Love's Change of Heart

I seriously don't get her.
In a cold voice, Aidan spoke over the intercom, "Contact Lux Jewelry to know how much Leanna McKinney's termination fee is."
"Understood."
He received a report from Jonathan in no time. "Madam has previously signed the contract with their boss in person, so he's the
only one that knows the details."
However, the boss of Lux Jewelry was currently on vacation in Cazkavia.
Without hesitation, Aidan grabbed his coat and rose to his feet. "Book the latest flight ticket to Cazkavia."
Jonathan did as he was told at the drop of the hat.
The contradicting sight of his boss' impatience reminded him about the person who scolded him for mentioning Lux Jewelry and
the so-called collaboration that had ended years ago just ten minutes earlier.
A week later, Leanna was being discharged from the hospital. Although she had almost recovered, Zoe and Louis advised her to
rest for a few days longer. Still, she could feel her limbs degenerating after spending days in bed in the hospital.
Besides, she did not expect to see Zayn at the hospital. They were left alone after the sensible Zoe pulled Louis away.
Silence filled the atmosphere until Leanna wore a smile. "Thank you for everything that you've done."
"Leanna, you don't have to say those two words to me. Ever," Zayn replied.
She sighed as the awkwardness lingered in the air, making her want to flee the scene as soon as possible. "If there's nothing
else important, I—"

"Leanna, I have something to tell you. Do you know who was the sponsor for The Emerging Designer Competition three years
back?"
Before she could even answer, he recounted, "Koyote Group is a subsidiary of Pearson Group."
She paused. "What do you mean?"
"I know that you went to see Mr. Hall with the hope of changing the sponsorship to Aeras into cash. He did help you with the
appeal, but it was rejected. In other words, Aidan Pearson was the one who rejected the appeal."
During the next two minutes of silence, Leanna digested the fact that Aidan, the sponsor, was the very person who commented
on her as someone without a dream. She then smiled lightly. "So what if I know now? It's been three years. What's done is done.
Besides, it's not like he owes me anything. It's reasonable for him to reject the appeal."
Zayn grabbed her shoulders with red-rimmed eyes. "Leanna, if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have to go through these. We
could've—"
"Zayn, it looks like I haven't straightened things out with you. Even if I didn't get married to Aidan, we wouldn't have lasted till the
end anyway." She removed his hands calmly.
"Why not?"
"I was too innocent back then. I failed to see the huge gap between us."
His brows creased tightly. "Leanna, that's not a problem."
Still, she insisted. "It is a problem and a very big one. I might still have hope for the future if it wasn't for him, but after marrying
him, I finally learned that a rag-to-riches story ain't as easy as I thought. I don't wanna be on everyone's lips and suffer from
pointing fingers anymore."
"That's because he doesn't love you. You wouldn't be treated that way if he had loved you."

The truth rendered her speechless. Even if she had come to terms with it, her stomach still churned when someone else pointed
it out.
The moment she parted her lips, someone dashed into the scene and slapped her in the face. "Leanna McKinney, you
shameless b*tch!"
The metallic taste spread across Leanna's mouth as she prodded the bleeding area with her tongue and returned the slap.
Anna, who had not foreseen Leanna's counterattack, paralyzed in shock before attempting to fight back, only to be stopped by
Zayn.
He warned sternly, "Anna Pearson, behave... or else, I don't know what I'm going to do to you."
"Zayn, she slapped me. You—"
"Check who barked first, woman," interrupted Leanna coldly.
Anna snapped, but he pulled her hand, which made her face flushed red. "Leanna McKinney, I told you that Zayn is mine. Only
mine! Don't you dare seduce him!"
He pursed his lips upon hearing that. "Anna, I repeat. There's nothing going on between you and I."
"That's not true! Our families are already planning for our marriage. It's just a matter of time before we get together."
His patience was wearing thin as she had been pursuing him round the clock after returning to the country.
It was true that Zayn did not like her parents, but he ended up agreeing with the engagement for reasons that he himself was
oblivious of. Resultantly, Anna presumed that they would get married on her own volition, therefore, pestering him more as days
passed.
Leanna did not bother her and bid him goodbye, "I'll go ahead first."

"Leanna..." After watching her leave, he lowered his head as he was aware that he was in no position to ask her to stay when he
failed to settle his own mess.
At the same time, Anna linked arms with him. "Zayn, let's go shopping. I pre-ordered a bag a few days ago. It should've arrived
—"
"Anna, you're a girl and I don't wanna say nasty things to you. But I don't like you and have no intention of marrying you either. If
you keep acting up like that to Leanna's face, don't blame me for not warning you when the time comes." He shoved her hands
in the meantime.
She glared at him in resentment. "It's because of Leanna, isn't it? You don't like me because of her! If it wasn't for her, you... I
should've pushed her harder and killed her back then!"
He frowned. "What did you just say you did?"
At that moment, her gaze skittered around frantically upon realizing that she had made a blunder with her words before pushing
him away. "Nothing! I did nothing to her. She had it coming! It's because she got married to Aidan without knowing her place and
now even flirting with you. That's why."
Having said that, she scurried away, leaving him standing alone with tightly fisted hands.
...
On the way home, Leanna leaned against the window while staring at the view outside. The glint in her eyes simmered,
rendering her thoughts undecipherable.
Zoe endeavored to enlighten the mood, but Louis stopped her in figuring that it would be best to leave her alone for the time
being.
As Leanna herself had told Zayn, Aidan did not owe her anything. Hence, it was reasonable for her appeal to be dismissed. Still,
no matter how much she reminded herself that sometimes life would not work out as one wished, her reasoning would diminish
little by little as time passed.

It's not even a hard request. What's wrong with trying to ask for the things I need when I'm the winner? I doubt that it's an
unreasonable request. It's not like I don't wanna go to Aeras. Reality doesn't allow me to do so.
Due to that, Leanna's action that was deemed valueless had become the reason to label her as someone lacking a dream. Had
it not been the cruel reality, everyone would wish to have the chance to embark the journey to achieve their dreams.
Throughout the three-year-marriage, she had familiarized herself with Aidan's aloof and cruel disposition. Never once had she
wished something from him. Not at all.