The Ex Who Became His Obsession novel Chapter 22

“Leonard?” Alyssia asked in shock, the name slipping out before she could stop it. She had no idea how or why he was suddenly here.

Without a word, Leonard snatched the screwdriver from Alyssia’s hand. He jammed the wardrobe’s double handles together in one swift motion and locked it shut.

“What are you doing? Charlie is still inside.” Alyssia rushed to undo it, but Leonard gripped her wrist and yanked her aside.

“How long has this been going on?” Leonard asked in an icy tone, his eyes laced with something cruel. After he finished his question, he flung Alyssia aside with one arm, leaving her to stumble back and land hard on the bed.

Alyssia looked up, dazed. She had no idea what Leonard was talking about.

Seeing nothing but confusion and innocence on her face only fueled Leonard’s fury. He spat, “You and Charlie, when did you rekindle?”

He leaned in and braced one hand on the headboard, trapping her in the narrow space between his arms.

He demanded, “To make it easier to sneak around with him, you forged a romance between me and Milena? Really, Nova, you’ve mastered the art of rewriting history.”

His face was far too close. Alyssia could see every taut line in his brow, the fire burning in those narrow eyes so much like Beatrice’s.

His godlike features were twisted with rage, contempt, and fury of a man demanding answers he thought he already had.

In the past, all of this–his anger, his coldness, and his sheer presence–would have left her trembling. But now, Alyssia’s heart was still.

There was a cool light in her eyes. When she finally spoke, her voice seemed to carry a laugh. “Forge a romance? Mr. Rivera, you’re giving me far too much credit. I could never forge a romance for as long as seven years.”

She reached down, her fingers fumbling at her bag wedged between the bed and the wall. With calm movement, she pulled out a stack of documents and photos and raised them between Leonard and her.

She sneered, “Take a good look at these. See what they really are. This is you and Milena, on the rooftop of InveSight Capital, seven years ago.

“A photo of you at her birthday party. You were holding each other. And this–just taken outside that club last week. You were whispering sweet nothings.

“You two went shopping at Brightmoor Jewelry for an engagement ring. That same afternoon, Milena made it public. Don’t tell me it was just for her grandfather’s sake. Even if it was staged, it only happened because you let it happen.

“Leonard, I’m showing you all this today for one reason. I’m not stupid. I’m not pathetic. And I refuse to be the thing standing between the two of you. I’m letting you go.”

As she said the words, Alyssia could feel years of pressure start to lift from her chest. The bitterness and suffocation finally began to clear,

But her next words caught in her throat. She swallowed hard and spoke up, “I’m also asking you… for the sake of my parents… for the sake of my mother, who fell from the rooftop of InveSight Capital… for you.”

She trembled all over as she tried hard to swallow all her emotions. “Leonard, please, just let me go.”

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Chapter 22

Her fingers uncurled. The photos spilled onto the floor like snowflakes, each one a painful fragment of a truth she could no longer hold in.

On top of the pile was the photo from seven years ago–Leonard and Milena, locked in an embrace on the rooftop of InveSight Capital.

Alyssia thought bitterly, “They could have chosen anywhere in the world to embrace each other, kiss, and make promises. But why InveSight Capital? Why that place–why the one place I can’t bear to recall?‘

Thirteen years ago, that rooftop became a scar on Alyssia’s heart that would never fully heal. It was the most violent wound buried in her memory.

And Leonard chose that place to flaunt a new love as if to mock her, as if to rip open what little healing she had left.

He was so cruel to me, so what right does he have to stop me from ending this story on my terms? Our relationship began with my foolish obsession. Let it end with my clarity,‘ thought Alyssia.

In the very next moment, Leonard’s hand shot up and clamped down on her cheeks. His fingers dug into her jaw so hard that it felt like her bones might crack.

What?” Leonard said with a mocking grin, “You can parade around with Charlie, but I’m not allowed to have Milena on my side? You wore the title of my fiancée for years and made her suffer under your shadow. What more do you want?”

Pain shot up Alyssia’s face, while tears stung her eyes. But she still forced a laugh through the ache. “I want nothing. I’m more than satisfied now that we’re over.”

She was done explaining. She had no more energy to prove her innocence with Charlie–not at the cost of her dignity, her ndependence, or the life she finally rebuilt.

Since leaving Leonard, she felt like a whole person again, like she’d finally retrieved a missing piece of herself that had been buried under years of submission and silence.

If he was so determined to see her as disloyal, as a traitor, nothing she did could change that. Every effort to prove herself would only be twisted into a performance, something to sneer at. She was done giving him that power.

‘Since you’ve admitted you’re with Milena, then what right do you have to come here and interrogate me?” she asked, forcing each word past the dull ache in her jaw.

‘So what if I’m with her? Does that take away your place in my family?” Leonard retorted.

Something in Alyssia’s helpless state only seemed to fuel Leonard. He stepped closer until he straddled her lap, shrinking the space around her until she was curled against the bedframe with nowhere left to go.

“I gave you so many chances, Alyssia, and you wasted them.” His fingers slid lower, clamping tightly around her throat.

He met her eyes and snapped, “You want to whore yourself out to Charlie? Don’t forget, you’re still just a lapdog raised by the Rivera family.”

His eyes glinted with cruelty, the words slicing slowly and sharply. “A disobedient lapdog.”

He dragged his thumb roughly along her neck and sneered, “You know what you need? A metal collar. So you never forget who owns you.”

Just then, a loud crash echoed from behind the wardrobe door. The screwdriver locking the handles rattled violently, clanging against the door as though someone inside was ready to tear the whole thing apart.

“Leonard, you fucking bastard!” Charlie roared from inside and kicked the door like crazy.

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Chapter 22

It was the first time Alyssia had ever heard Charlie curse. His voice was wild with immense fury.

Charlie had stayed silent all this time. He knew he was trapped and that any sudden movement might provoke Leonard into something worse.

But now, silence felt futile. If Charlie stayed quiet any longer, Alyssia might not survive the next second. He wanted nothing more than to rip that door apart with his bare hands, to break free and crush Leonard where he stood.

He’d given Alyssia space for the sake of her happiness, and he endured years of longing just so she could live in peace.

But this was never what he stayed away for. He didn’t leave her to see her degraded or hurt by another man.

Leonard finally let go of Alyssia. He said flatly, turning toward the wardrobe, “Oh right, almost forgot about you.”

He walked over, picked up the tool kit, and calmly pulled out a roll of electrical tape. Without a glance, he wrapped it tightly around the handles loop after loop and sealed the wardrobe shut.

Then, without a word, he leaned in with his shoulder and started pushing the wardrobe toward the window.

“Leonard-” Alyssia’s voice broke. Her entire body went rigid with fear.

She lunged at Leonard and grabbed hold of his arms. “You’re insane. What are you doing? STOP!”

Earlier, because Charlie complained about the musty air, Alyssia opened the window to let in fresh air.

They were on the fifth floor. Now, that wide–open window was a gaping mouth–black night yawning on the other side like the throat of hell.

‘Leonard, please. Let go. Don’t do this,” Alyssia begged. Her arms couldn’t hold him. Desperate, she dropped to her knees to clutch at his leg.

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