Chapter 61: A Witch (2)
Silence came from the other end. Leander’s father must have grasped for any word that could begin his questions. However, his mouth didn’t make another noise. Still, Leander listened carefully.
His father’s voice soon came again, softer yet heavier this time. Leander could even picture that old man hunching over, brows knitted tightly.
"That better not be that Piper girl. You already heard about how her mother was a witch."
Leander snorted. He already knew what was coming. After all, he didn’t believe that the great William Wentworth hadn’t gotten a name for that rumored wife. He just answered with audible derision, "Don’t spread Bridget’s nonsense to me, Dad. There are no witches, at least in this era."
"Humph, don’t come crying to me when she starts acting like one. Also, get Beckett away from that woman. She could have inherited her mother’s eccentricities. If she tampers with your brother, she will make him dumber. She might even make him believe that his dog can become a human."
"You’re too angry about this. Leave her out of her mother’s dirty laundry." Leander frowned, softening his expression after a second. "It’s better if you meet her in person, Dad. She’s the most impressive."
"Annalisa was also a siren. No need to say that. But I will seek this daughter as soon as we return. Take care of your brother, Andy. More importantly, yourself. The company is in good hands, even when you’re gone for the day. Don’t overdo anything. You’re also growing older each day."
The rising smile sank. Leander only massaged his forehead, sighing. "Take care of yourself, too, Dad. I’ll see you soon."
The call ended.
Leander shook his head in resignation. He pocketed his phone and looked at the villa. He had been there for a while, yet no one had come to greet him.
His brows knitted as he got out of his car. "I wonder what they are doing right now."
Keys clinked against the ceramic bowl near the main door. Leander entered the house and eyed the hallway sharply. He set his briefcase on the couch and walked toward the open garden. The two people in the house were still outside, enjoying their pre-dinner snack. They didn’t even hear Leander coming because of the movie screening on the wall dedicated to it.
Leander leaned on the doorframe, staring at the two chatting softly. Luellen didn’t seem particularly happy. Perhaps she was too absorbed in the movie. In her shrimp posture, she curled up in that lawn chair. Luellen even left the spoon inside her mouth.
As for Beckett, he noticed Leander. His greeting was soundless and hard to notice, as if hoping not to give away his brother’s presence.
Leander wanted to get angry, but he liked the idea of them moving around freely. These two people had to show up at the hospital regularly. It was best if they stopped appearing ill. Leander would be more at ease. It didn’t matter how much he needed to pay. As long as his brother...
Scratch.
He caught Beckett scratching under his shirt. That slight lifting of his shirt showed Leander his belly. There was no gauze pad, as if Beckett forgot to patch it.
"Beck...?" Leander had to call out and speedwalk toward them. "Why aren’t you wearing your bandage? Don’t scratch your wound!"
"Ah, shit, I forgot!" Beckett paled beside Luellen. Since Leander inspected his abdomen, he couldn’t pull his shirt down anymore. He just raised his hands in surrender. "Andy! I can explain! Actually, I can’t... but that’s not the point!"
Luellen closed the lid of her ice cream. She even brought her legs down. Her arms waved at Leander, who froze at his discovery. "Leander! I can...! Wait, I have no explanation, either..."
The man lifted his eyes to Luellen. "What is happening? Did you...? Am I going insane? Am I dead instead?"
The two supposed weak and injured people exchanged gazes. Luellen calmed down first. She got up and pulled Leander to sit on her chair, just because it was the closest. The maiden even squatted before him to get to his eye level. She hooked some hair behind her ear.
"Leander, listen to me..." Luellen took a deep breath. She then flashed a smile as if asking him to believe her. "I can do miracles!"
"..."
The brothers only looked at her. Luellen also pursed her lips in awkwardness.
"What?" Leander shook his head. He reached out his hands and pulled Luellen up at the shoulders. He got her to sit on one of his thighs. "What does that even mean? You make miracles? What are you talking about?"
"Seriously?" Beckett laughed. He pulled his shirt down and turned away to laugh harder. He even felt Luellen’s glare trying to pierce through his back.
Luellen pouted, keeping her hand from pinching Beckett. She could only look up at Leander. She rubbed her palms together. "Sorry... I can’t really explain things, but... I... I have a fairy godmother. I can’t introduce her to you, but she gives me a few things that greatly help me with everything I do. Not that she finishes my reports or something related to the company..."
Beckett grinned like a bobcat at her, teasing Luellen into puffing her cheeks. "Like when she bibidi-babidi-boo’ed my wounds!"
The maiden reached out to play-scratch at Beckett. Her fingers never reached him, but the younger brother returned the gesture. If not for their sizes, they would look like a pair of children.
However, Leander’s countenance darkened. He watched his little fiancée, recalling mostly everything that she had done. Even if some were hard to attribute to the occult, the way she kept her appearance from deteriorating was a tell. Never did he buy her ability to carry everything she needed in her shoulder bag. Also, that coma...
Leander remembered how the doctors told him that her brain never responded to anything. Her body didn’t even heal while she was asleep. It was as if she were dead, but the machines were deceived.
Then, all of a sudden, her organs began working again. She woke up on the same day.
A witch...! His little fiancée was indeed the daughter of a witch, just like everything they had said in the past. Even when Annalisa Piper entered the conversation, all the people remembered was her eccentricities. Even when Leander looked at Luellen, he could only think of the strange things she could do.
"Leander?" Luellen’s voice came out soft and surprised. She must have felt how her body got pulled back. After all, Leander had just wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Luellen..." Leander placed his chin on her shoulder. He tilted his head a bit to face the blushing maiden trapped in his arms. Then he smiled. "Can you promise me... that you’ll only make miracles for me?"
His gaze sharpened, and his smile grew deeper. "I don’t care if it’s sorcery or a placebo. As long as you keep yourself safe and me happy, I won’t stop you."
Leander pecked at Luellen’s reddening face. "Also, thank you for being special."
