The amnesia, his obsession

Chapter 29: Crack in crown

Hours later—The doors opened.

Flashes exploded instantly.

Cameras, voices, questions flying from every direction.

"Mr. Leonard! Is the merger confirmed?"

"Who is the woman beside you?"

"Are the rumors about internal conflict true?"

Leonard stepped forward— And pulled Isabella slightly beside him. Not behind, not hidden, beside him.

"She," he said calmly, his voice cutting through the noise,

"is Isabella Deluca."

Silence.

Then chaos.

"She's not just part of this company—"

His hand brushed against hers.

Firm and certain.

"She's part of me."

The statement hit harder than any business announcement.

Isabella's heart pounded but her face remained composed.

Across the crowd—

A familiar figure stood at a distance.

Victoria again.

Her lips curved slowly into a smile.

"Perfect," she whispered.

Because now—Everything was public, everything was exposed.

And that made it easier... To destroy.

Back inside the car— The door shut, cutting off the noise.

For the first time since the announcement—

Silence returned.

Isabella turned to him.

"You just made this a war."

Leonard didn't deny it.

"It already was."

Then he looked at her—Not as a business partner, not as an obligation.

But as something far more dangerous.

"Now," he said quietly,

"They know exactly where you stand."

Isabella held his gaze, unflinching.

"Good," she replied.

A small, confident smile touched her lips.

"Because I'm not moving."

Leonard's expression raised a brow slightly—

Not in anger, in approval.

"Neither am I."

Outside—The city glittered with wealth and power.

But beneath it—The game had changed.

No more hiding, no more hesitation.

Just two people standing together.

Against a woman who was ready to burn everything down.

The headlines spread faster than fire.

"Leonard Deluca declares Wife as Power Partner, and co-owner"

"Isabella Deluca: The Woman Behind the Sudden Takeover."

"Love or Strategy? Inside Deluca Group's Bold Move."

By noon— The world was watching them.

Inside the penthouse suite overlooking Monaco's coastline, Isabella stood still,iPad in hand, scanning the flood of news.

Calm on the outside, but she knew better.

This kind of attention didn't just bring admiration.

It invited attack.

Behind her, Leonard was already in motion.

Calls, orders, control.

"I want every media outlet monitored," he said sharply into his phone.

"And trace any unusual traffic or leaks. Now."

He ended the call and turned to her.

"She's not going to wait," Isabella said quietly.

Leonard nodded once. "She already hasn't."

As if on cue— Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Isabella's eyes narrowed slightly, she answered.

"Speak."

A soft chuckle.

"Still confident."

Victoria.

Leonard's expression darkened instantly as he moved closer.

"You made a beautiful scene today, "Very convincing."" Victoria continued smoothly.

Isabella didn't respond immediately

"But I wonder..." Victoria added,

"...how long that image will last."

A pause. Then—"Check the news."

The call ended.

Silence.

Isabella slowly lowered the phone and refreshed the screen, everything changed.

A new headline flashed.

"BREAKING: Isabella Deluca Accused of Manipulating Deluca's Group Before Marriage."

Her fingers froze.

More articles followed faster, more aggressive.

"Leaked Documents Suggest Pre-Planned Marriage Strategy."

"Was Isabella a Gold Digger All Along?"

Leonard stepped forward, grabbing the iPad.

His eyes scanned the screen— and instantly turned cold.

"Fake," he said.

But Isabella's expression shifted slightly.

Because mixed within the lies—Were fragments of truth.

Old emails, business proposals, moments from before their marriage—Twisted, rearranged, weaponized.

"She planned this carefully," Isabella said softly.

Leonard looked at her.

"None of this matters."

"It does," she replied.

That made him speechless.

"This isn't just about business anymore," Isabella continued.

"It's about credibility, trust, image."

Her voice steadied, stronger now.

"If they believe I used you..."

A small pause.

"Then everything we built today collapses."

Leonard stepped closer, his gaze locked onto hers.

"Then we don't let it collapse."

Simple, direct.

Another phone rang.

This time— Leonard's.

He answered immediately.

"Yes."

A voice spoke rapidly from the other end, urgent.

Leonard's expression shifted.

"What?" he said sharply.

Isabella's chest tightened, he lowered the phone slowly.

"Say it," she demanded.

Leonard met her eyes.

"Our primary investors are pulling out."

Victoria wasn't just attacking reputation, she was hitting the foundation.

Isabella exhaled slowly.

But instead of panic—Her eyes sharpened.

"Good," she said.

Leonard frowned slightly.

"That means she thinks we're weak," Isabella continued.

A slow, dangerous smile formed on her lips.

"Let's prove her wrong."

Leonard watched her carefully.

And then, for the first time— He smiled the same way.

Minutes later— Everything moved again.

"Prepare the press conference," Isabella ordered.

Leonard raised a brow.

"You're responding publicly?" he asked.

She turned to him.

"No."

A pause.

"I'm ending it publicly."

Evening— The press gathered again.

More intense this time, more aggressive, cameras flashed, voices shouted, tension thick in the air.

And then—They appeared.

Together, stronger than before.

Isabella stepped forward this time.

Not behind Leonard, not beside him.

In front.

Silence fell.

She looked directly at the cameras.

Unshaken, unapologetic.

"Yes," she said calmly.

"I was involved with Deluca's Group before my marriage."

Gasps, whispers, shock.

Leonard's gaze stayed on her.

Steady, trusting.

"But not as manipulation," Isabella continued.

Her voice didn't waver.

"As survival."The room went still.

"I fought for my place," she added."I built my position, I made my choices."

A pause.Then—

"And I would do it again."

"Because everything I have now—"

She glanced briefly at Leonard.

"I earned."

No denial, no fear, just truth and it hit harder than any lie.

Across the crowd— Victoria watched.

Her smile slowly faded.

Because this—Was not the reaction she expected.

Back on stage—Leonard stepped forward slightly.

"And anyone who has a problem with that..."

His voice dropped final.

"Can walk away."

The message was clear, they weren't defending, they were standing, together.

And this time—They weren't breaking.

But far away—Victoria's eyes darkened.

"Fine," she whispered."If reputation doesn't break you..."

Her grip tightened around her phone.

"Then I'll break something else."

And this time—It wouldn't be business.