Leanna-Chapter 168: [Lunch] [Plans]

[Leanna’s POV]

[Lunch]

"So, Cain, right? What are you doing for a living, Cain?" Tristan asked, hiding the mockery in his tone with a serious face.

We were eating lunch together with my parents and the twins. It didn’t escape my notice that Tristan was taking occasional glances at me much to my annoyance. I think the twins and my parents noticed this too since my brothers now have a new recipient of their dagger eyes while my father and mother took it nonchalantly.

On the other hand, Cain surprised me when he just served me food with an unusual calmness on his face. Usually, the temperature should be dropping a few degrees by now.

I confirmed that I was a naive and idiotic girl in my past life, looking at Tristan now.

He’s clearly a womanizer!

I knew he and Cristy must have something going on from the way their body intimately touched from then and now. That was beyond personal space!

This guy will fuck anything with white skin, breasts, and vagina.

"Oh, Cain’s a merchant, aren’t you dear?" my mother was the one who answered while she passed dishes after dishes around us.

"Really?" Tristan’s eyes widened with interest.

He could get an Oscar for that.

"Yes. He sells stuff," my mother added.

At the corner of my eye, Cain shot me an amused smirk. I pretended not to notice as I continued eating my food while emanating an ’I was too lazy to tell them’ kind of air.

My parents did ask what Cain does for a living back in my condo in New Haven when I was still injured. Since it was a pain to tell them of what he does, and even I don’t have a clear picture of how vast the Fay’s family business empire is.

He was in charge and the sole heir to the family’s business, which includes, but not limited to, hotels, restaurants, real estate, jewelry, clothes, mines, oils, trading ports, and all others I didn’t know of.

"He’s a merchant." To make it short.

"Oh. What does he sell?" My mother shrugged her shoulders while my father resumed reading his newspaper.

"Oh . . . you know . . . stuffs. Foods, clothes, jewelry, and all that," I answered without care.

"As long as he has a job, dear."

I think my mother misunderstood, but whatever.

My parents didn’t have any inkling on how wealthy Cain was. They thought at that time, he would just rent a private plane to impress them, not knowing he owned not one but . . . I’m probably sure it’s not just one.

I think only the twins knew how wealthy Cain was since they were the only ones who set foot inside his luxurious penthouse aside from me and Cain’s family.

But they were not about to tell my parents that anytime soon.

As do I.

"What kind of stuff?" Tristan urged which Cain obliged.

"Foods, clothes, jewelry, and all that."

I almost choke when I heard him say exactly what I said to my parents.

Does he have ears everywhere?

"Really. Do you have your wares with you now? Maybe something will catch my fancy."

Even though Tristan’s voice was even, everyone still heard the smugness in his tone, and my brows furrowed even deeper.

What does he take Cain for? A peddling merchant?

I peeped at my lover. At first glance, many would think that he was rich from the way he carried himself even if he wore a simple buttoned shirt and pants.

I looked at Tristan. Like always, the man was fully equipped with his expensive Armani shirt down to his pants and designer shoes with his flaunty million-dollar watch.

Equipped to seduce women, I bet.

Doesn’t he know who Cain Fay is?

. . . Well, no one did.

Not even my family.

Most didn’t even know what Cain look like in his country what was more in this small nation in a small province?

Cain replied a short, "No, I didn’t bring it. A hassle," as he continued to serve me food and ignored Tristan altogether.

The corner of my eye twitched. Why is he playing along?

"That’s too bad. I’m a rich customer," Tristan said with a joking voice which no one laughed.

You know, there is something satisfying about this.

Watching a fool making a fool out of himself.

"What about you . . . er . . . Cristy, right? You still look young. Are you already an architect?" My mother finally noticed the pretty girl who was eating her food in silence at the side.

"No." Cristy flashed a smile that I was too familiar with. "I’m working at Clark’s at the moment for extra cash. I’m still a first-year majoring in architecture."

