Chapter 17: Grievances & Truth.

Chapter 17: Grievances & Truth.The night passed slowly, and Leo woke up in the morning. He carried on with his morning routine and made breakfast. Snow woke up early in an attempt to stop him from doing that as she was worried about his health. The lady glared at him, as he smiled at her sheepishly and then went to the shower.

Leo dressed up in his blue shirt and black pants. Snow asked him with a surprised expression, "Where are you headed looking so dope?"

Leo was stunned for a second and then he walked up to her and held her waist in his arms. He rubbed his nose against hers and said, "I am headed out for a meeting. I registered a company yesterday, and today I need to hire someone."

Snow was surprised and Leo pecked her nose as he said, "It was a surprise for you and Lily, I would have told you when the company was operable."

The lady tilted her head and asked, "Why did you tell me now then?"

Leo replied with a faint smile, "A good man should not hide things from his wife. You asked as I told you. However, I will not tell you what type of company we are."

Snow smiled and the two shared a warm embrace as she said, "I will not ask you too much. I just hope that you do not neglect your health and stay happy."

Leo tightened his grip around her a little and said, "Thank you. You should also take care. Also, I will drop Lily on the way to the meeting, you can leave with ease. Just pick her up when you come back, I will come back to deal with the stuff in the garage, and later move the workstation to the terrace balcony."

Snow nodded and said, "You were very smart by enlisting her for the daycare program, there are a few more children there so she will not feel bored and I will not have to hurry around to pick her."

Leo shook his head and said, "I would have picked her up daily by myself, but today I have something to do. Well, if my plan changes, I will call you."

Snow nodded, and then Leo went out of the house after saying bye to Lily who had just woken up and was being a clingy koala on his leg.

...

Leo got in a SUV and drove it out of the community. The reason he moved so early was because Jimmy Shelby had texted him, saying, 'I will wait for you at the old spot.'

Leo wanted to see what this guy was up to. As he was driving, he asked, 'System, bring up the attribute panel.'

Name : Leo Cardinal

Age : 24

Level : Beginner Father.

Strength : 4.5

Stamina : 3

Intelligence : 7

Speed : 3

Skills : None

Talent : Ceramic Artisan.

Items : None

The young man found that his stats had improved significantly and he felt a bit more confident in terms of handling the situation. His destination was a place called the Victory Garden.

This place was a tourist attraction that was managed by the state. It was made for the sake of people who sacrificed their lives in order to win the wars in historical periods. The entire structure was five hundred years old.

In their college years they would come over to the garden to relax and talk. This was also the place where Leo would come with Snow.

The young man parked his car in the parking complex outside the garden and entered the garden. He walked slowly, looking around recalling the good times he spent in this place, however, a figure fell in his gaze and the nostalgia crumbled away.

The young man took a deep breath and watched the two figures sitting under a pavilion from a distance. Jimmy Shelby and his wife Alina were talking to each other while looking around every few minutes. Leo waited, and angled himself behind a tree to avoid being seen.

He decided to check for any traps and circled the pavilion. He did not find anyone, the footfall in this place was very low because it was not yet the peak of tourist rush.

After thinking for a long time, he walked forward, and he put his hands in his pockets. His steps were calm, and confident. Leo fixed his posture a little because he did not want these people to see his soft side anymore.

Jimmy Shelby reacted to Leo's steps and stood up in a reflex. He wanted to rush over, but just as he took a step forward, he matched Leo's gaze and froze.

After a couple of moments, Leo was standing five meters away from Jimmy with his face devoid of expressions. Jimmy wanted to say something, but he did not seem to have any energy to articulate his feelings.

Leo sat down on a bench placed next to the pavilion entrance and said, "Have a seat. Your wife is getting anxious, it is not good for the child."

Jimmy nodded and sat down next to Alina. He asked after taking a deep breath, "How have you been?"

Leo replied, "Confined to a bed, not able to eat, drink, or shit without tubes. Won't say it was good, but I survived, and now I am back to living a normal life."

He leaned back and put his leg over his other leg. Jimmy froze again, Leo asked, "Why do you seem so shocked? Didn't Alina tell you what they did to me?"

Jimmy shivered, he quickly said, "Leo, I did come back to look for you but I could not find you at all, and Carole had also sent out his goons to look for you. I was beaten up by them as well. They broke my leg and then dad took me back home.

Over the years we came to the city from time to time but could not find you."

Leo looked at his so-called best friend and asked, "Did you not know in which hospital I was? Or could you not have asked the staff there for my address on discharge when you did not find me there? Jimmy Shelby, I treated you like a brother. Your inability to help my family was not something I held you guilty for, but your incompetency to look after my daughter and wife as you said you would. That is why I hold you in contempt. I am not seeking an apology, nor an explanation. I only want to know what you want from me?"

Jimmy and Alina were stunned. The latter already knew what Leo would do when they met the second time. She had told Jimmy that his best friend had changed completely but they did not mind it because of the drastic things he faced in his life, this change was inevitable.

However, him closing the door of his heart over Jimmy, the guy he grew up with and stayed friends with for seventeen years, this was a shocker.

Jimmy asked, "Are you doubting my effort to look for you?"

His words brimmed with the feeling of pain, but Leo replied, "Snow was pregnant when I was attacked. I spent eight months in the hospital, unconscious. You could not find me in that long time. Searᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

She took care of our child with me in bed, and also worked on her own, you could not find us then. Tell me, what would you do if you were in my place?"

Leo fell silent and watched the couple across from him. Jimmy was numb, he was staring at the floor, while Alina was looking around as she did not know what to think of herself either.

Jimmy stood up from his spot and took two steps forward and fell to his knees. Alina was shocked, and Leo, while he was shocked in his heart, he did not let it show on his face.

Jimmy was still shivering as he spoke with a quiver, "When I was taken back home by father, Carole had approached my mother. He threatened to kill my father if we tried to look for you. To prove his point, he shot her in the leg.

Alina was still hidden away so she did not know about this, but the impact of this event was so much that my entire family was shaken. Mom still has some trauma symptoms that trouble her. I was forced in a situation to choose between my parents or you.

I am kneeling here because I just want to tell you that everything that you did for me was never forgotten. However, I have to look after my parents too. Carole's family took your parents, because of their business success, and I saw you break down, crumble into shards.

I was scared of that, and I did not have the guts to drag you even deeper in this swamp. I held back for one year, but then I tried to look for you again. I found the address that Snow gave the hospital, but it was Cardinal Mansion. I apologize for not being there, but I hope you understand my side of the story as well."

Leo was staring at his friend blankly, and he stood up. He calmly pulled Jimmy back on his feet and said, "I am relieved to hear all this, but I have just stood back on my feet. It will take some time to restore things. I hope you understand."

Jimmy nodded, Leo backed off and looked at his watch before he said, "I have to be somewhere soon, let us catch up some other time. Look after your family well, focus on the delivery of your child."

After a few words, the two parties parted, and Leo watched the couple leave in a car, as he thought about confirming the information he was provided.