chapter1698

Stella's expression turned cold. "I don't think there's anything for us to talk about."

With that, she stood up and walked toward the door.

Leonard's imposing figure blocked her path.

Stella's face paled slightly as she looked at him warily.

"Leonard, what do you want?"

Thinking of the tenderness she showed Joshua compared to the guarded look and cautious attitude she had toward him, Leonard felt his breath catch in his throat.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk."

Stella glanced toward the door, knowing that Manager Lawrence had been bought off by Leonard and wouldn't be coming back.

Although Leonard was no match for Joshua and had a prosthetic arm, her own skills were no match for a man who lived by violence. It was practically impossible.

He could probably overpower her with just one hand.

Stella hated being in the same room with someone like Leonard.

She took a deep breath. "What do you want to talk about?"

Leonard's intense gaze fixed on her face. "Sit down first."

Since he was asking her to sit, it meant he had no intention of letting her leave anytime soon.

Stella shot him a look and chose a seat farthest from him.

Leonard didn't press her, instead sitting at a reasonable distance.

He looked at Stella, his voice hoarse. "About what happened before... I was wrong.

If there's any compensation you want, you can ask for anything.

As long as it's within my power, I'll do my best to make it up to you."

For a moment, Stella thought she was hearing things.

A man like Leonard could apologize?

No, more accurately, Leonard was apologizing to her?

Stella had known from the beginning that Leonard had never respected her.

And now, not only was he apologizing, but he was also offering to compensate her.

It was utterly terrifying.

She even wondered if something was wrong with his head.

A cruel man was predictable, but when he started playing mind games? That was the real nightmare first, he was chatting with her online, and now he was

acting all humble.

When a devil suddenly changes his ways, it's not because he's seen the light, but

because a bigger trap is waiting.

Stella never believed in free lunches.

She frowned. "Leonard, what are you really trying to do?"

He looked at her. "I just want to make it up to you."

"Why?" Stella asked. "Because you found out I'm Summer, the painter you admire?"

Leonard was silent for a few seconds. "No."

"Then why?"

He fell silent again.

He knew that if he didn't give her a plausible reason, she would remain on guard.

But he was never good with words,

and he certainly couldn't charm

women the way

.n

could. He".

couldn't think of a logical, coherent

excuse.

The room descended into silence.

Leonard didn't speak, and neither did Stella.

After what felt like an eternity, Leonard's deep voice finally broke the quiet.

"I want to be with you."

"What?!" Stella exclaimed.

Just as she was wondering if she had

seeunderstood, Leonard make a decision net

stared at her, his gaze unwavering and focused.

"Stella, I like you. I want to be with you."

Stella was stunned for a second.

The next, she shot up from her seat and hurried toward the door.

She realized Leonard didn't just have something wrong with his head he was insane.

She couldn't stay in the same room with a madman.

When she had sat down, she'd been clever enough to choose the sofa closer to the

door, making it easier to escape.