Chapter 24 ~ Oh No, Brother Leonel…

"Who are you with right now, Jes?" Jefran asked.

"Huh?" Jeslyn grew even more worried as she noticed blood dripping steadily from her hand.

"Kiara’s here. I think she accidentally knocked over a glass. Anyway, Jef, I’m hanging up now, okay? I’ll see you this afternoon," Jeslyn said, ending the call without waiting for a reply.

She rushed over to Leonel.

"Oh my God, what did you do?" Jeslyn asked in panic. But Leonel’s face was unreadable—tense and cold. The atmosphere in the room turned icy.

Jeslyn was scared, but her concern overpowered her fear.

"Let me treat your hand," she said softly, gently pulling his hand toward the sink to wash off the blood. She let it flow freely, checking carefully to ensure there were no glass shards embedded in his skin.

"This is pretty deep. Doesn’t it hurt?" she asked, glancing up at him until their eyes met.

"No," Leonel replied. "Are you worried about me?"

"How could I not be, seeing someone hurt like this in front of me? Even if it was a stranger, I’d still help," Jeslyn answered, focusing again on his wound.

Leonel pressed his body gently against Jeslyn’s back, wrapping one arm around her in a hug from behind.

"Don’t do that…" he whispered, kissing her shoulder. "I’ll get jealous."

Jeslyn froze. The warmth of his touch against her back, his lips brushing against her skin, and the deep, meaningful tone of his voice—everything made her heart race uncontrollably.

"Leonel…" she whispered, barely audible. "Don’t… confuse me."

"I’m serious, Jeslyn." His voice dropped lower, filled with emotion. "I know you're trying to deny everything. But your body… the way you look at me… the way you touched me just now… You care."

Jeslyn bit her lower lip. She could easily pull away. She could have broken free from his embrace and set boundaries between them. But her body refused. A part of her wanted to stay right there in his arms.

Leonel gently turned her around to face him. "You’re allowed to be afraid. You can deny it. But don’t think my feelings are just a game."

Jeslyn looked into his eyes. Too honest. Too deep. She wanted to argue, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Leonel caressed her cheek with his uninjured fingers. "You’re cute when you’re worried. But even sweeter when you’re honest."

His lips inched closer—almost touching hers. But before they could kiss, Jeslyn placed a hand on his chest.

"I need to get ready. Jefran might be here soon," she said. "Let me finish treating your hand."

Leonel exhaled softly, hiding his disappointment behind a calm expression. He slowly lowered his hand, giving Jeslyn space, though his gaze never left her face.

"Alright," he murmured. "This time, I’ll let you go."

Jeslyn pretended not to hear. She turned, grabbed the first-aid kit from a kitchen drawer, and gestured for Leonel to sit at the minibar. Her hands trembled slightly as she cleaned his wound, but she tried to stay focused.

"This might sting a bit," she said gently.

Leonel nodded, his eyes still fixed on her. "More than the subtle rejection just now?"

Jeslyn let out a soft huff, suppressing a smile. "Don’t be dramatic."

"It’s not drama," he replied, his voice deep and low. "I just… don’t want you to keep running away."

Jeslyn glanced at him, and for a moment, their eyes locked again. Time seemed to slow down.

She cleared her throat and resumed wrapping his hand in a bandage.

"Don’t get too close to Dmitri Clovies," Leonel said suddenly.

Jeslyn froze. She remembered the reason he broke the glass—the moment he heard Dmitri’s name and his expression turned dark and frightening.

"Why?" she asked.

"He’s dangerous. You shouldn’t get involved with him," Leonel replied calmly.

"How am I supposed to listen if you won’t even give me a reason?" Jeslyn complained.

Leonel sighed, turned his gaze away briefly, then looked back at her with a dark seriousness in his eyes.

"Dmitri Clovies isn’t just a wealthy businessman. He’s an old playboy," he said quietly. "And he has a much darker side than you could imagine."

Jeslyn fell silent. A flicker of worry appeared in her eyes—but also disbelief.

"I know you’re stubborn, Jes," Leonel continued. "But just this once, listen to me. Dmitri is a predator. And you… you're too valuable to become his target."

Jeslyn let out a small laugh, trying to shake off the tension. "Sounds like someone’s jealous."

Leonel gave a faint smile, but his eyes remained serious. "If I said I was, would that be enough to make you stay away from him?"

Jeslyn didn’t answer. Her heart pounded once again.

Leonel stepped a little closer, leaving almost no space between them. "I’m serious, Jeslyn. Don’t make me protect you in a way you’ll end up hating."

