James' POVI got back into my car and slammed the door shut. What Clara did wounded my pride so deeply. Did she find it amusing to act like she didn't know me and dismiss me like I was insignificant?I knew she was merely putting on a show; she doesn't forget someone that easily. Clara knew my name and my reputation long before I had any knowledge of hers. She knew who I was even before we were married. Supposedly it should be me who didn't remember her at all after five years of being apart, not her.My appetite vanished, and my mood was entirely soured by Clara's actions tonight. That was when my phone's annoying ring shattered the stillness."What else now?" I could no longer mask my sharp tone; to hell with whoever reached out to me tonight."James, my love? Are you okay?" The gentle sound of my wife's voice smoothed away the lines on my forehead. "Where did you go? Why haven't you returned yet? Is everything alright?"I cleared my throat to neutralize my voice before responding t
Clara's POVI just wrapped up dropping Layla off at her kindergarten. I usually head straight to TasteTales, but today I'm not feeling my best. It just hit me that I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon. I returned to my flat and made my way to the kitchen. I placed the toast in the toaster and cracked an egg into the pan. As I was preparing breakfast, the sound of the bell echoed through the space.Shortly after I heard the door open, I recognized it was Keith. He was the only one with access to this place. I heard footsteps coming closer, and then his voice called out to me"I'm here, in the kitchen," I exclaimed."Hey..." He lingered in the doorway, his expression weary as he gazed at me. "Thank goodness you're here.""Morning," I said with a smile as he settled into one of the chairs at the dining table. "Would you like me to prepare breakfast for you?""No need. You look much better than I thought, I'm so relieved. Do you know what happened?" He asked without fur
Clara's POVReturning to work, I found myself confronted by Diana, who was bombarding me with a barrage of questions regarding the events of yesterday. I let out a deep breath. I've said multiple times that it was nothing serious, but her curiosity just wouldn't quit."I don't know when you'll stop asking and let me do my work, Die."But she keeps talking. Now I get why her boyfriend sometimes calls her a nag."I heard heard Mr. Morgan reached out to him for a discussion. Yet he didn't do anything to that man like what he did to your other secret admirer ma'am. That's so unusual of him?""That man isn't my secret admirer," I said with a sharp edge.How can I explain to her that the reason Keith didn't confront him as he did with Lucas is that the man who came to me yesterday is his brother?"Can it be because Mr. Morgan is afraid of him?"I don't think Keith fears James, or vice versa. He has respect solely for his brother, and that's it."I don't know," I responded nonchalantly, avoi
James' POVHave you ever had a moment when your good mood was abruptly shattered, leaving you feeling so repulsed that it almost made you feel ill? That's the feeling I had when I saw my younger brother with my ex-wife, looking so happy together. Keith took Clara's hand, holding it gently as she offered him a soft smile.He smiled like an idiot teenager in love.I never thought I would cross paths with them this evening, yet here I am. I saw them from the second-floor glass window of this restaurant where Zoe and I were set to enjoy dinner tonight."What’s interesting out there?" Zoe, My wife, wrapped her arms around me from behind, resting her chin gently on my shoulder.The moment her perfume wafted through the air, it turned me on. I shifted my focus from the unpleasant scene outside to my beautiful wife, her elegant neck and bare shoulders were so alluring.“Hey, what’s with the long face?” Is there an issue with the client?” She enquired, her expression reflecting worry.I shook
Clara's POV"What's our next destination?" Keith enquired as we exited the restaurant together. Dinner had concluded, but the night was still young.I gazed at the sky adorned with stars, the moon radiating its brilliance. "Are you free tonight?"Typically, there is work that needs to be addressed. It seemed like Keith set aside time to take us out. Though he didn't show that he minded, I was afraid this might be disturbing his schedule."What is it about me being swarmed with work that you find so appealing? You just want me to feel overwhelmed and grow older faster.""Don't get me wrong, I just want to make sure since I'm familiar with your routine," I responded without glancing in his direction.I intentionally looked away from him since earlier. Worried he might see the flush on my cheeks. I noticed he was watching me ever since we had our meal; I couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking. However, it didn't resonate with me. It seemed as though he was probing into my life."
