"Are you faking it?" Rowan inquired, her eyes fixed on the photos of her and James nestled in the envelope David had handed her.At that moment, Rowan couldn't shake the feeling that David was the mysterious figure from the restaurant. How else did he get hold of those pictures? Someone had secretly captured their moments.However, David seemed oblivious to Rowan's question, his gaze unwaveringly focused on her. The sight of her beauty made him wonder if he had consciously dressed up for this encounter."Are you betraying me? Is that why you've been distant, uneasy around me?" David's question hit Rowan like a bolt of lightning, leaving her momentarily speechless."What?" she stuttered. At that moment, Rowan sensed that David might not even recall James."Are you cheating on me with this guy? Just be honest," David pressed on."I can't betray you, even if I wanted to…" Rowan mumbled, grappling with the intricacies of their relationship. They weren't married anymore; could it still be
"Come," David's mother gently beckoned, clasping Flora's hand in a reassuring grip, guiding her towards a seat."Tell me what happened," David's mother urged, tenderly attempting to stem the flow of tears welling in Flora's eyes."Mom, I'm lost. David seems repulsed by me, and I suspect Rowan might be poisoning his mind against me," Flora confessed, her voice quivering with uncertainty."That wicked witch wouldn't dare! And even if she did, I'll make my son see through her lies," David's mother declared, barely containing the anger simmering beneath the surface, aware that Rowan might be manipulating her son against Flora."Auntie, I can't bear losing David. After what you told me about Rowan faking my voice note and playing it for David, making him believe I'm cheating, don't you think she'll go to any lengths to keep David for herself, especially since she's carrying his child, David has no memory of me?" Flora questioned, desperation coloring her words.Upon hearing this, David's m
After James left Rowan and dialed Naomi's number, a surge of urgency propelled his words. He needed to see her. The address materialized on her phone almost instantly.Despite James's attempt to quell the storm within him, anger raged beneath the surface. The uncertainty of what Naomi might have said to Rowan on that pivotal day fueled his frustration.When Naomi finally graced the restaurant with her presence, an ethereal elegance surrounded her every step. All eyes gravitated toward her, enchanted by her beauty."Look at her, such allure, and her fashion sense is impeccable for her age.""A young soul with an extraordinary sense of style," murmured the onlookers, captivated by Naomi's allure.James sensed a ripple of commotion and turned to witness the collective gaze. His eyes collided with Naomi's, triggering an instant knot in his heart. For a fleeting moment, he found himself ensnared in her gaze, unable to avert his eyes until she stood before him."Uncle James, I'm here," Nao
All night long, David tossed and turned, unable to find solace in sleep. His eyes were fixed on the delicate figure lying beside him—a woman who had endured so much in his care.His own family hadn't been spared from the turmoil, and the memories weighed heavily on David's heart. Regret gripped him as he acknowledged his mistreatment of the fragile soul now resting beside him, a soul he had, at times, treated with undeserved kindness.In the quiet of the night, he reached out, gently stroking Rowan's hair. She lay on the bed he had managed to secure for her in the cramped room they shared. Earlier, he had pleaded with the hospital staff for an additional bed, desperate for Rowan to have a place to rest. However, the hospital was inundated with patients, and their plea for an extra bed had fallen on deaf ears.In that moment, as his fingers brushed through her hair, David's heart ached with a mix of remorse and tenderness, understanding the gravity of the hardships both he and Rowan fa
At work all day, Rowan had this nagging feeling, like something important slipped her mind. It felt like she said something crucial in the middle of the night, but it eluded her.After work, James drove her home, and in the car, both of them were lost in their thoughts. None of them shared what was on their minds. James couldn't shake the curiosity about what Naomi might have told Rowan on the phone. He secretly hoped Naomi would call and unravel the mystery.Finally, as James parked the car and Rowan prepared to go inside, a sudden realization hit her. She turned to James with a sense of urgency."James," she called, causing him to pause while locking the door, and he turned to look at her."I need to talk to you," Rowan said."Sure, we can talk about it," James replied quickly."No, not here. Let's discuss it in the apartment," Rowan suggested. She wanted privacy since Jessica and her baby, Ryan, were playing inside."Alright, let me lock the door," James said. He secured the door,
"What'd you wish for in that little prayer just now?" David asked, and Rowan's heart raced. She pondered on how to confess that her prayer was for him to never regain his memory.As she contemplated, the car they were in suddenly hit a pothole. Rowan lurched forward, nearly falling, but David swiftly pulled her into his chest. Her head nestled against him, and in that moment, she found solace in the intoxicating scent emanating from David's body.She had missed that scent dearly, momentarily forgetting her surroundings. Instead, she closed her eyes and indulged in the captivating aroma that filled the air.When the car steadied, David expected Rowan to sit back properly, but she remained in the embrace. It was then that a hiccup from David snapped Rowan back to reality."Sorry," she mumbled, hastily pulling away. She looked down, feeling a mix of embarrassment and shame for being so entranced by David's scent.A slight smirk played on David's face as he observed Rowan's flushed, shy,
Richard's relentless search for Andrew weighed heavily on him, a cloud of worry casting a shadow over his every step since the police incident. The absence of Andrew from his home left Richard feeling drained, his frustration palpable.In the office, his boss's memory loss added an extra layer of chaos to Richard's already demanding workload. Despite the mounting pressure, he found himself squeezing in time to complete personal assignments for his boss. The internal turmoil brewed within him, but he hesitated, entertaining the notion that exposing Flora's true identity might pave the way for his boss and ex-wife to mend their fractured relationship.With no leads on Andrew's whereabouts, Richard exited a hotel where an informant had hinted at Andrew's presence, only to learn he had checked out a week ago. An exasperated mutter escaped Richard's lips, "Where can this motherf***er be?"Leaving the hotel, he slumped into his car, wearied by the fruitless search. Just as he was about to s
