Chapter 6-

Isabella wondered. His injuries weren’t healed, and he had a fever—where could he have gone?

He had no one to rely on, was suffering from a terminal illness, and like her, was homeless. Now, with his injuries and amnesia, his situation was truly dire.

Earlier, she had driven him away out of anger. Maybe the saying ‘a sharp tongue but a soft heart’ really did apply to her.

Calming down, she realized they were both in similarly difficult situations, and she felt a sense of empathy.

Deep down, Isabella still felt sympathy for this man.

She decided to go out and look for him, but then she heard the door open.

The man stood at the doorway, dressed in casual sportswear. The sunlight from outside cast a golden glow on his tall figure. With a gentle breeze, he looked distinguished and elegant, exuding a noble aura.

Isabella was momentarily dazed.

Lucius slightly curled his lips into a smile and walked into the house with his long legs. “You’re back? It was stuffy inside, so I went out for a walk.”

In reality, he had been surveying the area.

This was an old suburban area, far from the city, secluded, surrounded by lush greenery, with beautiful scenery and fresh air. There weren’t many residents around, making it a perfect place to hide and recover.

Seeing the girl before him, with her fair round face, big bright eyes, and cute expression, Lucius felt even more satisfied.

Isabella seemed dazzled by his gentle smile, standing there in a daze.

This man could be described with words like ‘breathtakingly beautiful,’ but his dark, piercing eyes held an inherent authority, combining handsomeness with masculinity in a way that redefined the standards of a good-looking man.

Isabella wondered how his parents had managed to produce such a handsome son.

Thinking about his leukemia diagnosis, she felt a deep sense of pity. Truly, fate was cruel to the beautiful.

So, Isabella spoke more gently, “You shouldn’t move around with your injuries. Has your fever gone down?”

As she approached, her fragrance filled the air, making Lucius’s heart flutter.

He was born with an allergy, usually maintaining a distance of at least one meter from others to avoid breaking out in hives.

But this girl was different. No matter how close she got, he didn’t feel repelled or allergic. She was the first.

This was why he was determined to stay at Isabella’s house.

Besides, he found her charming and adorable, whether she was angry or smiling, he found her amusing.

Isabella, standing before this man who was at least 1.85 meters tall, felt especially petite.

She stood on her tiptoes and reached out to touch his forehead. “You’re much better, no more fever. I didn’t expect you to recover so quickly.”

Lucius was slightly stunned, feeling the gentle touch of her hand on his forehead.

Normally, he would have instinctively avoided it, but his body stayed still, as if rooted to the spot.

Lucius caught a glimpse of Isabella struggling to stand on her tiptoes, so he subtly lowered his body to make it easier for her.

However, hearing Isabella’s words, he worried she might be hinting for him to leave again. He immediately frowned and put on a delicate, weak demeanor, his voice taking on a slightly frail tone. “I still feel a bit unwell.”

‘Would your mom know about you acting so pitifully?’ Isabella thought, feeling exasperated. She tried to comfort him, “I understand you must be bankrupt, with all your assets gone and nowhere to go, so you had to end up in a shelter. And you don’t want to go to the hospital because you have leukemia and escaped because you couldn’t pay the medical bills. Don’t worry, I won’t just let you die. Although I don’t have much money, I’ll do my best to help you recover and get you back home.”

Lucius had been thinking of ways to cleverly find an excuse to stay, but her explanation was so perfect he couldn’t help but be impressed. He recalled the charity event where he left the recipient’s information on his pocket; she must have seen it.

What a wonderful misunderstanding.

Lucius quickly agreed, his tone wistful, “So my past was that tragic. Maybe it’s better I’ve forgotten. Luckily, you helped me lose my memory.”

Isabella bit her lip. His words were like a divine intervention.

Annoyed, she asked, “Was the car that picked me up arranged by you?”

“That's right.” Lucius picked up her previously water-damaged, now-repaired phone and waved it. “I fixed your phone. I used your phone to call a car for you.”

In reality, he had discreetly contacted his friend Caleb Reed to drive over and pick her up. This suburban area was inconvenient for getting around, after all.

So that’s how it was. Isabella took her phone back, somewhat impressed. “I didn’t know you could fix phones. At least you have some skills.”

Lucius blinked at her, his eyes reflecting the stars and the sea.

Isabella blushed under his gaze. He suddenly leaned in and softly called her, “Bella, I’m hungry.”

Bella?!

The way he said it made Isabella’s whole body tremble, as if a feather was lightly brushing her palm.

That was the affectionate nickname her mom and grandpa used to call her. When she was young, her mom would call her that softly, and her grandpa would use it lovingly.

It was the most tender name in her heart, but the two people who loved her the most were no longer in this world. The name felt like a distant dream.

No one had called her that in a long time.

“My name is Isabella Rivera,” she corrected, blushing.

“I know. Your name is in your phone. But calling you Bella feels natural,” Lucius said nonchalantly. “My cat’s name is Bella.”

Isabella, who had been feeling a bit touched, suddenly wanted to strangle him.

“Your cat? It looks like your memory’s coming back. What’s your name, and where do you live?” Isabella glared at him.

Lucius crossed his arms, thought for a moment, and then nodded, “Hmm, I remember now. Bella is a white cat.”

Isabella almost went crazy. “I’m asking about you!”

Lucius looked at her calmly, “I don’t know. I only remember things that left a strong impression on me.”

Isabella tried to be patient. “You don’t remember anything about yourself?”

***