Clara's POVWe locked eyes, and for a brief moment, her expression shifted to one of sheer astonishment. Zoe likely never anticipated encountering me here tonight in this city, the woman she believed was dead five years ago.My heart raced uncontrollably, like a criminal caught in the act. I had almost forgotten about Zoe over the last few years. Now seeing her face again stirred up memories of our first encounter. It was a night at my anniversary dinner, and it was James who brought Zoe and introduced her to me. Believing we could get along with each other.Zoe's gaze moved from me to my daughter, who was now embracing my lower body with a firm grip. "H-how..." she struggled to find the right words. "Impossible. This cannot happen. I must be dreaming right now." She sounds more like talking to herself.'No. You don't'I want to say out loud yet I sealed my lips as I recalled the present situation. I remember that for the people from my past, I had lost my memories. So I no longer rem
"But this cannot happen. Who is it?" Zoe could not accept James' explanation as she now turned to me "Who has helped you to get here? There is no way you can get here because of your efforts. You do not even have money to support yourself much less travel to another city after James divorced you."I tried not to react to what Zoe said. I aimed to keep my composure on the surface if I wanted my game to thrive. Before she could pose another inquiry, I took my daughter's hand, ready to guide her away from them. Zoe had unsettled my daughter, and I was determined to keep Layla away from her, and from James especially.However, just after taking a step, I was halted by James' voice."Wait mrs.... whatever your name is." He restrained the final word he was on the verge of uttering. I turned around and stared at him. He gazed at me with an expression that suggested he wished I would reconsider."Yes?" I asked.James cleared his throat with a subtle shift in demeanor. What she said next comp
"You made me worried; I thought something might have happened to-" Keith paused as he recognized the man and woman standing before me.If I thought Zoe was shocked when she saw my face earlier, I can't even begin to find the right words to describe her reaction upon seeing Keith's face now. She, who had yet to fully comprehend that I was still alive, had to confront the reality that I had been in contact with her husband's brother all along. "Keith, what are you doing here?" She asked."You guys here as well?" Keith attempted to mask his displeasure upon spotting James and Zoe. Even though he wasn't able to fully conceal it. "So, you came here with him?" it was James who took the floor. He disregarded his brother’s question and focused on me instead.His voice was calm, yet there was something about it that felt far more disconcerting than if he had raised his voice in anger. And for some reason, I found it impossible to meet his gaze any longer. So I turned my attention to Keith i
"You made me worried; I thought something might have happened to-" Keith paused as he recognized the man and woman standing before me.If I thought Zoe was shocked when she saw my face earlier, I can't even begin to find the right words to describe her reaction upon seeing Keith's face now. She, who had yet to fully comprehend that I was still alive, had to confront the reality that I had been in contact with her husband's brother all along. "Keith, what are you doing here?" She asked."You guys here as well?" Keith attempted to mask his displeasure upon spotting James and Zoe. Even though he wasn't able to fully conceal it. "So, you came here with him?" it was James who took the floor. He disregarded his brother’s question and focused on me instead.His voice was calm, yet there was something about it that felt far more disconcerting than if he had raised his voice in anger. And for some reason, I found it impossible to meet his gaze any longer. So I turned my attention to Keith i
"But this cannot happen. Who is it?" Zoe could not accept James' explanation as she now turned to me "Who has helped you to get here? There is no way you can get here because of your efforts. You do not even have money to support yourself much less travel to another city after James divorced you."I tried not to react to what Zoe said. I aimed to keep my composure on the surface if I wanted my game to thrive. Before she could pose another inquiry, I took my daughter's hand, ready to guide her away from them. Zoe had unsettled my daughter, and I was determined to keep Layla away from her, and from James especially.However, just after taking a step, I was halted by James' voice."Wait mrs.... whatever your name is." He restrained the final word he was on the verge of uttering. I turned around and stared at him. He gazed at me with an expression that suggested he wished I would reconsider."Yes?" I asked.James cleared his throat with a subtle shift in demeanor. What she said next comp
Clara's POVWe locked eyes, and for a brief moment, her expression shifted to one of sheer astonishment. Zoe likely never anticipated encountering me here tonight in this city, the woman she believed was dead five years ago.My heart raced uncontrollably, like a criminal caught in the act. I had almost forgotten about Zoe over the last few years. Now seeing her face again stirred up memories of our first encounter. It was a night at my anniversary dinner, and it was James who brought Zoe and introduced her to me. Believing we could get along with each other.Zoe's gaze moved from me to my daughter, who was now embracing my lower body with a firm grip. "H-how..." she struggled to find the right words. "Impossible. This cannot happen. I must be dreaming right now." She sounds more like talking to herself.'No. You don't'I want to say out loud yet I sealed my lips as I recalled the present situation. I remember that for the people from my past, I had lost my memories. So I no longer rem
Clara's POV"What's our next destination?" Keith enquired as we exited the restaurant together. Dinner had concluded, but the night was still young.I gazed at the sky adorned with stars, the moon radiating its brilliance. "Are you free tonight?"Typically, there is work that needs to be addressed. It seemed like Keith set aside time to take us out. Though he didn't show that he minded, I was afraid this might be disturbing his schedule."What is it about me being swarmed with work that you find so appealing? You just want me to feel overwhelmed and grow older faster.""Don't get me wrong, I just want to make sure since I'm familiar with your routine," I responded without glancing in his direction.I intentionally looked away from him since earlier. Worried he might see the flush on my cheeks. I noticed he was watching me ever since we had our meal; I couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking. However, it didn't resonate with me. It seemed as though he was probing into my life."
