True Fated Marriage (Grace and Heinz)
Chapter 1848

Leah quickly broke free from Ernest and escaped from his room.

Ernest shook his head with a bitter smile as she fled. Leah was always so avoidant when it came to issues involving him.

However, she was endlessly bold when it came to others.

Leah soon arrived downstairs and happened to meet Grace and Zayne coming inside. Seeing them, Leah immediately laughed.

Meanwhile, Alice had gotten up from her seat in the living room to greet her sister.

Leah went forward to hold Grace's arm. She supported the pregnant Grace as they talked.

Grace immediately smiled at Leah.

A touch of appreciation flashed in Zayne's eyes.

Leah was a very smart and caring girl.

His eyes flickered, and no one had any idea what he was thinking.

Meanwhile, Ernest had also come downstairs.

Alice exchanged a satisfied glance with Grace.

"Leah, are you hungry?" Grace asked with a smile.

"I'm not really hungry, auntie. On the other hand, there's something I need to discuss with you," Leah looked at her and said with a smile, "I want to seek your opinion." "Okay, go ahead," Grace walked in with Leah.

Leah glanced over at Zayne after they sat down on the sofa. It seemed that he was rather unapproachable most of the time.

She could not help but sympathize with Essie. Why would Essie fall in love with someone as unapproachable as Zayne?

Well, everyone had their different preferences in love.

Hence, she couldn't comment on Essie's choice. She only hoped that Essie wouldn't be hurt.

Alice and Grace noticed Leah staring at Zayne and found it odd. Leah seemed to be up to something.

Either way, Leah's glance was a loaded one.

Grace was puzzled as she looked over at Ernest, who was coming down the stairs. He raised his hands in a helpless motion as he looked back at his mother. However, it was obvious that he clearly knew something she didn't.

Before they could exchange any more information, Leah said, "Aunt Smith, I have a friend coming over to see Ernest and me today. I wonder if she could stay over this afternoon?"

Grace was surprised. She figured that this must be someone important. If not, they definitely wouldn't appear at such a peculiar time.

"Sure, ask your friend to come. They must be a very good friend of yours," Grace replied agreeably, "The more the merrier, and it's been a long time since our house has been this lively."

"Thank you, Aunt Smith. You're too kind that I'm getting embarrassed for asking such a question," Leah was careful with her words, making Grace quite pleased.

Grace then decided to ask, "What's your friend's name? Are they a boy or a girl?"

"Of course it's a girl, auntie. Why would I ask a boy to come over? Furthermore, I don't have any male friends who are close with me," Leah smiled before explaining, "Aunt Smith, my friend is called Essie Yarbrough, and she coincidentally has the same surname as Mr. Yarbrough here. She's a cute, beautiful girl, and she's bold and charming too."

Hearing this, Alice and Grace immediately exchanged glances. They could seemingly read between the lines of what Leah said.

They noticed a different lilt in Leah's tone. This Essie girl was definitely someone special.

Moreover, Leah had snuck an inquisitive glance at Zayne after she finished speaking.

As expected, Grace spotted Zayne's entire body going stiff.

He looked up at Leah with a piercing gaze.

Zayne was sizing Leah up, but she was unafraid. Instead, Leah just chuckled, "Mr. Yarbrough, what's the matter?"

An annoyed smirk curved Zayne's lips.

Did they set him up?

Zayne did not enjoy being tricked regardless of whether or not the intentions were good.

Thus, his gaze became even sharper.

Leah couldn't help but shiver. However, she felt that there wasn't much to be afraid of. She was just a kid, after all.

Was he going to come after her just because of this?

Besides, she didn't hurt Zayne either.

With that, Leah met Zayne's gaze and asked again, "Mr. Yarbrough, why are you looking at me like that?" Zayne just glared at Ernest and uttered, "Ernest, keep your girlfriend in check. She shouldn't be poking her nose in things that aren't her business."

Ernest smiled. He would obviously take his girlfriend's side.

"Uncle, I'm a little confused by what you're saying. Since when did Leah ever poke her nose into anything? She's not that kind of girl, and she never cares about anything that isn't related to her."

Zayne frowned upon hearing that, creases of frustration forming in between his eyes.

Then, he muttered while maintaining a steady glare at Ernest, "So, both of you are going against me now, huh?"

