Chapter 159
Leo pushed her away.
Staggering several steps back, she braced herself against the icy wall. “Yes, I am not your Big Eyes.” Elyse tightly shut her eyes.
Silence.
Leo gazed upon Elyse in stony silence, not a hint of emotion appeared on his chiseled features as his lips formed a tight line. However, beneath the calm exterior raged a tempest of turmoil, a tumultuous sea that threatened to surge forth at any moment. His fingers clenched together silently. It was impossible to tell if he was feeling pain, shock, or something else entirely.
Under his gaze, Elyse’s lashes quivered and her face was etched with pain and sadness. He broke the silence after a long time, asking, “Even if you didn’t know that I had mistaken you for someone four years ago, why didn’t you explain after that?”
Tears streamed down Elyse’s face as she gazed back at him with a look of heartbreak and vulnerability. “Your love was like a labyrinth, and I got lost in it, step by step. I forgot why I played along as your Big Eyes back then. I was spineless. It’s not your fault; it’s mine.”
After listening to Elyse’s words, Leo realized that the Big Eyes she was referring to wasn’t what he was thinking. He stood rooted to the spot, watching her as she tightly clenched her fingers, hiding the wounds inflicted by her nails on her palms.
She was frightened by the thought that once she lost the title of “Big Eyes,” she would be doomed. In any way. she knew she couldn’t let Leo suspect her.
Elyse took a step forward, shakily grabbing Leo’s hand. About the woman you just asked, I recalled something about it. She’s the doctor who treated your eyes for you back then. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her, so I didn’t think of it right away, Leony, please don’t be mad.”
Seeing that Leo was still unmoved, she hung her head low and wiped her tears. “Leony, we’ve already broken. up. Do I still need to lie to you? Besides, that doctor didn’t even recognize me. It has been so long, and everyone has changed. It’s normal to not recognize someone.”
Elyse’s words made sense.
Without indicating whether he believed her or not, Leo relaxed his tense body.
After Elyse sensed his change, her nerves, which were close to breaking, finally relaxed a little as well.
That was close.
“It’s getting fate and your hady hasn’t fully rerrwered vel Ier’s get hack muickly Flyep caid nulling him
However, Leo didn’t move; instead, he rubbed his forehead. “Since we’re here, let’s go say hello.”
Thump!
Elyse’s heart thumped as her face drained of color. Her eyes trembled, wondering if he hadn’t truly trusted her.
She wasn’t sure how much the doctor knew about “Big Eyes”. But one thing she knew was if they met face to face, her facade would crumble.
On the other hand, Leo, who proposed the idea, remained still. He stood there, observing Elyse with piercing. hawk-like eyes. Every tiny expression on her face was captured and analyzed by him as his gaze grew more
intense.
Elyse felt her chest tighten and ache with each passing moment. If it turned out that she wasn’t the real “Big Eyes”, it would mean that he had made a huge mistake nine years ago. How could he face the real “Big Eyes” with any shred of dignity?
Despite the tumultuous waves of uncertainty storming within him, Leo chose to search for the truth. He was no coward, cowering from the possibility of error and seeking refuge in avoidance. With a firm grip, he took Elyse’s hand and strode toward the doctor.
“Mr. Albert.” In the blink of an eye, the two arrived before the doctor, and Leo greeted him.
Mr. Albert was in the middle of a phone call, but upon seeing Leo and Elyse approach, he promptly hung up.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)