Chapter 167 I Will
On one hand, Leander was undeniably handsome. On the other, he represented familiarity, a connection to Stephanie's hometown of Neo Seou. That shared origin was a significant factor in their relationship.
Like many Neo Seou men, Leander was a textbook example of the stereotype: entitled, stingy, and possessive, hiding his unpleasant personality behind a carefully crafted facade of wealth and charm. He used money to attract women, preying on their desire for a picture-perfect partner. Frankly, the men of Neo Seou had a reputation for being less than desirable. Yet, Stephanie, a product of that very culture, found a strange sense of security in their familiar brand of toxicity.
At this moment, at her most vulnerable, Leander's presence was a balm to her wounded pride.
"Leander," she began, her voice thick with unshed tears, desperate to unburden herself.
But Leander cut her off, his voice deep and reassuring. "Stephanie, you don't need to say a word. I know everything. This 'Boring' character, a vile fraud! He's made a fool of you, cost you a fortune! I told you those Golden Valley types were bad news."
"Ten million," Stephanie choked out, the enormity of her loss hitting her with full force. "It's gone. All my savings, years of hard work, gone!"
"Who says you have to honor the lottery?" Leander said calmly, his words catching Stephanie off guard.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"You haven't touched your personal savings, right?"
"No," Stephanie replied, her mind struggling to keep up.
"And the lottery money, that was fronted by the agency, correct?"
"Yes," Stephanie confirmed, a glimmer of understanding dawning in her eyes.
"Then what's the problem?" Leander said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Let's just go back to NeoSeou! If they want to sue us, let them. Dealing with an international lawsuit is more troublesome for them anyway. NeoSeou's courts have always been shameless and thick-skinned. We're not afraid of people from Golden Valley."
Stephanie knew exactly what he meant. Leander was a fervent nationalist, a staunch believer in Neo Seou's "by any means necessary" approach, particularly when it came to international competition. Their athletes were infamous for their win-at-all-costs mentality, often resorting to underhanded tactics to secure victory.
But this wasn't just limited to sports; it was deeply ingrained in the fabric of Neo Seoul's society, a pervasive attitude that permeated every industry and institution.
Given the Neo Seoul court's track record, an international lawsuit would undoubtedly be decided in their favor. Golden Valley, for all its bluster, wouldn't risk an international incident over a financial dispute.
If Stephanie returned home, her financial obligations in Golden Valley would effectively vanish.
As long as she never set foot in Golden Valley again, she'd be home free.
Stephanie hesitated.
It wasn't guilt that gave her pause.
It was her career. Streaming back in Neo Seoul wouldn't be nearly as lucrative. The platforms were notorious for their exploitative practices, and the competition was fierce.
But the thought of returning home and living off her depleted savings, of giving up the independence she'd fought so hard for, was equally unappealing.
Staying in Golden Valley meant accepting a significant financial loss.
Leaving meant sacrificing her career and potentially her future.
It was a no-win situation.
"If I leave Golden Valley, my career is over," she said, her voice laced with despair. "Making a living back home isn't easy."
Leander gazed at her, his eyes filled with what Stephanie perceived as love and concern. "Stephanie," he said, his voice low and urgent, "you're in danger. Do you understand? You're in real danger."
"Danger?" Stephanie echoed, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Nova," Leander said, his voice barely a whisper. "He's furious. He lost a fortune because of this Boring fiasco. And his father, Samuel? He's even angrier."
Stephanie's breath caught in her throat. Samuel's reputation preceded him. He was not a man to be trifled with.
"Samuel can't touch Shark Live," Leander continued, his voice grim. "But you? You're fair game. He's planning to make you pay back every last BitBond. I heard it from a reliable source. If you don't leave now, it might be too late."
Leander's words, spoken with such conviction, sent a chill down Stephanie's spine. Despite her worldly facade, she was easily rattled.
"That's insane!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. "I only kept a fraction of that money! Most of it went to Shark Live and the agency! Why should I be the one to pay?"
"Because you're the easiest target," Leander said simply, his words a harsh dose of reality.
Stephanie was speechless. He was right.
"Give it all up, Stephanie," Leander pleaded, his voice softening. "Your career, this life... it's not worth it. Come home with me."
"Give up my career?" Stephanie spat, her anger momentarily eclipsing her fear. "And who's going to support us? You?"
Leander fell silent, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Then, in a voice barely audible, he said, "I will."
Those two words, "I will," hung in the air, their weight crushing Stephanie's resistance.
Leander looked at her then, his eyes filled with a depth of emotion she'd never seen before.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking. And with that, she collapsed into his arms, tears streaming down her face. "We'll go home. We'll be together, have a family... and we'll never be apart."
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