CHAPTER 3: A DRINK WITH MY FATHER-IN-LAW

ETHAN

My body turned cold as the realization dawned on me.

Leander, my father-in-law, had a fate with me?

Maybe it wasn't really fate yet, but why else would the countdown stop when he was with me?

I wasn't certain. Yet a strong pull emerged from my chest, urging me to find out whatever was going on.

Taking in my Leander's calm expression, I bit my lower lip, trying my best to compose myself again.

"Leander," I took a step closer, standing right beside him as I turned around to look at the noisy bar again.

"Shall we step in?" My eyes shifted to his face.

Our eyes met.

His cold blue eyes flicked through mine... as if searching for something I wouldn't say.

My heart raced abruptly.

I turned my head away.

"Shall we?" I asked again, eyes lowered this time.

"Hm." His voice came through.

A smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of my lips.

I stepped forward and gestured for him to follow.

Leander threw away the half-smoked tobacco and leisurely walked behind me.

"Mr Leander, let me lead you in." A short, young woman approached us as soon as we arrived.

Leander nodded at me, and we both followed the lady to a quieter corner.

I'd have called it a vip space if the space had been enclosed, but unfortunately, we were still under the gaze of many.

But maybe this was the best.

I'd never been able to control my heart whenever I looked into Leander's eyes or stayed too close to him.

The last thing I needed at the moment was something complicated. So, being under people's watch could keep me in place... I hoped.

The lady smiled softly after we took our seats. "I will get you the regulars." She turned to me. "What about you, mister?"

A slight frown formed on my face.

It was my first time in a bar...

"Same as mine."

Cold. Unfeeling. Yet my eyes couldn't help but shift to him.

His perfect features appeared in my line of view, and I watched as he elegantly lit a tobacco.

His expression. His action. It was as if he hadn't noticed my gaze on him. Which I knew wasn't true.

I shook my head lightly and lowered my eyes.

"Can I get something really strong instead?" I relaxed my back, tapping mindlessly on my lap as I looked around the bar.

"Strong liquor?" Leander sounded surprised.

I glanced at him. "Yes. Enough to make me drunk."

I needed the burn—something to keep me steady for my next plan.

His eyes lingered too long.

His lips slowly parted. "Okay." He replied.

A faint sense of disappointment rose in my chest.

Why wouldn't he ask me the reason? It felt like he didn't care about me at all.

So, why did he warn me in my last life? Why did he help me so much then?

But no matter how much I looked at it, Leander didn't seem like someone who would care about someone who wasn't important to him.

If that was the case...

My eyes widened as I quickly dispersed the thoughts.

I had gone crazy.

Laughter echoed around us, loud and careless.

But our table felt… quiet. Too quiet.

The lady soon returned, accompanied by two other men. They all brought different drinks with them.

After settling the bill for the drinks, the lady bowed and left.

Leander pointed to the drink before me. "That's strong enough."

I nodded.

"After that?"

My brows creased. "What?"

Leander picked up his cup and elegantly drank. "How will you get home?" His eyes lingered on the drink before me.

"Home?" I found myself blurting out.

"Your husband." Leander's voice was a little colder.

My body also went cold.

The earlier complicated feelings disappeared, replaced with sadness and frustration.

"Husband?" I laughed brokenly. "I don't have one."

I drank. Not for comfort... just to steady my hands. I slammed the cup on the table.

The alcohol burned through my throat, making me feel hot and dizzy all over.

Tears appeared in the rims of my eyes, and I exhaled shakily as my body trembled from the impact.

I glanced at the empty cup, and without hesitation, I filled it up again.

Having my first alcoholic drink... It wasn't a pleasant feeling at all.

But what exactly was pleasant in my life at the moment?

I blinked back my tears and drank even more. "Leander, I'm going to divorce him," I said firmly.

My eyes were red, and I looked at Leander, who was calmly sitting across from me.

"Can I?"

Leander's expression remained the same. Even his eyes remained indifferent. "You can." He crossed his legs and leisurely drank from his cup. "But you won't."

He sounded like he knew me more than I knew myself.

The displeasure in my chest increased.

I struggled to my feet and approached him. Doing that, I glanced at my wrist and realized the countdown still hadn't returned.

Without a doubt, it had something to do with Leander being around me.

If that was the case... didn't that mean I had to keep Leander around?

But how?

I groaned softly as I sat beside Leander and looked into his eyes.

Our faces were only inches apart.

My warm breath seemed to hit his, and his eyelashes trembled.

His gaze sharpened.

My stomach abruptly lurched as light appeared within the depths of my eyes.

This was the first real expression I'd ever seen in Leander's eyes___ For a moment… it felt like I’d stepped somewhere I shouldn’t.

But then again, I could never be sure.

"Mr Leander," I dropped my cup and gently relaxed beside him.

"Your son is cheating on me," I said, gauging his expression.

For a moment, I forgot the man before me was someone with minimal expression.

"He's planning to take away my properties."

"Oh..." Leander turned away, exhaling slowly—as if holding back something he chose not to say.

My fingers slowly clenched.

I knew this wouldn't be easy.

"What do you think I should do?" My voice was a little lowered.

"Vesper is dating my best friend, Nick. The two..." My voice trembled.

An overwhelming ache in my chest made me rub my temple as my eyes reddened again.

Not only would they take my assets. They would also kill my child.

After that...

The memories of my last life after my death played in my head, and a line of tears rolled down my face.

All I ever did was trust them. I even made up my mind to transfer everything to Vesper after the birth of our first child.

If he had been a little more patient... maybe he could have gotten the things he wanted.

But after that, wouldn't it be the end for my family and me?

Everything my parents ever worked for. Their sweat and blood would be taken away by a stranger...

A pair of strong and long fingers suddenly appeared in my line of sight. His hand paused mid-air... then, as if deciding against restraint, he pressed against the corner of my eye.

The rough finger swiped down, wiping with it the tears in my eyes.

I froze.

My mind shut down.

Raising my head, I met his eyes.

Those pairs of blue eyes stared down at me, and though they still held no expression, the coldness had dissipated...

"Don't cry." His deep and magnetic voice rang in my ears.

I stilled.

My breath caught as his hand tilted my chin upward. "Do you need my help?"

I met his eyes. This time, I didn't look away.

"Yes."

My voice steadied.

"Help me ruin them, Leander."

His gaze deepened. "And what?" He murmured.

"Are you offering me in return?"