Jeslyn lowered her gaze. The air between them grew heavy, filled with tension—not just from physical wounds, but unspoken pain and unresolved feelings.

"You know something I don’t about him, don’t you?" she whispered.

Leonel replied with just one sentence, quiet and sharp. "I know too much… and you’d never sleep peacefully if I told you everything."

"But he’s your and Jefran’s uncle. I’m sure he wouldn’t dare cross the line," Jeslyn said.

Leonel slowly shook his head, his eyes clouded with an old pain that hadn’t healed.

"Blood ties don’t guarantee anything, Jessy," he muttered. "Jefran is too naïve to see who Dmitri really is. But me… I’ve seen his darkest side since I was a kid."

Jeslyn swallowed hard, trying to process that.

Leonel gave a bitter smile. "He’s a master manipulator. He’ll nurture your kindness… only to tear it apart when you’ve got nowhere left to run."

Jeslyn bit her lip, restless. "Why are you telling me this now? You’re the dangerous one!"

Leonel laughed softly.

"My woman really is perceptive, huh?" he teased.

"I’m not your woman!" Jeslyn snapped.

Leonel’s smile widened, but his eyes no longer teased. They were serious—touching a fragile side of him that he rarely showed.

"Not yet," he said softly. "But one day… you’ll realize your heart already chose me—even before you could admit it."

Jeslyn looked away, her heart pounding wildly. She hated how easily he got under her skin. How his words, wrapped in sincerity, made her second-guess everything.

"I don’t want to be your puppet, Leonel," Jeslyn said firmly, though her eyes betrayed her hidden anxiety.

"You’re not a puppet. That’s exactly why I want you to know the truth. You need to be ready, Jes," Leonel said. "Dmitri isn’t just dangerous to you—but to everyone you love."

Jeslyn fell silent. A cold premonition slowly crept through her body.

"You can hate me right now. But don’t ignore my warning," Leonel added.

"Fine, Mr. Leonel. Are you satisfied now?" Jeslyn asked.

"Absolutely. Very satisfied," he replied with a smirk.

Leonel leaned in closer to Jeslyn, who remained frozen in place. He brushed his lips against hers—soft, slow.

Jeslyn wanted to push him away, but again, her body betrayed her. She found herself enjoying his gentle touch.

Leonel’s uninjured hand stroked her jaw as he deepened the kiss.

Jeslyn closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment—until she gasped as he lifted her onto his lap.

"Leon…" she breathed.

"Shh…" Leonel silenced her with another kiss. He was addicted to her taste.

"You always drive me insane, Jessy…" he murmured against her neck.

Instead of resisting or slapping him, Jeslyn clutched his shoulders even tighter.

"Ugh… Leon…"

She bit her lip when he touched her sensitive spot. She wanted to stop him—but her body betrayed her again, pulsing with need. She wanted more…

"Leonel… I…"

"Say it, Jessy… You want this too, don’t you?" he teased.

"Uh…" she couldn’t say yes. But Leonel’s hands were driving her crazy.

"You’re already so wet. Are you still going to be stubborn and say no?" he whispered as his hand continued to explore her.

"I… I…" Jeslyn couldn’t say yes, but her body’s reactions said it all—especially when she felt something hard pressing beneath her.

"I want you, Jessy," Leonel whispered into her ear, his warm breath igniting her further.

Suddenly, Leonel stopped everything. "Alright then, if you refuse, I’ll stop here," he said with a wicked grin.

Jeslyn looked at him with frustration and disappointment. The tension he left her with was maddening.

"Are you toying with me?" she snapped.

"No. I won’t do anything without your consent, Jessy," he said with a gentle smile that only made her more frustrated.

"Weren’t you the one seducing me?" she asked angrily.

"Yes. But I won’t finish it without your permission," he said calmly.

"Ugh, damn it!" she cursed.

Leonel chuckled, enjoying her flustered and desperate expression.

"If you're done, go take a shower. Jefran might show up soon," Leonel teased.

Jeslyn looked into his eyes—this time, she couldn’t fight her feelings anymore.

"I want to…" she said firmly.

"Want what, Jessy?" Leonel teased.

"Stop playing around, Leonel…!" she said angrily, caught between pride and embarrassment.

"Do you want to eat or shower?" he teased again, pushing her buttons.

"Yes, I want you to continue. I want you too," Jeslyn finally confessed, her face burning red with shame.

Leonel smiled in victory. "Gladly," he said, lifting her into his arms.

Jeslyn wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.

Once in the bedroom, Leonel gently laid her down.

"This time, I won’t stop, Jessy…" he whispered before lowering himself toward her.

***