CHAPTER 142: WORDS CUT DEEPER THAN SWORDS: PART-1

Third Person’s POV

Leo gulped, his throat dry and scratchy as he sat stiffly on the sofa. His body felt like stone, every muscle tense under the weight of the three figures staring boreholes into him.

Beside him sat Sakura, her hands clutched tightly on her lap, already dressed in fresh clothes. Her head was lowered, her long hair falling forward, as if the very thought of meeting their eyes was unbearable.

Ever since they were caught, both had been dragged here, forced into the living room, where the family sat with faces twisted in indifference.

Just pure silence.

A kind that screamed judgment.

Especially from that black-haired man, whose sharp gaze stayed locked on Leo. It wasn’t just a stare... it was an executioner’s glare, one that made Leo feel as if he had already committed a crime too grave to ever be forgiven.

The woman beside the man let out a sharp, deliberate clearing of her throat.

The man finally spoke, his words cold, "How are you going to die?"

"F-Father?!" Sakura’s voice cracked in shock, her head snapping up as she shouted at her father.

The man’s face turned pale, ’F-Father?’ he thought bitterly. This was the second time she had called him Father... not Dad, not the casual warmth she had always used before.

And all of this... every bit of this change, was because of this... boy!

His face darkened, deadly calm giving way to a storm of restrained fury.

Leo swallowed again, forcing down the knot in his throat, trying to calm his nerves.

Not sure what to say, not sure how to explain being caught red-handed, almost crossing a line with their daughter... and now sitting here like a criminal.

Shit.

He didn’t know how to deal with this.

No excuse, no trick, no fake confidence could make this moment disappear. And yet, he had no choice but to face it. This was his first time meeting his girlfriend’s family, and instead of a warm introduction, he was already at the endgame.

Their first impression of him was trash.

Still, maybe... just maybe, he could salvage something, show he wasn’t a complete disgrace.

"My name is Leo, Sir," he said, forcing himself to stand and speak.

The man tilted his head, his eyes narrowing, "No surname? Just a random nobody?" His tone dripped with disdain as his eyes slid toward his daughter.

She shrank slightly, lowering her head further, her face carrying a small, worried expression that twisted the knife deeper into Leo’s chest.

The man clicked his tongue sharply. His eyes flicked to his wife, who gave a small nod before stepping in.

"My name is Evelina Valentine, and this is my husband, the head of the Valentine household,

Adrian Valentine."

She then turned slightly, gesturing to the girl standing quietly behind them in a maid’s uniform.

"She is Luna, our daughter’s personal maid."

Leo blinked, stunned. Luna... was Sakura’s maid?

Now everything made sense... the way Luna had always been there, protective, watching like a hawk.

Not just a friend, but a kind of guardian.

Sakura’s hand reached for him, pulling him back down onto the couch as if making him sit down and talk. This act only seemed to irritate her father more.

His nostrils flared, and a low growl of frustration escaped before he leaned forward,

"What’s your relationship with my daughter?"

The way he looked at Leo right now... it was like a predator ready to pounce. One wrong word, one wrong answer, and he might tear into him without hesitation.

Leo smiled softly as he answered confidently, "I am her—"

However, Adrian interrupted sharply, "Mind you, I’ll accept anything other than boyfriend or lover!"

"Father!" Sakura snapped back immediately, but Adrian’s face turned stern and merciless as he barked,

"What’s with this rebellious act? Is it because of him... whatever he is, sitting beside you? Was that the reason you sent us away?

Do you know how much we worried when the police called us?

When we came, worried about our daughter.... only to see her lying with another man in her bed?

How disgusting!

Much less you started to act differently now!!

Did he brainwash you into talking back to us?!" His clenched fist trembled furiously, veins bulging.

And though he was shouting at his daughter, the truth was he was hurting more than she was... after all, this was his first time shouting at her!

Sakura’s lips twitched bitterly. Damn it... that fucking police officer was the one who stirred up this mess in the first place.

