Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 703

"Actually, my mom's been asking about you a lot lately," York suddenly mentioned, catching Leda off guard.

"What's she asking about?" Leda inquired, always showing respect for Katrina. After all, the woman had a way of making an impression, like gifting her an emerald bracelet that Leda still hadn't returned.

York chuckled. "She wants to know why you haven't been over to the house. She's worried I might've upset you."

"And what did you tell her?"

With a mischievous grin, York replied, "Oh, I just said I accidentally got you pregnant."

"What?!" Leda's eyes widened in shock.

York laughed, "Just kidding!"

"Ugh, you're insufferable."

With a shrug, York continued, "I told her you've been busy with work and that I threw a tantrum, making you mad."

At least he was shouldering the blame, Leda thought, a small smile playing on her lips.

Seeing her mood lighten, York seized the moment. "Why don't we keep this going? Let me lay it out for you..."

"First off, if our moms find out we've split, we'll never hear the end of it, right?"

Leda sighed, knowing her mom, Nola, might not yell but had a knack for making one feel utterly inadequate with her sharp tongue. Ah, the skill of old-school socialites.

"Second," York continued, "once the scolding's over, they'll go right back to nagging us about dating, marriage, and having kids. We'd be stuck listening to endless lectures."

Leda couldn't help but agree; York had hit every nerve.

"To avoid this mess, we'd have to scout new partners, and let's face it, finding someone compatible in our circle isn't easy."

"In conclusion, the easiest path is to keep our arrangement. There's a saying—better the devil you know. It saves us both a lot of hassle."

She had to admit, York was persuasive. For a fleeting moment, Leda was tempted.

York's confidence faltered for a split second, but he quickly regained his composure. "Come on, that night was pretty great, wasn't it? I'm not exactly lacking in any department, am I?"

"You sure have a big ego," Leda shot back.

York smirked, "Not to brag, but—" He went on with a stream of colorful language that Leda met with a steady expression.

When he finished, she calmly replied, "You sound like a used car salesman."

York leaned in closer, his fingers gently tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. "You said you weren't drunk that night—you were sober. So why didn't you stop it? Leda, if you weren't at least a little tempted, would you have let it happen?"

"You—"

"Sure, I might come off a bit rough around the edges, but here's the truth: You like a little thrill, and I can give you that. Plus, it keeps the family off our backs."

York emphasized each word, "You get the fun, and the peace. It's a win-win."