Chapter 55
Leo had been well brought -up by Zayn and Mallory since childhood. He also grew up in the Grant family, where Nicholas and Martha showered him with love and paid close attention to his upbringing. If someone helped him, he believed it was only right to help in return.
“No, it’s okay-” Valeria pursed her lips, but before she could finish the sentence, Sebastian had already walked over to her side.
Leo motioned for Selena to come over and said enthusiastically, “I’ll take a photo of you and Uncle Sebastian next.”
He figured that was the fair thing to do. Everyone should get a photo.
Leo thought he was a genius.
“Okay.” Selena grinned.
Valeria hadn’t expected to take a photo with Sebastian.
Sebastian stood with one hand in his pocket and the other resting at his side. For a brief moment, his fingers brushed hers.
The coolness of his knuckles made Valeria instinctively want to pull away. She held her breath lightly as she fixed her eyes straight ahead.
Leo held the phone up high. “Uncle Sebastian, smile a little.”
Sebastian tugged the corners of his lips into a faint, restrained smile.
“Ms. Neal, you should smile too,” Leo said with utmost seriousness.
Valeria smiled stiffly, like someone who had just been programmed to do so.
The distance between them was only a few inches. Valeria could see the contours of Sebastian’s face clearly from her peripheral vision.
Later, Leo wanted to take a photo of Selena with Sebastian.
Sebastian cooperated easily. He crouched down and gently patted Selena’s hair.
Her hair was soft and smooth against his palm. Without thinking much, Sebastian gently ruffled it.
Selena was well-behaved and lovely. Her eyes were bright and clear, but she was so tiny and slender that it made people feel a quiet ache.
“How are you feeling? If you’re uncomfortable, you have to tell me, okay?” Sebastian said.
Chapter 55
Right after he spoke, he realized his voice had actually softened a little. He was surprised at how much he liked Selena.
Sebastian never thought of himself as approachable or particularly kind. At the hospital, he saw a huge number of patients every day in the outpatient clinic. He’d even received complaints saying he was cold and completely lacking in warmth.
He never imagined he’d feel a strange sense of sympathy for a girl he barely knew. After all, he’d seen countless patients, many in far graver conditions.
However, when he looked at Selena, something about her struck a chord with him.
Valeria stood behind Leo, watching as he took the photo. She also saw Sebastian gently patting Selena’s head. His demeanor was unusually soft.
Ever since she called him last week and he showed up at her neighborhood, Valeria had done some thinking.
In this city, their paths would always cross eventually. She had already decided. After Selena’s surgery early next year, she’d leave this city with her.
Broburgh City might be a good place to start anew. She hoped that from then on, they would live their separate lives, both doing well in their own ways.
“Ms. Neal, can I add you on WhatsApp?” Leo asked.
“Sure,” Valeria replied with a smile as she took out her phone.
But as she added the contact, she realized it was Sebastian’s WhatsApp instead. The username was simply “Grant”.
Leo quickly accepted the request. He’d used Sebastian’s phone to take the photos. Once they were connected, he immediately sent Valeria a few of them.
Valeria looked at the images, including one of her standing beside Sebastian.
Aside from those class photos with the top students, that might be the first time she and Sebastian had a photo together.
