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Predatory Marriage — Chapter 340. Bookstore (3)
Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan
The man had charged her the wrong price for the book. Leah had paid far less than she should have. As a matter of fact, the bookshop was going to go bankrupt if he managed it this way.
She couldnโt imagine why the store was in the hands of this person. Checking the price of the book again, Leah pulled out two coins.
โMura, wait a minute,โ she said. โThe clerk made a mistake with the price...โ
Leaving the book with Mura, she went back to the bookstore to find the register unoccupied. She was about to call out when she noticed the door at the back of the bookstore was propped up, leading to a side alley.
When she slipped out the door, she found the man smoking a cigar in the alley, gazing blankly at the sky. The sight reminded her so much of Ishakan, she stopped and unknowingly watched him for a minute as he smoked.
But a frown came to her face as she looked at his white hands, traced with veins. The smell of the cigar was also totally different from the ones Ishakan liked. The acrid smell made her nose itch. ๐ป๐๐๐ฎ๐โฏ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ญ.๐๐ธ๐ถ
Leah held her breath and quickly approached, holding out the two silver coins.
โYou charged me the wrong price for the book.โ
He did not look surprised at her sudden appearance.
โOh, thank you very much,โ he said mildly, taking the coins with nonchalance.
It made Leah suspicious. Had he deliberately made a mistake? Maybe he had done it with the intention of getting her to return to the shop, though she couldnโt imagine what his motive might be.
The man pitched his cigar to the ground and crushed it with his foot. He seemed like he wanted to talk, but Leah had no reason to continue a conversation, and turned away. – Posted only on NovelUtopia
โIโll be going.โ
โOh, wait,โ he said, catching her sleeve. โWould you like to have tea? Thereโs a good coffee shop nearby.โ
He offered the suggestion with a smile.
โIโm sorry, my husband is waiting for me,โ Leah said. โI also have a son. You shouldnโt pursue a married woman.โ
โYouโre so strict,โ he noted with a slight smile. โI just wanted to talk to you.โ
His smile was so innocent, Leah was taken aback, embarrassed at her presumption.
โItโs not often that I meet someone who can speak the ancient languages,โ he went on. โAnd besides, we share an interest in similar books.โ
Unconsciously, Leah nodded. It was true. But the man took a step closer, positioning himself near enough to make her uncomfortable.
โSo, when will you come back again?โ He asked.
If he had moved one step closer, she would have recoiled.
โI donโt know.โ
โIโd like to make sure Iโm here, so I can talk to you.โ
His voice was filled with nothing but good intentions. He seemed like a gentle man, easy to picture sitting at a desk with a book in his hands.
She could tell at a glance that he was sturdy, despite his baggy clothes. She had felt the strength of his hands when he had caught her and held her. He probably was a person of exceptional intelligence.
Leah glimpsed the manโs eyes through his spectacles, the smile that carried into them and made him look harmless. But the longer she looked at them, the more wary she felt.
โMaybe in fifteen days,โ she said, picking a number at random, since she would not be able to return to the store for a while. โI imagine weโll see each other, if we get the chance.โ
She didnโt need to tell him the truth; the odds were they would never see each other again. This was just the fastest way to get out of the conversation. She left the alley without a backward glance, leaving the man behind.
He chuckled, watching her go.
โ...Hmm.โ He muttered. โI like her.โ