The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 166
Swallowing the anguish that threatened to surface, she looked at her brother with a tender smile. Life’s choices were, after all, like the two faces of a coin—luck and misfortune hidden together. While holding Leonid’s hand had undoubtedly been a stroke of fortune, there was a shadow of misfortune lingering like the hidden side of the moon.
And as for what further misfortunes lay ahead… life was like navigating through a dark forest, and there was no way to know what awaited her next.
About thirty minutes into the conversation, Johanna felt about eighty percent certain that Lucas Bantwood held no personal feelings beyond goodwill. It truly seemed he just wanted to financially support a student he saw great potential in.
Lucas even mentioned that he had personally helped clear up the malicious rumors surrounding Daniel. While Johanna thanked him sincerely, she couldn’t escape a twinge of guilt. After all, she was likely the reason Lucas had given up on Leonid. She couldn’t begin to imagine how he might react if he ever discovered the truth.
The complexities of their relationship already made her head ache, and now he was also Daniel’s sponsor. But she couldn’t tell him the truth, nor could she ask him to withdraw his support for Daniel. The contract demanded her silence, and there was no valid reason to refuse his sponsorship.
“I believe Daniel has the potential to become a groundbreaking magitech engineer, someone who could leave a lasting mark on history. I’ve heard, Marchioness, that you’ve been supporting his studies since he was very young. It’s admirable.”
His words held multiple layers of meaning. He seemed impressed that she had shouldered such responsibilities and financed her brother’s education, all while managing difficult circumstances.
Like Daniel, Lucas seemed to view her choices as sacrifices. Johanna could read that nuance in his expression with ease.
But she didn’t consider herself a sacrifice.
Sacrifices inevitably leave a sense of indebtedness in those who benefit from them.
And she never wanted Daniel to feel that way.
“With such a bright younger brother, how could I not support his studies? Besides… I honestly believe that, thanks to him, I’ve been able to endure everything.”
“Sis…”
Daniel looked at Johanna with a moved expression, softly calling her name. Smiling faintly, she ruffled his hair—a habit she’d promised herself she’d break, but one that seemed impossible to resist.
As expected, Leonid returned to the estate around 3 p.m. The warm atmosphere, stirred by Daniel’s school anecdotes, chilled abruptly the moment he stepped into the drawing room.
Daniel, who had always seemed uneasy around Leonid, looked visibly uncomfortable. Lucas, meanwhile, tried to maintain a bright smile, but his face was pallid. Though he had resolved his feelings, facing someone he had once admired—only to be coldly rejected—was clearly a difficult reminder.
Johanna felt an instinctive empathy with him and did her best to ease the frostbitten atmosphere.
“You’re early? I was just waiting for you.”
“Really? You were waiting for me?”
As Johanna rose to greet him, Leonid wrapped an arm around her waist, acting more affectionate than usual.
He even placed a light kiss on her cheek, which nearly made her flinch, though she managed to keep her composure with a natural smile.
“By the way, I forgot to ask—did you like my gift?”
“Gift? Oh…”
He must have been referring to the art set he’d handed her so abruptly. She hadn’t mentioned it since he’d acted as if he’d forgotten about it. Bringing it up in this setting only made it clear he wanted to needle Lucas in his own petty way.
Why must he be so difficult? she thought, silently criticizing him, though she kept her irritation hidden behind a pleasant smile as she responded.
“I loved it. I’ll put it to good use. Thank you.”
“Just words?”
“Pardon?”
Before she could fully process his question, Leonid tapped his cheek lightly with his finger. Johanna knew all too well what he meant, but she nearly let her irritation slip through her expression, wondering just what he was trying to accomplish.
However, if this was her employer’s “request,” she had no choice but to play along. Swallowing a sigh, she rose onto her tiptoes as high as she could, just enough to reach his cheek.
She let her lips briefly brush his cheek, soft and smooth in a way that seemed incongruent with an Alpha who spent so much time outdoors. As their eyes met up close, Leonid exhaled, his breath hot and intense.
Sensing Alpha pheromones beginning to emanate from him, Johanna quickly grabbed his arm, shaking her head emphatically.
No, don’t do this… get a hold of yourself…
Whether he understood her signal or not, his gaze, which had heated considerably, gradually cooled, though his eyes still held a predatory intensity that made her feel like she was about to be devoured.
