The CEO's Unplanned Heir novel Chapter 1034

In the late afternoon, Jolin phoned up, asking Aurelia to come over for dinner with Leopold. Jelena’s mother Gilda was in town.

Aurelia didn't feel like inviting Leopold. He was too full of himself, and never really gave a hoot about the Hawthorne family, lacking any semblance of warmth or human decency.

She shot Leopold a message on WhatsApp, [My aunt is in town, and mom wants you over for dinner. If you're busy, no sweat.]

Leopold replied almost immediately, [How could I possibly be busy? I'll join you tonight.]

After work, Aurelia climbed into Leopold's car, heading to Blossom Villa.

She spent the entire ride with her eyes glued to her phone, not uttering a single word, the air thick with the chill of a cold war.

Leopold couldn't hide his frustration, "If you want something from me, just spit it out. No need for this silent treatment. I'm all ears."

Aurelia didn't respond. Their issues ran deeper than this one dinner invite, and he simply didn't care about her.

Leopold reached out with his iron-like arm, pulling her into an embrace, "Do you really have to turn into a hedgehog, poking me to death before you're satisfied?"

She shoved him hard, "Or we could just call it quits. Go our separate ways, save ourselves the misery. It's not like we're happy."

That set him off. "Don't let me hear that kind of talk again," he said.

Was she comparing him to Arnold again after seeing him this morning? Why did he always come up short against Arnold? Was he really that much worse than Arnold?

Aurelia gave him a cold glance, her disappointment unshielded, then went back to her phone in silence.

The car ride continued under a cloak of quiet tension.

Back at the house, the kids had returned from school and were lounging on the couch, munching on fruit, chatting away with Gilda and Jelena.

Seeing the children so adorable, Gilda couldn't help but long for grandchildren of her own. But the thought of Arnold entangled with a married man cast a shadow over her mood.

She'd come to set things right.

So, Avery made it a point to overlook Leopold.

In his eyes, Arnold was the one who truly loved Aurelia. Leopold was way out of his league.

Leopold caught the insinuation, his lips tightening ever so slightly.

"There are many ways to compensate. No need to choose the most complicated one."

Kane spoke up, "Jelena, please don't take Nina and Mira's dad away. It'll make them sad."

He stood by his father, not endorsing his aunt's actions, knowing they were wrong.

William made a face, "I didn't want Uncle Leopold to take my mom away, breaking up my home. But Uncle Leopold did, and now it's just me and Dad at home."

Leopold's world spun, "Your mom was my wife to begin with. It was your dad who took her from me. She's simply returned to where she belongs."