The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

Leila was in a state of utter panic, scrambling on her hands and knees, clinging desperately to Yuri's legs as tears and snot streamed down her face. "Yuri, please, don't do this. I swear I've learned my lesson. Don't send me to jail. I'll do anything, I'll leave Craneville. Please, just don't treat me like this." The thought of prison chilled her to the bone. What would become of her if she were locked up?

Yuri shook her off and strode away without a backward glance.

Realizing her pleas were futile, Leila's desperation turned to bitter laughter. "Yuri, you betrayed me first. You're the one to blame. You and your precious daughter, and Juliana too-they all deserve to rot!" After leaving Leila's villa, Yuri severed all ties with Leila's family.

In less than three days, Leila's family empire crumbled into bankruptcy. For years, they had leached off the prosperity of the Lynette family, and without Yuri's support, they were nothing but a house of cards caught in a gust of wind.

Members of Leila's family came begging, one after another, but Yuri wouldn't even grant them an audience. His focus was solely on the sterile white room of the hospital.

Brittany had been unconscious for a full week, with no sign of waking.

The police found her beaten with iron rods, and one blow to the back of her head was particularly severe. Despite undergoing several surgeries to alleviate the brain bleeding, the doctors couldn't predict when -or if she would wake up.

Yuri's mood grew darker by the day, and even the household staff tiptoed around him, fearing his wrath.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

Half a month passed, and the police brought news that seemed to seal their fate. Traces of Isaac's DNA were found at the base of a cliff, by a lake that had been thoroughly searched to no avail. "We've done all we can, Mr. Lynette," the lead detective said, fully aware of Yuri's temperament. "It's been half a month. It's time to stop the search."

"Mr. Lynette, my condolences."

Yuri closed his eyes in desperation, "Leave now."

The police felt relieved and made a swift exit, signaling his team to pack up.

The news of Isaac's accident reached Noel Salter immediately, and he was there in a heartbeat. Learning that the police had given up the search nearly drove him to vandalize the police station. Rain poured down on Craneville, pounding against the windows. In the hushed hospital room, the woman on the bed was hooked up to a labyrinth of tubes, while the heart monitor beeped steadily, a testament to the life still within her.

Brittany was lost in the fog of unconsciousness, struggling to break free but sinking deeper into darkness.

After what felt like an eternity, the fog began to lift. The sound of the rain intensified, accompanied by hurried footsteps and the ticking of a clock.

Brittany felt trapped in a cage of countless locks and chains until, after the deluge, a clear sky appeared, and the chains shattered.

Slowly, she opened her eyes to a bright white ceiling and blinked, her gaze vacant.

The nurse noticed her stirring and immediately notified the doctors and Yuri.

After a battery of tests, Yuri sat by Brittany's bedside, holding her hand. "Bri, you're finally awake."

Brittany met the eyes of the man before her, a burning sensation in her throat. Her chest felt tight, as if being squeezed.

She opened her mouth to speak, and finally managed to whisper, "Who are you?"

Yuri was stunned, turning to the doctor in alarm. "What's wrong with my daughter?"

"Mr. Lynette," the lead doctor began with a troubled expression, "your daughter suffered significant brain trauma. We've removed a portion of the clot, but there's residual bleeding we couldn't reach, likely compressing her nerves. She may have temporarily lost her memories."