Being treated so rudely irritated Julie, leading her to raise her voice.
"What's wrong with you!?"
Leo ignored her screeching her voice and looked down at Leah. He gently said, "I can't let you out of my sight for a second it seems."
Raising her head, Leah's eyes locked with Leo's. The close distance between them made her feel shy, her cheeks dusted with a shade of pink.
"Leo, I was about to leave," she said.
"About to leave?" Leo questioned. "Did you not like anything here?"
Leah's silence made Leo realize his silly wife planned to walk out of the store without any confrontation.
"Leo Zhen? That perverted madman?" commented Julie, before snickering. "Two of you make a great pair by being equally unpresentable."
Leo's eyes narrowed at Julie. When he investigated Leah's past in his previous life, her name popped up often. In the beginning, she pretended to be Leah's friend before the truth was revealed to her.
After that, along with rest of her friends, Julie engaged in harassing and bullying Leah until the matters got intense and Leah had to drop out.
A cruel light crossed through his eyes.
Leah noticed her husband's ignited mood, and before he could start a fight, Leah tightly pulled on his sleeve.
"Can't we check out other stores?" Leah's voice held pleading intent in them.
"What? Both of you are running away like cowards now? You had no pride to begin with. It seems you're determined to not give this madman any face either.
That's what you should do. Bow down and turn your head when you see us. After all, your statuses are embarrassing— a foolish illegitimate daughter and a lecher."
Leo clenched his hand into a tight fist, veins popping.
Leah shook her head.
He stared at her questioningly. Even though her quiet personality made it difficult for her to confront, he could do it in her place.
"It's unpleasant," Leah softly explained, "the more you argue, the more it will only make you angry. It's a good day. I don't want to ruin it."
"Dear..."
"I just think if you pretend to not hear people say horrible things to you, then it doesn't exist," Leah expressed.
The corner of Leo's eyes softened.
At the same time, he wondered how much Leah suffered growing up to develop this mentality. It wasn't that she didn't have a temper, but as a mode of self-protection, it had been subdued.
Leah added, "Can you hear anyone speaking to you?"
Leo helplessly smiled at her and shook his head.
He hid all the murderous in his heart. Although his wife acted as if it didn't matter, Leo knew her sensitive heart was riddled with hurt.
If the world wasn't fair to her, then he would bring justice to her.
After all, he had to keep up with the title 'madman'.
In order to appease his wife, he decided to leave Julie alone for now. Holding on to his wife's hand, he intertwined his fingers with her before walking out of the store.
The interaction between them took Julie aback— her emotions clear on her face. She couldn't believe the notoriously rude Leo was gentle and affectionate to Leah.
Before she could have another outburst, Arianna finally opened her mouth. She called, "Leah."
Leah paused in her steps for a second without turning back.
"Dad asked you to come home this weekend," she coldly said, "even if you get married, you can't forget family, right?"
Leah looked at Arianna, about to decline, when the woman raised one of her eyebrows.
After taking in a deep breath, Leah resolutely answered, "I will not be returning."
She ignored the way Arianna's eyes darkened.
Following that, the couple roamed around few more stores, and Leo bought everything he thought suited Leah.
Once they were done walking around, Leo had her sit on the bench, handing her a cup of orange juice.
As Leah took a sip out of drink, Leo brought up, "I will drive you home later. Don't wait up for me. I will be going to a nightclub, but it's only to handle business. There is nothing else."
"A nightclub," Leah uttered.
Afraid she would misunderstand, Leo was about to explain further when her eyes stared at him in expectations.
He questioned, "You want to tag along?"
"Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to come along when you're handling business?"
How could Leo dare to turn down her requests?
"There are a lot of people and noise there. Drinking as well. You might feel uncomfortable," Leo pointed out.
In his previous life, Leah had come to receive him from the club a couple of times after he got drunk. From the clear displeasure on her face, he believed she didn't enjoy the raucous and messy environment.
"I have only seen nightclubs behind the screen," Leah informed, " according to the internet, this is one of the joys of the life everyone must experience. Can I?"
Leo lightly touched her forehead with his finger.
"I am helpless against you."