The amnesia, his obsession

Chapter 12: The truth

The words landed heavily, sharp, unsettling.

Leonard's expression darkened instantly.

"What records?" he asked.

The security guard stepped forward slightly, lowering his voice.

"Your personal archive, sir. The restricted files."

Isabella's heart skipped.

Restricted files?

Something about that didn't feel right.

Leonard didn't hesitate.

"Show me."

"Sir, it might not be safe—"

"I said, show me."

His tone left no room for argument.

Minutes later—They were inside his private office.

The room was nothing like the rest of the mansion.

No warmth, no decoration.

Just dark wood, sleek glass, and a powerful silence that made Isabella uneasy.

A large screen flickered to life.

Lines of code moved quickly.

Then— A file appeared.

"CONFIDENTIAL: MARRIAGE CONTRACT – L. DELUCA & I. HART"

Isabella's breath caught.

Leonard's eyes narrowed.

"Open it."

The guard hesitated—but obeyed.

The document expanded across the screen.

Cold and detailed.

Terms. Conditions. Duration.

And then—

The line that changed everything.

"Clause 7: Emotional detachment must be maintained. No romantic or physical involvement beyond public appearances."

The room went silent.

Isabella felt her chest tighten painfully.

Leonard didn't react immediately.

But the stillness in him. . . Was worse than anger.

"Explain this." He asked Isabella.

His voice was low, controlled, intense.

Isabella swallowed hard.

"It's... exactly what it says."

His eyes slowly turned to her.

"And yet... you told me we were close."

Her heart pounded.

"I didn't say we were in love," she whispered.

"You assumed that."

"That's not an answer."

His voice dropped further.

"Why would I agree to this?" She hesitated.

And that hesitation—Was enough.

Leonard stepped closer.

"Say it."

Isabella looked away.

"I needed something from you," she admitted softly.

The words hit harder than expected.

Leonard's jaw tightened.

"What?"

Silence for some seconds.

"Isabella."

She closed her eyes briefly.Then—

"I needed protection."

The truth slipped out.

Raw.Unfiltered.

"For what?" he demanded.

Before she could answer—The screen changed again.

Another file opened automatically.

"SURVEILLANCE REPORT: SUBJECT – ISABELLA HART"

Isabella froze.

"No..." she whispered.

Leonard's eyes darkened as he read locations, photos and notes.

She was being watched.

For a long time.

"What is this?" he asked coldly.

Isabella's hands trembled slightly.

"I don't know..." she said quickly. "I swear, I didn't know about this."

But Leonard wasn't listening anymore.

His focus shifted to something else on the screen.A name.

His expression changed.

Slowly.

"Victoria."

The single word was enough.

Isabella's stomach dropped.

The file clearly showed it, the surveillance, the tracking, the reports.

All authorized under one name. Victoria.

The room felt suffocating.

"She was watching me?" Isabella whispered.

Leonard's hands curled into fists.

"Not just watching," he said quietly.

His voice was darker now,

More dangerous than ever before.

"She was building a case."

"For what?" Isabella asked, her voice barely audible.

Leonard didn't answer immediately.

Because he had already seen it, the final page of the file.

And when he spoke— His voice carried something new.

Something terrifying.

"She was planning to remove you." He said,

Isabella's breath caught.

"Permanently."