FULL NOVELXO Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Tucked away in the picturesque Northwood Ski Resort, a blanket of snow enveloped the world outside the window. Snapping a selfie, she unwittingly captured the other patrons. in the frame, with Curtis perfectly centered in the shot.
He was decked out in a crisp white ski suit, the casual sporty attire accentuating his towering and superior build. Strands of his hair lazily fell across his brow, giving off a
nonchalant vibe.
It looked like he was mid-conversation with someone beside him, a half-smoked cigarette pinned between his fingers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
He seemed to be in a good mood.
Leanne drifted her eyes to Suzan’s caption beneath the photo.
‘First time hitting the slopes. So happy! Big thanks to my coach, the patient heir.
It was obvious that she was talking about Curtis.
Leanne gazed at Suzan’s beaming face in the photo, feeling a pang of loss.
Curtis hadn’t broken his promise but fulfilled it for someone else.
As was customary with dinner parties, alcohol was flowing freely. Inevitably, someone brought up Leanne’s recent divorce.
Her beauty was renowned throughout the hospital. With recognition came the spread of her personal saga.
“Dr. Castillo is so gorgeous and competent with such a great personality. Her ex must be blind to cheat on her. Was that mistress even close to angelic beauty?”
“Let me tell you, men are scoundrels. No matter how good they have it at home, they’re never satisfied. Remember our anesthesiology chief who ran off with a nurse? She’s not even as pretty as I am.”
“I heard he was stepping out too. His wife’s so elegant and her father’s a big shot at the district attorney’s office. They’re loaded.”
The female colleagues’ indignation grew with each word, leaving many male colleagues. visibly uncomfortable. Someone cleared their throat to change the subject.
“Dr. Castillo has nothing to worry about post-divorce, so let’s not fret over her.”
One of the male colleagues, already flushed from a few drinks, joked, his face the color of liverwurst, “Dr. Castillo, why not consider one of our own? How about me?”
He was immediately shot down by a blunt female colleague, “You? Dream on!”
Chapter 66
The table erupted into laughter at the quip, leaving the guy even more embarrassed, hist face flushing.
They were all colleagues and superiors from the same hospital. When the drinks were pushed her way, Leanne couldn’t just snub the gesture. By the end of the night, she was tipsy.
Politely declining a male colleague’s offer to drive her home, she hailed a cab instead.
Feeling slightly dizzy, she leaned back in the seat to rest. When the driver announced they had arrived, she stepped out, only to find herself not at Crystal Cove Villas, but at Northwood Mansion.
She must have been more inebriated than she thought and gave the wrong address.
Leanne was sentimental, which was why she had asked for this particular mansion when Curtis gave her a chance to make demands during their split. Its value was one thing, but more importantly, it held profound significance for her.
Unfortunately, Curtis was too stingy to agree.
Since she was already there, Leanne decided to climb the front steps and enter the house. Over the past two years, she’d visited this place alone numerous times, especially right after Curtis had left for Starlake.
Eventually, she managed to move on and stopped coming by.
Despite being uninhabited, the property manager would routinely check and clean the house. The underfloor heating was turned on every winter, so it was always ready for occupancy.
course, the hefty property management fees were justified. Curtis was right. Her salary ouldn’t cover them.
Without turning on the lights, Leanne settled onto the living room sofa.
The alcohol from dinner made her slightly tipsy, and her body lazily curled into the couch, the familiar surroundings stirring up memories.
During that initial half-year, Curtis had treated her incredibly well with a tenderness that was addictive like honey, so much so that she failed to notice the poison it concealed.
Suddenly, the lights flickered on, momentarily blinding Leanne. Instinctively, she raised an arm to shield her eyes.
When her vision adjusted, she sat up from the sofa.
She blinked at the sight of Curtis descending the stairs in a silken robe, unsure if she was hallucinating from the alcohol.