After Amnesia, I Took Back Everything I Gave My Football Star Boyfriend Chapter 11

After Amnesia, I Took Back Everything I Gave My Football Star Boyfriend Chapter 11

Leon had barely finished his film session when he was forced to explain his entire romantic history to me before his next practice.

The conclusion was simple: he liked me too.

Almost every rumor about him over the years had either been staged to scare off the women his family tried to pair him with or created for the team’s publicity campaigns.

Not one of those so-called girlfriends had ever truly been part of his private life.

But he said he couldn’t be with me yet.

I didn’t understand at all.

“If two people like each other, why can’t they be together?”

Leon fell silent for a moment, then leaned down and looked into my eyes.

His gaze was so gentle that it nearly stripped away my ability to think clearly. My wolf began to growl with longing.

“Erin, you should still try to recover those memories.”

“The doctors said you may have selectively forgotten someone you loved deeply.”

“What if you forgot Caden because that relationship hurt too much?”

“And what if you’re only treating me as your second choice now because part of your memory is missing?”

“Once you remember everything, you might regret this. You might even hate me for taking advantage of your amnesia to get close to you.”

He gave a quiet laugh.

“I may look like a top-tier Alpha, but I’m not as strong as you think.”

“I couldn’t stand it if you hated me.”

I stood there, unsure how to respond.

Leon reached out and gently pulled me into his arms.

His cedar scent surrounded me.

My wolf didn’t resist. For the first time, she moved toward him willingly.

“Since you like me now, one hug shouldn’t be too much to ask.”

“Erin, I’ve already waited for years.”

“I can keep waiting.”

“When you’re truly certain of your feelings, I’ll still be here.”

We stayed in that uncertain relationship for an entire year.

Before long, Christmas Eve came around again.

A lot happened during that year.

The most talked-about development was Caden losing his status as one of the league’s top stars.

Nora’s verdict was simple.

“Serves him right.”

Every part of his downfall came from his own choices.

He triggered the first wave of public backlash by denying any romantic relationship with Natalie when their pairing was at the height of its popularity.

Then Natalie made the situation even worse.

The reality show had given her a public profile of her own.

At an event, a reporter asked what she thought about Caden claiming they were only siblings.

Tears filled her eyes in front of the cameras, but she still maintained a graceful smile.

“Yes, we’ve always been like brother and sister.”

“Caden is extremely career-driven. Of course I would never interfere with his future.”

“I hope everyone will stop misunderstanding our relationship.”

Her deliberately vague response immediately earned her a huge wave of sympathy.

Fans became convinced that Caden and Natalie had always loved each other, but after losing the Winter family’s resources, he had been forced to get back into my good graces.

Unfortunately, Caden realized his mistake far too late.

By the time he tried to approach me again, he had already lost the last of his public goodwill.

His performance had become erratic, his commercial backing was gone, and his fans no longer trusted him.

As for Natalie, who had used him to gain attention, her time in the spotlight didn’t last long either.

She had ambition, but she didn’t understand how to keep professional and personal boundaries separate.

Later, Caden anonymously sent a married executive’s wife the address of the hotel where Natalie had been secretly meeting her husband.

The whole thing turned into a public scandal.

Of course, none of that had anything to do with me anymore.

Heavy snow fell over Chicago on Christmas Eve.

I invited all my friends to my Gold Coast home, where we decorated the Christmas tree and exchanged gifts.

A thirteen-foot tree stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Its lights reflected in the glass, blending with the Chicago skyline outside.

Nora leaned against her boyfriend’s shoulder and sighed contentedly.

“It’s so nice having everyone you love close by.”

I instinctively turned to look for Leon.

Only then did I realize he had disappeared at some point.

A growing sense of unease settled over me.

Over the past year, I had become more and more certain of my feelings.

But Leon had started keeping his distance.

Every time I tried to take our relationship further, he stepped back, insisting that my memories still hadn’t returned.

Chasing a man who was far too cautious was genuinely exhausting.