Goodbye My Arrogant Ex (Marguerite and Leonard) novel Chapter 159

Leonard had already shown this woman more patience than most would. He’d kept his frustrations in check, never letting on just how close to the edge she pushed him. All he wanted was to spare her any unnecessary worry.

“Leo, I really can’t sleep tonight. I know I shouldn’t be bothering you this late, but I just can’t help it. There’s no one else I can talk to. Would you stay on the phone with me? You don’t even have to say anything—just being there, quietly, would be enough.”

Winifred had never asked much of him. Her requests were always small, simple things. Yet it seemed he barely even acknowledged her, let alone indulged her.

“Winifred, you know how much is going on at the firm right now. My head’s all over the place.” Leonard let out a weary sigh. “It’s late. Why aren’t you asleep?” He remembered how he’d taken her to see Dr. Lee last time, but it clearly hadn’t helped. If anything, she seemed to be growing more unruly.

These days, she acted distracted, lost in her own world. Every day brought some new odd behavior, and he honestly had no idea what she was after.

Winifred, for her part, felt he should be more considerate, that he ought to be constantly at her side, ready to humor her every whim—no matter how unreasonable.

“I’m sorry, Leo. Did I upset you again?” Her voice trembled. “I just… I can’t sleep tonight, and I didn’t know who else to call. That’s the only reason I reached out.”

“These years, I’ve been alone in that house every day. It gets stifling. When I do try to go out, it feels like everyone keeps their distance. I don’t even know why. But I never blamed you. I chose this, back then.”

“Leo, maybe all I really need is just a little companionship. Because, other than you, it feels like the whole world has shut me out.”

Winifred spoke with quiet determination, her words revealing the truth she’d been carrying alone. Her life these days was comfortable enough, yet the emptiness of too much idle time pressed in on her.