Chapter 12 A Promise

"I..." Walter felt even more uneasy. "Get in." "Oh." Walter obediently got into the car, feeling a bit awkward. Honestly, over the years, while achieving the title of Dragon God and being admired by countless goddesses abroad, he didn't feel much. He was even indifferent, for some reason. However, facing Leila, he had an instinctive uneasiness and even nervousness, just like— First love? Leila's small fists clenched, suppressing the anger and grievance within her. "Close the door." Bang. Walter closed the car door. In the confined space, Walter could clearly smell the fragrance on Leila. His heart felt even more uncomfortable. "I..." "Tell me your name," Leila interrupted Walter. "Walter!" Leila shook her head, with a self-deprecating smile. "So, your name is Walter." Walter looked at Leila's self-mocking expression, feeling a bit soft-hearted. "Actually, back then..." "That's enough." Leila's words carried anger. "I don't want to know about the past, and I don't want to hear your explanations about everything that happened back then." Click. Walter clenched his fists, feeling even more nervous. "But I..." "You're awake." Finally turning around, Leila's clear gaze locked onto Walter. "Why did you come back tonight?" "I came to find you." "Find me?" Leila sneered. "Are you here to witness me become another joke? Or do you think your conscience has finally caught up with you? Perhaps, you're aware you have a pair of children in this world, so you've decided to come back?" Leila's words, like a needle, pierced Walter's heart: "I'm not, listen to my explanation." "Enough." Leila shook her head. "For the things back then, I blamed you and even hated you. But if given another chance, I would still make the same choice. I can't let someone die in front of me without saving him." "But since you disappeared, since you died, why did you have to reappear?" "Do you think the humiliations I've suffered in these six years are not enough?" Leila's words almost roared from the depths of her heart, with two teardrops hanging from the corners of her eyes. Heartache. Grievance. Various feelings surged into Leila's heart at this moment. It seemed like years of repressed emotions were perfectly erupting at this moment. It felt like a catharsis. Six years! How many six years did a person have in their life? However— All of her experiences were because of the man in front of her. If not for him, wouldn't she still be the talented woman here? If it weren't for him... Wouldn't she be the idol of everyone here? Those trash from the Harper family, how dare they point fingers at her? Truly— Ridiculous! Click! Walter clenched his fists even tighter, reaching out to touch Leila. However, she recoiled as if shocked, as if she had seen a devil. She stared at Walter nervously, "What do you want?" "I..." Walter's gentleness was evident in his soft voice, "Stop crying." Gently. Walter wiped away the tear at the corner of Leila's eye with his fingertip. "For six years, I've been blaming myself for what happened back then. I wanted to come and find you, but I couldn't." "For six years, I've been enduring various cruel ordeals abroad." "Now, I finally have the time to return, to find you. But when I learned about your situation, do you know, it felt like a thunderbolt striking my heart?" Walter's words made Leila clench her fists, and her delicate shoulders trembled. Especially when Walter's fingertips brushed across her face, in Leila's heart, a deep sense of... Grievance! It seemed like in these six years, her feeling of being alone and helpless was dissipating at this moment? It was like saying, she was no longer alone? She was strong-willed and a conservative girl. After losing her virginity, she had contemplated suicide. Although she failed, she never gave up. Later, she unexpectedly had a pair of children. They became her only ties in the world! She also hoped to find mental relief sooner rather than later. Walter observed Leila's changing expression and softened, saying, "While I was away, you suffered so much, but now I'm back." "I will make you the most respected woman in all of Greafank, and even in the world." "I want you to be the center of attention." Walter was serious! Leila shook her head, looking at Walter with a gaze that was for the first time a bit at a loss. Happy? Disappointed? Conflicting thoughts surfaced in Leila's mind. She was happy because Walter could make her happy. Disappointed because... Walter could only make her happy by lip services. Greafank? In Greafank, the Harper family was just a second-rate family. Walter couldn't make her the most respected woman in Greafank. Leila turned around, returning to her calm demeanor. She said something that even surprised