James' POVHave you ever had a moment when your good mood was abruptly shattered, leaving you feeling so repulsed that it almost made you feel ill? That's the feeling I had when I saw my younger brother with my ex-wife, looking so happy together. Keith took Clara's hand, holding it gently as she offered him a soft smile.He smiled like an idiot teenager in love.I never thought I would cross paths with them this evening, yet here I am. I saw them from the second-floor glass window of this restaurant where Zoe and I were set to enjoy dinner tonight."What’s interesting out there?" Zoe, My wife, wrapped her arms around me from behind, resting her chin gently on my shoulder.The moment her perfume wafted through the air, it turned me on. I shifted my focus from the unpleasant scene outside to my beautiful wife, her elegant neck and bare shoulders were so alluring.“Hey, what’s with the long face?” Is there an issue with the client?” She enquired, her expression reflecting worry.I shook
Clara's POVReturning to work, I found myself confronted by Diana, who was bombarding me with a barrage of questions regarding the events of yesterday. I let out a deep breath. I've said multiple times that it was nothing serious, but her curiosity just wouldn't quit."I don't know when you'll stop asking and let me do my work, Die."But she keeps talking. Now I get why her boyfriend sometimes calls her a nag."I heard heard Mr. Morgan reached out to him for a discussion. Yet he didn't do anything to that man like what he did to your other secret admirer ma'am. That's so unusual of him?""That man isn't my secret admirer," I said with a sharp edge.How can I explain to her that the reason Keith didn't confront him as he did with Lucas is that the man who came to me yesterday is his brother?"Can it be because Mr. Morgan is afraid of him?"I don't think Keith fears James, or vice versa. He has respect solely for his brother, and that's it."I don't know," I responded nonchalantly, avoi
Clara's POVI just wrapped up dropping Layla off at her kindergarten. I usually head straight to TasteTales, but today I'm not feeling my best. It just hit me that I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon. I returned to my flat and made my way to the kitchen. I placed the toast in the toaster and cracked an egg into the pan. As I was preparing breakfast, the sound of the bell echoed through the space.Shortly after I heard the door open, I recognized it was Keith. He was the only one with access to this place. I heard footsteps coming closer, and then his voice called out to me"I'm here, in the kitchen," I exclaimed."Hey..." He lingered in the doorway, his expression weary as he gazed at me. "Thank goodness you're here.""Morning," I said with a smile as he settled into one of the chairs at the dining table. "Would you like me to prepare breakfast for you?""No need. You look much better than I thought, I'm so relieved. Do you know what happened?" He asked without fur
James' POVI got back into my car and slammed the door shut. What Clara did wounded my pride so deeply. Did she find it amusing to act like she didn't know me and dismiss me like I was insignificant?I knew she was merely putting on a show; she doesn't forget someone that easily. Clara knew my name and my reputation long before I had any knowledge of hers. She knew who I was even before we were married. Supposedly it should be me who didn't remember her at all after five years of being apart, not her.My appetite vanished, and my mood was entirely soured by Clara's actions tonight. That was when my phone's annoying ring shattered the stillness."What else now?" I could no longer mask my sharp tone; to hell with whoever reached out to me tonight."James, my love? Are you okay?" The gentle sound of my wife's voice smoothed away the lines on my forehead. "Where did you go? Why haven't you returned yet? Is everything alright?"I cleared my throat to neutralize my voice before responding t
Clara's POV"Clara it's me, James. there's no way you didn’t remember me." James's expression shifted, a flash of anger crossing his face as he processed my response moments ago.I kept my facade intact, ensuring he didn't notice the emotional chaos swirling within me right now.James was right about that one. How could I forget him when the memories of him have been a part of my life for the past five years? How could I possibly forget the man who was both my love and my greatest heartbreak?He took my hand when I stayed silent and asked "Where have you been all this time after disappearing with no trace like that? You chose to walk away from me."A bitter feeling washed over me; didn't he say he never wanted to see my face ever again? He said it directly to me five years ago during that night at the villa. So why is he behaving as if he prefers to have me in his life now?But I intend to leave everything about him behind, and I will not give him the satisfaction he has finding me ag