Chapter 427
After lunch, the elderly lady led Isabella and David into the freshly arranged room.
"This was Isabella's room. Now it's your bridal suite."
"The bed is new, and the linens were just sun-dried."
She had personally maintained this room for years, never letting it change.
From the furniture to the small trinkets, everything remained exactly as it was.
She never allowed anyone else to clean it.
Even while abroad, she returned every six months just to tidy it herself.
She guarded it like a precious treasure, preserving its original state.
Just as expected—
The moment Isabella stepped inside, memories flooded back.
From childhood innocence to teenage secrets, and the first flutterings of young love…
This room held her entire youth.
Suddenly, blurred fragments flashed through her mind—
A shattered vase. A dim corner. A bloodied blade. And… a woman's tear-streaked face.
"Isabella? What's wrong?" David noticed her change immediately.
The elderly lady hurried over. "Are you feeling unwell? Let me open a window."
Cold air rushed in, jolting Isabella back to awareness.
"It's nothing… just a bit dizzy." She waved a pale hand. "I'm fine now."
The elderly lady checked再三 before leaving.
"Rest well after your journey," she reminded them before closing the door.
David saw her out, then returned to Isabella's side.
"What happened just now?"
His wife couldn't hide anything from him.
She leaned against him on the edge of the bed. "I think… I remembered something."
"What did you remember?"
"But it's still so vague…"
David sighed softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't force it. It will come back when the time is right."
"Yes."
Isabella nodded, slowly releasing a breath.
David's gaze fell on the opposite wall cabinet, filled with various certificates, medals, and trophies.
"My wife was this outstanding?"
Vocal music, dance, piano, chess, competitions…
"Is there anything you couldn't do?"
Through these honors, he could almost see the younger Isabella—the girl he never knew but always admired.
"Of course! I wouldn't say I mastered everything, but I had my talents."
David marveled, "What luck did I have to marry a goddess? This backstory would make you the female lead in one of your novels, right?"
Isabella shook her head. "Not even close. My male leads are either serial killers, reclusive detectives, or mentally unstable patients."
"…"
Isabella stood and looked around the familiar room, feeling a sense of peace.
They had spent the morning on the subway and were tired, so they lay down for a nap.
When Isabella woke, she found David browsing an old photo album.
His expression was focused, his gaze tender.
She crept closer, hoping to startle him.
But the man didn't even turn his head. "Aren't you a little old for games like that?"
Isabella was surprised. "How did you know I was awake?"
David chuckled, pointing at the wall ahead. "Your shadow gave you away."
Isabella glanced at the wall and felt foolish.
She cleared her throat, changing the subject. "What's so interesting about that album?"
"Everything. I'm looking at the you from before." He turned a page, his voice gentle.
"When I first met you, you were pale and fragile. It was heartbreaking. You remained weak for a long time, out of breath after just a few steps. It took ages for you to recover. I thought you were naturally delicate, but look how lively you were back then…"
He spoke softly, the girl in the album merging with the Isabella before him, forming a complete picture.
Isabella's heart melted. "Losing my memories felt like drifting at sea with no origin and no destination. But then I met you. Finally, I had a place in this world."
David's gaze was tender, filled with love.
They smiled at each other, and Isabella moved closer to look at the album with him.
"How old were you here? You look like a little boy."
"Five or six, I think. At the Atlante Gardens. There was a huge fish pond there."
"Huh?" David paused at a particular page. "…Isn't that Theodore?"
In the photo, Isabella stood in the middle, beaming. Eighteen-year-old Theodore had his arm around her shoulders, smiling at the camera.
They stood under a cherry blossom tree, petals drifting around them.
The image was painfully beautiful.
Isabella's eyes flickered. "Yes, it's him."
"You knew each other that early? Even before your sister?"
Isabella said, "The three of us grew up together."
David was surprised. "Childhood friends?"
"Well…"
"You could say that."
"And you and him…" It wasn't that David was overly suspicious, but their intimacy in the photo was undeniable.
Isabella was silent for a moment, then admitted frankly, "Yes."
She had never intended to hide it. It was all in the past. They both had their own families now. There was nothing she couldn't say.
Trying to conceal it would only make her seem guilty!
David: "??"
This gossip just landed on his own head?
"Then… can you give me some details?" David blinked, putting on a pitiful expression.
Isabella: "Like what?"
"Did you date? Were you engaged? Did our parents know?"
Isabella shook her head, telling the truth. "We never officially dated. But we had feelings for each other, and our families assumed we would marry."
David: "…"
"Why so quiet?" Isabella nudged his shoulder.
"…I don't want to talk." His voice was muffled.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Isabella laughed softly.
"Yes! I am!"
He even had the nerve to sound fierce about it.
Isabella couldn't help but smile. "Go ahead, be jealous. We'll have enough for sweet and sour ribs tonight."
David suddenly sighed. "Isabella…"
"Yes?" She looked up, puzzled.
Why that tone all of a sudden?
David: "Why didn't he wait for you? Why did he marry your sister? He had no patience. Not worth it. Not worth it at all…"
He was actually… feeling that Isabella deserved better?