Chapter 7
After ten days in the hospital, the scab had formed on Isabelle’s wound.
During this time, Leonard stayed in the hospital room every day, serving tea, pouring water, changing bandages, and attending to her every need.
While she gradually recovered, he fell ill, running a fever for several days. With two patients in the house, Anora came to help.
She drove them both home, constantly running between monitoring the medicine brewing in the kitchen and changing Isabelle’s bandages.
“Rest and heal properly. I’ll bring up your pregnancy–preserving medicine soon. Remember to take it.”
Isabelle agreed.
When the medicine arrived, she didn’t drink a drop, pouring it all into the toilet.
After a few days of rest, she could barely get around. She picked up her empty plate to take it downstairs, wanting to get some sun outside.
Passing the study, she heard something shatter inside.
The door was ajar, and Isabelle caught a glimpse of Anora.
She was staring blankly at photos on the wall, her hands trembling, her face filled with complex emotions.
After a while, she came to her senses, tore down the photos, and threw
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everything from the cabinet into a box.
Seeing her about to come out, Isabelle quickly retreated to the balcony at he end of the hallway.
Soon after, Anora appeared at the garbage can by the door.
She threw all the gifts inside. The photos, love letters, and diary were torn o shreds.
After finishing, she made a phone call and asked Leonard to come down.
The two argued fiercely over the trash. They were too far away for sabelle to hear clearly, but she caught the last few sentences.
These things shouldn’t be in the study. What if Bella goes in and sees hem someday?
‘She doesn’t have the key to the study, and she wouldn’t enter without my permission.
Are you sure? What if she does go in? Have you thought about how heartbroken she’d be? She loves you so much.
fact that I’ve always
So what if she’s heartbroken? Would that change the loved you and no one else? Anora, don’t worry about others. I just want to know one thing: Do you still have feelings for me? Just say yes, and I’ll divorce her immediately!”
Hearing this, Anora’s expression changed dramatically. She hurriedly flagged down a car and left.
Watching the two part ways unhappily, Isabelle silently raised her hand to her chest.
Her heart was beating much faster, almost jumping out of her chest,
feeling slightly numb, but not as painful as before.
It seemed the wound in her heart was gradually healing too.
That was good.
Downstairs, Leonard retrieved the things Anora had thrown away from the garbage can and took them back to his study.
Then he locked the door and didn’t come out for three days and nights.
Isabelle knew he was piecing together the torn fragments, but she didn’t disturb him, only making sure food was delivered to him on time.
Once her leg was working normally, Isabelle met friends for meals and small gatherings.
After dinner, she went to pay the bill. Passing by the largest private room, she heard a familiar name.
“Leonard, you’re usually so busy. We thought you wouldn’t have time for the reunion, so we didn’t invite you. Forgive us.”
“What are you talking about? Anora is here, so how could Leonard miss it? Don’t you know they were the talk of the whole college back then?”
“How could I not? Leonard bought tens of thousands of roses for his declaration of love on the campus grounds. I witnessed it! I can still hum the songs he wrote for Anora…”
Isabelle listened quietly for a while, suddenly imagining Leonard in a suit, playing guitar as he confessed his love.
But no matter how she pictured it, the scene felt deeply incongruous.
After thinking for a moment, she realized what was wrong.
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Chapter 7
The people in the room were describing twenty–year–old Leonard.
The person he loved was Anora.
It had nothing to do with her.
Of course it felt wrong.
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