Chapter 41
By the time Sebastian dropped Leo off at the Grant residence, Leo let out a dramatic huff. “You grown-ups just don’t get it. But I already added her on WhatsApp. I believe I still have a shot.”
Sebastian reached for a cigarette, pausing in speechlessness as he looked at Leo in the passenger seat. He held back the urge and said in a low voice, “She’s married. And she has a daughter your age.”
“Being young isn’t my fault. And older women love younger guys now. You don’t get it, Uncle Sebastian. Ms. Neal is insanely pretty. She handed me that pizza slice with the most meat, and then patted my head.
“She smells amazing, her skin’s so fair, and her smile’s super gentle. I know she felt something for me…” Leo defended.
“Yeah. It was probably her first time seeing such a bottomless pit in a tiny body,” Sebastian
retorted.
“You’re just trying to put me down. Ms. Neal said I was adorable.” Leo turned away, ignoring
Sebastian.
He checked his smartwatch and panicked when he saw the battery was nearly dead. He quickly plugged it into the charger in Sebastian’s car and opened WhatsApp, just as a new voice message came in from Valeria.
“Thank you. You’re very cute too.” Turning up the volume, he proudly played it for Sebastian.
“You really believe that? Pretty women are good at lying,” Sebastian mentioned.
“Then, why’d she say I’m cute and not you? She only sent that to me, so clearly, she likes me,” Leo queried.
Sebastian pinched his pudgy cheek, the corners of his lips twitching with a smile. “Didn’t I pick you up from school two weeks ago when you peed your pants?”
Leo’s face flushed red. He clenched his tiny fists, trying to defend his manly pride. “I’m still young… and I drank way too much water that day.”
With that, he jumped out of the car without even saying goodbye and stomped off.
Sebastian leaned against the car door, lighting a cigarette.
Avery came out to help carry Leo’s backpack and looked in Sebastian’s direction. “Mr. Grant, will you be having dinner at home tonight?”
“Let Mrs. Grant Senior know that I’m not. I’m picking up Nemo. He’s still at the pet store
waiting for me,” Sebastian answered.
…
On the way back, he picked up Nemo. Freshly bathed, it lay lazily in the back seat. Looking at the dog, Sebastian couldn’t help but think of Jane.
She had once grabbed his arm, pleading for him to take in this half-breed Golden Retriever temporarily. Rubbing his brow, he glanced at the passenger seat where Leo had left his smartwatch charging. He picked it up and opened WhatsApp.
Valeria’s profile picture was a plain patch of blue sky.
He snorted quietly. It was tacky. Even Martha had a more stylish profile photo.
message. “Thank
you.
You’re very
Her username was Selena’s Peace. He tapped on the voice message.
cute too.”
There was nothing striking about her soft, gentle voice. It was neither sweet nor coquettish, just like Valeria herself. It was light and calm like a quiet breeze.
Somehow, that faint breeze messed with his head. He tapped to listen again. “Thank you. You’re very cute too.”
The softness of her tone carried a hint of nasal sweetness. It reminded him of Jane.
However, suddenly, Sebastian realized he couldn’t remember what Jane’s voice actually sounded like anymore.
Seven years had passed. All those once-vivid memories had begun to fade, little by little.
He didn’t know anymore. Was it because Valeria reminded him of Jane, so he felt their voices were similar? Or had Jane always sounded like that? Were they really that alike?
He had changed phones more times than he could count. Any recordings or photos from back
then were gone.
Realizing that made him feel powerless. He pressed his throat and exhaled the smoke.
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