Chapter 207
Jake seemed to know Lisbeth would refuse and didn't give her a chance to speak. He hung up immediately after finishing.
Lisbeth stared at the darkened phone screen for a long while. Beside her, Owen Parker—the bodyguard Sebastian had left behind—watched her for some time before finally speaking. "Ms. Whitaker, are you going?"
Lisbeth took a deep breath. "Yes."
After all, Leopold had saved her life. Though she didn't want to feel indebted, if Leopold hadn't shielded her, the thick branch that pierced into the car would have impaled her instead.
Owen hesitated. "Should I tell Mr. York?"
Lisbeth didn't hesitate. "No need. It's a small matter."
She'd discovered that while Sebastian appeared magnanimous on the surface, he was actually very jealous. He simply didn't want her to have any contact with Leopold, though he never said so.
But when he was unhappy, Lisbeth could tell.
This small matter didn't need to be mentioned.
The hospital.
In the quiet, warm hospital room, only Leopold was present.
He leaned against the headboard, his complexion even paler than a few days ago, his eyes bloodshot.
When Lisbeth entered, he immediately looked up. "You came."
Lisbeth walked to the bedside, her gaze discreetly assessing him.
Leopold lowered his eyes with a bitter smile. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not lying to you. I fainted from fever yesterday and just woke up. Jake calling you wasn't my idea, but I won't deny... I did want to see you."
How could he not see her suspicion?
Lisbeth didn't ask further. "Are you feeling better now?"
"My head hurts terribly." Leopold rubbed his forehead, still somewhat feverish. "The doctor said it might be post-concussion syndrome, or possibly from emotional turmoil."
Lisbeth said flatly, "I'll call the doctor to give you a comprehensive examination."
She turned to leave as soon as she finished speaking.
Leopold said urgently, "Do you really not want to see me that badly?"
Lisbeth's steps faltered.
Leopold said in a low voice, "I know you don't want to see me. I know using this reason to get you here makes me despicable, but I really just want to say a few words to you."
Lisbeth didn't turn around.
But she'd already realized something in her heart.
"I... I've remembered everything." Leopold's voice was soft, yet it struck like thunder in Lisbeth's ears. "I remember the first time I saw you. Your eyes were full of terror. That must be a memory you never want to recall in this lifetime, but for me, I'll never forget that scene."
Because that was their first meeting.
He was still that passionate lawyer, determined to use the law as a weapon to seek justice for all victims.
"Later... we gradually got to know each other, learned more about one another. I fell in love with you, so I proposed to you. My parents opposed it, but I still insisted on being with you without hesitation." Leopold's voice gradually lowered. "I don't know how we've come to this point today..."
Lisbeth turned to look. Deep in Leopold's eyes was pain.
She'd thought about what it would be like when Leopold remembered.
Would he regret it?
Would he feel remorse and guilt for his actions?
But that was three years ago.
After she'd lived alone with her mother and Dennis, and after she'd given birth to Anne, she'd actually stopped thinking about Leopold at all.
All that love and hate seemed to have dissipated into smoke. It didn't matter anymore.
"When did you remember?" Lisbeth asked.
This wasn't right.
Leopold had imagined countless scenarios—her expression or look when hearing he'd recovered his memory, but none were this calm.
As if she'd merely heard about some random, trivial matter.
This matter seemed insignificant, like a passing breeze to Lisbeth.
"That day of the car accident, the moment the collision happened... I didn't think at all. My body's instinct just rushed to protect you..." Leopold didn't know how to describe it. Everything had been chaotic, his mind flashing through countless fragmented images.
Their first meeting, the proposal, the wedding scene, and that accident—in the sea of flames, he'd protected Lisbeth in his arms regardless of everything.
Two accidents. One time, he'd forgotten her.
This time, he'd remembered her.
Lisbeth took a deep breath. "Leopold, since you've remembered everything from the past, I think you should know what kind of person I am."
Leopold's throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton.
Of course, he knew.
Lisbeth was stubborn, decisive. Once she decided something, she wouldn't change, no matter what.
Just like when she'd insisted on being with him, opposition from the whole world hadn't mattered.
Now that she wanted to leave, she was equally resolute.
"I hurt you. You hate me. I understand all of this, but please believe me—my love for you has never changed. I wronged you before, but now, I only ask that you give me a chance to make amends. Please, come back to me, come back to the child..." As Leopold spoke, he struggled to get out of bed but nearly fell due to his physical weakness.
Lisbeth watched him calmly, neither extending a hand to help nor approaching. They maintained a distance of six feet between them—like an insurmountable chasm.
"Leopold, calm down." Lisbeth's voice was very calm. "We can't go back to the past. Some damage has already been done. It can't be erased just because you say you're sorry."
She wouldn't accept it either.
Layla... her father... these people who'd been hurt because of her would never come back.
"But I can't forget you!" Leopold grabbed her wrist with surprising strength. "From the moment I remembered you, I could never forget you again, and I won't allow myself to forget!"
Lisbeth slowly pulled his hand away, calm and decisive. "You protected me in the car accident. I'll remember this debt. I can promise you one thing—if you encounter problems in your career in the future, as long as it's within my power, I'll help you."
"You know that's not what I want." Leopold's voice trembled, but his gaze was especially obsessive. "What I want has always been only you, Lisbeth. That's all."
"We're both adults. We should understand that you can't always get what you want. The world doesn't revolve around you." Lisbeth was much calmer than him. Aside from her initial surprise when hearing he'd recovered his memory, she'd shown almost no other emotion.
She truly didn't care about him anymore.
After Leopold realized this, he suddenly panicked. "Have you really fallen in love with Sebastian? You know he won't marry you. He's just playing around with you. Why waste your time on him?"
At this, Lisbeth finally showed some anger. "You have no right to comment on him. What's between us has nothing to do with you."
"How does it have nothing to do with me?" Leopold couldn't stand her excluding him. "Don't forget, we conceived a child together. Dennis—he's the product of when we were in love, the best proof!"
As long as this child existed, the past between them could never be erased. They had once loved each other deeply.
Leopold braced himself against the bed and stood up, slowly reaching his hand toward her. "Give me one more chance, Lisbeth. I'm begging you."
He'd always been high-spirited. When had he ever begged someone so humbly?
"Just once, just one chance..." His hand slowly approached, his fingertips about to touch the back of Lisbeth's hand—just a little bit more.
Lisbeth turned around because she'd caught sight of a figure in her peripheral vision.
Sebastian.
She didn't know how long he'd been standing at the door, standing there like a statue.