Chapter 49 - 48: Spiritual Power Riot
"Not exactly. It’s just that I had a spiritual power rampage a long time ago. After I got better, I realized this stuff tastes pretty good, and since it’s all pros and no cons, I just started adding it to my orange juice," Yvonne Lowell said nonchalantly after a brief pause.
A spiritual power rampage could be lethal in an instant with the slightest misstep.
Yet, she had just brushed it aside with a single, understated sentence. Leo Grant’s heart clenched with an indescribable feeling; it felt tight and suffocating.
Seeing him silent, Yvonne Lowell nudged him with her elbow. "Why so quiet? Feeling sorry for me?"
"Yeah." Leo Grant reached out and hooked his fingers on her clothes.
She was actually a bit thrown by how readily he answered.
"No need for that. It’s all in the past, and I’m still here, alive and well, aren’t I?" Yvonne Lowell ruffled his hair reassuringly.
Yvonne Lowell was wearing a knit top today with ties dangling down on both sides. Leo Grant silently took one of the ties in his hand, his fingers stroking it unconsciously.
He didn’t resist, didn’t pull away, and didn’t say a word.
Yvonne Lowell snatched the tie back with a soft tsk. "If you keep fiddling with it, it’ll start to pill. You’ll have to buy me a new one."
"Fine, I’ll replace it. I’ll buy you a hundred, a thousand, even a whole truckload of them," Leo Grant said, his head still lowered.
Since she wouldn’t let him hold the tie, he took her hand and began gently massaging her knuckles one by one.
Even someone as dense as Yvonne Lowell could see the dark cloud hanging over his head, complete with two little figures inside making thunder and lightning, unleashing a torrential downpour.
’Tsk, tsk. Just look at that sad little face. He looks like a puppy abandoned by its master.’
"If anyone else saw you right now, they’d think you were possessed. In their eyes, you’re the untouchable, high-and-mighty Great CEO Grant who rarely even smiles. And yet here you are, looking all pitiful." Yvonne Lowell wiggled her fingers.
Thinking she was about to pull her hand away, Leo Grant tightened his grip, his voice a little hoarse.
"They can think whatever they want. That’s their business. What does it have to do with me? Besides, I’m only like this with you. When have I ever acted all high-and-mighty in front of you?"
’She had to hand it to him. This man knew how to play pitiful, act innocent, and feign weakness in front of her—and damn it all, she fell for it every time!’
’How infuriating!’
Since she couldn’t pull her hand free, Yvonne Lowell sighed, used her other hand to cup his face, and looked him straight in the eye.
"I didn’t say all that to make you unhappy. I only told you because you were the one who asked. I didn’t want to gloss over it or make up a lie to deceive you, so I told you the truth. Understand?"
’She was finally realizing it. Her guard was getting dangerously low around this guy. She kept spilling everything, saying whatever came to mind, and then when she made him upset, she was the one who had to coax him back into a good mood.’
’And she even took the initiative to help his subordinate awaken a superpower. What in the world was she getting herself worked up about!’
’If he were just average-looking, she probably would have slapped him to death by now.’
’Truly, a handsome face can lead you astray. It’s messing with my head. So annoying!’
Leo Grant held the hand on his cheek, instinctively nuzzling against it. "I know. I just... my chest feels tight."
"So what you’re saying is, *I’m* the one making your chest feel tight," Yvonne Lowell said, her eyes narrowing as she pulled both her hands back.
Leo Grant laughed in exasperation. Copying a move from her playbook, he gently touched his forehead to hers. "You know full well that’s not what I mean."
"I don’t care. That’s how I’m taking it. You’re saying I’m the cause of your troubles." For once, Yvonne Lowell was being deliberately unreasonable.
"Alright, alright, alright. I said the wrong thing. Forgive me, hmm?" Leo Grant took her hand again, holding it and kneading it gently.
Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "Nope. Not unless you repay me with your body."
"Director Lowell, you won’t even give me an official title, yet you keep demanding I repay you with my body. You’re making things very difficult for me," Leo Grant said, feigning distress.
’Difficult? Then don’t bother!’
Yvonne Lowell was stunned for a moment by his words, but she quickly composed herself. "Still hoping for an official title? You think they’re that easy to get?"
’Initially, she had only been drawn to his looks. After all, she’d always had a thing for handsome men.’
’And Leo Grant, as a whole, was perfectly her type. That was why she had decided to take the initiative and make a move on him.’
’Plus, everyone had told her that Leo Grant didn’t get close to women, was hard to approach, maybe even scared of them—the epitome of cold, ascetic, and high-and-mighty.’
’She found it challenging and wanted to see what he would look like once that persona of his shattered.’
’Later, they ended up getting along quite harmoniously. They were compatible, and their relationship grew closer.’
’Besides, this guy often sparred with her verbally. There was a constant give-and-take, which she found amusing.’
’Leo Grant was arguably the first friend she’d made since returning to Kingsland, and he was one of her own kind, too.’
’She wasn’t oblivious to the fact that he treated her differently from everyone else.’
’But... did she really like him?’
’Not just his face, but the romantic kind of affection between a man and a woman.’
’Honestly, she didn’t know herself.’
’She indulged Leo Grant, let down her defenses, and allowed him to see a piece of her true self.’
’Like... perhaps.’
’But she wouldn’t be the one to take that final step. They’d just have to see how things developed.’
’Let’s see who caved first. It definitely wouldn’t be her.’
"Well, nothing to be done then. At heart, I’ve always been a very traditional person. How can one offer to repay with their body without an official title?" Leo Grant sighed.
"But no matter. I will continue to work hard and strive to earn that official title soon, so I can properly repay Director Lowell with my body."
"Hmph, you old fossil. Well, you do your best then," Yvonne Lowell said, playing along.
"Oh, I’ll definitely do my best, but Director Lowell has to give me a chance, no? The Lowell and Sutton Families treat you like a priceless treasure. If you’re not even on my side, my challenge is going to be that much harder."
Just as Yvonne Lowell was unsure how to respond, Leo Grant’s phone rang. He swiped to answer.
"Hello?"
"Mhm."
"Got it. Heading over now."
With that, he hung up and looked at Yvonne Lowell, his expression a little strange. "Warren Lynch is awake. Apparently, he’s not doing too well. Want to go check on him together?"
’Not doing too well? That shouldn’t be... It couldn’t be a side effect from the Illusion Realm, could it?’
’Besides, judging by Leo Grant’s expression, it didn’t seem like the situation was that bad.’
Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow and stood up. "Let’s go."
The moment they stepped through the front door across the way, they heard Warren Lynch wailing like a banshee, loud enough to bring the roof down.
They exchanged a look and headed for the guest room. Yvonne Lowell faintly heard a few words: "So mean." "So cruel." "Still alive." "Didn’t die." "Thank God."
Yvonne Lowell was utterly confused. What on earth was all that about????
’So strange... Surely I didn’t break his brain, did I?’
When they stepped into the room and locked eyes with Warren Lynch, she finally understood...