Solflare: The Painter's Secret-Chapter 173: Stolen Moment II

As the last member of the Baek entered, the door closing behind him, a smile tore across Darian’s lips.

He walked and stood in front of the man holding the gold box. The man bowed slightly, then whispered, "Jade Baek ordered us to bring these for the Qing family, to show his love for Zoe."

Just as the man finished his statement, Darian turned, glanced at Zoe’s slightly angry face, and Leon’s still face.

Hu Qing stood up from his wife’s side, then closed in on the men, smiling. "We really appreciate your kindness."

He directed the men to arrange the gifts exactly in front of Leon.

Hu Qing neared Elara, placed a hand around her shoulder, then pinched her slightly. "Our daughter is blessed to be loved by the Baeks."

Elara smiled, tilting her head slightly, then watched Zoe’s downhearted expression. "She’s blessed indeed."

Without hesitation, Leon approached Zoe and stared at her while everyone busied themselves, watching Liana open the gifts one after another, joy filling her eyes.

"Hey," Leon whispered, stretching his arm forward. "Zoe, there is something I want to tell you."

Zoe’s eyes regained their warmth as she slowly drifted her eyes from the glowing gifts to Leon’s lips, her heart slowly beating in her chest.

Leon exhaled once, swallowed hard, then whispered, "Will you—"

Darian cleared his throat so loudly it made Leon pause mid-sentence. Darian walked toward Zoe and Leon, his left arm at his back.

He grinned at Zoe, then stood closer to Leon, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. "What are you two talking about? I’m interested and want to hear it too."

Darian’s words caused Leon to forget his own statement instantly. He then lowered his head and watched his own boots.

Just as he raised it and was about to speak, Darian moved from him and stood by Zoe’s side.

"Zoe, I think you should go and check the items," Darian stated, then frowned when Zoe wasn’t moving. "Go."

Zoe gave Leon a soft glance, then neared her mother, who sat on the eagle-feathered couch, the gold box on her lap.

"My child, look how much they love you. Don’t disappoint us this time too," Elara stated, unwrapped her arms from the box, and then handed the box to Zoe. "It’s yours, not mine."

Leon watched every slight shift in Zoe’s expression. The shaking arm no one noticed. The tear she wiped from her face. The forced smile she carried when either her father or her mother glanced at her.

He screamed in his head. ’Are you going to spend your life with someone you don’t love? Tell them you’re not interested!’

Darian tapped his fingers twice, drawing Leon’s attention.

Tap, tap.

Leon gave the family one last glance, then turned to Darian and smiled. "I think I have to take my leave."

Darian smiled back. "Yeah. It’s good you said that. I was just about to inform you to give us our privacy."

He turned, clapped twice. "Dad, Mom, everyone. Leon is leaving."

Hu Qing’s eyebrow raised slightly. "Oh, so soon?"

Elara continued, "You haven’t even eaten yet."

But all Zoe could do was move the gold box from her lap and curl her mouth inward, locking eyes with Leon.

Hu Qing joined Leon and Darian, then placed a heavy hand on Leon’s shoulder. "If that’s what you want, we can’t force you to stay."

He walked Leon to the door, then loosened his hand on him. "Have a safe journey."

Without hesitation, Leon bowed. "Thank you." He turned when he reached his BMW and gave Hu Qing and Darian a glance before sliding into the seat.

As soon as he started the engine and raised his head, he saw Zoe standing by the window, its curtain pushed aside.

The farmworkers waved at the BMW as he slowly drove past them, then neared the giant gate of the Qing clan.

He drove past countless salon vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, and trucks that were conveying timber trees.

Dust swelled up in the air as the tires rolled to a stop inside the Storm mansion, just three feet away from the fountain.

Leon hesitated in the car, his hands resting on the steering wheel, staring at the fountain as Zoe’s last glance flashed in his head.

"Well," he whispered softly, closing his eyes. "If she isn’t for me, I can’t force her to be mine."

Leon cracked his eyes open, pushed the door open, and then stepped out of the car. He walked slowly toward the mansion, then entered, forcing a smile onto his face.

Inside, Min-ji leaned against the kitchen wall, legs crossed, arms folded, pushing her breasts up. She loosened her arms, then went and greeted Leon. "Welcome back, sir."

Leon smiled at her, then let out a heavy sigh. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Min-ji’s expression shifted into a caring one when she watched how Leon sat on the couch as if carrying a dead weight. "Sir, is everything okay?"

Leon tilted his head toward her. "Yeah, I’m just tired."

Min-ji stood there, smiling in her head as she wondered. ’Did the Baek really send their people there after I called them? Wow. Everything is getting on point.’

She curled her lips inward, then tilted her head, then giggled slightly. ’I have to show that I care for him,’ she whispered in her head, then walked softly toward the couch, her hands at her back.

"Sir, sorry, Leon. Are you sure everything is okay?" She pressed on, then removed her right arm from her back, then stretched it toward Leon’s shoulder. "Should I get you some water?"

Leon lifted his head, then answered without hesitation. "Sure."

Min-ji stood there for a while, then walked into the kitchen. She picked up the same cup she had sent to her room the night before, then filled it with chilled water.

She came back, placed the cup on the glass table beside Leon. "I will be in the kitchen. If you need anything."

She walked swiftly to the kitchen, then focused on the glass, smiling.

Leon grabbed the cup, moved it to his lips, then slammed it on the table without taking a single sip. He stood up, climbed the stairs, then went straight to his room.

Min-ji covered her mouth, then screamed, "Shit. He was just this close." She moved out from the kitchen, grabbed the broken cup, then frowned.

Just as Leon sat on his bed, soft footsteps echoed from behind his door. Lily entered without knocking, a smile filling her face.

She jumped onto the bed, placed her head on Leon’s lap, then began giggling. "Brother."

Leon smiled back, then began brushing his fingers through Lily’s hair. "Yes, little Athena."

For a second, the smile in Lily’s eyes vanished as she spoke. "Did Aunty Zoe accept your proposal?"

A gust of chilled air raised the curtain covering the open window and flew into the room, intensifying the silence in Leon’s head.