Chapter 553
Chapter 553:
Leandro’s usually stoic expression betrayed a flicker of urgency. As he reached for Amelia’s hand, Wyatt stepped in swiftly, preventing contact.
Amelia met Leandro’s eyes and shook her head. “I genuinely can’t recall p>
Fifteen years ago Amelia had been eight. If she had truly rescued Leandro, such a moment would have remained in her memory. She searched her mind, but no trace of the event surfaced. She also had no idea why Katrina’s bracelet appeared in Leandro’s recollection.
“Mr. Rodriguez, you might be mistaking me for someone else. I haven’t—” Amelia began.
“No, it was absolutely you back then!” Leandro interrupted, his conviction leaving her speechless.
One of Leandro’s bodyguards approached and murmured something to him. A sudden glint sparked in Leandro’s eyes. After glancing at his phone, he turned to Amelia with excitement. “Were you seriously ill when you were eight years old p>
𝖬𝗈rе 𝗇𝘰𝘃𝗲𝘭s о𝘯 𝗴a𝗅𝗻𝗈𝗏е𝘭𝘴.сom
He showed her the phone screen: detailed records from her past. After encountering Amelia at the café, he had been struck by an uncanny familiarity and decided to investigate. The findings, he said, confirmed his suspicion—Amelia was the girl from years ago, which explained his sense of recognition.
As Amelia sat in quiet contemplation, a memory surfaced: she had suffered a high fever at eight that lasted three days. Though she recovered physically after treatment, many memories from before that time had vanished. Could she truly have been the one who saved Leandro’s life?
“See, there’s an airline record. You traveled to that place fifteen years ago.” Leandro produced an old photograph and passed it to her. The image showed airline ticket records from fifteen years ago—records bearing both Amelia’s and Katrina’s names.
At that moment, a memory stirred within Amelia about her collection of delicate black-pearl jewelry. It was a set of exquisite, rare pieces—a petite necklace and a ring crafted as if for a child. Amelia had once, out of curiosity, asked Michelle about their origin, and Michelle had casually mentioned that Amelia herself had brought them back from a trip. At the time Amelia had dismissed it as a playful jest, since she had no recollection of such a journey. Now the realization dawned that those jewels were indeed keepsakes from that forgotten trip.
As Amelia’s mind wrestled with these revelations, Leandro spoke. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know the bracelet was your mother’s p>
“I can’t accept your apology,” Amelia cut him off, her voice icy. Locking eyes with him, she continued, “You’re only saying sorry because you mistook someone else for me, not because of your actions. You must have known Brielle’s true character, yet you still chose to support her despite her wrongs. I can’t forgive that p>
Her words, calm but edged with anger, left the restaurant steeped in tense silence. Kelsey, sensing the pressure in the air, gently tugged Amelia’s sleeve. “Should we find another place to eat p>
Before Amelia could answer, Leandro interjected, “There’s no need for that; I’ll handle it.” He strode toward the exit, his face darkening as he passed Brielle, and ordered his bodyguard, “Bring her with us p>
During Amelia and Leandro’s exchange, Brielle had huddled in a corner, desperately hoping he would forget she was there. Her time with Leandro had revealed his ruthless nature, and the thought of being taken away by him filled her with dread. At Leandro’s command, his bodyguard seized Brielle’s broken wrist, sending a jolt of agonizing pain through her.
Yet her terror about what might follow drowned out the pain. She cast desperate, imploring glances at Amelia and the others, finally fixing her eyes on Shepard. “Shepard, we’ve grown up together. For that reason, please save me!” she pleaded.
Before Shepard could answer, Kelsey snapped, “If you even think about helping her, I’ll change my mind about marrying you p>
Amelia, who had been focused on Brielle, whipped her head toward Shepard and Kelsey; even Wyatt’s usually composed expression betrayed a flicker of surprise. As the bodyguard dragged Brielle away, Amelia turned to Shepard, curiosity bright in her face. “Are you and Kelsey getting married? When is the wedding? Where will it be held p>