After I Amazed the World the Cold Alpha Regretted

Chapter 141

Leo's face grew serious, the playful tone from earlier replaced by something heavier. "What's this about the money you put on my card?" he asked, his eyes searching mine

I stood from my desk, brushing it off with a shrug. "It's nothing. Forget it."

Before I could take a step, Leo caught my wrist, his grip firm but gentle.

"No. You're not leaving until you explain."

ghed, knowing where this was going.

"That money was supposed to come out of my pocket, Leo," I said softly.

His hand slid down my arm, pulling me into his embrace,

His voice was low, laced with concern.

"But the amount you transferred is far more than those debts. You're trying to prove something, aren't you?"

I smirked, letting him pull me closer.

There was a glint of determination in my eyes as I said, "Everyone assumed I married you for money back then. I'm paying you back, Leo. I want them to see that I can make my own way, that I don't need anything from you."

Leo's breath hitched, his chest tightening as he held me tighter. "And what were you after, then?"

He knew the answer. He'd known it for years, but he needed to hear it from my lips.

hung between us for a

I finally spoke,

came for you-for you as

left my lips, Leo's arms

so tight I could barely breathe, but I didn't want to pull

beat in sync, the thin layers of fabric between us doing little to mask the

lowered his voice, his words trembling, "When I was in school, I was nothing, and then I was wounded in

again-the

then, when he was at his lowest, he couldn't fathom why someone would marry

I only stayed because of my parents' debt, that I had

feared I'd leave, compensating me with money

my hand to his cheek, the warmth of

mates, Leo," I said simply, my voice filled with the certainty I felt deep within. "From the first moment we made love in college,

tied to for the rest of

outside rustled the trees, casting shadows on the walls of

as if the night itself wrapped

and falling as he leaned in closer.

Chapter 141

me effortlessly, carrying me over to

down with such care, as if I were something fragile

to push him away, but at this moment, I recalled that image from

after joining the academy, I had spent that crazy

his fingers brushed lightly over my face, tracing the lines of my