“Oh, my God...do you hear yourself?”Leandra squawked.“Just because that isn’t the life that you would choose for yourself doesn’t mean that it’s not the perfect life for me.”
There was a brief silence before Mrs.Rollins said, “We can table the discussion of your inheritance for another day, and I’ll schedule you a spa day-”
“I don’t want a spa day,” Leanda said, cutting her off.“So, don’t do it because I will not show up, Mother.”
“You most certainly will,” Mrs.Rollins argued.“After all, you can’t show up to dinner looking the way you do.You look...you look aged, Leandra.There, I said it.”
What in the actual fuck?
I mean, if her mother wanted to argue about Leandra’s inheritance, that wasn’t for me to comment on.While I’d always known that Leandra had a trust fund, I hadn’t ever asked about it.As far as I was concerned, it was no one else’s business what someone did with their wallet.
However, the harsh criticism of Leandra’s looks was something entirely different.I mean, how could Mrs.Rollins not see how perfectly stunning her daughter was?In fact, if Leandra were to improve on her looks at all, I wouldn’t be able to function.The entire male population would be rendered utterly stupid and useless, with me being the first.
Nevertheless, what kind of parent flung criticism at their child like that?Never mind that Leandra was a grown woman that had the right to live her life however she chose, but it also sounded like her mother just didn’t understand what boundaries were.Leandra was twenty-six, not sixteen, and to accuse her of aging was absolutely insane.
“Did it ever occur to you that I looked aged because your constant hounding is stressing me out?”Leandra asked, and that was the Leandra that most people never met.Despite her Barbie looks, Leandra was strong, capable, and fiery.
“There you go, being sensitive again,” Mrs.Rollins huffed.“I’m just trying to help you out, Leandra.”
“No, you’re not,” Leandra argued.“You’re upset that I refuse to let you use my inheritance to live like royalty.You’re upset that I refuse to live the life thatyouwant me to live.”
“Where is all this coming from?”Mrs.Rollins asked, trying to sound victimized.“I only came over because we’re having dinner with the Brennans, and David will be there.”
Who the fuck was David?
Leandra’s sigh was loud enough that I could hear it in the bedroom.“For the last time, I am not interested in David Brennan, Mother.”
“Leandra-”
“Besides, I have a boyfriend,” Leandra informed her, cutting off whatever she’d been about to say.
“What?”Mrs.Rollins gasped theatrically, almost as if the idea was completely preposterous.
“I have a boyfriend,” Leandra repeated easily.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mrs.Rollins scoffed.“You’ve barely even mentioned dating anyone.”
“I hardly mention anything to you about my life,” Leandra retorted.
“And who is he?”Mrs.Rollins asked, her tone unapproving because this was another area of Leandra’s life that she wasn’t given control of.
Now, because I planned on keeping Leandra for the long haul, I couldn’t remain hidden in the bedroom, giving Mrs.Rollins a chance to say more shit that she might not be able to take back.While I had no problem dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law, I had to make it clear that I wasn’t going to tolerate outright interference from her.
I also wasn’t going to let her talk shit about me-which she would-once Leandra announced who she was dating.There was no way that Mrs.Rollins was going to be okay with me dating her daughter, especially if her objective was money and the lifestyle that came with it.
So, determined not to let things get any worse, I opened the bedroom door, then walked out as if I had every right to, which I did at this point.Leandra was finally mine, and I wasn’t about to let her mother ruin that for me.
When I walked out of the bedroom, minus my bare feet, I was fully clothed, but with my hair rumpled and the fine stubble on my face, it was clear what had happened here last night.It was also something that Mrs.Rollins was going to have to get used to, so instead of acting shocked and clutching my pearls, I glanced between both women, then stopped to give Leandra a kiss on the side of her head before finally addressing Mrs.Rollins.
“Mrs.Rollings, good morning,” I said as I turned to make my way towards the kitchen.“Would either of you ladies like a cup of coffee?”
When I turned to face them, Mrs.Rollins looked like Leandra or I better know CPR, but Leandra just had a small smirk playing on her lips.She knew what I was doing, and it was clear that she wholeheartedly approved.
“Though I must admit, I only know how to make black coffee,” I said, and by the look on her face, if Mrs.Rollins never spoke to us again, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Chapter 17
Leandra~
