The amnesia, his obsession

Chapter 24:The truth broke him

Sometimes the truth doesn't break you...

It's the timing that does.

That question...That one questionWas the hardest.

Isabella's voice softened.

"Because you saw me," she said.

Leonard's fingers curled slightly at his side.

"And now?" he asked.

Her chest tightened.

"Now you don't," she whispered.

That hit.

Harder than anything else.

Leonard took a step back.

Running a hand through his hair, frustration building.

Because nothing made sense—

But somehow— It all felt real.

"This doesn't explain everything," he said.

"It's not supposed to," Isabella replied.

He looked at her again.

Like he was trying to decide something, something important.

Victoria stepped forward suddenly.

"You're forgetting one thing," she said coldly.

Leonard didn't look at her.

"What?" he asked.

Victoria's eyes locked onto Isabella.

And then—

"She was going to leave you."

Silence.

Isabella froze.

Because that— Wasn't entirely false.

Leonard's gaze snapped back to her, sharp, dangerous.

"Is that true?" He asked

Sometimes the truth doesn't break you...

"She was going to leave you."

For some seconds the hallway feel heavy

Her heart stopped for a second.

She couldn't breathe because no matter how she answered—

It would hurt him.

And yet... She couldn't lie anymore.

"...Yes," she whispered.

The word barely left her lips— But it hit like a gunshot.

Leonard went still, completely still.

Victoria watched closely, satisfied.

"I knew it," she said softly.

"Why?" Leonard didn't even look at her.

That question— Was for Isabella.

Her chest tightened painfully.

"It wasn't what you think," she said quickly.

"Then explain it," he said.

His voice was calm, too calm.

The kind of calm that came before something worse.

"I wanted to leave because..." she hesitated.

"Because I thought you didn't want me," she finished.

Leonard let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"So you decided that for me?" he asked.

"No," she shook her head. "You made it clear."

"When?"His eyes locked onto hers.

"Before the accident," she said softly. "You pushed me away."

A flicker of something crossed his face.Frustration.

Because he couldn't remember.

"I don't remember doing that," he said.

"I know," she whispered.

"And yet I'm supposed to believe it?"

Her heart cracked.

"I'm not asking you to believe it," she said. "I'm telling you what happened."

Victoria stepped in again.

"Or what she wants you to believe," she added smoothly.

Leonard didn't respond but the doubt Was there.Growing.

"Did you love me?"

The question came suddenly and direct.

Isabella froze.

Because this— This was the real question.

Not the contract, not the past, but this.

"Yes," she said.

No hesitation this time, no fear.

Just truth.

Silence followed.

Leonard's expression didn't soften.

"If you loved me," he said slowly, "why were you leaving?"

Her breath caught.

"Because loving you was starting to hurt more than staying," she whispered.

That—

That hit him hard.

His jaw tightened.

"And now?" he asked.

She looked at him.

Eyes filled with something fragile.

Something real.

"I still do," she said.

Victoria scoffed.

"This is ridiculous—"

"Stop talking." Leonard's voice cut through the air.

Cold, final.

Victoria went silent.

Because this time— He didn't even look at her.

All his attention—Was on Isabella.

"You were going to walk away?," he asked.

"Yes." She replied

"And now you're here."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Her chest rose and fell slowly.

"Because you got hurt," she said.

"That's it?" he asked.

"No," she whispered.

A pause.

"Because I couldn't leave."

Leonard stared at her for some moment without a word.

Trying to understand, trying to fight that feeling again, that pull, that connection he couldn't explain.

"You don't get to do that," he said suddenly.

Her brows furrowed.

"Do what?"

"Leave... and then come back like nothing happened."

His voice was sharper now."That's not fair."

Her chest tightened. "I wasn't trying to hurt you," she said.

"But you did."

The words came instantly.

Without hesitation and that— shocked even him.

Because he shouldn't feel hurt, he didn't remember anything.

And yet— He did.

Leonard stepped closer, too close.

His presence overwhelming.

"You don't remember me," Isabella said softly.

"No," he replied.

"Then why are you angry?"

He hesitated didn't have an answer, not one that made sense.

But his eyes darkened anyway.

"Because it feels like you left me," he said.

Her heart shattered.

Even without memories— He felt it.

I didn't leave... I was planning to," she stated " because I was never loved by you in the marriage."

He stood froze staring at her " really, I didn't realize that."

Victoria's expression hardened.

Because this— Was slipping out of her control.

She stepped forward quickly.

"Leonard, you're letting emotions confuse you—"

"I don't care," he snapped.

His gaze returned to Isabella.

Burning now, possessive, unsteady.

And then—

"If you were going to leave... then don't come back again."

Isabella froze.

Because those words, Felt final.

But his next words contradicted everything.

"But if you stay... you don't get to leave this time."