Chapter 20

Leonard recognized Suzy at once.

He strode toward her, a gentle, indulgent smile already spreading across his face. "Suzy, it’s been a long time."

It truly had. The last time they had seen each other was at her mother’s funeral.

Now, meeting again under such ordinary circumstances—Leonard still as warm and tender as ever—Suzy felt her nose sting uncontrollably.

"I’m really happy to see you, Uncle," she called softly.

Leonard smiled and patted her head the way he used to. "Come on. I’ll take you to eat something good."

Suzy nodded obediently.

His car was parked just ahead. He had driven here personally to pick her up.

After getting into the passenger seat, Suzy glanced around. She didn’t see the woman Leonard had mentioned—her so-called aunt.

Before boarding the plane, Leonard had said they would come together.

But now, it was just him.

Leonard caught her subtle glance and explained apologetically, "Your aunt had something come up at the last minute, so she couldn’t make it."

"It’s okay," Suzy said gently.

"She’ll join us at the restaurant later," he added. "Let’s go ahead first."

He drove toward a restaurant he had reserved in advance.

Half an hour later, they arrived smoothly. Leonard had booked a private room.

"Order whatever you like," he said, handing her the menu. Suzy took it, scanned it briefly, then glanced up at him.

Leonard’s attention was entirely on his phone. His fingers moved quickly across the screen, typing.

She didn’t ask.

After ordering a few dishes, she pushed the menu back toward him. "Uncle, I’m done."

Leonard set his phone down, reviewed her selections, and added a few more.

While waiting for the food, he kept asking about what had been happening in A City.

The dishes were served one by one, but her aunt still hadn’t appeared.

Suzy frowned slightly. "Uncle, hasn’t Aunt arrived yet?"

Leonard checked his watch. His expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

"I’ll give her a call," he said, standing up.

He stepped out of the private room. Suzy’s brows drew together faintly. A subtle unease flickered in her chest.

At that moment, a server entered with another dish. When leaving, the door didn’t close completely.

Through the gap, Suzy clearly heard Leonard’s voice in the corridor—and the sharp voice on the other end of the phone.

"Monica, where are you?"

"I already told you—I’m not coming."

"How can you go back on your word? You agreed. Suzy and I are both waiting here..."

"What does that have to do with me? I said I’m not coming!"

"...Is this really about a bracelet? You’re making such a fuss over it?"

Leonard’s voice sounded faintly weary.

"Yes, so what! I told you I like that bracelet. What’s wrong with you giving it to me?"

"No. That bracelet was prepared for Suzy."

A cold laugh crackled through the phone. "Fine. So you just won’t give it to me, right? Leonard Kale, this is how you treat me?"

"I said I can buy you something else."

"I want that one. You figure it out."

***

The call seemed to end.

Leonard stood outside in silence for a long while. Inside the private room, Suzy’s emotions churned. She hadn’t expected to overhear all of this.

What startled her even more was how clearly she had heard every word—despite the distance. Her hearing had sharpened dramatically.

It must be the spirit spring water, she realized. It had strengthened her body far more than she’d understood.

"Suzy, I’m sorry. Your aunt has something urgent and can’t make it. It’ll just be the two of us tonight."

Leonard returned, his warm smile back in place as if nothing had happened.

Suzy nodded obediently. "Okay."

She pretended she hadn’t heard a thing, but her heart felt unbearably sour.

Her uncle had fallen hard. Even after being spoken to like that, he was still smoothing things over for the other woman.

Suzy’s impression of this so-called aunt plummeted.

It wasn’t even about the bracelet anymore. It was the way she had spoken to Leonard—condescending, dismissive, as if he meant nothing to her.

So this was what it looked like when someone was spoiled by being favored.

Without the aunt present, the meal itself was peaceful. They talked about old times, about her mother, about memories from years past.

Throughout the meal, Suzy hesitated. Should she tell Leonard about the coming apocalypse?

She struggled with the thought all the way until dinner ended, until they were back in the car.

In the end, she still couldn’t decide.

Better to observe a little longer.

If her uncle truly was hopelessly blinded by love... then perhaps she shouldn’t say anything yet.

Leonard arranged for Suzy to stay at his home. He owned a large apartment in C City, spacious and elegantly decorated.

There were plenty of guest rooms—she could choose whichever she liked.

This wasn’t her first time here. Years ago, she had visited C City with Elisabeth and stayed in this very home.

After they entered, Leonard smiled. "Treat it like your own place. If you need anything, tell me."

"Okay."

He continued, "You said you plan to stay in C City for about two months, right?"

She nodded. They had discussed it during their phone call the day before.

Leonard walked to a cabinet, retrieved a set of car keys, and handed them to her.

"You can use this car while you’re here."

Suzy took the keys, deeply touched. "Thank you, Uncle."

He laughed softly. "Why are you being so polite with me? Wait here," he added. "I have a gift for you."

At his gesture, Suzy followed him upstairs to the study.

He walked to his desk, smiling. "I had a bracelet specially chosen for you. It’s meant to bless you with safety and good health."

Suzy froze. She instantly realized—it must be the same bracelet mentioned in that phone call.

Warmth gathered in her chest. Her eyes began to sting.

"I picked it very carefully. Our Suzy will definitely like—" His words cut off abruptly as he pulled open the drawer.

The bracelet was gone. It wasn’t there.

How could it be missing?

He distinctly remembered placing it inside this drawer.

Leonard’s brows furrowed as he searched again.

Yes. He had put it here. If it was gone, someone had taken it.

And he already knew who.

The warmth drained from his eyes, replaced by something colder.

"Uncle?" Suzy asked quietly, having noticed the change in his expression.

He looked at her, and his features softened once more, returning to their usual gentleness. "Suzy, I’m sorry. Uncle must have remembered wrong. I left the bracelet with your aunt. I’ll call her now."

Suzy took the initiative to step out of the study.

After closing the door, she stood in the hallway, her expression complicated.

From the earlier phone conversation... and from Leonard’s reaction just now... She understood.

The bracelet he had prepared for her had almost certainly been taken by her aunt.