He glanced at the apartment building and replied, "Sure, that solves the issue I just mentioned."
"Thank you, Mr. Norris. I promise I won't let you down."
As Leo took my arm, he almost pulled me into his embrace, and together we stepped into the elevator. His tall, slender frame sheltered me closely, and when I tried to look up, all I could see was his well-defined chin.
The moment we entered my apartment, a loud, aggressive knock echoed from the hallway.
"Mia, open the door! I saw you with that jerk! Anyone who messes with me, Carl, is going to regret it!"
Leo swung the door open forcefully, catching Carl off guard; he nearly landed a punch on Leo’s chest.
As he recognized who was in front of him, Carl instinctively pulled back his hand as if he had touched something hot, forcing a smile that felt awkward.
Leo raised an eyebrow and asked, "The person you were just talking about is me. What’s the problem?"
Carl responded with a sycophantic grin.
"If I had known it was you, I wouldn't have worried," Carl said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Why's that?" Leo asked, his curiosity piqued.
"How could a woman like Mia ever have anything to do with you, Mr. Norris?" Carl replied, dismissively.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Who is she?"
Carl sneered at me. "You don't know? She was kidnapped as a child. The kidnapper had a terrible reputation and was said to have abused her. If they hadn’t saved her, who knows what would have happened? Her parents even called her a loser. Our family would never accept her. If a woman like that shows up, not even the Norris family would be fooled into thinking she could climb the social ladder!"
Carl's cruel words cut through me, leaving me feeling cold and exposed, as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head.
I couldn’t believe that after seven years of being together, Carl would look at me this way. I had thought the hero who rescued me from my nightmares would have compassion for my suffering. Instead, he just wanted to exploit my gratitude and take advantage of my kindness.
I realized how foolish I had been to think that he was the one I was meant to be with, all because he had sweet-talked me into believing it.
But he didn’t even show me the basic respect I deserved. I clenched my fists in anger, grabbing the broom behind the door, ready to confront him. However, Leo's long arms wrapped around me, pulling me tightly into his embrace.