir," she said quietly.

"About what, Sarah?"

"About you. About your life and health," she replied.

I looked at her, wondering exactly why she was worried about my health and life.

"But I'm not sick, Sarah. I'm doing just fine. Why are you worried?"

Silence swept between us. A brief one.

"I don't know. I just don't want anything to happen to you, Mr. Leo."

I laughed.

"Listen, Sarah. Nothing's going to happen to your boss. I'm perfectly fine."

"Are you sure about that?" she asked, as though she truly didn't believe me.

"Of course I am. Don't worry about anything, okay? I'm doing well."

"Okay."

She managed a smile and then picked up the empty glass.

"I better get going now."

"Thank you, Sarah. I'll see you shortly once I get back inside."

The smile on my face brightened.

"Alright, sir."

She turned to leave but suddenly halted.

"Oh, thank you so much for the gifts earlier. I wasn't expecting them."

"You deserve more, Sarah. This is just a token."

"I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Leo. Thank you so much. I'll be inside in case you need anything."

I nodded as she quietly walked back into the house.

My attention shifted from Sarah back to my phone.

Why hasn't Sienna called back? It's been almost an hour now, and I'm becoming worried and restless.

We both agreed that she would be the one doing the calling for safety reasons. I might end up causing more havoc if I call her first.

Sitting there and staring at my phone, I felt the urge to call her.

But before I could finish the thought, my phone screen lit up.

It was a call.

From her.

Relief washed over me.

Finally, she called.

Quickly, I slid my finger across the screen to answer.

"Sweetheart, what took you so long? I've been waiting for your call."

Silence swept through the phone—a suffocating one.

To my surprise, another voice came through. A voice very familiar, yet nothing like Sienna's.

"So it's true."

The voice struck my ears unhappily, ruthlessly, and bitterly.

Slowly, I pulled the phone away and glanced at the contact name displayed on the screen to be sure it was indeed Sienna's number.

And yes, it was.

"Even after ruining her life, you still went on to call her in secret?" the voice said painfully again.

I quickly recognized who was speaking.

Alex.

"Where's Sienna?" I asked with measured calm.

He scoffed.

"Do you love her this much?"

Alex wasn't asking because he doubted the love between his sister and me. It was simply his way of expressing shock.

"I love her with every breath in me—more than words could explain."

"Wow," he exclaimed bitterly. "You must be really brave to take such a bold step. You aren't afraid to die, are you?"

I laughed softly.

"There's no pain in death, Alex. Do you want to kill me for loving her?" I asked calmly.

"Well, that's really good, Leo. I can see you aren't going to stop trying to ruin my sister's life, but thankfully, I've found a way to make you regret all of this."

His voice remained calm until I provoked him with my answers.

I laughed.

"Not being with your sister right now is the only regret and pain I feel. There's nothing more."

"Bastard!" he yelled, his voice vibrating through the phone. "How dare you utter such an abomination? You're the reason her life and relationship are a mess, yet you still have the nerve to talk trash? Are you insane?"

I remained calm.

Unbothered.

Unflinching.

When Alex was done yelling, my voice came through peacefully again.

"Don't try separating us. You're going to get tired doing that."

"You think so? I don't bark, Leo. I bite anything that comes between my sister and her life. If you don't want to die, stay away from her. Do you hear me?"

Alex's warning came with every word dripping dreadfully from his lips.

His words didn't move me.

I'm not a man who quivers when dogs bark.

"You can't kill a dead man, Alex," I replied. "Don't begin a war you cannot finish."

"Wait and see. I'll kill you, Leo. I promise you that."

"Don't try to stop Sienna from speaking to me because I'll always find a way to talk to her. I hope that sinks in."

He laughed bitterly.

"Are you in any way saying you're not going to end things with her?"

"No."

"Why?" he demanded.

"You already know."

"Is that it? Love?" he asked.

"I won't repeat myself."

He laughed scornfully.

"The old man is in love."

"Being romantically involved with a woman is far more accepted than being with a man."

He went silent.

Then he was shocked on the phone.

"What do you mean?"

"Find a woman, Alex. It's better than being with a man."

"How did you know?" His voice lowered.

"Don't worry about it," I said, my voice steady yet soft. "All you need to do is give me and your sister space."

"This isn't a threat, is it?" he demanded, though his voice had grown even lower.

"I'll make sure Cruz finds out who his son really is if you come between me and your sister. Be warned."

And with that, I ended the call.