Chapter 171 SURPRISE VISIT

Chapter 171 SURPRISE VISIT

LEO

I drove silently to Mal's apartment.
The radio was on, but I wasn't listening to whatever was playing. My thoughts were elsewhere.
Fixed on Sienna.
For two months now, she had barely called.
Two whole months.
I had lost count of the number of times I stared at my phone every day, hoping her name would suddenly appear on the screen, but nothing of the sort ever happened.
No calls. No messages. Nothing.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, feeling hurt inside.
Something was wrong. I could feel it.
The Sienna I knew would never disappear like this. Not without a reason.
As those thoughts kept flooding my mind, a loud honk from another driver brought me back to reality.
I realized the traffic light had already turned green. I didn't know how long I had kept those cars waiting after the light changed without my noticing.
Quickly, I stepped on the accelerator and continued driving.
A few minutes later, I arrived at Mal's apartment. I parked outside and headed in.
The moment Mal opened the door, his eyes widened.
"Damn. Why do you look sick as a ghost?"
I frowned. "What?"
He stared at me. "You look horrible. Come in."
I sighed and entered.
"It's been a while since we visited each other."
"Yeah, but seriously." He shut the door behind him. "Have you looked at yourself lately?"
I dropped onto the couch. "I'm fine."
"You've lost weight." Mal moved toward me and sat down. "You haven't been eating well, Leo. Come on, what's going on with you?"
"I'm okay." I exhaled deeply.
For a moment, Mal studied my face. Then he let out a sigh.
"Are you being this way because of the lawsuit Tom is attempting to file against you?" he asked.
I remained silent.
Tom's case had dragged on longer than any of us expected.
The bastard had been in police custody for two months now and was still fighting lawsuits from different directions.
The whole thing was exhausting.
Mal assumed that was what was bothering me. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
"I wish it was Tom," I muttered almost silently.
Mal's eyes widened.
"If it isn't Tom, then what's going on? Is there something you're hiding from me?"
I straightened my face, my voice cold.
"It's about Sienna."
His expression immediately changed. Something dark descended over his features.
"Oh." His lips parted. "So, it's all about her."
"Yeah," I muttered.
The room became quiet.
Mal leaned back. "You still don't get it, do you?"
I looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"You've been miserable for months because of this same woman." He almost groaned.
"She disappeared, Mal. What am I supposed to do?"
"Maybe she didn't disappear," he insisted. "Maybe she just gave up on loving you."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You think so?"
Mal hesitated. Then he sighed.
"Maybe she chose not to contact you again. You can keep being miserable because of her if you want," he said angrily.
I immediately shook my head.
"No. I don't think so."
Mal rubbed his face.
"Leo, do you trust this woman that much?"
I shifted my gaze away.
"I know her. I trust her completely."
He stared at me blankly, as though I were a fool.
"Hope you know her father can make her change her mind about you."
The mention of her father instantly annoyed me.
I looked away, and Mal continued.
"Her father never wanted you two together."
I remained silent.
"He has no choice," I spat out.
Mal laughed.
"He definitely does, Leo. She's his daughter, and he thinks you're just messing around with her."
"Messing around with her? How?" My eyes shifted to him.
"Come on, Leo. That's what Cruz thinks."
I clenched my jaw.
"You're right," I said.
"So let her go already," he replied.
His words made my chest tighten.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then Mal sighed.
"Look, man. I'm saying this because you're my friend."
I looked at him, speechless.
"Maybe it's time to let her go," he repeated, much more firmly this time.
My expression hardened.
"No. I can't."
"Leo—"
"My mind is made up," I said firmly, cutting him off.
"Listen to me," he continued.
"I can't let her go. She's my life."
Mal groaned.
"You are stubborn."
I folded my arms and watched the dark expression on his face.
Soon, his expression became serious again.
"How long are you willing to keep doing this?"
"As long as it takes," I answered sharply.
"For someone whose father will never approve of you being his son-in-law?" he frowned.
I looked at him.
"Cruz doesn't have a choice. When the time comes, he'll be the one approving of us."
Mal shook his head, suddenly feeling pity for me.
"You think love is enough."
"It is," I replied.
"You don't know anything, my friend," he said. "Reality will knock you off that path soon."
I swallowed hard.
For a moment, I couldn't speak because I didn't know how to explain it.
How do I explain waking up every morning hoping the day would finally be the day she returned?
I looked at him again.
"I love her."
Mal's expression softened.
"I know."
"That's why I can't just walk away," I replied.
He sighed. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I just don't want to see you get hurt."
I forced a smile."I know."
A sad chuckle escaped him.
We spent another hour talking, mostly about work and a little about Tom's case—anything except Sienna.
Eventually, we shook hands and I left.
The drive home felt longer than usual. By the time I arrived, the sun had already started setting.
I parked and headed inside.
The moment I stepped into the living room, I stopped.
Several large bags were sitting near the escalator.
My brows furrowed.
I looked around.
Then Sarah appeared from the kitchen.
"Welcome back, Mr. Leo," she said with a nervous smile.
I immediately pointed at the bags.
"What's all this?"
Before she could answer, a familiar voice spoke.
"Those are mine."
I froze.
Then I turned toward the direction of the voice.
Suddenly, Roxy stepped into view, her eyes gleaming.
My eyes widened.
"Roxy?"
She smiled.
"Missed me?"
I stared at her.
"What are you doing here?"
She walked closer.
"I came home."
My eyes shifted to the bags, then back to her.
"Home?" I repeated. "What does that mean?"
Her smile faded slightly.
"It means I'm staying."
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
"Staying where?"
She looked at me and smiled.
"Here. I'm back."
The living room suddenly fell silent.
I glanced at Sarah.
Sarah quickly looked away.
For a few seconds, we simply stared at each other.
But something definitely felt wrong.
And for some reason, as I stared at the luggage in the living room, I couldn't shake the feeling that this unexpected arrival was about to complicate my life even more, especially now.
And if I didn't act fast, it might be too late.