A roguish smile played on Leo Joyce’s lips as he pulled Tiana into his arms. Looking at Amelia Avery, he spoke in a deliberately casual tone, "Amelia, a lot has happened since you left. And I’ve decided to be with Tiana now."

Amelia Avery’s expression faltered slightly, then she looked at the two of them in complete surprise.

Tiana Grayson felt her own heart start to pound wildly in her chest.

’It was true that Leo Joyce had declared his intentions to her brother at the aquarium. But ultimately, she and Leo had never officially confirmed their relationship.’

’That was why she never dared to tell anyone that Leo was her boyfriend.’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’But now, Leo was actually telling Amelia that they were together?’

’Did this mean Leo had really decided to be with her?’

’Even with Amelia back?’

’But at Aria’s birthday party, hadn’t Leo clearly said that he would get together with Amelia once she returned?’

Tiana hardly knew how to describe what she was feeling. It was a mix of surprise and excitement, coupled with a touch of sentimentality and a pang of heartache. But after all those emotions washed over her, what remained was guilt and unease toward Amelia...

Amelia Avery watched them for a long moment before suddenly bursting into laughter.

’No wonder. I’ve felt all day that something was off about Tiana’s mood. So this is it—she and Leo are together.’

She rubbed her chin, looking Tiana up and down with a teasing tone in her voice. "Mhm, no wonder. I was thinking our Tiana has gotten prettier lately. Turns out it’s because someone’s been ’cherishing’ her." Amelia deliberately drew out the last word.

Leo Joyce gave a knowing smile but offered no explanation.

Tiana Grayson, on the other hand, immediately blushed beet-red. She lowered her head and stammered nervously, "Amelia, what are you talking about! L-Leo and I... there’s nothing going on! Don’t say things like that."

Amelia Avery clearly didn’t believe her and continued to tease, "Oh? Nothing at all? Leo, that’s where you’re failing. How could you not be properly ’cherishing’ our Tiana..."

"My dear, you’re wronging me now. I’ve been ’cherishing’ our Tiana very... vigorously." Leo Joyce’s lips curled into a wicked grin as he tightened his arms, trapping Tiana in his embrace. He spoke with a roguish laugh in his voice.

"COUGH... COUGH... COUGH COUGH..." As soon as he spoke, Tiana Grayson’s face went crimson. She broke into a violent coughing fit and started pounding on Leo Joyce. "What nonsense are you spouting! That’s not true!"

Leo Joyce released Tiana’s waist and caught her small fists. His voice was laced with a devilish charm as he asked, "Isn’t it? Tiana, is it that I don’t ’cherish’ you enough? Or that I don’t love you enough?"

Tiana seemed to fall under Leo’s spell. Blushing, she shook her head, her heart thumping wildly as she stared at him without blinking.

Leo Joyce smiled knowingly again, then leaned down to press a kiss on her red lips. "Put them together, and isn’t that ’cherishing’?"

— ’Is that what "cherishing" means? Was I the one with the dirty mind? Ever since her first kiss with Leo, she had, for some reason, started reading romance novels, filling her head with all sorts of improper scenarios. So, does that mean my mind just went into the gutter automatically just now??’

At that thought, Tiana felt she was too embarrassed to face anyone.

Her face grew even redder.

Leo Joyce let go of Tiana’s fists and put his arm around her waist, saying softly, "I’ll take you home."

"Okay," Tiana had just nodded when she suddenly remembered Amelia. She asked anxiously, "But what about Amelia?"

Just then, Amelia said with a smile, "Tiana, it’s so late. Don’t worry about me. You should go home first. I’ll wait here for Leo to come back."

"Oh..." Tiana pouted and replied softly, but she felt a little unsettled.

’Wait for Leo to come back? Does that mean they still have things to discuss?’