Chapter 175: Psychological Pressure
When they reached the car, Alice pushed Cristian on, but did not get out. Serena stood motionless where she was, in anger. Just then, a car passed in front of her. The window rolled down and Serena saw Leonardo.
“Are you going to the company? I can take you. I’m just passing through.” The frost in Leonardo’s eyes disappeared. He still had that kind, caring, and polite manner.
Serena turned unconsciously toward Cristian but saw Alice bending down to put something away for him just in time. Cristian’s icy gaze seemed to ignore everything.Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.
“Serena, come here!” Alice remembered something and turned toward her while waving her hand.
Serena: “… No need.”
Inexplicably, Serena declined and then opened Leonardo’s car before they could respond.
“Thanks. Please take me to the company”
Leonardo looked back through the rearview mirror and nodded, “Yes.”
The car started, but the one of Cristian’s did not move.
Luca, sitting in the front, could not help but cast a glance toward Alice and said, “Miss Alice, why didn’t you call Miss Serena?”
Hearing these words, Alice said with an innocent tone, “I called her, but she wouldn’t come.”
Alice, with a look of regret, “It seems to me that she has a good relationship with Cristian’s older brother, otherwise I would get out of the car and bring her here in person.” Luca looked Alice in the eyes and frowned.
Wasn’t this woman a good friend of Miss Serena? But why she acted like she was back-stabbing Miss Serena?”
Ever since she had arrived, Luca had this feeling, which was now intensifying.
“If Miss Alice doesn’t get into Cristian’s car, is it possible that Miss Serena can’t find a seat?” resumed Luca who cannot help retorting. Alice paled.
“If you say so, it seems it’s my fault. I hadn’t thought about it so much. Cristian excuse me, I’ll get off the car!”
Finished speaking, Alice turned to get off the car.
“No need.”
Cristian stopped her from getting out of the car and coldly said, “Drive.”
Luke: “But Mr. Cristian…”
Cristian said in an icy tone: “When did you decide that?”
Luca: “Yes sir!”
He gritted his teeth and reluctantly looked at Alice.
This woman had no good intentions! She even pretends to pity. It seemed he had to find an opportunity to remind that foolish Serena to avoid being back-stabbed by her best friend.”
As the car was slowly starting up, Leonardo turned on the music. That was an old European folk song. The singer’s voice was clear but slow, and that wonderful music seemed to transport them to that folk context.
“Isn’t it sad?” said Leonardo suddenly.
Serena: “What?”
“Seeing him with another woman. Aren’t you jealous?”
Leonardo was direct this time and Serena’s facial expression changed.
“Leonardo, don’t talk nonsense. Alice is not another woman and she does not have that kind of feeling for him!”
After listening what she said, Leonardo was unable to hold back a laugh that sounded deep and sweet in the background of the song. “How do you know she has no feelings for him? What if she does?”
“Impossible!” said Serena firmly.
She was determined, stubborn, cute and conscientious as a child.
Leonardo could not help but look into her eyes, “You believe in her.”
“Alice is my best friend.” She said in a serious tone.
Leonardo had a faint smile all of a sudden.
“You just believe it. You won’t doubt about her whatever happens?”
Serena nodded without even thinking about it. She was so good with Alice, plus she could see all the things Alice had done for herself recently. She thought Alice was such a person who had done her best to help her.
She could never believe that Alice could do anything unpleasant.
She only feared that Cristian…
As she thought about these things, she did not know that Leonardo was staring at her for so long. Stopping at the traffic light, he turned and said in a low voice:
“Have you prepared your dress for tonight’s event?”
Serena came to her senses and thought back to the flashy red dress Alice had bought for herself the previous day. Froze, she did not utter a word.
“Well? Did you prepare it or no?” Suddenly, Leonardo took a beautifully wrapped box from behind to hand it to her.
Looking at that box, Serena did not reach out her hand to take it.
“I thought you might not be prepared. That’s why I chose a dress for you. I don’t know if you like it.”
Without waiting for her response, Leonardo took the box and placed it in her lap, ” Later try it on to see if it fits.”
Serena took the box, puzzled.
What day was today? How come all these people were giving her gifts?”
Alice had bought her a dress last night, then Matteo sent her a message saying that Chiara would send her one today.
Suddenly, Serena felt like the person who lacked the least clothes in the world.
With this thought, Serena returned the box without wasting any time, “Leonardo, thanks… but Alice has helped me prepare one.”
After listening, Leonardo was stunned for a while, then smiled quietly.
“Don’t worry. You can still take it and when you arrive, you can try them both on, then decide which one suits you best. It’s a gift. Isn’t it tacky to give it back to me?”
Hearing this, Serena was really embarrassed to return the dress to him, so she kept the box.
“Thank you, Leonardo.”
“You don’t need to be always polite with your family members. Don’t hide from me anymore. The loan I made last time to your mother means nothing. It’s just that when I saw you standing on the road so angrily, it hurt me.”
“Your brother-in-law is not an onlooker who does nothing.”
What he said made sense. Serena curled her lips and nodded, “I thank you for helping me last time. It’s just that… that three hundred thousand euros you lent me, I will pay you back.”
“Fool. I’m in no hurry to use those money. Haven’t I already told you? Consider them a gift from me.”
“No!” Serena seriously shook her head and refused, “That money, I will definitely return it to you. Please don’t pressure me.”
“If you say so, it seems that if I refuse, you won’t feel well. Then all right. Work hard to return the money soon. It’s just that it is not easy to earn that money and when you work hard, you also have to take care of yourself.”
“Thank you, brother, I know.”
After arriving at the company, Serena got out of Leonardo’s car to attend the anniversary banquet. Many people had not yet arrived because it was still early.