A roguish smile played on Leo Joyce’s lips as he pulled Tiana into his arms. Looking at Alia Avery, he spoke in a deliberately casual tone, "Alia, a lot has happened since you left. And I’ve decided to be with Tiana now."
Alia Avery’s expression faltered slightly, then she looked at the two of them in complete surprise.
Tiana Grayson felt her own heart start to pound wildly in her chest.
’It was true that Leo Joyce had declared his intentions to her brother at the aquarium. But ultimately, she and Leo had never officially confird their relationship.’
’That was why she never dared to tell anyone that Leo was her boyfriend.’
’But now, Leo was actually telling Alia that they were together?’
’Did this an Leo had really decided to be with her?’
’Even with Alia back?’
’But at Aria’s birthday party, hadn’t Leo clearly said that he would get together with Alia once she returned?’
Tiana hardly knew how to describe what she was feeling. It was a mix of surprise and excitent, coupled with a touch of sentintality and a pang of heartache. But after all those emotions washed over her, what remained was guilt and unease toward Alia...
Alia Avery watched them for a long mont before suddenly bursting into laughter.
’No wonder. I’ve felt all day that sothing was off about Tiana’s mood. So this is it—she and Leo are together.’
She rubbed her chin, looking Tiana up and down with a teasing tone in her voice. "Mhm, no wonder. I was thinking our Tiana has gotten prettier lately. Turns out it’s because soone’s been ’cherishing’ her." Alia deliberately drew out the last word.
Leo Joyce gave a knowing smile but offered no explanation.
Tiana Grayson, on the other hand, imdiately blushed beet-red. She lowered her head and stamred nervously, "Alia, what are you talking about! L-Leo and I... there’s nothing going on! Don’t say things like that."
Alia Avery clearly didn’t believe her and continued to tease, "Oh? Nothing at all? Leo, that’s where you’re failing. How could you not be properly ’cherishing’ our Tiana..."
"My dear, you’re wronging now. I’ve been ’cherishing’ our Tiana very... vigorously." Leo Joyce’s lips curled into a wicked grin as he tightened his arms, trapping Tiana in his embrace. He spoke with a roguish laugh in his voice.
"COUGH... COUGH... COUGH COUGH..." As soon as he spoke, Tiana Grayson’s face went crimson. She broke into a violent coughing fit and started pounding on Leo Joyce. "What nonsense are you spouting! That’s not true!"
Leo Joyce released Tiana’s waist and caught her small fists. His voice was laced with a devilish charm as he asked, "Isn’t it? Tiana, is it that I don’t ’cherish’ you enough? Or that I don’t love you enough?"
Tiana seed to fall under Leo’s spell. Blushing, she shook her head, her heart thumping wildly as she stared at him without blinking.
Leo Joyce smiled knowingly again, then leaned down to press a kiss on her red lips. "Put them together, and isn’t that ’cherishing’?"
— ’Is that what "cherishing" ans? Was I the one with the dirty mind? Ever since her first kiss with Leo, she had, for so reason, started reading romance novels, filling her head with all sorts of improper scenarios. So, does that an my mind just went into the gutter automatically just now??’
At that thought, Tiana felt she was too embarrassed to face anyone.
Her face grew even redder.
Leo Joyce let go of Tiana’s fists and put his arm around her waist, saying softly, "I’ll take you ho."
"Okay," Tiana had just nodded when she suddenly rembered Alia. She asked anxiously, "But what about Alia?"
Just then, Alia said with a smile, "Tiana, it’s so late. Don’t worry about . You should go ho first. I’ll wait here for Leo to co back."
"Oh..." Tiana pouted and replied softly, but she felt a little unsettled.
’Wait for Leo to co back? Does that an they still have things to discuss?’
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