Chapter 56: The Silence Between Us

Inside the car, silence engulfed them.

The only sounds were the hum of the engine and the soft chime of the air conditioner.

Jeslyn stared out the window. The city rushed past—streetlights stretched into blurred lines like a painting being pulled backwards. But inside her chest, everything felt tight.

“Why are you always like this?” she asked suddenly, without turning her head.

Leonel didn’t answer right away. He gripped the steering wheel tighter.

“You think everything can be fixed with a tug of the hand and a threat?” Jeslyn turned toward him, her eyes filled with pain. “Do you think I don’t have a heart? That I don’t have the right to choose?”

“If I hadn’t come tonight, you would’ve stayed right there. Next to him. Quietly agreeing to everything,” Leonel finally replied, his voice soft but cutting.

“That’s none of your business, Leo.”

“Unfortunately, it still is,” he shot back, his tone cold.

Jeslyn closed her eyes, biting her lower lip. “You’re insane.”

Leonel turned into the driveway of a house. Without a word, he parked after passing through the gate.

“Get out,” he said as he opened the passenger door.

Jeslyn stepped out, glancing around. She thought he would take her to her apartment—but instead, he brought her here.

Her steps froze in front of the open garage. A two-story modern-American-style house stood quietly at the end of a clean, empty street. It wasn’t large, but the design exuded calm elegance.

The exterior was dominated by dark gray wooden panels with crisp white trims, adorned with large glass windows that allowed warm interior light to spill out onto the well-manicured front yard.

To the side, a rectangular swimming pool glimmered behind a glass fence—its water reflecting the garden lights, serene yet cold, like Jeslyn’s heart tonight.

“Where are we?” she asked, breathing heavily as she looked around. “Where did you bring me, Leonel?”

“My house,” Leonel replied flatly. “Come in.”

Jeslyn stared at him for a moment before finally following him inside. As the door opened, a gentle scent of cinnamon and vanilla wafted out.

The interior felt warm and personal. Dark oak floors complemented handwoven rugs in the living area. An electric fireplace glowed in the corner, casting golden light onto clean white walls adorned with black-and-white photographs and contemporary paintings.

To the left stood a tall walnut bookshelf, filled with books and journals. On the right, a modern kitchen with copper pendant lights looked tidy and elegant.

But the most striking feature was the large sliding glass window in the living room, offering a full view of the pool—like a living painting framed in glass.

Jeslyn stood in the center of the room, hugging herself. The air was cool, but her body burned with unresolved emotions.

She exhaled slowly. “Why did you bring me here, Leonel?”

Leonel looked at her over his shoulder, his gaze still burning though he tried to stay calm. “Because I want to talk to you. Without interruptions.”

“I don’t want to talk about Jefran,” Jeslyn said quickly, her gaze shifting to the window. “And I don’t want to be here.”

“Too late. You’re already here,” Leonel replied bluntly.

Jeslyn let out a sharp breath. “You think this will solve everything? Just by kidnapping me to your house like this?”

Leonel looked her in the eye. “If I hadn’t done this, you’d still be sitting there next to him, pretending to be happy, pretending I never existed.”

Jeslyn closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, unable to hide the pain in her gaze. “You can’t keep blaming me for the choices I’ve made.”

“Are you sure they were your choices?” Leonel asked as he stepped closer, removing his blazer.

Jeslyn took a slow step back.

“Yes, I’m sure,” she answered firmly.

Leonel tossed his blazer onto the sofa, then crossed his arms over his chest.

“Then tell me—why are you still going through with this wedding?” he asked, eyes locked on hers.

“You don’t need to know!” Jeslyn snapped.

“But I want to know!” Leonel pressed, cornering her until her heels touched the edge of the sofa.

“Not everything is your business! This is my decision, and I’m going through with it!”

“You need marriage? A title? Then I’ll marry you.”

Thud.

Jeslyn stared at Leonel, her expression indescribable—a mix of shock, anger, and confusion.

“What?” she whispered, barely audible.

Leonel stood firm, eyes unwavering. “You heard me. If all you need is status, I can give it to you.”

“You… You think this is all just about status?” Jeslyn’s voice trembled, her hands clenched at her sides. “Do you think I’m that shallow? That I can just switch from one man to another just because I want to be married?!”

“That’s not what I meant,” Leonel replied quickly, his voice lower now. But his eyes never left hers. “But you know this wedding to Jefran isn’t about love. It’s a business deal between two families. You know that.”

Jeslyn shook her head slowly, her eyes filling with tears. “Stop, Leonel… You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me. Help me understand,” Leonel whispered, now only inches from her. “Why would you choose a pain you know is coming… over the feeling you once had with me?”

Jeslyn couldn’t answer. Her chest tightened. Her eyes dropped to the floor, wishing he’d never asked.

“Answer me, Jeslyn,” Leonel’s voice cracked. “Did you never love me, not even for a moment?”

Rain began to pour outside, the heavy drops hitting the glass in a chaotic rhythm, mirroring the turmoil in Jeslyn’s heart.

She closed her eyes for a moment, holding her breath. And when she opened them again, only pain remained.

“I want to ask you something, Leonel.” Jeslyn’s voice was sharp. “Why did you come close to me in the first place? Was it because—”

Jeslyn stared at Leonel with intensity.

“Why are you asking me this now? Do you need some kind of confession?” Leonel asked, his intense gaze making Jeslyn’s heart pound.

“I need to know… Was it because of my body?” Jeslyn’s voice wavered, eyes glassy with tears.

“Didn’t you enjoy it too?” Leonel asked instead, throwing the question back.

“That’s all you wanted, right?” Jeslyn said bitterly, her tears threatening to fall. “Listen, I’m not your whore!” she snapped, her eyes full of hurt and fury.

Leonel went silent. His expression changed, sharp and emotional.

“Don’t you ever say that, Jeslyn…” his voice cracked. “I’ve never seen you that way.”

“Then why?” Jeslyn shouted, tears finally falling. “Why do you keep holding me back and ruining my life?”

Leonel had no answer. He stood there, unable to explain.

He truly didn’t know why he wanted Jeslyn so badly.

Because the truth was—Leonel didn’t even know what love really meant.

“You can’t answer, can you?” Jeslyn whispered, wiping her tears, trying to hold the ache in her chest.

***