Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 414 Congratulations

Diane shook her head and clarified, "They're not planning a wedding. It's going to be something simple due to time restraints. Leo... Are you really okay?"

Leonard forced a smile. "What could possibly be wrong? You're worrying too much."

Daniel and Diane exchanged a look but didn't press the issue any further.

After dinner, Leonard drove away from Sawyer Manor, his mind replaying the conversation from the table. Lia was getting married to his cousin, no less, yet he only found out through the grapevine. Lia hadn't even mentioned it to him directly. He had assumed that they were at least friends, but now it seemed they weren't even that. He felt restless and unsettled, unable to calm his mind.

Before he knew it, his car pulled into Lia's neighborhood. The unpleasant way they had parted last time had killed any courage he might have had to approach her.

Suddenly, Dominic's car stopped right before him. Leonard instinctively honked to say hello, and Dominic got out and waved. "Come up for a bit. I need to talk to you about something."

out and followed him. "Are we going to Bella's place?

to Leonard. "Nah, we won't. I already pissed her off this morning. If you show up, she won't have the nerve to argue with me. I'm too

argue with her? It's more like you're scared. You used to think

If you'd been through a few more relationships, you wouldn't have flunked out before you even started. You ended it before it even

have you? I shouldn't have run into

the verbal sparring,

Dominic didn't ask why Leonard was there. He knew better than

the door to Bella's apartment. Just then, Leonard heard Lia's voice from

couch with Bella, chatting and laughing. When she saw Leonard, her smile faltered

placed the new phone he had bought for Bella on the coffee table. "Cara, make us some

trying to keep things from feeling awkward. "Lia, I heard