MPO

CHAPTER LXlll-64

He asked in a voice full of confusion.

“What on earth do you mean?”

Leila hesitated for a moment before bringing up a very old story.

“After my mother passed away, the chief butler and the head maid who took care of me disappeared, one by one. They were essentially fired. I was so young that I didn’t even know if they received recommendation letters when they were dismissed.”

She looked into the air as if reminiscing. Lucas wanted her to look at him even though he knew she couldn’t see him.

Every time she stared into space like that, it seemed as if she might disappear somewhere.

Unable to hold back, he gently cupped her chin and made her look at him.

Leila naturally nuzzled her cheek in his palm. Just that small response made Lucas feel like he could fly. But he couldn’t show it because of her dark expression. Leila quietly continued to speak.

“The chief butler and the head maid were just the beginning. All the employees who had been there since my mother’s time were falsely accused and driven out. Eventually, I understood. Ah, it was her plan. She wanted to isolate me…”

“She’s a despicable person.”

“Anna was more special than the other employees. My mother had personally brought her from an orphanage and raised her as she raised me. That’s why I tried so hard to protect Anna, who was like a sister to me.”

“Protecting someone is not an easy task. It must have felt hopeless, but you managed to do it safely.”

As he listened to Leila, Lucas gently stroked her cheek. The warmth of his hand, almost hot, felt comforting. Leaning her face into his palm, Leila revealed something she had recently learned.

“That’s what I thought too. But it wasn’t the case.”

“What do you mean?”

“That woman told me directly. Anna was deliberately left at the mansion. She was my shackle…”

As soon as Lucas heard Leila’s words, he unintentionally let out a crude remark.

“Fxxx, what a crazy woman.”

Leila’s eyes widened in surprise at his harsh words. Seeing her reaction, Lucas cleared his throat and carefully explained.

“I don’t usually use such coarse language. But when a person gets extremely angry and incredulous, sometimes it just comes out reflexively.”

It seemed plausible and yet not, but Leila just laughed. She was grateful and happy that he believed her and shared in her outrage.

“…Why are you laughing? Didn’t I say I don’t usually use such language?”

“Pfft, but it’s just so fitting.”

“What is?”

As she laughed, tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away with her fingertips and replied.

“Calling her a crazy woman.”

“…Did you find that amusing?”

“Yes, it’s really the perfect description.”

No sane woman would think of killing someone with poison or treat people like disposable objects. The thought made her feel depressed again.

He suddenly felt a wave of fear as he watched Leila, who had just been laughing, wipe her expression clean and sit quietly. Although her face had some color, making her look human, without it, she would have looked as emotionless as a doll.