“Leilani,” Nelson uttered softly, taken aback.
Quietly crying, Leilani dropped her head but promptly raised it again.
“I’ll have someone bring your lunch, my dear. Just give me a moment to make a call,” Susan said with a smile, grabbing her purse in a hurry and dashing out of the room.
However, Leilani and Nelson paid her no mind as they continued to gaze at each other.
“I know we started off on the wrong foot, but please, trust me. We can make it work together. I may be a bit sassy and lack a proper approach, but I’m not a bad person, Nelson,” Leilani confessed, still sobbing.
Nelson remained silent as he sat down slowly in the small space next to her on the bed.
“Believe me, I don’t know if it was before or after you performed my brother’s surgery, but I’ve fallen in love with you over the past three months,” Leilani disclosed, struggling to hold back her tears.
Nelson’s heart swelled with pride, and although he tried not to show it, he bit his lower lip as he gently took her hand.
Yet, Leilani continued to speak. “I know that women have hurt you in the past and you may find it difficult to open up your heart again. But trust me, you don’t have to. Just let me love you, okay? I can handle all the love.”
An amused chuckle escaped from Nelson’s throat as he helped her wipe away the tears that streamed down her face. “Tell me honestly, Lani. Did you fall in love with me out of mere compassion?” Nelson inquired curiously, his heart shining through his gaze.
Leilani shook her head, “I think you were attracted to me from the first moment we met,” she admitted, avoiding his gaze.
Surprised, Nelson’s eyes widened slightly, “I was drawn to you that day, yet you acted so angry with me?”
Leilani had no words as she pursed her lips, still refusing to meet his eyes.
“Well, Lani, you certainly know how to hide your feelings well,” Nelson applauded dramatically.
“I did not adore you. I simply admired your physical appearance,” Leilani remarked, her gaze resting once again upon Nelson’s face.
“Ohhhhh,” Nelson intoned, “Am I truly that handsome?” he queried, brushing his fingers against his cheek and gazing at his reflection in an invisible mirror.
Leilani erupted in a lighthearted laughter and covered her mouth with her hand. Nelson joined in her laughter and, once their amusement subsided, he gently took hold of her hands in his.
“You should not have acted in such a manner, Lani,” he remarked, his expression now grave. Any trace of playfulness was gone.
Leilani’s lips parted in surprise, disappointment fleeting across her beautiful features.
“You do not care for me enough to be together? I-I am not deserving of you? I am not attractive enough?” she questioned.
Nelson smiled and shook his head slowly, “You should have waited for me.”
Furrowing her brows, Leilani inquired, “Waited for you?” She was confused.
Nelson did not respond, but rather drew her into a warm embrace and wrapped his arms around her.
“Yes, Lani. Please wait for me. Do not change your mind about me. Not now. Not ever,” he pleaded softly, running his fingers tenderly through her hair and down her back.
Leilani did not fully grasp the meaning behind his words, but she nodded nonetheless, smiling and returning the hug.
That evening, Nelson returned home to fetch some of her belongings while Susan stayed at the hospital with her.
He gathered a few of her clothes and neatly packed them into a large paper bag. However, as he was about to leave, he remembered that she would also need underwear.
With that in mind, he quickly headed into the dressing room and opened Leilani’s closet once again.
Spotting a neatly arranged set of bras and panties in a drawer, he unconsciously swallowed and scratched his temple in nervousness.
It was as if he had never done something like this before. Slowly, he closed his eyes and swiftly grabbed one of the lingerie sets before rushing out of the room and placing it in the paper bag.
After leaving the bedroom, he spotted Trevor in the hallway, clutching some toys in his hands. He had actually requested Herbert to fetch toys for Trevor before meeting him at the hospital the previous day.
“Trevor,” he spoke with a gentle voice, attempting to approach the boy. However, Trevor turned away swiftly.
Nelson let out a sigh and followed behind, but Trevor only quickened his pace.
“I am not a bad father, Trevor. Please wait,” Nelson pleaded, but Trevor dropped his toys at the door and hurriedly retreated into his room.
The bag slipped from Nelson’s grip as he exhaled heavily. He looked utterly defeated.
“What shall I do with him?” he muttered, his gaze fixated on the closed door.
Over the next two days, Leilani returned home from the hospital after numerous appeals to Nelson, who insisted she must be able to walk again on her own before being discharged.
However, he finally relented when Leilani tearfully begged him. He could not continue to be stubborn with her.
Leaping down the staircase, Leilani arrived in the empty living room. She was so bored. Susan was asleep in her room, and Nelson had left for work but promised to return early.
With the housekeeper and cooks also gone, the villa felt so empty.
Whining and grumbling, Leilani continued to bound around until she made it outside to the front yard, where she spotted a small figure sitting on the grass with their back to her.
Her face crumpled as she called out uncertainly, “Trevor?”
Approaching the figure, Leilani confirmed it was indeed Trevor.
In fear, she scanned her surroundings before rushing towards the boy and crouching down, wincing as she felt a sharp pain in her leg.
“Why are you out here, Trevor? What’s the matter?” Leilani spoke softly, slowly taking a seat beside him.
“I want to go back to the orphanage,” Trevor replied bluntly, still refusing to meet Leilani’s gaze.
“The orphanage?” Leilani repeated, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“Yes, I grew up in the orphanage,” Trevor answered, finally looking at Leilani whose eyes had gone incredibly wide in shock.
“What?!” she exclaimed.