A flicker of icy menace passed through Leopold's eyes. "What's he up to?" he wondered aloud.
Kevin lowered his voice, "Magnolia isn't dead. She and Marcia planned this whole thing."
Their men had been keeping a close eye on Marcia's every move.
He whispered something secretive into Leopold's ear. Leopold responded with a chilling smirk, "She's struggling in vain. She will shoot herself in the foot sooner or later."
"What about Ms. Aurelia?" Kevin started, but he didn't need to finish. Leopold knew what he meant.
Leopold was deep in thought. He hadn't expected Arnold to step out of the game so soon.
After work, Aurelia exited the office building and was about to cross the street when a Rolls-Royce pulled up beside her.
Leopold got out of the car, picked her up without a word, and put her into the car.
"Mr. Leopold, could you at least show me a bit of respect?" Her hair was tousled from the wind.
Leopold's cold gaze swept across her face. She seemed calm enough. Her eyes weren't swollen, and her voice wasn't hoarse. She was much more composed than he'd expected.
He showed a cold, wicked smile and asked, "Isn't this respectful enough?"
Aurelia rolled her eyes at him, and said, "I didn't ask to get in your car."
"I'm your husband." He stated each word clearly.
Aurelia was speechless, "We're in a cooling-off period after filing for divorce."
Leopold's smile faded, and he looked at her seriously, "I'm officially notifying you now. The cooling-off period is canceled."
His long fingers brushed against her cheek, pushing back her loose hair, "Love can be cultivated."
She shook her head forcefully, "I know my limits. I can't do that."
In front of him, her dignity had been repeatedly crushed, with nothing left. How could she have any confidence?
Leopold traced her soft lips, his touch teasing, "You're not only capable, but you're also brave."
A faint, melancholy smile surfaced on her face, "Didn't you say you couldn't stand me? That every inch of me was a sore point for you, that you hated me? Now that Arnold doesn't want me, and you don't have to compete with him anymore. Just let me go. Why keep me around to annoy you?"
Leopold held her chin, his gaze steady and serious. "I can't let you go. You are mine in life and death." With that, he leaned down and kissed her.
A shiver ran through her, like an electric current. Instinctively she tried to push him away, but she couldn't. His kiss was different from before. It wasn't rough, filled with punishment. It was gentle and soft, giving her an illusion of being cherished.
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