"Uncle, what are you talking about? How could I ever go against you? You're my uncle, not my enemy," Ernest was still all smiles and even shot Leah a playful glance.

On the other hand, Leah found Ernest so incredibly handsome when he backed her up.

She gave Ernest an admiring look.

She really wanted to run into his arms and kiss him. She wanted to tell him that he looked so hot defending her.

However, Leah decided to restrain herself in front of all the adults. Instead, she just gave Ernest an adoring look.

Love was the only thing in her gaze.

Grace and Alice immediately understood that something was going on.

They all looked at Leah in a hurry, and Grace seemed very excited. She exclaimed, "Leah, where's your friend? Ask her to come quickly!"

"She's on the way," Leah grinned in response. She knew that Grace must have caught on quickly. She couldn't help but admire Ernest for having such a quick-witted family. However, Zayne growled, "Don't try me, Leah Winston. No one in Northern City has ever dared to do so."

Leah immediately blinked and shot Zayne her best puppy dog eyes, even making a big show of slumping her shoulders pitifully.

It was as if she was incredibly intimidated.

Ernest frowned and immediately walked over. In front of everyone present, he held Leah's hand and supported her.

Leah immediately stole a glance at Ernest, wanting to tell him that she was not afraid.

It was just an act.

However, she was too embarrassed to say it in front of so many people.

Thus, she could only remain silent.

Leah's behavior made Zayne frown, but he didn't say anything in the end.

On the other hand, Grace was the one to speak up, "Zayne, stop looking so fierce. You've scared Leah."

"Grace, I don't think this girl is suited to be Ernest's girlfriend," Zayne was very blunt, "She's too strong-willed and too nosy."

His words were honestly quite insulting indeed.

Everyone gasped at his poor choice of words.

"Zayne Yarbrough," Grace's tone was serious as she reprimanded him.

Leah's face drained of blood as she heard that.

However, she quickly got herself under control. Since she was committed to doing this, she had to deal with the consequences.

She calmed down and made herself look unfazed. She even had a faint smile on her face.

However, Ernest was terribly upset at this and he looked at Zayne angrily, "Uncle, I don't need anyone telling me what sort of person my girlfriend is. Don't you think you're being too unforgiving? You'll never understand how amazing Leah is."

It was normal for Ernest to defend his girlfriend in front of everyone.

Leah did not speak, but she was extremely moved.

Grace added, "Zayne, I understand that you're in a bad mood today, but your words are too harsh. Once spoken, you can never take them back, don't you understand?"

Alice quipped, "Zayne, where's your usual gentlemanly behavior? Why are you so aggressive towards Leah?"

Zayne narrowed his eyes at Leah, warning her.

Leah shivered in fear, and everyone instantly turned to look at her.

Grace then said to Zayne, "Zayne, come and have some tea."

She poured a cup of tea for Zayne, hoping to divert his attention.

However, Zayne still shot a cold glance at Leah and snorted, "If you have the guts to provoke me, you should have the guts to bear all the consequences. Don't think you can escape from the consequences scot-free, little girl."

Leah took a deep breath.

Then, she straightened up and looked directly at Zayne, replying, "Mr. Yarbrough, you're scaring me. I don't know what you mean, and I have no idea why Essie's arrival means provoking you. Do you have anything going on with Essie? If not, why do

you say all of these mean things to me?"

Alice burst into boisterous laughter as soon as Leah said this and flashed a thumbs up at Leah, "Nice one, Leah. Don't be afraid of him!"

Zayne frowned and glared at Leah, "So, you've finally decided to tell the truth, huh?"

"I never lied in the first place. Instead, I think you're the one that's lying. You're definitely affected by this girl, and yet you won't admit it. Instead, you choose to insult and threaten me. I have no idea what Essie sees in you, Mr. Yarbrough. To be frank, I don't think you deserve Essie at all."

Leah's tone got increasingly agitated towards Zayne, and her words only grew sharper by the minute.

"You think everyone should worship the ground you walk on. Furthermore, you take advantage of the fact that Essie is crazy in love with you and leave her out in the cold. You're a cruel man indeed," Leah continued her tirade. Since she'd already offended Zayne, what's a few more insults thrown into the mix?

The insults and threats she'd suffered were no worse compared to the pain Essie had gone through by loving this man.