Lydia tracked him down to the very same bar where she'd first cracked open the vault of his memories regarding Isabella. He appeared even more crestfallen than before, as if a mountain of emotions threatened to crush him entirely.

     As she neared, he tensed up, ready to make a hasty exit. But she halted his retreat, placing her hands on his shoulders. The agony in his eyes was unmistakable, and Lydia knew it was time to reveal the final piece of the puzzle.

     Taking a deep breath, she released the last fragment of memory she'd withheld from both him and Isabella. The truth gushed forth, and she observed as it impacted him with the force of an avalanche.

                                                                               ***    ***     ***

6 Years ago...

     As Lydia shut the door, a tempest of fury swelled within her, turning her once vibrant gray eyes stormy. She pivoted on her heel, wrenching the door open again, resolved to unleash a verbal volley upon Lewis.

     He stood there, his back to her, appearing utterly desperate and adrift. When he turned to face Lydia, beseeching her once more to let him see Isabella, she remained unmoved. He vowed to dissolve his engagement with Morgana, to sacrifice everything for Isabella, but it was all too late.

     "Isabella is gone," she informed him icily. "She's been wed to another man. You should leave and never return. You're unworthy of any memories of her."

     Lydia's hand shot out to his shoulder, and simmering energy seemed to flow from her fingertips. Lewis's countenance turned puzzled, and he swayed slightly as every memory of Isabella was wrenched from his mind.

     "What have you done to me?" Lewis inquired, his voice laced with trepidation and bewilderment.

     "You'll never find her again," Lydia declared, her voice frosty and devoid of feeling.

                                                                                         ***   ***     ***

Back to present....

     As the final fragments of Lewis's memories settled into place, Lydia couldn't suppress a twinge of remorse.

     "I lied to you, Lewis," she admitted, her voice laden with emotion. "Isabella was never married off. I took away all your memories of her so you wouldn't hurt her again. She loved you too much—she still does."

     Lewis gazed at her, his expression a whirlpool of confusion, pain, and ire.

     "Why did you do it?" he questioned, his voice rough with emotion.

     Lydia shut her eyes, memories of her own past washing over her. She could still sense the sting of treachery, the anguish of watching someone she loved choose ambition above her.

     "I couldn't bear to see you hurt her again," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I know how it feels to be betrayed by someone you love. I didn't want Isabella to endure that pain."

     Tears brimmed in Lydia's eyes as she regarded Lewis, her heart burdened with regret. She had acted in what she believed was right, but in the end, she'd only inflicted more suffering.