Flash Marriage: I Became The CEO's Healing Pill

The next day, as Leone stepped into the garden, his usual refuge called to him like a sanctuary. The tranquil setting was a welcome reprieve from the weight of his thoughts, but as he rounded the corner, he froze. His serene hideaway wasn't empty. Evelina sat on a blanket spread across the grass, her presence unexpected but not unwelcome. Beside her, a small tea set and an assortment of neatly arranged treats created a picturesque scene. In front of her lay two copies of the book he'd been reading the previous day.

She looked up, meeting his gaze with a warm yet tentative smile.

"I hope I'm not intruding," she said lightly, her tone carefully balanced. "I noticed you liked this spot, and I thought... well, everyone deserves a little break now and then."

Leone's brow furrowed, his sharp gaze flicking from the setup to Evelina. For a moment, it seemed he might turn and leave, but then his eyes landed on the books resting on the blanket. Something about them held him in place.

He fought the urge to scoff and instead masked his intrigue with a gruff reply. "You've gone to a lot of trouble."

"Not really," Evelina replied, unfazed by his tone. "I just thought it might be nice to share some tea and talk... or sit and read quietly. Whatever you prefer."

A pause followed, the silence thick with unspoken tension. Evelina gestured to the extra copy of the book.

"I brought this for you. I heard you enjoy reading, and I thought…" She faltered slightly but quickly recovered. "I thought it might be nice to read together."

Leone crossed his arms, a slight scoff escaping him. "I don't like reading."

Evelina tilted her head, her smile bright and disarming. "But you enjoy it," she countered with playful conviction.

The corner of his mouth twitched in irritation—or was it amusement? Her confidence unsettled him, though he wouldn't admit it. Her smile is dangerous, he thought, glancing at the book again.

She picked up the book and began flipping through its pages with a casual ease, as though she had already started reading it herself.

"Though I must warn you," she added with a soft laugh, "I'm a really fast reader."

Her playful remark lingered in the air, a gentle nudge inviting him to respond.

Say something, Evelina thought anxiously, her lips pressing together as she tried to mask her nervousness.

Leone's jaw tightened briefly, and Evelina braced herself for a curt dismissal. But instead of walking away, he surprised her. He took a slow step forward, his gaze lingering on the setup as if weighing his options.

"You've gone to a lot of trouble," he said gruffly, his tone guarded.

Evelina's smile didn't falter. If anything, it softened.

"Not really," she replied easily. "I just thought it might be nice to share some tea and talk... or sit and read quietly. Whatever you prefer."

A pause followed, the silence thick with unspoken tension. For a moment, Leone seemed to wrestle with some inner conflict. Finally, he let out a soft sigh and moved closer, lowering himself onto the edge of the blanket.

He picked up one of the books, inspecting it briefly.

"Surprisingly, I'm a quick reader too," he said, his tone carrying a hint of challenge.

Evelina's grin widened as she reached for the teapot, pouring him a cup of tea.

"Well then," she said, settling back into her spot. "Let's see who finishes first."

Leone arched an eyebrow at her remark, his lips twitching as if fighting off a smirk. "Confident, are we?"

Evelina took a sip of her tea, her expression calm but her eyes alight with playful determination. "I like to think I'm competitive when it comes to books. But don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

He scoffed lightly, but there was a glimmer of amusement in his gaze now. "Don't expect me to slow down for your sake."

Evelina chuckled softly and turned to the first page of her book. For a while, they sat in companionable silence, the faint rustle of pages turning and the occasional chirp of birds the only sounds.

As Evelina read, she couldn't help but glance at Leone from the corner of her eye. He looked more at ease now, his sharp features relaxed, though his focus was intent on the book. She noticed how the sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting dappled shadows over his face.

Leone, feeling her gaze, glanced up. "You're not losing focus already, are you?"

Caught, Evelina quickly looked back at her book, her cheeks warming. "Not at all. Just wondering if I should slow down so you can keep up."

He let out a quiet huff that might have been a laugh, though it was barely audible. "You're all talk, aren't you?"

Evelina grinned but said nothing, returning her attention to the story.

---

The tea eventually grew cold, and the plates of treats sat mostly untouched, but neither of them seemed to notice. The rhythm of reading together, punctuated by the occasional comment or shared thought, began to chip away at the walls between them.

