Leanna-Chapter 172: [Father] [Mother]

[Leanna’s POV]

[Father]

It was already three days since the incident, and we resumed our everyday normal, peaceful life.

Cain held his words when he said he would take care of everything. The charges never came. Instead, it was Tristan who was facing charges left and right from different women who he had relationships with.

"Leanna, can I have a word with you."

My father’s gentle voice snapped me awake. I gave him my full attention when he sat in front of me.

"What is it, dad?"

"I wanted to tell you something." My father smiled, exposing the wrinkles on his handsome face, looking all fatherly. His gaze, full of unspoken emotions.

That got my attention.

My father rarely spoke in a gentle tone and never show me that kind of face before. My father was always hard and strict on us.

Maybe old age and living without worries made him soft.

"Yes?" I urged when he paused as he look at me. He seemed to be thinking of something.

"You know. I remember the time when you were born. We couldn’t keep our eyes away from you even for a second. You were like this plump, squishy, cute, little lovable thing."

My eyes widened when my father said girly words, and it was five of them!

I wonder what’s going on. Did my father hit his head or something?

"Even little, you’re not the crying type, you were always the laughing type. Our little bundle of joy. Our little one and only girl."

I blinked the tears away when my father’s eyes moistened.

He reached for my hand, squeezing it as he smiled. "Leanna, don’t think we agree to all of this, you getting engaged at sixteen because of Cain being a pretty face and rich."

"And the grandchildren." I grinned.

"And the grandchildren," he breathes.

I laughed a bit when he rolled his eyes.

"It’s not about all of that. Just think about it . . . my one and only girl snatch away from me. No. Not happening."

I stifled a laugh when he contorted his face into a scowl.

"The first time I saw Cain . . . he was looking at you. It’s just the way he looks at you . . . is the way I look at your mother."

Now he’s going to make me cry.

"And . . . he is the man our little baby girl approves. The rest of him is just an added bonus."

He tucked my hair behind my ears, and I squeezed his hand. Trying not to burst into tears.

"You are a beautiful girl, Leanna. Both inside and out. Cain is so lucky to have you."

*sniff . . .

My face must be red as my eyes right now.

"Thanks, dad."

----

[Mother]

"Cain, come and have refreshments!"

Lean hollered, holding a bottle of juice in one hand while holding an album by the other. She laid the bottle of glass on a wooden bench and sat beside it, tapping the bench for Cain to sit. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Cain put down his basket of mangoes and laid his straw hat on top of it before he walked to the nearest pump. He pumped water on the bucket and scooped a bowl to wash his face and hands. After which, he dried his wet skin with the towel hanging around his neck.

He was getting oddly comfortable in this way of life.

So laid back.

So green.

So close to nature.

So peaceful.

He sauntered to his mother in law and sat beside her.

"How are you finding your stay here, dear?" Lean started as she peeled a mango and cut it in half with precision and ease. She then gave half to Cain.

Cain peeked at the laughing girl with her father, sitting under the protection of a small gazebo not far from them.

"I’m loving each day of it," he answered without thinking as he kept his eyes at the enchanting girl who bewitched him ever since the first time they met.

"That’s nice. Now I want to show you something." Lean took a bite of her mango and gave Cain the photo album.

"This is . . ." Cain only tore his gaze from Leanna when his eyes found something much more mesmerizing.

"Len-Len’s pictures when she was still a baby and growing."

Cain couldn’t help a smile to form on his lips as he caressed a picture of a plump baby girl who was smiling heartily without any teeth while her large glazy eyes were crossing.

"She was a handful. She would always cross her eyes, which I had to correct every now and then."

Lean pointed at a photo of Leanna laughing so carefree, showing her missing front tooth.

"Now this one, we made a little prank on her. You know how kids are, they easily get scared. We abandoned her on a plaza and secretly hid so we could take a picture of her crying face. But much to our chagrin, she just kept on toddling around and around on the fence, laughing crazily."

Lean shook her head as though she remembered something. "That day, I thought to have her check on a psychiatrist."

Cain bit back a laugh. He then looked over at his mother in law’s serious but smiling face.

"You know. Even when a kid, Leanna never cries, but I know she does. She just never shows it. She would always be this independent, mature little lady in front of us. Maybe because it was due to us –– being busy on how to salvage our family from poverty that we neglected our children. She took up the role of being a second mother to the twins." Lean’s eyes moistened and reached for Cain’s hand.

"Thank you for coming into her life. Now, many people would tell me that love makes them stronger, but that does not necessarily apply to Leanna because she’s already a strong girl from the start. When you came into her life, I saw she had grown dependent on you. She became vulnerable in front of you. I know she truly loves you when she finally unmasked that strong facade of hers whenever you’re together." Lean squeezed Cain’s hand as tears flowed down on her cheeks.

"Thank you for letting my baby girl feel the wonderful feeling of having someone to depend on."

Cain cupped her hand and gave his sincerest smile.

"No. It should be I who should thank you. Thank you for giving birth to Leanna."

He bowed her head and kissed the back of his mother in law’s palms –– the highest gesture of respect in their family.

"I won’t betray your trust.