In my sophomore year, I mustered up the courage to chase Leo Johnson, the legendary figure in our school because I was terrible at math no matter how hard I tried.

At first, I just wanted to play around and find a free math tutor.

But unexpectedly, a month later, Leo fell for me.

From then on, I had a boyfriend who pushed me to study harder, and I successfully got into a top university.

I saw Leo again when my mom's second husband came to our house.

I went to open the door and saw Leo holding a gift.

I was dumbfounded and my first reaction was to run.

However, with Leo in front and my mom behind, I didn't know where to run, and my legs went weak.

After all, it was me who broke up with Leo back then. I was afraid that he would hold a grudge and seek revenge.

"Is this Millie? You're so cute. I'm Samuel Johnson. Nice to meet you."

Under my mother's gaze, I trembled and reached out my hand, forcing a smile.

Trembling, I shouted, "Hello, Samuel!"

I was nervous while Leo was quite relaxed.

Wearing a white shirt and black pants, he behaved politely and gracefully with a smile.

He seemed to treat me as a stranger. He handed the gift to my mother, greeted her warmly, and showed good manners.

Fortunately, everyone's attention was on Leo, and they didn't notice anything unusual about me.

At the dining table, I couldn't concentrate on eating until a chicken wing was placed on my plate.

I looked up and met Leo's cold gaze, and my hands trembled involuntarily.

"Sweetie, what are you thinking about?"

Leo's deep voice came, and I was startled by what he called me. I felt that he did it on purpose.

I was choking on a piece of toast, but fortunately, I swallowed it hard to avoid making myself a laughingstock.

But I felt my cheeks burning.

The sound of knives scraping across plates rang out and was particularly harsh in the quiet restaurant.

But before I could react, my mother's voice came.

"Sweetie, what are you thinking? Eat your food."

With that, my mother turned to Samuel and Leo and said, "Millie's spoiled, so please bear with her."

"It's alright. I have always wanted a daughter but never had the chance. Now, finally, my wish has come true."

After my mother heard Samuel's words, her eyes lit up.

"I have always wanted a sensible son like Leo. Now, we have all got our wishes."

Afterward, the two of them smiled at each other, and I seemed to sense that love was in the air.

At this moment, I suddenly realized that someone's foot was on mine and seemed to be moving towards my ankle. I felt itchy.

My heart lurched and started pounding.

I looked down and saw that it was Leo's foot.

A pair of black shoes were on my pink slippers and really stuck out here.

I wanted to forcefully pull back my foot, but it was tightly held by Leo's foot and couldn't move at all.

As soon as I looked up, I met Leo's enigmatic smile, my heart sinking horribly.

I was done!

Why did I feel like he wouldn't let me go?

I felt so uncomfortable during this meal, afraid that Leo would say something in the next second.

I prayed inwardly, and Samuel and Leo finally left.

Before leaving, I noticed the smile lingering on Leo's lips, and my heart skipped a beat.

My mother's gaze followed them until they were out of sight.

It's over. My mom is going to get married!

Things went quite as expected.

A few days after Samuel and Leo came to my house, my mother told me she and Samuel would get married in a few days.

Looking into my mother's smiling eyes and at the smile curling her mouth, I couldn't say a word to persuade her to reconsider her decision.

To be honest, I knew that Samuel was a good person.

After I started college, I often saw him drive my mother home. He was a thoughtful man.

My father passed away early, and my mother had raised me with great difficulty over the years.

My mother used to live for me, but now that I was about to graduate, she had the right to pursue her own happiness.

I smiled at my mother and sincerely wished her well.

As I was thinking about how to tell my mother about my situation, her figure already disappeared at the door.

I clenched my fists.

Fine, I will discuss it with my mother tonight.

But in the evening, my mother looked excited and spoke before I could say anything.

"Millie, we can sell this house for over 160,000 dollars!"

After hearing my mother's words, I squirted a mouthful of coffee.

"What? Mom, you want to sell the house?" I asked in disbelief.

How could she do that?

After my mom got married, I didn't plan to move out with her. I still wanted to live in this house!

If she sold the house, where would I live?

Under my shocked gaze, my mom nodded.

"Yes, this house in our old neighborhood can sell for over 160,000 dollars. It's a good deal, thanks to Leo. He helped us find a buyer."

