Love's Change of Heart

"Well, I didn't say yesterday that I was talking about you, President Pearson. If you insist

on thinking that way, then—"

"That's enough." He impatiently interrupted her. "What's the matter, exactly?"

She lifted the thermos she was carrying. She said ingratiatingly, "I heard that you haven't

eaten since last night, so I went out of my way to bring this to you."

Aidan had no intention of letting her in, though. Folding his arms across his chest, he

leaned against the door while staring at her icily.

Feeling somewhat guilty under his piercing stare, Leanna averted her eyes awkwardly.

"Don't get the wrong idea, President Pearson. I'm here to thank you for the kindness

you've shown my brother," she said. Then, seeing that he was silent, she added, "I heard

from him that he'd gone back to school. This is all thanks to you, President Pearson."

"Since you know that, do you think you can return the favor with just a bowl of fish stew?"

Leanna was rendered speechless. Just get straight to the point and say you wanna eat this

or not. Why are you beating around the bush?! She took back the fish stew, saying, "I see.

You're right, President Pearson; that's not sincere enough indeed. In that case, let me think

about how I can express my gratitude to you. I won't bother you anymore. I gotta go."

Aidan fell silent for a moment. Then, he said, "Wait a minute."

She kept smiling as she looked back. "Is there anything else, President Pearson?"

His eyes darted sideways to his room. Then, he turned around and went inside.

Leanna curled her lips and entered the room after him. Then, she poured the fish stew in

the thermos into a bowl and handed it to him. "Have a taste, President Pearson."

Aidan took the bowl with one hand and picked up the spoon with the other before taking a

mouthful of the stew.

Leanna's eyes widened with anticipation. "How is it? Is it delicious?"

"What's the difference? This isn't your first time making it."

"O-Of course there is. What if my cooking skills have improved?"

He gave her a look. "No, that didn't happen."

She was rendered speechless. I just knew that nothing good ever comes out of this

*sshole's mouth! Unwilling to accept such an outcome, she insisted, "Why don't you taste

it again? The fish stew has fish mint in it, so the broth's even thicker and tastier. Isn't it

particularly delicious?"

Aidan frowned in displeasure. "What the hell are you trying to say?"

"Never mind, it's nothing. Just finish the stew, President Pearson. I have to take the

thermos back after you finish it."

He stopped eating, though. Instead, he put down the bowl and said apathetically, "Stop

doing pointless stuff, Leanna."

Leanna was stunned. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Aidan's voice was emotionless. "Just get out of here with your stuff."

"President Pearson, I know there are some things that I'm not qualified to say, but… What

if there's a misunderstanding between you two?"

"Leanna, could you mind your own business first before advising someone else?"

"I—"

He said coldly, "If you think everything can be explained and forgiven with the word

'misunderstanding,' how about I have Jethro brought to you right now?"

She was instantly lost for words. Never mind, this is none of my business in the first place.

I just thought of giving it a try because I feel that Ms. Fletcher has taken so much care of

me these days, she thought. Still, before she left, she couldn't help but mutter in a low

voice, "Ms. Fletcher and Jethro are different."

However, Aidan ignored her.

Leanna withdrew her gaze and left with her head hung low in dejection while carrying the

thermos. After she left, Jonathan gingerly poked his head through the door, asking,

"They're here, President Pearson. Would you like to meet them? Or would you like to put it

off until tomorrow?"

Aidan got up and replied impassively, "No, it's not necessary. I'll be there right away."

"Yes, President Pearson."

…

After leaving the hotel, Leanna looked at the leftover fish stew in the thermos. Finding it a

pity to let it go to waste, she found somewhere to sit down and finished it in one gulp. I

should've starved that *sshole to death instead of taking the trouble to come here. Still… I

know nothing about the past between them, and I shouldn't have spoken out of turn, but I

didn't ask Aidan to forgive Ms. Fletcher at once. I just feel that they haven't seen each

other for such a long time. The past 20 years have been a very long time for both of them,

so any misunderstanding between them should be cleared if there's one. And yet, that

*sshole had to touch my sore spot by mentioning Jethro. What a fool I am for my pains.

She exhaled and sat a while longer before going back.

Naomi was sorting out the junk in the yard when she came back.

When she saw Leanna, she merely said without saying anything else, "Just give it to me.

I'll wash it."

"Uh… It's okay. I'll wash it."

Naomi darted a look at her and asked impassively, "He didn't finish it?"

Leanna promptly replied, "He did. He finished it." Then, fearing that Naomi might not

believe her, she opened the thermos on purpose. "Look, Ms. Fletcher. It's empty."