At one point, Evelina closed her book and leaned back slightly, stretching her arms over her head. "I have to admit, this scene is dragging a bit. Don't you think the author spends too much time describing the landscape?"

Leone, who had just finished the same passage, gave a slight nod. "It's a bit excessive. But I think it's meant to mirror the character's state of mind—lost and wandering."

Evelina tilted her head thoughtfully. "That's an interesting perspective. I hadn't thought of it that way."

Leone's lips quirked upward for a brief moment, though he quickly hid it by taking a sip of tea.

Encouraged by his reaction, Evelina pressed on. "You're more insightful than I expected, Mr. Leone."

He shot her a look, his tone dry. "Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?"

Evelina laughed softly. "A compliment, of course. Though I'm starting to think I should have brought a notebook to jot down your literary wisdom."

Leone shook his head, but there was a faint warmth in his expression now, as if her lighthearted banter was chipping away at his guarded exterior.

' Ahh! Progress! He is talking to me without his usual harsh tone.' She thought happily as her heart skipped a beat.

---

As the afternoon stretched on, the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow over the garden. The peaceful atmosphere had done its work; the tension that had initially hung between them had eased into something softer, more comfortable.

When Leone finally closed his book, he glanced at Evelina, who was still absorbed in hers. "You're not as fast as you claimed," he remarked, the faintest edge of teasing in his tone.

Evelina looked up, feigning offense. "Excuse me, but I'm savoring the story. Speed isn't everything, you know."

"Convenient excuse," he retorted as he placed the book by his side.

Evelina closed her book and sipped her tea slowly, her gaze fixed on the cup in her hands, as though she were carefully considering each word before speaking.

"I didn't expect the main character to leave the village in the end," she said softly. "It felt... abrupt, didn't it? After all that talk about finding solace in staying rooted."

Leone glanced at her, his brow furrowing in thought.

"Not abrupt. Necessary. Staying would've been easier, but it wouldn't have been right for him. Sometimes, leaving is the only way to grow."

Evelina raised an eyebrow, her tone playful yet sharp.

"Or a way to avoid growth. Isn't it possible he left because he was too afraid to face what staying would mean?"

Leone leaned back slightly, fingers curling around his cup.

"Fear can drive people to make difficult choices, yes. But does that make those choices any less valid? He couldn't thrive in a place weighed down by memories that suffocated him. Leaving gave him a chance to start over."

Evelina's gaze softened, but her voice remained firm.

"Maybe. But starting over doesn't mean running away. The things he left behind don't disappear—they'll catch up with him eventually. Avoiding pain doesn't heal it."

Leone's voice flickered with tension, and he briefly looked away.

"Some pain can't be healed, Evelina. And staying in a place that constantly reminds you of it isn't strength—it's stagnation."

Evelina met his gaze, her voice quieter now, as if testing the ground between them.

"I'm not saying he shouldn't have left, but... doesn't he owe something to the people who helped him survive? Running without a word felt cold."

Leone's expression tightened, his voice dropping low, almost as if he were speaking to himself.

"Maybe the people who care understand that leaving isn't betrayal... it's survival."

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken tension. Evelina hesitated before speaking, her words quiet but pointed.

"Sometimes it's easier to recognize ourselves in stories than admit the truth out loud."

The weight of her observation hung in the air, a subtle challenge. Leone's fingers clenched around the edge of his book, his jaw tightening. Her words struck too close to home.

Without a word, he stood abruptly, the movement sharp and final. Evelina's heart sank as she realized she had pushed too far.

Evelina's eyes widened in sudden regret as her hand shot up to her mouth. That wasn't supposed to slip out.

"Mr. Leone, I didn't mean to—"

He paused, his posture stiffening for a moment before he continued his retreat, his footsteps echoing in the stillness of the garden.

Evelina sat frozen, her mind racing. I thought we were finally... She sighed, her breath shaky. Slowly, she reached for the books, her hands trembling as she carefully packed them away. She stared at the spot where Leone had just been, the emptiness of his departure settling into her chest.

"Me and my big mouth," she muttered under her breath, clutching the books tightly. I'll try again. This isn't over.