Evelina reached out, patting her husband’s back to calm him before turning her steady gaze toward Leo and Sakura. Her tone was calm but serious.

"When did it start?"

"Dear?" Adrian frowned with disbelief.

"Let me handle it," Evelina said softly. Adrian only snorted, leaning back with stiff anger, though his eyes stayed locked on Leo with an intensity that felt like he was trying to scare him into running.

"A few months ago," Sakura answered quietly. It hadn’t been that long, but she had to keep the act consistent, right?

"Months ago?" Adrian’s eyes widened in pure shock before snapping toward Luna. His glare was sharp enough to pierce. "And what were you doing all this time? Don’t tell me you weren’t aware of it?"

Luna’s face drained of colour. She lowered her head, her voice trembling, "I-I didn’t mean to... I..."

Evelina immediately stepped in, "Please, don’t be so harsh on her, dear. Luna loves Sakura. Of course, if Sakura asked her to keep a secret, how could Luna possibly tell the truth? Right?" Her gaze shifted to Luna, who nodded quickly, ashamed but agreeing.

Adrian clenched his fists even tighter, his nails digging into his palms as he turned his fury back to his daughter. She flinched under his glare, but still he spat, "It doesn’t matter anymore. I won’t approve of this!"

"But Father... It’s my life, and I will decide what I want!" Sakura snapped back.

She loved her father; she always had, but when it came to her beloved Senior... no, she wasn’t going to let go.

Hearing those words was like a knife to Adrian’s chest. His heart lurched violently, almost stopping.

Where... where was his little girl who had always obeyed him without question?

Sniff...Sniff...

His pride cracked inside him, and though he tried to stay strong, his heart was crying. ’My dear... what happened to you? You were my obedient little girl. This must be because of this human!!’ His anger only grew darker, intensifying by the second.

Leo swallowed nervously, ’Sakura... you’re making things worse,’ he thought grimly. He wanted to stand up, to speak, to try and settle this before it burned completely out of control.

"Please, let me—"

"Did I ask you to speak, you thieving dog?!"

He sneered before whipping his gaze back to Sakura. "So the reason you sent us away... was because you wanted to be with him?"

Sakura hesitated, then gave a small nod with a faint blush of shame and stubbornness.

Adrian’s chest seized again. His heart couldn’t take it—seeing his beloved daughter admit it out loud, seeing her choose this boy.

The image of her under the quilt with a boy flashed violently through his mind... Only he knew how close he was to dying!!

His heart was breaking into pieces. Too much, too fast. All because of this bastard... Leo!!

Adrian’s body trembled with barely contained rage. His breath came heavy through his nose. One wrong word more and he might do something irreversible.

Evelina sighed heavily, her expression weary but calm as she looked at Leo. She shook her head slowly before reaching to hold Adrian’s hand, squeezing it gently to keep him from exploding.

"Listen, Mr...??"

"Leo," Leo said awkwardly. They had even forgotten his name, though he had already introduced himself just moments ago.

"Mr. Leo... we love our daughter," Evelina said slowly, each word deliberate, her eyes never leaving his face.

"We would do anything for her. Her father would bring her whatever she loves, no matter what it takes.

That much we love her. Whether you understand it or not."

Adrian gave a small, inward nod, ’Yeah. Just fuck off already.’

However—

"If she truly loves you," Evelina continued, her voice calm but firm,

"Of course, we would gladly accept it."

"Yeah, ri—Wait, what?" Adrian froze. He turned his head toward his wife with a shocked face.

Leo blinked, slightly startled, but Sakura’s eyes widened, almost looked as though she was floating on clouds from hearing her mother’s words.

Evelina’s hand tightened around Adrian’s wrist, holding him in place, "Yes," she said with dangerous calm.

"We accept that she loves you."

"Dear?" Adrian’s voice cracked.

"Thank you, Mom-"

"But..." Evelina raised a finger, her expression turning sharper, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Who are you?"