11- Leon

LEON

"These must be the little bastards."

I stare at the woman standing before us, wondering whether I have heard her correctly.

Bastards?

I look at the three children beside Rose. Liam is holding his mother's hand, while Leon and Leona stand close to her, their innocent faces turned towards the strange woman.

Who talks about children like that?

I turn to Rose, expecting her to say something, but she looks as though someone has struck her. Her fingers tighten around Liam's hand, and for a moment, I wonder whether I should intervene.

Then the woman smiles.

"I can't believe it's really you, Ruby Jere."

Ruby Jere.

That is the second time she has called Rose by that name.

I glance at Rose, but she avoids my eyes.

Who is this woman? And what exactly happened between them?

"Do you know her?" I ask Rose quietly.

She doesn't answer.

The woman laughs.

"Oh, he doesn't even know, does he?"

Rose's eyes flash towards her.

"Cleo, please. Not here."

Cleo.

At least I have a name now.

"Not here?" Cleo repeats. "Where would you prefer? Somewhere private, where you can continue pretending to be the respectable woman you've suddenly become?"

I frown.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

She turns towards me, and her expression changes immediately. Her eyes travel over my face before she offers me a smile that doesn't quite reach them.

"I'm Cleo."

She pauses, apparently expecting me to recognize her name.

When I don't react, she glances at Rose before looking back at me.

"And you are?"

"Leo."

Her eyes brighten slightly.

"Leo," she repeats, studying me. "I see."

I don't know what she sees, but I don't like the way she looks between Rose and me.

"Are you two together?" she asks.

Before I can answer, Rose speaks.

"That's none of your business."

Cleo raises an eyebrow.

"Oh, so you are together."

"We aren't," I answer.

I don't know why I feel the need to clarify that, but I do.

Cleo looks unconvinced.

"Well, whatever your relationship is, I suggest you be careful."

I stare at her.

"Careful of what?"

She gestures towards Rose.

"Her."

I look at Rose again.

She has lowered her head, and I notice that she is trying very hard to remain composed.

I have spent only two days with this woman, but I have already learned something about her.

Rose loves her children fiercely.

She notices every little thing they do, remembers their preferences, and seems to know what they need before they even ask. When Leona gets tired, Rose is the first to notice. When Liam becomes quiet, she asks questions until he tells her what's bothering him. And when Leon gets carried away with his jokes, she knows exactly how to bring him back to earth.

She is not a perfect woman, but she is a loving mother.

So why is Cleo looking at her as though she is something to be ashamed of?

"Why should I be careful?" I ask.

Cleo lets out a short laugh.

"Because you clearly don't know who she is."

"Then perhaps you should tell me instead of making vague accusations."

Her smile widens.

"Oh, I'd be delighted."

Rose steps forward.

"Cleo, don't."

Cleo ignores her.

"Tell me something, Leo. How long have you known Ruby?"

"Rose," I correct her. "Her name is Rose."

For a second, something flickers across her face.

Then she laughs.

"Rose? Is that what she's calling herself now?"

Rose closes her eyes briefly.

I don't understand what is happening, but I am beginning to suspect that there is a reason she doesn't want this woman talking about her past.

Cleo folds her arms.

"Let me give you some advice. Stay away from her."

I stare at her.

"Why?"

"Because she's not the kind of woman you should be involved with."

"And what kind of woman is she?"

Cleo looks almost delighted by the question.

"Do you honestly believe she acquired all her money through honest means?"

My expression hardens.

"What does her money have to do with anything?"

"Everything! Look at her. A few years ago, she had nothing. Absolutely nothing. And now she has a house, a restaurant, and enough money to dress herself up like some wealthy businesswoman."

She shakes her head.

"Do you really think that happens without a price?"

I say nothing.

Cleo takes my silence as encouragement.

"She sold herself, Leo."

For a moment, I simply stare at her.

"What?"

"You heard me."

She glances at Rose with undisguised contempt.

"She let some drunk, useless man sleep with her. Who knows what she did with other men? Women like her know how to use their bodies to get what they want."

My jaw tightens.

I look at Rose, hoping she will say something, but she remains silent.

That bothers me. Not because I expect her to defend herself to a stranger, but because I can see how much these words are affecting her.

Her eyes are fixed on Cleo, and her expression is growing colder with every passing second.

I turn back to Cleo. "You've made some serious accusations. Do you have any proof?"

She laughs in disbelief. "Proof? I know her!"

"Knowing someone doesn't mean you can accuse them of anything you want."

"Oh, please. You barely know her yourself!" She's right.

I've known Rose for two days.

Two days isn't enough to know everything about a person. I don't know her history, her struggles, or the circumstances that brought her to where she is today.

But I know what I've seen.

I've seen her worry about her children, laugh at their jokes, and patiently answer Leona's endless questions. I've seen her carry Liam when his little legs grow tired and listen to Leon's dramatic complaints as though they are the most important matters in the world.

I've seen a mother who would do anything for her children.

And I refuse to believe that a woman's past, whatever it may be, gives someone the right to humiliate her in front of them.

"You're right," I tell Cleo. "I don't know everything about Rose. But I know enough not to judge her based on your accusations."

Her face darkens.

"You're making a mistake, Leo."

"That's for me to decide."

She shakes her head, looking at Rose again. "I honestly don't understand how you do it, Ruby. You always manage to find someone willing to defend you."

Rose finally speaks. "Leave him out of this."

"Oh, now you're worried about him?" Cleo laughs.

"Don't worry, darling. I'm only trying to save him from making the same mistake some useless drunk man made."

I feel my patience slipping.

"That's enough."

"No, Leo. You need to hear this."

She steps closer to me, lowering her voice as though she is sharing an important secret.

"Stay away from her. Whatever she has told you, don't believe it. She isn't innocent, and she certainly isn't the kind of woman you should bring into your life."

I glance at Rose.

She looks exhausted.

Not physically, but in a way that makes me think she has endured this kind of treatment for far longer than she should have.

I don't know what happened between these two women, and I won't pretend to understand their history.

But I know one thing.

Cleo isn't interested in having a conversation. She wants to hurt Rose.

And judging by the way Rose is standing there, she knows exactly how to do it.

"Is there anything else?" I ask Cleo.

She smiles.

"Oh, plenty."

Her gaze shifts towards the children.

"Honestly, Ruby, I have to admire your shamelessness. Not only did you allow some stranger to sleep with you, but you actually kept the child."

Rose's fingers curl into fists.

Cleo continues, her voice growing louder.

"And you didn't stop at one, did you? You gave birth to three bastards!"

The slap happens so quickly that I barely have time to react.

Rose's palm connects with Cleo's cheek, producing a sharp sound that echoes through the corridor.