When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)

Chapter 112

Um, why is he asking me that? She raised her head and saw his eyes shining bright like obsidian gleaming under the sun, and she frowned in confusion. His grip on her shoulders tightened, his force almost breaking her bones. “Ow.” She gasped.

As if he was electrocuted, Leo pulled his hand back, but his eyes remained on her. What she said earlier. Her tone, her voice, even her inflection… they’re all just like her. The only different thing is their names.

Big Eyes used to say the same thing to me.

Amelie rubbed her shoulder. “Is something the matter, Mr. Alston?”

Mr. Alston? He snapped back to reality and stared at Amelie again. Probably just a coincidence. She doesn’t sound like Big Eyes now. “Sorry,” he whispered and left the room, shaking his head.

Amelie saw him off in silence, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. And I thought he recognized me. A sense of disappointment welled within her, but she shook it off. He’s going to marry Elyse soon, and we’re going to leave. It’d be problematic if he recognized me. She spaced out for a moment and returned to her daughter. “Rest, child.” She touched her cheek. “We’ll see your grandfather when you feel all better.” And she spoke in that gentle voice Leo was familiar with. She would only speak like that to those closest to her. Most of the time she wouldn’t even speak like that.

Bria woke up two hours later. The anesthetic had worn off, and the pain kicked in. She wanted water, but the nurse said she couldn’t have it for twenty-four hours after the appendectomy. Though she could wet her lips with some Q-tips dipped in water. Understandably, the child was miffed. Most of the time, she was a good kid, but now she was throwing a tantrum and crying to no end.

Amelie felt for her, but she couldn’t help with the pain Bria was feeling. And it made her feel powerless. She tried her best to calm the girl down, but Bria flew into a rage when it was time to take her medicine. She shoved the glass of water away and tossed her medicine into the distance. “I don’t want any pills! I’m in pain!” And she burst into tears again.

“Oh, you can’t let her cry right after the surgery. Don’t want to reopen the wound, or it’s going to be dangerous.” The nurse came in.

Amelie was going to let her daughter vent for a while, but if the consequences were that serious, she couldn’t afford to let Bria cry anymore. But try as she might, the girl would not stop crying. Even the nurse, in all her experience, couldn’t do anything either. Amelie eventually teared up.

then someone asked calmly, “Why is she crying?”

figure coming into the ward. “Leo?” I thought

back

table and sat beside the bed. “Bria, tell Daddy why you’re crying.” He

eyes were closed, but the moment Leo spoke, she opened her eyes, and her crying stopped. She stared at her father, surprise welling within her.

never held her hands this gently before, nor did he ever talk so nicely to her. All her pain was forgotten, and she only had

off her cheeks. He

stayed silent, staring at him at all

She couldn’t believe he had come back. Nor could she believe he was being so gentle to

train of thought. “You must

him. Bria was already in his

with his chin. She was surprised he would bring food for her, but she hid her feelings away. “Thank

Leo place the girl back onto the bed. Leo took a document out of

Amelie looked at him. He’s staying? Leo was already starting to work, so Amelie took the lunch box and washed it out. Through the bathroom door, she looked at Leo. He was going through his documents intently, his fingers dancing across

a few days later. No longer tortured by pain, she resumed her lively, gentle nature. Leo would come over every day. Even though Bria didn’t show a lot of response, she would always have a smile on her lips. Sometimes, Leo would help

days had gone by since Bria’s surgery. And Amelie was

“You’re going to get a blood test

companionship managed to close the gap between him and the girl, and she was thinking better of him now.