"Mom, if you sell the house, where will I live?"

I looked at my mom with a pitiful face, and the coffee was not delicious anymore.

Perhaps my expression was too serious, so my mom walked over and rubbed my head affectionately.

She said gently, "Of course, you and I will live with Samuel and Leo. You silly, what are you thinking? You think I don't want you anymore after I remarry?"

Hearing this, I wanted to cry and quietly called out, "Mom."

"Mom, I don't want to move out with you. I want to live here by myself!"

I couldn't imagine living under the same roof as Leo.

"Why? Are you afraid that Samuel will treat you badly? Or are you afraid that Leo will bully you? What are you worried about?"

My mom looked at me and suddenly asked seriously, "Tell me why."

Being stared at by my mom like this, I suddenly felt that she knew about me and Leo's puppy love, and I felt a little scared.

After a moment, I suddenly came back to my senses.

"Because this is our home. We have lived here for many years and we are used to it."

Yeah, my mom and I had lived in this small house for many years. It was our home!

Perhaps what I said touched my mom a little, so she sat down next to me and held my hand.

"Silly girl, wherever we are is the perfect home!"

I looked into my mother's eyes, tears standing in my eyes.

...

Just when I was about to ask if we should keep this house, my mother continued, "So, sweetie, you and I are moving into Samuel's house. That will be our home. This house can sell for over 160,000 dollars! It must be sold!"

Well, I underestimated my mother's love for money.

I knew my mother well. She had loved money for most of her life and put me only second to it.

So, she thought selling the house would earn her a huge profit.

She would overrule my objection and definitely sell the house!

For this reason, the next day I went to school to find Leo and wanted to ask him for the contact information of the buyer.

I learned from my mother that Leo taught math at our high school.

When I arrived, the students had not finished school yet. Suddenly, I saw a familiar scene.

I remembered the time when I chased Leo and secretly tugged at his school uniform from behind.

His disdainful expression and loving eyes came into my mind.

Thinking about this, I felt a little ashamed.

At that time, I was really bold and told him I liked him.

"Miss, Mr. Johnson needs you to wait for him in his office!"

The words reached my ears, and I looked at the security guard in confusion. How did Leo know that I would come to him?

"Are you sure it's me?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, it's you. Mr. Johnson showed me your photo from several years ago, but you haven't changed much. I can recognize you."

A photo?

When Leo and I broke up, he deleted all the photos in front of me. Where did that photo come from?

This question haunted me all the way.

I arrived at Leo's office and could imagine him correcting homework here.

"Come in. Have a seat!"

A cold voice came.

I turned around and saw Leo in a white shirt and black pants.

The setting sun shone on him, and his features were just like when he was young.

"I..." I stammered.

"What do you want to see me for?"

How did you know I'd come to you today?

Why do you still have my photo?

The questions were on the tip of my tongue, but I met Leo's gaze and swallowed them.

I broke up with him back then and had no reason to ask.

I had to talk about business first.

"Can you please give me the buyer's contact information?"

"Your mom has the contact information. The house has already been sold. Didn't she tell you?"

Leo said absentmindedly, holding a cup of coffee in his slender hand. His nose was particularly straight.

I shook my head, asking in disbelief, "What? My mom didn't tell me."

...

"She should tell you tonight. We are going to be a family, Millie."

As he said that, he stood in front of me against the light, extending his slender hand to me.

I spotted a playful look in his eyes and hesitated for a moment over whether to shake hands with Leo or not.

"What's wrong, sweetie? Don't you like me being your brother?"

Leo raised an eyebrow, and under pressure, I reached out and held his fingertips.

In just two seconds, many memories flooded my mind.

Leo's tearful eyes. The irony in my voice.

I blurted out, "I'm sorry!"

"What?"

"Four years ago, I broke up with you, and there was a reason."

But now, it seemed pointless to say all this.

It was all in the past, and Leo was now my brother.

"Oh, no need to say it. I don't care anymore!"

When I walked out of the office, I felt particularly heavy-hearted.

When I went back home at night, I didn't have time to ask my mom why she sold the house.

My phone suddenly rang, and a text message with a transfer of 33,000 dollars popped up.

The sender was my mom. If it were any other time, I would definitely jump up excitedly.

But today, I didn't because this was the money from selling the house!