Goodbye My Arrogant Ex (Marguerite and Leonard) novel Chapter 117

No one had ever tasted her cooking before.

Winifred Brown was the very first.

“Eat while it’s still warm,” Leonard said, his tone even, his face unreadable.

He looked at Winifred without a flicker of emotion.

“Leo, this pasta is wonderful,” she said, forcing a smile. “Honestly, I wish you could always stay by my side. When you’re here, I feel so safe. But when I’m alone, I just feel… hopeless.”

She hesitated, her voice growing thinner. “Leo, am I relying on you too much? I feel like I can’t be without you. I know that’s my problem, I need to work on it, but I—”

Her words faded, and she bowed her head, shoulders slumped, despair written all over her.

“I can’t always be here,” Leonard replied quietly. “I have my own work, too. But when you need me, I’ll be there.”

He paused, keeping his distance as he always did. “And I’ll find a specialist for you as soon as possible, I promise. Don’t worry.”

Winifred’s eyes clouded with disappointment at his words.

“Leo, I know you’re getting engaged soon. Once you have a fiancée, you probably won’t be able to spend this much time with me. I’ve tried to prepare myself for that, but it still hurts.”

She managed a trembling smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t cling to you. I know your fiancée would mind what’s happened between us. I’ll keep my distance—I’ll make sure I don’t cause you any trouble.”

He stayed a little longer, waiting until Winifred’s emotions had settled. Then he stood to leave.

As he reached for his coat, Winifred, still seated in her wheelchair, rolled over and stopped him.

“Leo, could you stay with me tonight?” she pleaded, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. “I get scared being here by myself… This house feels so empty. I just— I feel so miserable.”

But Leonard couldn’t possibly stay. What he felt for Winifred was a sense of duty, nothing more. Staying would be nothing but an obligation.

“Winifred, don’t make this harder,” he said, his tone unyielding. “I have work to finish at home, and it’s already late. You need to get some rest.”

There was no room for negotiation in his voice.