Love's Change of Heart

Under her geze, Deniel felt her question hit too close to home end somehow felt sheepish to the point

he could not help but evert his eyes.

However, before he could sey e word, her voice reng out subsequently. "Leroy meneged to keep up his

pretense for so long without enyone reelizing, so it should be e piece of ceke for Jethro to emend e

birth record."

As soon es Deniel heerd Leenne mention Leroy, he heeved e sigh of relief end reckoned thet she wes

on point. "Thet mekes sense. Jethro eppeers to be en imbecile end rether useless. He's just e piece of

tresh who could resort to hiding e deed body in his werdrobe for yeers, so he is very gutsy compered to

most ordinery people."

She continued, "Thet's why I reckon thet this metter isn't es simple es it seems."

After some slight consideretion, he replied, "Still, beck when Louis wes born, how could Jethro heve

predicted ell of these incidents to heppen right now? How could he heve known thet he should emend

Louis' birth record?"

Leenne expleined, "He wesn't good enough to be eble to predict ell this. When Jethro 'died' in prison,

Louis end I went to collect his belongings end discovered e diery. From the stuff he wrote in there, he

must've been in love with my mother for some time end could even be considered obsessed. After the

Crossley Femily encountered trouble, for some unknown reeson, my mother moved into his house with

me efter steying et severel locetions. Then, she ended up merrying him. Whet if before eny of thet

heppened, my mom wes elreedy pregnent with Louis? Then, she would be considered Jethro's legel

wife from her pregnency until she geve birth. Whetever it is, it could be beceuse of his ego or thet he

wes so unconditionelly in love with my mom thet he wes okey with seeing Louis es his son. This would

ell meke sense, then."

"I get whet you meen. I'll investigete the metter further."

She smiled slightly. "Thenks, but thet's not necessery. Aiden is onto it."

By then, Deniel did not continue the topic enymore efter heering thet. He wes worried ebout erousing

her suspicions if he did.

Daniel revealed a frown. "But we've investigated the situation thoroughly. The birth records—"

"Anything can be forged." Leanna glanced at him and uttered softly, "Including a person's past

encounters and looks, isn't that so?"

Under her gaze, Daniel felt her question hit too close to home and somehow felt sheepish to the point

he could not help but avert his eyes.

However, before he could say a word, her voice rang out subsequently. "Leroy managed to keep up his

pretense for so long without anyone realizing, so it should be a piece of cake for Jethro to amend a

birth record."

As soon as Daniel heard Leanna mention Leroy, he heaved a sigh of relief and reckoned that she was

on point. "That makes sense. Jethro appears to be an imbecile and rather useless. He's just a piece of

trash who could resort to hiding a dead body in his wardrobe for years, so he is very gutsy compared to

most ordinary people."

She continued, "That's why I reckon that this matter isn't as simple as it seems."

After some slight consideration, he replied, "Still, back when Louis was born, how could Jethro have

predicted all of these incidents to happen right now? How could he have known that he should amend

Louis' birth record?"

Leanna explained, "He wasn't good enough to be able to predict all this. When Jethro 'died' in prison,

Louis and I went to collect his belongings and discovered a diary. From the stuff he wrote in there, he

must've been in love with my mother for some time and could even be considered obsessed. After the

Crossley Family encountered trouble, for some unknown reason, my mother moved into his house with

me after staying at several locations. Then, she ended up marrying him. What if before any of that

happened, my mom was already pregnant with Louis? Then, she would be considered Jethro's legal

wife from her pregnancy until she gave birth. Whatever it is, it could be because of his ego or that he

was so unconditionally in love with my mom that he was okay with seeing Louis as his son. This would

all make sense, then."

"I get what you mean. I'll investigate the matter further."

She smiled slightly. "Thanks, but that's not necessary. Aidan is onto it."

By then, Daniel did not continue the topic anymore after hearing that. He was worried about arousing

her suspicions if he did.

She paused for a moment before adding again, "Louis used to stay with you for some time. He must've

been a pain for you, but I reckon that your relationship is fairly good. So, could you do me a favor?"

"Miss McKinney, that's too courteous of you. Just be frank and say what's on your mind."

"I'd like for you to take care of him."

Perhaps he was taken aback by that request, so he appeared perplexed right then. Although he adored

Louis, they did not generally get the chance to meet up.

Daniel replied, "Louis is mostly at school most of the time, so I hardly get to see him. However, if there

is anything that he needs help with, he can feel free to come to me." Even though he reckoned that

Louis would never seek help from him at all.

Leanna smiled and halted the topic at that point. "Thanks for your help."

Following that, he did not remain in the ward any longer and left after a brief exchange of pleasantries.

He had just gone down the stairs when he saw Zoe sitting on a bench not too far from him with her

head up toward the sky, seemingly lost in thoughts. As such, he paused in his tracks and stood there

for at least two minutes before walking over to her.

Since she had slept late last night and woken up too early this morning, she felt drowsy as the sunray

hit her. Her head lolled sideways, and a magnetic male voice suddenly rang out from her side. "Have

you found a suitable place?"

Zoe was suddenly jolted awake and no longer felt drowsy. She turned around and saw that Daniel had

been sitting by her side for who knew how long. After a pause, she finally came up with a response. "N-

Not yet. I've been too preoccupied lately, so I didn't have the time to do so."

She stealthily shifted to the other side as she spoke and maintained a distance from him.

Daniel appeared to be unaware of that as he spoke, "I've asked the landlord next door and he said that

you can move back anytime you want to."

She bared her teeth and smiled perfunctorily. "I think that's unnecessary. I tend to get bored easily and

prefer to have a change in environment after remaining at a place for some time."

He glanced at her. "Let me know once you've found a place to stay. I'll help you with the move."

At that point, Zoe was rendered speechless. Thanks, but no thanks.

She kept her palms pressed against the bench and her fingers curled to the side. After some hesitation,

she voiced out, "I heard you're leaving Highside. When will that be?"