True Fated Marriage (Grace and Heinz)
Chapter 1809

Upon hearing Leah's words, Ernest paused for a second, and then stared deeply at her. He felt that the relationship between Leah and her sister seemed to have changed.

He recalled how spiteful Rowane was when she was there before. He still shuddered at the thought of that scene each time.

However, Leah's words and the scene of them getting along the previous day had made him feel gratified.

No wonder Leah was the woman that he, Ernest, had taken a fancy to.

Kindness, tolerance and generosity was her qualities.

He was very pleased.

"I'll go with you," he told Leah, beaming at her.

Puzzled, Leah goggled at Ernest. "Do you really want to go with me?"

"Sure, I have to go with you."

One reason was that it was dangerous for her to go alone, just like the previous day. Additionally, he didn't want to miss any opportunity or letting the time he got to spend with her slip away. Leah didn't reject him after hearing his words, and she even nodded happily. "That's great. We'll go together after breakfast."

"Do you want to have it at home or outside?" asked Ernest.

"Do you want to eat out?" Leah felt that she needed to seek his opinion.

Actually, she wanted to have breakfast outside.

After all, she had to prepare the ingredients and do the dishes if they ate at home. Not only would it be a waste of time, but it also wouldn't be that tasty.

Ernest probably had perceived her intention at a glance, knowing that she intended to have breakfast outside.

He glanced at the kitchen to replace that there weren't much palatable food. He cracked a smile and said, "You want to have breakfast outside, don't you?"

Leah grinned sheepishly and nodded, answering, "Can you tell? Yes, I really want to eat out."

Looking at her expectant eyes, Ernest stretched out his hand to stroke her hair. He smiled while replying, "If you want to eat out, then let's go. What's with that embarrassment?" "I'm afraid you'll refuse. After all, there might be too much usage of recycled cooking oil out there," Leah said.

"Shouldn't there be some restaurants that don't use it?" asked Ernest.

"I don't know. I can't tell what kind of cooking oil they use. I can tell whether it tastes good or not though. This is easy to be distinguished."

"Come on, let's have breakfast outside." Ernest held her hand and took out a thick coat for her.

The two of them went out together.

Leah had no idea where Ernest got a car from, which had been parked directly in the yard downstairs.

As soon as they went downstairs, he told her to get into the car. Then, he drove her to a cafe not far from the school.

It was the break, and many students had returned home. Only a small number of them stayed at school, so there were not many customers in the cafe during breakfast time.

They became the center of attention when they entered it. As a good-looking couple, they were particularly eye-catching.

They chose a spot by the window and sat down together.

Leah leaned against the back of her seat wearily, feeling enervated. Subsequently, she propped her chin with her hand while muttering with a sigh, "I'm so tired. I feel like my body has fallen apart." Upon hearing that, Ernest smiled slightly. The corner of his lips lifted and he gave her meaningful look.

Such a look seemed to have made her heart jump, and it made her realize something as she finished her sentence.

What she said earlier seemed to be a bit coquettish, as her real intention was to grumble about the intensity of their sex the previous night.

Therefore, she quickly changed the topic to brush away the awkwardness. "Ernest, the pancakes here are awesome. I used to come here often. Try the buttermilk flavor, it's absolutely delicious."

He was amazed by her wit to come up with such method of changing the subject in resolving the awkwardness.

Ernest did not expose her. He just smiled impishly, nodded and said, "Okay, I must have a try."

After placing the order, Ernest quietly gazed at Leah with his deep eyes. There was a gentle smile on his face.

Leah was quite shy as he continued to stare at her.

Concurrently, a girl went in to the cafe. She was petite and she wore her hair in a bun. There was a shiny hair clip with crystals on her hair, which gave her an adorable look.

She was dressed in a short fluffy jacket, a short skirt and a pair of knee-high boots, looking very cute overall.

After the girl went in, she first looked around. When she saw Ernest, she instantaneously grinned and let out an exclamation.

"Wow, I really saw it. It's a super handsome man. I didn't see it wrong. As I said, my eyesight must be keen."

With that, she walked toward Ernest and stood still in front of their table, looking at him, and then at Leah.

She seemed to be about 20 years old, just like the two of them.

"Hello, Miss, may I get to know your boyfriend?" The girl had a pair of sparkly eyes. After the words had come out of her mouth, she seemed to realize that what she said was very inappropriate. Hence, she waved her hand right away and explained nervously, "Don't get me wrong, I don't have any sexual intentions towards your boyfriend. I just want to get to know him because he resembles someone I know." Hearing the explanation, Leah smiled and replied, "Are you sure you have no such intention?"

