NovelOnlineAunt Ethel mused, "You know, Aurelia might not end up marrying that Cooper boy. Arnold's got his eye on her, too. He and Lisa are on the rocks, and divorce is practically knocking on their door. | bet Aurelia will go back to Arnold when it's all said and done." Aunt Harriet nodded in agreement, "True. Staying with the Stirlings would at least make it easier for her to look after her boys." "But she's done with Leopold, and that's for sure," Aunt Ethel continued, "With all the fish in the sea, why go back to the one that got away? | always thought Arnold was the one who took after their father Chad the most, but now | see it's Leopold. Just like their old man, he doesn't leave any room for his wife in his marriage." Aunt Harriet sighed, "I had such high hopes for Leopold, thought he might be the one Stirling man with a heart of gold. Turns out he's just a chip off the old block." Aunt Dorothea shrugged, "Those family genes are a force of nature. No escaping them. | wonder how Leopold's doing now? Jessica won't let anyone visit." "He must be out of danger, or she wouldn't be so calm," Aunt Harriet reasoned.
Aunt Dorothea replied, "She was calm as a cucumber six years ago when he was targeted, too. She could face a hurricane and not bat an eyelash." Aunt Harriet added, "Well, he wasn't in danger back then either, just had a stint in the ICU. Probably the ssituation now." Aurelia, not too far away, could hear snippets of her aunts' conversation. She cast a glance at Leopold who was a bodyguard patrolling nearby. No doubt he'd heard as well, and his thoughts must be in turmoil.
As Aurelia pondered, Leopold's eyes met hers across the distance, their gazes clashing in the air.
She rolled her eyes at him.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtInside, Leopold felt a tidal wave of frustration. His aunts’ words were like salt in his wounds. Did they ever consider his feelings? Comparing him to Chad? He might share his last nand carry that lackluster Y chromosome, but that was where the similarities ended.
Aurelia deliberately pushed the stroller past him, brushing his shoulder as she turned the corner.
Leopold took a deep breath.
She was giving him the cold shoulder, no doubt piqued by their chatter, a thorn pricked in her heart.
And once that thorn stood on end, it would leave him covered in cuts and scrapes.
Here, apart from Aurelia, only Kane knew Leopold's true identity.
Kane clapped Leopold on the shoulder, giving him a look that said, "Tough break, but hang in there." A fleeting thrill, chasing Aurelia was like walking through fire.
"Dad was going to have to pull out all the stops to win Mom back from Uncle Arnold." Leopold massaged his forehead.
Was this encouragement or another jab? William's eyes grew wide with curiosity as he studied the bodyguard. From the back, he looked just like Leopold.
For a second, William thought Leopold had returned.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLeopold was also observing William.
William was a spitting image of Arnold, which stirred a wave of loss in Leopold's heart.
He had harbored a strange thought once that William might be Liam, hidden away by Aurelia. Out of spite, she wouldn't let Leopold be a part of Liam's life, even making Arnold take on the role of father.
Now, he could see William's face clearly as if waking from a dream.
William wasn't Liam, and he was unmistakably Aurelia and Arnold's son.
William covered his mouth and whispered, "Mister bodyguard, were you Uncle Leopold's stand-in? You really look like him from behind." Leopold's lips twisted into a half-smile as he thought, “William was sharp.” "You guessed it, smart guy," he replied.
William's brow lifted in pride, "Of course, | am a genius kid, after all."
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