No more tears - Leon Kennedy

Chapter 19

"𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞."

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The longer we stayed in this room, the more awkward things got.

If someone had told me that following Leon here would lead to running into his ex-girlfriend, I would've never wanted to come in the first place...!

Why is she looking at him like that anyway?!

I clenched my fists silently, glaring at the person Leon had once loved, while he, visibly surprised, offered polite greetings despite the awkwardness of the situation.

"I didn't expect to run into you here." he admitted, trying to laugh it off, while I bit my lip, feeling like the only one uncomfortable with this whole scenario.

"Well, life works in mysterious ways... So, what brings you here? Are you finally back in town?" she asked, seemingly addressing only him as I grimaced, starting to let my doubts take over.

Is she seriously saying she wants him back?!

I sighed quietly, forcing a smile as I looked her straight in the eye, deciding not to waste my energy on this kind of fight.

It was only when I felt Leon's hand gently resting on my back, probably trying to get me to relax, that I released some tension, choosing to trust him.

"No, I just thought it would be nice to explore the area with my girlfriend and pick up a few things," he added in a calm, detached tone. At my mention, Emma—the infamous ex—seemed to tense up noticeably.

I struggled to suppress my awkward smile, fully aware of how displeased she was with my sudden involvement in the conversation. She hadn't stopped glaring at me for even a second.

Honestly, if I were in her shoes, I probably wouldn't be thrilled either.

"Lucy... Nice to meet you." I finally said in a soft voice, barely suppressing a nervous laugh when she turned away in frustration, clearly displeased by my attempt to join the conversation.

When my phone suddenly rang, I sighed, a bit disappointed to be forced to take the call right when the situation was starting to shift in my favor.

Making a quick apologetic gesture to Leon and flashing a strained smile at Emma, I stepped outside to answer the call after crossing the threshold.

"Hello?" I asked, sighing slightly as a strangely sweet but clear voice came through the receiver.

"Hello, is this Lucy Castle?"

"Yes, herself... And you are?" I replied, not used to this type of call.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Rebecca Chambers, a microbiology doctor at the Biotechnology Institute of Alexander. Chris gave me your number." she explained as I wiped my forehead, remembering what Chris had told me the day before.

"Oh, right. You need my blood for a vaccine, correct?"

"Not exactly. But I'd rather discuss it properly at my lab—when are you available?" she asked as I scratched my neck, trying to remember when Leon was supposed to leave.

"Well... How about this Friday?" I answered uncertainly.

Not knowing where this lab was, I was already dreading the idea of possibly needing to drive over ten hours just to get there.