Walter, "You can leave." Calm and indifferent. Walter was stunned, "Leila, I..." "Don't say anything, okay?" Leila's words were cold, "I don't want the children to see you now, and I don't want them to see you in the future. In their hearts, consider yourself dead." "I will tell my daughter that your phone number is no longer in use; it has been transferred to someone else." Leila's words were ruthless, but her fists were clenched tightly. She thought, "Walter, I'm sorry, but I can only let you leave. Tonight, you publicly contradicted the entire Harper family and Ernie. In Greafank, you will have no place to stand." She understood that leaving was the only way for him to survive. To survive was better than to die. Walter was still in shock, "You want me to leave?" "That's right." Leila nodded, "Disappear in front of me immediately. I hope you never come back. The children have never seen you. The concept of a father is already blurry in their minds." "Why join their lives now?" Leila's tone was heartless, "I hope you understand the reasoning." A pause. Walter's heart trembled violently. He had thought there might be misunderstandings between him and Leila, but he hadn't expected the misunderstandings to reach this extent? Even beyond repair? Exhaling deeply, Walter shook his head, "Leila, I promised that this time I won't leave. I promised you that those who mistreated and insulted you in these six years would pay the price!" "I, Walter, swear with my life that I will make you the most remarkable woman in all of Greafank!" "Leila, you're so silly. Do you think I can be swayed by sweet words?" "Or do you think you can fool me with a few words?" "Or maybe you think, in your heart, I'm a woman who cares about vanity?" "Or can you tell me, in your current state, what honor can you promise me?" "Now, what real gold, silver, or money can you produce?" "One thousand? Ten thousand? Or a hundred thousand?" Leila shook her head, "Go, as I said, I won't let you see the children, and I won't tell the children that you came back." "Consider them without a father." After saying this, Leila closed her beautiful eyes. However, her heart was bleeding. Every word she spoke felt like steel needles piercing into her own heart. A heart-wrenching pain! It spread throughout her body! She even felt like she couldn't breathe. Indeed. Unfortunately. What else could be done? If Walter didn't leave, staying in Greafank meant certain death for him! However, Walter shook his head, "I've said it before, I won't leave. As for the children, I will explain things to them." Leila suppressed her anger, "Why are you so stubborn?" "I just want to fulfill a man's responsibility." Walter's words carried tenderness, hitting Leila's heart and touching her soul. However, they also ignited the fire within Leila completely! Smack! Without hesitation, Leila raised her hand, and a resounding slap landed on Walter's face. Instantly! Walter felt a burning sensation on his face. He could evade, but he chose to endure. If he didn't, even his Combatant aura could have crushed Leila's arm in self-defense, but he chose restraint! If this slap could ease Leila's resentment a bit, it was worth it! "Why..." Leila looked at Walter's stubborn expression, especially his determined gaze, and her heart trembled, "Why didn't you dodge?" "If it could lessen the resentment in your heart, then I'm willing." "You... wretch." Leila stared at the red mark on Walter's face, a surge of grievance welling up within her. Almost instantly, she collapsed into Walter's arms, crying bitterly. Her sobs resonated in Walter's heart, and he silently vowed, "From today on, no one in this world will harm you or your children." Leila felt her outburst was not enough, continuously pounding on Walter's chest, "Why? Why did you force me?" "Why did you come back?" "Do you know? I've already bought an urn for myself." "Why did you give me hope for continued existence?" "Bastard, you ruined me, and yet you're the one saving me. Did I owe you something in my past life?" Leila's words shook Walter's heart. An urn! So, she had already prepared for her death tonight? Fortunately! He came back, and fate gave him a chance to make amends. After Leila vented enough, she slowly stopped crying. She sat up straight, her tearful eyes looking at Walter, filled with seriousness, "I can give you a chance." "But, you only have three months." "If you can't make the children accept you, I will personally send you away!" Leila took out the poison she had prepared! Surprisingly, she was ready to die together. Walter panicked, "You..." "What?" Leila squinted, "Are you afraid? Or did you come back because you couldn't survive outside and wanted to be a useless person in my Harper family?"