Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 308: The Male Lead’s Halo

Chapter 308: The Male Lead’s Halo

Standing by the windows facing the front yard, Calix quietly watched the taillights of Xander’s car disappear in the darkness. His eyes held an undecipherable glint.

The summer night was peaceful, a stark contrast to the violent storms in his heart.

"Calix..."

The familiar soft voice lured Calix out of his trance. Looking away from the glass panels, his eyes met with Leslie’s. She loosely grasped the hem of his shirt, expressing her worry through her countenance.

Calix’s facade crumbled at the sight of Leslie’s concerned gaze. He crouched down before the wheelchair, taking both of her hands into his.

"Sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry, Leslie."

Calix wanted to say something else but, only those words flowed out between his shivering lips. He cautiously peered into Leslie’s countenance, afraid he would see even a trace of contempt on it.

What happened tonight was too much for both of them yet, Calix was worried about Leslie more. After all, his own friend openly slandered her.

"What are you sorry for?" Leslie softened her voice, understanding Calix was as shaken as she was, "Calix, none of us... are to blame for this..."

Xander’s answer to Leslie’s insistence shocked both her and Calix. None of them expected to hear such a thing from the former.

At first, Xander was reluctant to answer Leslie. He was convinced she would disrupt the truths once she knew from who or where he learned this secret.

Violet’s persuasion and Calix’s threatening look forced Xander to lay out his knowledge about Calliope’s birth.

It turned out that someone intentionally spread the rumor about Leslie—Charlene—giving birth out of wedlock years ago. The word reached Xander one day.

This was a weird occurrence because the Xu family hadn’t heard anything about it. It seemed like that person specifically targeted Xander instead of Calix.

"I’ve checked into this. The Li family banished you because you refused to abort that child. Isn’t that right?"

Xander was only bothered to check whether Leslie had given birth to a child. He didn’t delve deeper into it, assuming everything was a waste of time.

Xander’s ignorance led him to believe Leslie had purposely discarded the child as soon as she was born. That was the story he received from his assistant. The latter was tasked to investigate the Li family.

"Why did you get your child back? How did you trick Calix to raise that child as his?"

As soon as Xander heard about Violet bumping into Calix, Leslie and Calliope, he ordered his assistant to check his friend’s activity over the past few days.

What he learned next shocked Xander further.

Calix went to the orphanage himself and brought back the child!

Recalling what had just happened, Leslie shook her head in helplessness. She didn’t expect Xander to use his male lead’s halo over this matter.

Well, the male lead’s halo that allowed him to learn someone’s secrets without much effort.

’Sigh... If only he checked further. He barely investigates everything right. No wonder he always misunderstands Violet.’

Leslie was annoyed with Xander but, she didn’t want to waste her energy on the male lead. She believed the one who spread the flame of rumors was none other than the Li family themselves.

The number one suspect was Gladys but, Leslie wasn’t sure how she let Xander get the news.

’Nah, let’s think about it later.’

Seeing despair on Calix’s countenance disheartened Leslie. She was aware of how deeply he blamed himself for what Xander had done.

Xander’s blatant accusations upset Leslie but, Calix received the huge blow.

How could he not?

Xander was simply a stranger to Leslie yet, he was Calix’s sworn brother. Their friendship had gone on for more than two decades, running deeper than oceans, entangling various emotions along.

Her heart wavering, Leslie slowly took her hands out of Calix’s grasp. He was seemingly surprised by her action but, what she did next caught him off guard further.

She hugged him!

Fighting against her hesitation, Leslie pulled Calix toward him, enveloping him in an embrace. She sensed the man froze.

’...I shouldn’t do this.’

Leslie regretted her impulsive action. She loosened her arms around Calix’s neck, intending to let him go before he hastily returned the hug.

Calix elevated his body further, wanting to make it easier for Leslie to embrace him. Despite his initial shock, he actually welcomed the intimate gesture from her.

None of them spoke as they savored the tranquility after the passing storm. The echoes of their heartbeats resonated with one another.

Smiling sadly, Leslie gently patted Calix’s back. She whispered, being the one who broke the silence.

"Calix, thank you for standing up for me..."

Leslie forced herself to speak as smoothly as she could, hoping to convey her appreciation to the man who had steadfastly guarded her honor in the face of slanders coming from his own longtime friend.

Calix was entranced by Leslie’s gratitude and the embrace locking them together. He blankly nodded his head.

"You’re my wife, Leslie. Calliope is our daughter... I won’t let anyone mistreat you both. Not even my own friend."

Calix almost choked on his sob. Sharing a hug with Leslie inadvertently pushed him to let his emotions out despite how pathetic he felt.

He only wanted to show his strong self in front of the lady he loved but, why she made it so easy for him to loosen his guard?

"Thank you... I really thank you, Calix, but... Hehe, don’t you think how dramatic... tonight is? Because of Xander?"

Leslie chuckled, unexpectedly finding the situation amusing. Her reaction baffled Calix.

Pulling away from Calix, Leslie’s smiling countenance was reflected in his eyes. She gently patted his right shoulder.

"Well, let’s put what happened... earlier away for now... Don’t let what he said... bother you... We have a more important thing ah..."

"What? Ah... Yes, Poppy."

Calix was still in a daze that he forgot about Calliope waiting for him and Leslie upstairs.

Fortunately, Mrs. Bai was there to accompany the little one. If not, she might have come looking for them downstairs.

"Let’s return to our daughter..." Leslie smiled, tugging at Calix’s arm, "She’s waiting for us..."

"She is."

Returning Leslie’s smile, Calix grasped her hand. He silently vowed to find the one who caused this trouble.

Surely, it was none other than the Li family.