The amnesia, his obsession

Chapter 15: The enemy within

"The car… it belongs to someone inside the mansion."

Leonard's expression didn't change.

But the air around him did.

"Whose car?" he asked.

The guard hesitated.

A rare thing.

"Speak."

"It's registered under one of the senior staff, sir."

Isabella raised a brow.

"Staff?"

Leonard's eyes narrowed.

"That doesn't make sense."

"No," the guard admitted, "it doesn't. The

driver hasn't been seen since the incident."

That made it worse.

"Find him," Leonard said immediately.

"Yes, sir." The guard responded.

The guards moved quickly, disappearing into different parts of the mansion.

But the tension didn't leave.

If anything—It grew stronger.

Isabella wrapped her arms around herself.

"This is getting out of control…"

Leonard turned to her.

And instantly, his expression softened.

Just a little."Not for you," he said.

She shook her head.

"That's not reassuring."

He stepped closer.

"It should be."

Her breath caught again.

Because he meant it.

To him…Everything was under control, even this, especially this.

"Someone tried to kill me," she said quietly. "And you're acting like it's just another problem to solve."

His gaze darkened.

"It is."

That answer sent a chill down her spine.

"Leonard—"

"I will handle it." He interrupted.

His voice was calm, too calm.

"And until I do," he continued, "you stay where I can see you."

"There you go again," she said softly. "Deciding everything."

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"Because you keep putting yourself in danger."

"I didn't ask for this!"

Her voice rose slightly.Emotion breaking through.

"I didn't ask to be watched, or targeted, or—" her voice cracked, "—or dragged into whatever this is!"

Silence followed.

Leonard didn't interrupt her, didn't stop her.

He just watched.

Then—He stepped closer slowly

"You're already in it," he said quietly.

Her chest tightened.

"And I'm not letting anything happen to you."

His hand lifted again—Brushing lightly against her arm.

This time, she didn't pull away.

But she didn't relax either.

Because this protection…Still felt like a cage.

Before she could respond—

Footsteps echoed behind them fast, urgent.

"Sir!"

One of the guards rushed in.

Leonard turned instantly.

"What is it?"

"We found the driver."

The room went still.

"Where?"

The guard hesitated.

And that hesitation—Said everything.

Leonard's eyes darkened.

"Say it."

"…in the staff quarters."

A pause.

Then—

"He's dead." The guard added

Isabella gasped softly.

"What?" she whispered.

Leonard didn't move.

"How?" he asked coldly.

"Poison," the guard replied. "It looks recent."

That meant one thing.

Someone had silenced him, someone inside the mansion, watching, waiting.

Isabella's heart started racing again.

"This isn't just about me anymore," she said.

Leonard's jaw tightened.

"No," he said slowly. "It's not."

His eyes darkened as realization settled in.

"This is a setup."

"A setup?" she asked.

"To make it look like the threat is gone," he said. "When it's not."

The room suddenly felt unsafe.

Every corner, every shadow, every person.

"Leonard…" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

He turned to her immediately.

And for the first time—

She saw it clearly.

Not just control.Not just power.

But something deeper.

Fear.

Not for himself but for her.

"Come here," he said.

And this time—She didn't hesitate.

She stepped into his arms and he held her tightly.

Like letting go wasn't an option anymore.

Upstairs—

In the shadows of the mansion—A door creaked open slowly.

A figure stepped out quietly.

Watching, listening, planning.

And then—A whisper.

"She was supposed to die tonight…"

But nobody saw or heard the person, then suddenly disappeared into thin air.