"Really. A working student. That must be hard." My mother stared at her with eyes full of pity while Christy just smiled.

Liar!

Cristy might be a backstabbing bitch, but she ’ain’t poor.

I’m sure she’s Tristan’s whore.

I didn’t know how they met, nor I was interested in knowing. But even in my past life and now, they were perfect for each other.

A backstabbing bitch and a womanizing cheater!

. . . There it was again! That nagging feeling.

I wonder what it is?

----

[Leanna’s POV]

[Plans]

We survived the whole lunch with only my mother and Tristan talking. Immediately after, I excused myself to go to my room, but my mother stopped me in my tracks.

"Len-Len, come with us to the site and look at the plans and give me your opinions. You know you’re good with these kinds of things."

I cursed in my head.

Doesn’t my mother get that I don’t like that man and don’t want to be near him –– at all?!

"Your daughter is an architect too?" Tristan didn’t hide his interest in me, which warrant a frown from the pretty man beside me and murderous glares from the twins.

"No, Len-Len is a very artistic kid. She’s quite amazing and has good tastes when it comes to arts," my mother continued to brag –– utterly oblivious to my warning glares.

"That’s good then. Another point of view will be helpful." Tristan was all smiles now.

"Sis, we’ll come with you. We also want to give our opinions!" It seemed like the twins couldn’t take it anymore and wanted Tristan out of the picture as soon as possible. I think this is the only time that I supported their shenanigans with all my heart.

"No, you have an exam today." My mother said, cutting the threads of hope. "You can give your input some other day." She then dismissed the twins and cleared the table.

The twins’ jaws tightened, giving Tristan a warning look before they stomped their feet to get their bags and marched off to school.

"Oh, and dear, Jason called. One of the horses and cows would give birth. They needed an extra hand."

At the mention of this, my father shot to his feet while my mother glanced at my man.

"Cain, would you be a dear and help my husband on the farm?"

Is my mother doing this on purpose?!

"Mom––!" I was about to protest, but Cain held my hand, silencing me with a gentle squeezed. I look over at him, and he gave me a wink. He kissed my cheek before he went to my father’s side without a word.

"Now Len-Len, let’s get going so Mr. Clark can finish quickly." My mother didn’t even let me whined as she dragged me outside with Tristan and Cristy following behind.

----

It was a fifteen-minute drive from our house to my mother’s school.

We were on an empty lot beside the school, surveying the surroundings with the voice of my mother breaking the awkward silence.

"The sewerage line is here. There’s also a waterline in there. And the electric pole is here. The road is wide enough to permit two cars," my mother narrated as she pointed out the obvious the moment we arrived at the site.

Cristy pretended to take down notes and took pictures while Tristan listened to my mother. But his eyes would always land on me.

"Hmm . . . The soil is a little soft. We’ll have my engineers survey the land first thing here tomorrow morning so we can do a thorough analysis."

Tristan led my mother in the direction of her private office inside the school.

"Why don’t we discuss those spaces you wanted to add and have your beautiful daughter run down some checks on the plans?"

I frowned, and I was not afraid to show it.

"Yes, let’s. But what do you mean by the soil is soft? Is there going to be a problem with the building?" My mother’s anxious self ignored my refusing gaze.

"There will be an extra cost if the engineers concluded that we needed piles driven on the ground, but let’s not jump into that. Let’s survey the soil first. Don’t worry, I’ll personally oversee this project, and I’ll be here tomorrow to assist everything."

I cursed all the names and bad words I knew.

Is fate adamant about ruining everything for me?

"That’s nice. So I have these facilities I wanted to add. Like a field, bathrooms, bicycle racks . . ." My mother didn’t stop her demand even until we reached her office and sat down on the sofa.

Cristy laid out the plans for me to browse while my mother occupied Tristan’s full attention with her barraged of requirements –– which I secretly thanked her for.

I checked the plans while they were busy with their discussions. Just the first run through and I already found many flaws with the drawings.

It didn’t take long for my browse to crumple.