The girl nodded and reaffirmed, "I'm sure, truly. I swear on my life that I don't have any intention other than to ask your boyfriend to be the model of my painting. Can I do that?"

Feeling bemused and curious, Leah was unsure about the real intention of the beautiful girl, but it felt like there shouldn't be any malice in her entreaty.

It was because her smile was very pure, and her eyes were so clear that one could see their own reflection in them.

She looked expectantly at Leah, not at Ernest, as though she had known from the very beginning that Leah had the final say.

It helped her to make a good impression on Leah.

She looked at the girl and smiled, replying, "Okay, sure, but I'm afraid we don't have much time."

"If you don't have much time, may I take a picture of you guys and get your contact?" asked the girl.

Leah swept her eyes over Ernest.

Knitting his brows, he didn't feel inclined to comply with the girl's request.

"Hottie, you don't have to frown. I simply think that you look like somebody I know. That's why I want to paint a portrait of you. Of course, you are indeed very handsome, but, I have changed my mind now. I intend to paint the two of you together." The girl started chuckling. "The two of you make a perfect match."

Ernest calmed down after hearing the girl say that they were a perfect match. He asked, "Who is the person I resemble?"

Upon mentioning that person, the girl suddenly blushed, showing a bashful expression.

"Oh, he's an extremely charming man. I've fallen in love with him at first sight. Unfortunately, he's too distant. He doesn't pay attention to me at all. I've been pursuing him for a long time, but to no avail. He said that I'm too young for him."

Hearing that, both Ernest and Leah were flummoxed.

They looked at the girl in unison.

Leah said, "Sit down first. You haven't had your breakfast yet, have you? Feel free to join us."

"Sure, this will be my treat." The girl sat down with a smile.

Leah called the waiter over to order another set of breakfast.

"No, it's our treat. By the way, what's your name? We haven't even asked you yet." Leah asked.

"Essie Yarbrough," the girl answered with a smile.

"Is your last name Yarbrough?" Leah asked.

"Hehe, my last name is Lawell. Yarbrough is the last name of my beloved man. One day, I will take his last name officially," Essie explained with a smile and an eager look. Noticing her thrill, Leah and Ernest exchanged a look.

Both of them were a little speechless.

Essie was really bold and fearless. She dared to say so openly despite the fact that taking someone's last name was something that could only be done after their marriage. "Does he know it?" Leah asked curiously, "I mean, about taking his last name."

Essie nodded. "Yes, I told him long ago."

"Did he not object to it?" Leah asked in surprise.

"He said I'm crazy." Essie smiled shyly. "Then, I replied that he's right, and that he's the only remedy to cure my madness."

Leah and Ernest exchanged another look before both of them cast a sympathetic look at Essie.

"I hope you don't mind if I ask this question, but how much older is he compared to you?" Leah felt that the age disparity between them might very likely be the reason why the man had rebuffed her as he migh think that it wouldn't make sense.

Essie sighed helplessly. "He's 15 years my senior."

"Is the age difference so huge?" Leah could not help but to exclaim.

"Is it huge? It's not that huge, right? It's just 15 years." The girl didn't seem to care about the age disparity at all. "I like him. I'm so besotted with him that my heart itches and I feel like dying whenever I don't see

him."

Leah's jaw dropped when she heard that. She couldn't help but to say, "With your crazily passionate sincerity, maybe he will be touched and changed by you in the end."

"Miss, I like what you say, and I like them very much." Essie beamed at Leah.

On the other hand, a mysterious expression appeared on Ernest's face. Gazing at Essie, he said faintly, "The man you like has a last name of Yarbrough, is 15 years your senior. Is he one of the most eligible bachelors in Northern City in the recent ten years? Is he Zayne Yarbrough?"

Essie was flabbergasted. She gaped at Ernest in stupefaction. "Do you know him? What's the relationship between you and him?"

With a smile, Ernest darted a look at the door and said, "He's here."

Leah and Essie turned their eyes at the direction of the door together to replace that a tall man was coming in from the door and heading for them.

The man was so stunning that he exuded an aura of maturity and calmness from head to toe. He had a chiseled face and a tall figure, displaying a serene bearing.

The man looked emotionless, but he emanated sophistication and had a non- negligible air of composure.

There was even a slight resemblance between his big eyes and Ernest's.

Leah couldn't help but to look at him again, and then murmured in amazement, "Wow, what a handsome man."

After the man had come over, he fixed his eyes on Ernest unhurriedly for a few seconds and said coolly, "Boy, you're back."

Ernest stood up at once with a roguish laugh and said to Zayne, "Uncle Zayne, what a coincidence to meet you and your little girlfriend here."