“Hmm?” Leonora quickly turned around, halting in her tracks.
Seeing this, Taylor took long strides toward her. When he reached her, his hands were casually tucked in his pockets, and he let out a slow breath before saying, “Leonora, the reason you saw me at the diner that day was because I couldn’t bring you home. To avoid my mom’s nagging, I went on that blind date.”
He quickly added, “It was just one date, and I only met her once.”
Taylor had wanted to explain this for two years but never found the right opportunity. Now, meeting again after so long, he felt uneasy about that blind date, thinking he had wronged Leonora, so he took this chance to explain.
After all, their argument and subsequent breakup had involved another woman.
Leonora’s heart fluttered slightly at Taylor’s explanation. Even though Taylor hadn’t been explicit, his intention was clear. Truth be told, even without today’s explanation, the interactions they’d had since running into each other again made Leonora understand his feelings. She wasn’t foolish.
Seeing the sincerity on Taylor’s face, Leonora said, “I understand.”
She had been on numerous dates over the past two years, and Taylor had only that one. He didn’t owe her an explanation. Besides, they had officially broken up back then. Yet, the fact that Taylor still remembered that incident after two years, and that he chose to explain it to her, warmed Leonora’s heart. She could sense that Taylor seemed different from before, more mature.
After responding to Taylor, Leonora gave him a smile and said, “I should head back then. You should get some rest too.”
“Sure.” Although he agreed, Taylor didn’t immediately head back to his car. Instead, as usual, he watched Leonora enter her building until she disappeared from his sight, then finally turned back to his car.
With a soft thud, the car door closed. Taylor, reminiscing about their evening at the amusement park and how Leonora had clung to his arm, burying her face in it, felt incredibly cheerful, whistling softly to himself.
At that moment, Taylor, at 34, was surprised to find himself experiencing such intense emotions, feeling as elated as a young man in love. But considering it was Leonora, it wasn’t surprising. He had felt differently about her from the start. Reuniting after two years, Taylor was certain of his feelings for Leonora, having liked her long before. Despite their differences in background and upbringing, he still wanted to be with her. And over these two years, he had been striving to become someone more deserving of her, to be a better match in terms of character.
Feeling good, Taylor drove back to the family mansion. Seeing him whistling as he entered, Carrie was dumbfounded. In just a couple of days, he seemed transformed, as if invigorated. What could make him so happy if not money? It had to be romance. As someone who had been through it all, Carrie felt she understood perfectly.
Without beating around the bush, she looked straight at Taylor and asked, “Son, tell me the truth. You’re all smiles and whistling a tune. Are you in love?”


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