The amnesia, his obsession

Chapter 6: The lie

The room was suffocatingly quiet.

Isabella could hear her own heartbeat—loud, uneven, betraying her calm expression.

Leonard's fingers were still wrapped around hers, warm and firm, as if letting go wasn't even an option.

"Tell me the truth, Isabella..."

His voice was low. Demanding.

Her throat tightened.

This was the moment that would change everything.

If she told him the truth—that he had never loved her, that their marriage was nothing but obligation—he might return to the same cold, distant man once his memory came back.

But if she lied...

She might finally experience the love she had been denied.

Even if it was temporary.

"I..." she hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leonard's eyes narrowed slightly, studying her face like he could see through her.

"Don't lie to me," he warned.

Her chest tightened.

But it was already too late.

"We were in love," she said softly.

The words hung in the air—fragile, dangerous, irreversible.

Leonard didn't react immediately. His gaze stayed locked on hers, searching, analyzing, as if trying to match her words with something buried deep inside him.

"And we got married because we wanted to," she added, forcing herself to continue.

Silence followed. Heavy.

Then suddenly—Leonard pulled her closer.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as her body tilted toward him, her free hand instinctively pressing against his chest for balance.

His heartbeat was steady.

Strong. Real.

"And I forgot all of that?" he murmured.

She nodded slowly. "Yes."

A flicker of something dark passed through his eyes.

"I don't like that," he said.

Her brows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I don't like that I forgot you."

His hand shifted, intertwining their fingers naturally, like it belonged there.

The intimacy of it made her breath hitch.

"If we were in love..." he continued, his voice dropping, "...then I'll just have to fall for you again."

Her heart skipped.

This wasn't part of her plan.This was something else entirely.

"But this time," he added, his gaze darkening, "you don't get to walk away."

A chill ran through her.

Not fear, something deeper, more complicated.

Before she could respond, his hand moved to her chin, tilting her face upward.

"Why are you nervous?" he asked softly.

"I'm not—" she replied

"Your heart is racing."

She couldn't deny it because it was true.

His eyes dropped to her lips, slow and intentional.

"Did I kiss you before?" he asked.

Her breath caught.

"Yes," she whispered.

Another lie.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"Then I should remember how it feels."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Leonard, you're injured—"

"That's not an answer."

He pulled her closer again, leaving no space between them.

Her breath mixed with his.

Her pulse raced uncontrollably.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered against her lips.

But his hand tightened slightly at her waist.

As if he already knew... She wouldn't.

Isabella froze.

Everything about this was wrong, but why didn't she want to stop him?

His lips hovered just a breath away—

and just before they could touch. . .

The door burst open.

"Leonard!"