Chapter 2 The flames were raging , and the fire alarm was going off like crazy . In all the chaos , Gabrielle made a run for it through another exit . She spotted a phone booth by the road and dialed that mysterious number . " Nicholas , you said I could come back to join the orchestra anytime within these five years . Does that still stand ? " A deep voice came through , smooth like a cello . " Of course , my dear Alice . Your fans in Northern Europe have been missing you like crazy . " " But I'm having some issues with my identity . It'll take three days to sort out the paperworks for going abroad . " This book had been added on your bookshelf . " How do you plan on leaving Boston ? From what I hear , Leonardo won't let you go without a fight . " Gabrielle's eyes darted around . " I'm planning to leave him with a corpse and it will be mine . " Hadn't Leonardo already let someone else pretend to be " Gabrielle " ? If that was the case , then she would finally disappear from his life for good - once and for all ! Out of nowhere , a pair of warm , big hands wrapped around her waist . Leonardo buried his face in her shoulder , his voice shaking with fear . " Honey , thank God you're okay . If anything happened to you , I don't think I could go on . " Chapter 2 283 Vouchers His best friend chimed in , patting his chest with a look of lingering panic . " Gabrielle , Leo thought you were still inside . He said he couldn't see anything and insisted on going in to find you . The fire was raging and a chandelier nearly fell on him ! " That was when Gabrielle noticed that Leonardo's arms were all burned up , part of his clothes was ripped apart , and his eyes were red and puffy from the smoke . She gasped as pain shot through her heart like tiny needles . She thought , " Leonardo , you're willing to risk everything for me . " But how can your heart love two women at the same time ? " " Mr. Ferney . " A soft voice came from behind . Alaina stood there in a white dress looking fragile as she pulled along a suitcase . This book had been added on your bookshelf . Gabrielle felt the hands around her waist tense up for a moment , then he let go . Leonardo ruffled her hair and said with a straight face , " Honey , I've got a business partner here to talk shop . Just hang tight for a sec . " Then he quickly stepped forward , pulled Alaina into his arms , and signed to her . " Alaina , why did you come by all alone ? Didn't I say I'd be there tonight to help you and the baby ? " " I missed you so much ! I wanted to come take care of Gabrielle as an apology . It's really my fault , " Alaina replied in sign language too . Chapter 2 " You don't owe her anything ! It's me who owes you and the baby for making you pretend to be someone else . " 285 ( Vocchers He kissed Alaina softly . His eyes were filled with warmth . He continued signing . " I've already picked out names for the baby . If it's a boy , we'll name him Theodore Ferney . If it's a girl , Lana Ferney . " Gabrielle stared blankly at the scene , her heart feeling like it was being ripped apart , each slice bringing a wave of pain . This time last year , she found out she was pregnant . Leonardo was over the moon . He booked an entire hot spring resort and gave her a CD filled with 9,999 love messages he had recorded just for her . Just as she was about to hit play , his phone rang . She could hear a girl softly crying on the other end . Leonardo kissed her belly and said , " Honey , there's an emergency at work . Just wait for me to come back . " Gabrielle didn't think twice about it . She waited patiently for a whole day and night . But instead of him coming back with love , what came crashing down was heartbreak . Their baby passed away that winter . She watched Leonardo gently caress Alaina's belly in that same loving way made Gabrielle let out a bitter laugh . It turned out she was the only one caught in that avalanche . " Honey , I've been very busy lately , so I got you a nutritionist to take care Chapter 2 of you . " Leonardo took Alaina's hand , his eyes full of affection . " Hello , Ms. Padgett ! " The girl called out in a shy , sweet voice . It was " Ms. Padgett " -not " Mrs. Ferney . " 258 Vouchers When Leonardo heard her say that , he frowned just a bit but didn't bother to correct her . Gabrielle couldn't help but stare at Alaina's lips , which were all swollen from kisses , while her nails dug into her palm . Out of nowhere , she felt this warm wave wrap around her - Leonardo had thrown his wool coat over her shoulders . " It's freezing outside . Let's head home , honey . " Before she could even respond , she saw Alaina give a little gesture like " got it , " and then the guy leaned in to give her a loving kiss back . She watched as they strolled hand in hand ahead of her , looking so close and inseparable . She noticed how the man who usually hated cooking smells put on an apron to help Alaina whip up dinner while laughing loudly with the kitchen fan buzzing away in the background . Then there was Leonardo again - always so thoughtful - as he scooped soup into a bowl for Gabrielle . But right after that , he reached out to wipe off some rice stuck at the corner of Alaina's mouth with his own hand . " Silly girl ! How can you be this cute ? " he signed with his hands . Gabrielle took a sip of the hot soup and let her head hang low , her chin Chapter 2 nearly touching her chest . Her eyes felt sore and burning , but not a single tear fell . Having been loved by Leonardo before , she recognized all his familiar gestures and looks . 77732 In that moment , Gabrielle finally realized that he had really fallen for Alaina . In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.