Chapter 4 Marked As The Guilty One

"Leonard, don't be angry. Grace didn't mean it..."

Sylvia's voice was soft and pitiful, her brows drawn together as if she were the very picture of fragile innocence.

"After all this, you're still speaking up for her?"

Leonard carefully helped Sylvia to her feet.

"Grace, I'm telling you. If you have a problem, take it out on me. But if you so much as lay a finger on Sylvia again, I swear I won't hold back."

With that, he called for a car and told Sylvia, "Come on, let's get you to the hospital."

As they left, Sylvia glanced back at Grace, the faintest trace of a smile playing at her lips.

Grace stood frozen, watching their figures disappear from view.

She should have known this would happen.

She should have known that once Leonard regained his memory, the moment Sylvia shed a single tear, she would always be the one branded as wrong.

Dragging her suitcase downstairs, Grace felt her chest weighed down as if by a boulder.

With nowhere else to go, she asked Henry for the key to the temporary dorm at the lab.

She pulled out the box of pills that could erase memories.

"The treatment requires three doses to work completely. You've only taken one. There's still time to change your mind," Henry said gently, concern clouding his eyes.

Grace brought over a glass of water, slipped the pill into her mouth, and swallowed it.

The medicine was merciful-it would take away her love, and every bitter memory with it.

Once she finished the third pill, she would be free to forget the past entirely, and walk away.

Then Leonard and Sylvia could be together in peace, without feeling weighed down by her presence.

The next day, Grace went to the company to resign.

For the past two years, she had been by Leonard's side, serving as his personal secretary.

As Grace stepped into the office, she felt the weight of stares and heard the low buzz of whispers around her.

"I heard the first thing Mr. Stone did after regaining his memory was to kick her out."

"Then why's she here today? Isn't she just asking for humiliation?"

"Enough already, stop gossiping!"

Grace lowered her head, fingers twisting the hem of her blouse.

The moment she stepped out of the elevator, she saw her office door wide open, the inside a complete mess.

A cleaning lady was gathering her belongings and setting them out in the hallway.

Grace's face drained of color.

When she handed Leonard her resignation letter, he didn't even glance at it before tossing it aside.

"Do you even realize the trouble you've caused this time? Sylvia ended up with a concussion because of you. She's still shaken, she muttered in her sleep all last night. You're coming with me to the hospital today to apologize to her in person."

Grace pointed at her resignation letter. "Mr. Stone, I'm here to resign. And for the record, I didn't push her last night."

Leonard lifted his head and locked eyes with her.

"Really? Are you saying she's stupid enough to throw herself down the stairs just to frame you? Grace, have you been watching too many soap operas?"

Then Leonard signed his name across the resignation letter.

"Originally, I thought since you couldn't keep working as my secretary, I'd transfer you to the front desk instead."

Grace gave a faint "Mm" and said, "That won't be necessary, Mr. Stone. I promised you, I'll erase every memory from these past two years. I won't disturb either of you again, you have my word."

Leonard's gaze faltered for a brief moment.

As Grace turned to leave, he called out, "Wait. I'll give you an extra month's salary."

Grace smiled faintly.

"No need."

Two years of devotion and time could never be repaid with a single month's salary.

All at once, Leonard felt like a stranger to her-so much so that it seemed she had never truly known him at all.

That night, Grace was about to take the third pill when her phone suddenly rang.

"Grace, now. Come to the Crown Trade Tower for a charity gala," Leonard ordered.

When she didn't respond, he added, "I wouldn't have called you, but Mr. Reed asked for you specifically."

When Grace had first entered the industry, there had been a time she was forced to drink at an event while filling in for Leonard. Back then, it was Brenden Reed, the vice president of Skyreach Group, who stepped in to help her.

Now that he had requested her by name, she couldn't refuse.

After some thought, Grace set the pill aside, rose to her feet, and headed out the door.