When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)
Chapter 159

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 ler'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.

"I just saw you walking over from the ward. Are you feeling unwell? Why come all the way to a hospital like ours when you're sick?" he inquired with concern.

Faced with the doctor's worries, Leo merely curled his lip slightly before pushing Elyse forward slightly.

"Just accompanying a friend," he replied.

The doctor's gaze settled on Elyse's figure, who now appeared pale as death. Despite the massive changes in her life, she still had the same face she had as a child, and she hadn't had any plastic surgery. Her features were also vastly different from Amelie's!

"Well, well, if it isn't the famous Elyse, Miss Clayton?" The doctor's voice rang with surprise in her ear. "My son is one of your biggest fans, and to this day, there are posters of you all over our home." Snap! Like a fragile string that had finally snapped under one last strain, Elyse completely broke down. Desperation, fear, shame, and embarrassment swelled up within her, a tidal wave that erased the last shreds of her dignity as she avoided eye contact with Leo.

Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground. In an instant, a hand steadied her.

"Miss Clayton, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" It was the doctor who was supporting her

child, always up and about in the germ-infested hospitals. I've never seen you get a cold or fever before."

"Huh?" Elyse's eyes popped open in disbelief as she heard the doctor's final words.

She was caught off guard herself.

Her gaze was steadfast as she fixed her eyes on Mr. Albert, which only lasted two seconds.

She didn't bother to inquire about why Mr. Albert had made that statement, but, like grasping at a lifeline, she quickly nodded, "Yes, I've been living abroad for these years, so my habits have gotten out of hand. and my health has declined."

"When you think about it, our country's customs and traditions are actually the best. Don't go abroad again."

"You're right."

After the small talk, Mr. Albert excused himself and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Elyse snuggled up into Leo's arm. "Leony, I never thought that he would still remember me. You can be at ease now."

Leo simply agreed, giving her a gentle squeeze on her shoulder. "Let's go."

Upon returning to the hotel, Elyse felt as if her heart was a hollow shell, swaying unsteadily.

Exhausted and devoid of the energy to engage in further conversation with Leo, she collapsed onto the bed, covering her face with her hands. The overwhelming feelings of sadness and shame washed over her like a tidal wave. This humiliation wasn't born from Leo's previous attitude, but from the fact that she, the proud Elyse, had fallen so low. She never imagined she would have to live a life shrouded in secrecy, relying on the success of others to get by.

When had she ever lived such a messy life?

As she lay there, lost in her thoughts, a shadow slowly approached, gradually enveloping her in its darkness. When Elyse finally realized it, the figure was already standing at the foot of her bed. Believing it to be Leo, her heart leaped with joy. "Leony, I knew you...!"

Unfortunately, her face fell upon the sight of a stranger as she looked up. The joy on her face was replaced by

coldness and caution.

"How did you get here?" she asked warily.