NovelEnglishChapter 7: Leonardo's POV
| remember the first day Claire walked into my office. Her eyes were undeniably familiar. | knew | had seen them before.
For a secretary, she had an extrlevel professionalism which ledto forget about where | knew her from and focus on work - we worked well
together. She was always in sync.
One day, I received one of the many calls from my parents urgingto get married. | had every intention of marrying one day but it wasn't a priority and
having constant reminders was tiring. By the end of that conversation, | was spent and a migraine had already begun to surface. | had multiple girlfriends
before and our relationships were always great in the beginning, that is until Charlotte would intervene. | was always available to Charlotte with no
exceptions and that was intolerable for each one of them. None of them could accept the amount of attention I'd dedicate to her or the relationship | had
with her.
One of my exes went so far as to label Charlotte a ‘hwrecker’ and each one of them requested that | stay away from her. | despised that Charlotte
lost her ability to walk and | was aware that she would ask for attention with every intention of causing a rift in my relationships. But | was also
understanding - seeing that she was afraid of my relationships causing distance between her and I.
It was too much to bear for any of my relationships. None could withstand the dedication they longed for - being given to someone else and a breakup
followed each time.
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This happened so often that | had developed a way of avoiding relationships altogether.
Then there was Claire.
After the call, Claire happened to walk into my office and | blurted out “Claire, go on a date with me” while
reviewing documents that needed to be sent out. | don’t what it was that madewant a relationship. | didn’t
feel the need to avoid her. | enjoyed her company, although it was paid - it broughtjoy. A joy | had constantly
and deliberately tried to ignore.
When Claire agreed to go out with- | felt something change. | would be eager to finish my work and be with
her.
Everything just fit when it cto my twith Claire. She eased my stress, madehappy and | was relaxed
around her and | had never felt that before.
In the last five years, the entirety of our marriage, Claire has been a phenomenal wife. She was understanding of
my situation and care for Charlotte.
until today.
Why did you do this? Why would you purposely hurt Charlotte?
“It was an accident”. That was part of her rambled response.
| can still remember the way her eyes looked as she beggedto believe her, the red tear-blotched eyes as she
denied what she had done. That conversation had ended once | left the room and Claire to hurry Charlotte to the
hospital.
After taking the tto get Charlotte situated in the car safely, | sped to the hospital with not another thought
on my mind nor care to.
“Leo, | don’t think Claire meant to hurt me. We were having a bit of heated discussion at that moment, but |
don’t remember it being on purpose.” Charlotte said this from hospital bed where she lay with a pale face. The
doctor said temporary memory loss isn’t uncommon with a head injury but he also said her injuries don’t
indicate that being a symptom.
“Don’t worry, | will deal with her.” Making a promise I'd have no choice but to uphold to somehow. “You just need
to get srest.”
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Claire was firm on this matter - proclaiming coincidence and innocence. How was | going to solve or handle this
problem? | had to figure it out - | promised Charlotte. | would.
| left Charlotte's room and ward and walked the neighboring wards just to breathe.
1 walked endless corridors until | stopped at one with a familiar shadow. Is that Claire?
| watched for a moment and it was Claire. She was pale and looked ill. Was she injured too?
| remember shoving her out of the way as | went to assist Charlotte. Did | shove her too hard? Did | hurt her?
1 decide to check on her.
Entering the room, | see a man sitting at her bedside, chatting with my wife happily, smiling at her with his hand on my her shoulder.
“Claire.” I heard myself calling her eagerly and jealously.
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