Just as I was about to hail a cab, a sleek black car slowly pulled up in front of me. “Eve?” The car window rolled down smoothly. I looked up, still feeling lightheaded. In that instant, a familiar, refined face came into view. I froze. “Mr. Wynn?” Miles stepped out of the car and opened the passenger door, gently helping me inside. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts. “Mr. Wynn, why are you still here?” He started the engine, his tone calm and measured. “I figured you might still be at the hospital, so I circled the area. And here you are.” Reaching for a napkin, he handed it to me with a casual ease. “Were you sick just now?” I accepted it, dabbing at my mouth, and replied quietly, “Yes, a little dizzy. It’s probably a lingering effect of the concussion.” His brows knit slightly, the look in his eyes behind the glasses turning sharp and serious. That was when I realized my back was damp with cold sweat. As he drove, his voice was calm but comforting. “It
I mumbled an awkward thank you, avoiding his gaze. Miles rested his hand lightly on the steering wheel. His pale wrist, adorned with an Audemars Piguet watch, looked like a piece of art—refined, understated, and undoubtedly expensive. Suddenly, he glanced over at me. Flustered, I quickly averted my eyes, caught staring, and lowered my head. “Um... Woo… No, I mean… Miles, where am I going now?” Confusion clouded my voice. “I forgot where Dolly lives.” Miles sighed softly. “Have you really forgotten everything?” I nodded sheepishly. “The doctor said I’ve got intermittent amnesia. They’re not sure when—or if—I’ll remember everything.” He frowned, concern etched into his features. “That serious? Does Julian know?” I laughed bitterly and shook my head. “He doesn’t believe me. He thinks I’m lying.” Miles seemed visibly annoyed by my response, his gaze lingering on me longer than I expected. After a moment, he shifted gears. “Do you have WhatsApp?” Caught off guard, I blin
Miles had already stepped out of the car. Standing just outside, he gave me a soft smile. “Eve, we’re here.”I climbed out and froze, stunned by the view before me. This place was remote yet breathtaking. We were perched on a hillside, overlooking a vast expanse of deep blue coastline. The setting sun spilled brilliant streaks of color across the horizon, painting the sky and sea in hues of gold and crimson. Behind us, a lush forest of vibrant green stretched endlessly, framing the scenery like a dream. Nestled within the trees was a vintage estate, its architecture timeless and elegant. Ordinarily, such an isolated house might have exuded an eerie vibe, but this one didn’t. Instead, it brimmed with life, its stone walls draped in blooming roses—lush, extravagant, and impossibly beautiful. Clusters of red, blush pink, soft yellow, and creamy white roses climbed in vibrant waves, creating what seemed like an ocean of blossoms. I gasped, excitement bubbling up as I recogniz
His question left me at a loss for words, the explanation I had prepared lodged uncomfortably in my throat. I finally mumbled, "But my reputation isn’t good. Staying here might bring trouble to you." I avoided his gaze, staring fixedly at my toes, the weight of his silent scrutiny pressing down on me. After a long pause, a soft sigh escaped him. “Don’t overthink it. Come inside. I’ll make sure you’re settled.” He turned and walked ahead. I hesitated for a moment before trailing after him. ... The house was quiet, the staff moving about with practiced efficiency. There was an inexplicable sense of comfort here. Unlike Julian’s cold, lifeless villa, this place brimmed with traces of lived-in warmth. The slightly peeling wooden bookshelves, the western-style fireplace with its edges scorched from use, and the well-worn but impeccably maintained leather sofa all spoke of a home steeped in history and care. I sat on the sofa, awkwardly waiting as Miles went upstairs to cha
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I felt as though I were trapped in a surreal dream. The room wasn’t excessively opulent, yet it radiated an extraordinary sense of warmth and comfort. A housekeeper placed a neatly folded set of clothes beside me, smiling politely. “Miss Evelyn, these are pajamas Mr. Wynn selected for you. If they don’t fit, please let us know.”I glanced at the soft pink sleepwear and quickly nodded. “Please thank Mr. Wynn for me.”The housekeeper showed me how to use the bedside phone and the bathroom controls before leaving the room. Just as I began to settle in, my phone buzzed. It was Dolly. “Why did it take you so long to answer? I was terrified something happened! Did Julian hurt you? And how’s your arm?” she demanded, her voice rising with worry. I quickly recounted my trip to the hospital. On the other end, Dolly went silent for a moment, then burst out, “Wait! Dr. Reed? That Michael Reed? The legendary orthopedic doctor?! And who’s the ridiculously handso
When I brought up my brother, I felt a pang of sadness. "He's incredible. My brother has always been the pride of the White family."Dolly rudely interrupted me. "And what about Julian? Do you think he's impressive?"The mere mention of Julian made me uncomfortable. "Can we not talk about him?"Dolly softened her tone. "Fine, let's stick to your brother. Your brother is considered a rising star in Riverdale's business world, a prominent figure. Julian is barely catching up, but neither of them holds a candle to Miles!"I frowned. "That's a bit much. My brother is remarkable; he's no less capable than Miles."Dolly let out a scoff. "I never said your brother isn't great. But the White family doesn't have the deep foundations the Wynn family does. Look it up if you don't believe me."I fell silent. I was well aware of the White family's standing; it was indeed much smaller compared to the Wynns.Dolly snorted again. "Forget it. You're just a lovesick fool obsessed with Julian, blind to a
