chapter704

Leda found herself momentarily lost in York's deep, dark eyes. It was as if they held secrets she couldn't quite decipher, and for a brief second, the world around her seemed to pause.

Just then, Nola and Katrina returned from the restroom, their laughter cutting through the tension like a knife through butter.

Leda quickly shook York's hand off her own, and he retreated to his seat with impressive speed.

Katrina, sensing the strangely charged atmosphere, hesitated before asking, "You guys... everything okay?"

York remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Leda.

It was clear he was waiting for her to make a statement.

Taking a deep breath, Leda smiled, "Oh, it's nothing. We're just fine."

And just like that, the two transitioned from being business partners who had

stumbled into a relationship to an open couple with an unspoken understanding.

...

Snapping back to the present, Leda pushed York away as he leaned in for

another kiss. "Seriously? Can you just drive already?"

"Come on, just one more kiss! I can't get enough..."

Leda rolled her eyes. "York, you're more clingy than Buttercup!"

Buttercup was the pony Leda kept at the local ranch. It was a sweet-natured thing, especially fond of Leda. Every visit to the ranch involved a lot of nuzzling and affectionate nudges.

York had accompanied her once and, in a moment of mischief, had nudged the pony with his foot-only to be kicked back, leaving a bruise that lingered for weeks.

"Don't compare me to that little brute!" York protested.

"You should be thankful Buttercup is still young. Otherwise " Leda's gaze traveled from his stomach downward, lingering suggestively.

York straightened up defensively. "You... you wouldn't dare!"

Leda chuckled, looking out the window. "I could always find someone else."

York was speechless.

"Drive! And if you keep babbling, you're on the couch tonight!"

"Alright, alright, sit tight, milady!"

...

Leda had been at the hospital for three days, taking care of Roseanne, and York had been there for all three, hovering like a shadow.

"What's his deal?" Roseanne asked, sipping the chicken soup her friend had lovingly prepared, glancing at the man sitting with a sulky expression.

Leda shrugged. "Maybe he's feeling a bit... unsatisfied."

Roseanne nearly choked on her soup. "Cough, cough "

"Take it easy, don't choke!"

Roseanne looked at York with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

York, oblivious to the wild theories brewing in her mind, glared at the pot of soup as if it had personally offended him. It was that very soup

that had caused Leda to abruptly kick him out of bed the previo night.

"Crap! I forgot to turn off the stove!" she had exclaimed, dashing to the kitchen.

York had just stood there, bewildered.

After lunch and more soup, Roseanne asked, "Leda, do you think I can be discharged today?"

Leda went off to check with the physician.

The doctor confirmed Roseanne was doing well, her ankle swelling had gone

down, and she could be discharged.

York was even more excited than Roseanne, the patient.

Leda nudged him. "Keep it down."

York grinned sheepishly.

Subtlety was apparently not his strong suit.

Roseanne watched the interaction, her curiosity piqued. "Huh?" Something about Leda and York seemed different this time...

Back home, after a couple of days of diligent rest and alternating hot and cold compresses, Roseanne was finally able to walk around without much trouble.

She retrieved a seed pod she had brought back from the botanical research

center from her bag.

It was only now that she had a chance to inspect it closely.

The seed, encased in the broken pod, was a rare deep brown with intricate veins, striking in its beauty.

It was a pity she hadn't gathered

more, though the idea of

transporting a pod over a met

was a logistical nightmar

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

She hopped to the door on one foot, and when she opened it

"Professor?!"