Chapter 54

• Summoning her courage, Ava addressed the unresolved tension between them, her voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and vulnerability as she boldly asked, "Why did you kiss me, Leon?" Her heart raced as she awaited his response, a wave of nervous anticipation coursing through her despite her efforts to conceal it.
• Leon's retort, "Does it matter to you?" struck her like a bolt of lightning. His cryptic response left Ava torn between apprehension and the need for clarity. The hurt in her eyes was undeniable as she locked gaze with him, her voice trembling slightly as she questioned his sincerity, "Don't it mean nothing to you?"
• But Leon, seemingly unmoved, maintained his enigmatic demeanor, his serious expression betraying no emotions. His words, stark and devoid of sentiment, cut through the air, delivering an unexpected blow to Ava's heart. "It don't," he uttered, a declaration that seemed to echo with finality. The weight of his words hung heavily between them, leaving Ava grappling with a mixture of disbelief and desolation.