My head began to throb, a relentless buzzing sound filling my ears. The dizziness hit me again, and I struggled to explain, "I’m not a homewrecker... I’m not...""Not?" Kira’s voice shot up a notch. "You openly pursued Julian in your sophomore year! If that’s not being a homewrecker, then what is? Let me tell you, you ruined the relationship between Julian and Chloe. You’re the reason they broke up!""No, it’s not like that... It’s not... Dolly told me it wasn’t..." It couldn’t be true. I wasn’t a homewrecker. Dolly told me that Julian and Chloe had already broken up when I found out and began pursuing him. I wasn’t the other woman—it wasn’t possible. But how could I explain this to Kira? I had lost my memory; I didn’t even know what had happened back then. My body started trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat breaking out all over me. Regret washed over me. I shouldn’t have come to the Wynn estate. I should have stayed at the hospital earlier today. Getting admitted would’ve at
He noticed my eyes flutter open and asked gently, "Do you think I should call your brother?"I froze, unsure how to respond. A wave of bitterness surged in my chest.Dolly said my brother hadn’t spoken to me in five years. Miles studied my expression and spoke slowly. "Your situation doesn’t look good. I’ll call him in a bit anyway. He’s your brother—blood ties can’t be ignored, no matter what. When Joseph gets here, he’ll check you over. If it’s serious, you might need to stay in the hospital tonight." He added, "I wasn’t stopping you from going earlier; I was just worried there’d be no one to look after you if you were admitted alone." I could hold back my tears when he mentioned my brother. But when he said that last sentence, tears started streaming uncontrollably down my face. Seeing me cry, Miles spoke gently, "Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. You’ll be alright." He picked up his phone and stepped out to make a call. I silently wept for a while. When Miles returned
As soon as I finished speaking, dizziness hit me like a wave. My vision sparkled with flashes of gold, and I knew the pressure in my head was spiking again. Gripping Dolly’s arm for support, I whispered, "Get rid of her. I don’t want to see her." My body trembled as I spoke. I could feel this body’s reflex—anger. It was disheartening to realize that I wasn’t capable of ignoring them. I still got mad, furious even, to the point where I wanted to lose control. I couldn’t tell if it was fragments of lost memories surfacing or simply the aftermath of the concussion. All I knew was that my body felt off. Whenever anything involved Julian or Chloe, an overwhelming discomfort took over. It felt pathological, something deeply rooted in my mind. Dolly noticed immediately that something was wrong. She turned to Chloe and snapped, "Chloe, Evelyn has nothing to say to you. Whether you’re here to apologize or to flaunt something, we don’t care anymore." Her tone sharpened. "Yo
I remained speechless. It was becoming painfully clear just how unhinged I must have been before losing my memory. I actually had Dolly create a fake account to go undercover just to catch Julian cheating. Honestly, with that kind of behavior, it wasn’t hard to see why Julian and everyone else around him disliked me. I frowned, incredulous. "I even had you create a fake account? But wait, if I had her screenshots, why didn’t Julian believe me before?" Dolly rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might stay that way. "Because you didn’t dare show them to him. You sent him one once, and Chloe turned it around on you, claiming you photoshopped it to slander her. Julian believed her, not you." I was stunned. "I lost to Chloe just like that? Is Julian an idiot?" Dolly sighed. "He’s not an idiot. He just doesn’t love you."That’s why it wouldn’t matter what you said. He still wouldn’t believe you. And I think, deep down, you always knew that. That’s why you didn’t try to use thes
Miles turned and walked back through the gate, leaving the distraught Kira to be half-dragged, half-pushed into a car, luggage and all, before being driven away. I hurried back to the living room, doing my best to act as though I hadn’t seen or heard a thing. When Miles entered and saw me sitting quietly, he smiled. "Let’s go. It’s nice outside now, but the dew will get heavier if we wait too long." I cheerfully walked beside him as we headed out for a stroll. …The walk was pleasant. The night breeze was gentle, and his presence was reassuring. I found myself talking more than usual, while Miles said little, simply listening to my rambling with quiet attentiveness. I didn’t ask why he was willing to go so far as to send Kira away just to stand by me. Some things are better left unknown. I realized happiness often lied in not questioning too much. …The next day, I went to the hospital for a check-up and to have my ointments reapplied. Dolly came to visit me. Seein
After I finished eating, Miles asked, "Want to go for a walk?" "Huh?" I blinked at him, feeling like an idiot. He gestured to my wrist, still wrapped with the IV port. "The doctor said you can move around a little. Just nothing too strenuous or tiring." That was when it clicked. Miles came home specifically to keep an eye on me. He wasn’t avoiding work or choosing not to check his emails upstairs—he was quietly staying by my side to help me recover. I nodded quickly. Miles motioned for someone to bring out a pair of lightweight sneakers prepared for me. "Let’s go for a walk." Just as we were about to head out, loud voices came from the front door. I heard someone say, "Miss Smith, Mr. Wynn is busy." Kira’s fiery tone followed. "I don’t care how busy he is, he has to see me! How long does he plan to keep me dumped in a hotel? I’m not staying there another night!" "Miss Smith, please..." Instinctively, I shrank back. The last thing I wanted was another confronta
I nodded. The memories in this body seemed frozen at eighteen. Back then, my brother had just begun taking over my father’s company. The brother who used to spend all his time playing and laughing with me suddenly became someone I could hardly see. I tugged on Miles’ sleeve and asked, "Did my brother say when he’s coming back to the country?" Miles’ expression turned complicated. "You’re really eager to see him, aren’t you?" I nodded immediately. He looked at me for a moment before glancing away. "Your brother said it’ll be about a month before he can return. The new company he’s setting up overseas just started operations, and he’s also negotiating a major acquisition." He added, "Mergers and acquisitions abroad are complicated and take a lot of time. You should be prepared for that." I grew anxious. "Then where is he? Once I’m better, I can go see him!" Miles smiled gently, the kind of smile anyone would use to placate a child. "Alright. Once you’re fully recovere
I offered an awkward smile. "Oh, I see. If my brother comes around, I’ll tell him how kind you’ve been to me. I’ll make sure he treats you to a great meal." Then I paused, realizing that someone like Miles probably wouldn’t care for a casual dinner invite. I quickly corrected myself. "No, I’ll have him give you one of his best projects to handle instead. I won’t compete with you for it." Miles’s gaze deepened. "Is that how you plan to thank me?" I froze for a moment. He chuckled lightly and casually patted my head, a gesture more fitting for comforting a child. "That’s unnecessary. Even if it wasn’t for your brother, I’d still help you if it were your issue." "Why?" I asked, still baffled. Miles winked at me. "Have you forgotten? I’m your Woody." I was completely lost. Miles didn’t seem inclined to explain further. After a few more pleasantries, he left the room. Lying back on the bed, I stared at the IV drip bottle, letting my mind wander aimlessly. The more I tho
The silence stretched so long that I wondered if Julian had muted the call. Just as I was about to hang up, his voice returned. "Evelyn, it’s a misunderstanding. Today was Chloe’s birthday. I only had dinner with her to celebrate and gave her a gift I promised her a long time ago. I really…" I smiled faintly. I was sure my voice carried a light, almost casual tone when I replied, "Mr. Moore, thank you for making it abundantly clear that in this marriage, I’ve been nothing more than a complete fool. That excuse of yours—sounds like you’ve perfected it by now, haven’t you?" "It’s all a misunderstanding. It’s nothing. You’re overthinking. Don’t make a scene. Don’t act crazy. Ha... ha..."My voice dropped to a softer, colder tone. "Mr. Moore, I sincerely wish you and Miss Clarke a wonderful dinner tonight. And I hope you’ll be there to celebrate her birthday every year from now on." I ended the call and promptly blocked his number, feeling the peace settle over me once more. Pi
How could I not be angry? Even if there was no love left between Julian and me, the fact remained that he was still my husband. Yet here he was, dating another woman, showering her with flowers and a diamond ring before our divorce was even finalized. Any woman would be furious. I could vividly imagine how, before losing my memory, Chloe’s petty games had beaten me down time and time again, leaving me utterly defeated. I told Dolly, "Of course I’m angry. But getting angry only plays right into her hands. Don’t let it get to you either. Let’s just sit back and watch them dig their own grave." Dolly was silent for a while before finally saying, "Eve, my heart aches for you." Her voice quivered. "You’re so good, so kind—why can’t Julian love you? It just makes me so mad. And I’m even angrier that everyone seems blind to Chloe’s manipulative schemes." I didn’t respond, sinking into silence. Dolly kept ranting on the other end, but I felt an unusual sense of calm wash over me.
I said, "I want a divorce. Julian, if you’re truly a man, let’s end this amicably."Looking directly into his eyes, I continued, "I was young and naive before. I made mistakes. Julian, let’s set each other free."With that, I turned and left the hospital with Joseph by my side.As the elevator doors slowly closed, I caught one last glimpse of Julian’s tall, solitary figure standing in the hallway.Lowering my gaze, I refused to look at him again.I couldn’t quite describe how I felt. Relief, perhaps?At eighteen, Evelyn White had been proud and radiant, but she had loved the wrong person, clipping her own brilliant wings.At twenty-five, she was still young enough to start over.But this time, she wouldn’t fall so easily into the trap of love.I returned to the Wynn estate.Joseph continued administering the IV drip and making sure I took my medication.I complied obediently. Before leaving, he turned to me and said earnestly, "Miss White, everything will be okay."A bit surprised, I a