The hazy realm of unconsciousness slowly receded, allowing distant voices to infiltrate Richard's senses. Faint whispers danced in the periphery of his awareness until a singular command jolted him into full consciousness."Find who sent him here."His eyes snapped open, greeted by an unfamiliar environment. Rows of slabs adorned with various medicines surrounded him, and an ominous collection of medical tools lay on a table in front of the chair he found himself bound to. Panic gripped him as the realization dawned – he had been ensnared by the doctor.He clenched his jaw, biting his lower lip in frustration and rage. How had he allowed himself to be captured? The room felt like a trap, and Richard's mind raced with questions. The doctor, perceptive to the tumultuous emotions etched on Richard's face, couldn't resist a taunt."You're probably wondering how I managed to capture you," the doctor's voice oozed with a sinister calmness. "I saw you the day Miss Flora visited. The CCTV at
Instantly, the air around David crackled with tension. He swiftly shed his suit, the fabric feeling heavy in his trembling as he handed it over to Richard, who felt like crying at the back of his boss—this was all his boss had been working for in the past few months: to have Miss Rowan to himself finally, without fear of Flora hurting her again. Just then, James' phone buzzed, interrupting the silence that engulfed the atmosphere. Seeing the caller, James picked up at once. "Hello, babe," James said into the phone, drawing curious glances from David and Richard. To them, only Rowan would receive such a nickname. Seeing their suspicious gazes, he switched the phone to loudspeaker. "Hi, Naomi, you can speak now," James invited. "Miss Rowan has been rushed to the hospital. She's unable to fly; she started having contractions before she entered the plane," Naomi informed them. Before James could reply, David snatched the phone from his hands. "Miss Naomi, this is her husband at the ho
The room was alive with happiness as Flora jubilated, knowing that in a few hours, every TV station and blogger would be buzzing about her wedding to David Thompson, the president of the Oregon group of companies."As the heiress of Seraphims Holding, I only deserve the best," Flora declared from where she lay on the bed, with Andrew planting kisses on her neck and along her jawline."You know I will compensate you handsomely. I panicked when I found out David had regained his memory but didn't want me anymore. I thought everything was over, after years of patiently waiting," Flora confessed, a smile playing on her lips."I've told you that you don't have any problems. Since you've opened up to me about your true feelings and that it's me you love, and only his money you desire, since you've promised that it's my child you'll carry in his house, then I don't have any issues. The wedding is set to proceed, and in a few hours, you'll be Mrs. Thompson officially, but inwardly, you'll be M
It had been a few days, and tension hung thick in the air as Steve returned to James's house to deliver his response. The silence that filled the room was deafening, each breath heavy with anticipation. Jessica, though she thought she was prepared for any outcome, couldn't help but rub her hands together nervously. Ryan, sensing the tension, rested his head on her lap, his instincts picking up on the palpable anxiety swirling around them. "So, brother, have you finally made your decision?" James asked, his tone harsh yet tinged with regret. In the past few days, he had come to realize that his emotions had clouded his judgment. He understood that everything Steve had done was out of love for him — Steve didn't want him to lose the love of his life, just as James had lost his. It was this realization that had prompted James to allow Steve to make his own decision, even if it meant James would have to bear the pain of parting with his brother, if only for a while. "Yes, kid brother,"
What?" David's father asked, surprised by his son's allegations. "Dad, answer me. Are you involved with her too?" David demanded. "No, I'm not. And I'm disappointed that you would think so little of your father," David's father said. "I don't care, Dad. If she knows something about you significant enough to trade for my safety, then it must be substantial, and I need to know about it today," David said defiantly "Sit down, and I will tell you everything," David's father said. Reluctantly, David slumped into the chair, his anger palpable, emanating from him like a dark cloud. "Firstly, I discovered the kind of person Flora was after you started seeing her. Knowing how much you love her compelled me to dig deeper. I didn't want you to end up with the wrong woman. After finding out that she was involved with different men, I decided to confront her myself instead of letting you do it. During our conversation, she confessed that her uncle had forced her into those situations and that
"What do you mean, David? It was the marriage certificate we both signed, isn't that what we both wanted back then? Just because you didn't have the memory doesn't change the fact that your mother is aware of it, and a mother can't lie," Flora's voice came over the phone, her tone laced with frustration and desperation. She wasn't even attempting to come to David's house, realizing she had nothing left to lose."Flora, even if it is true, I don't want this marriage anymore. We have to annul the certificate," David stated firmly, using a word he never wanted to utter."What? David, are you trying to use me and then discard me? We've been dating for almost seven years. Now you don't want me anymore, and you didn't consider the repercussions it will have on my family and me, on the company, on everyone who believed we would end up together... I won't force you, David, but think about the consequences. We are legally married starting next week. If we don't announce it publicly, I don't kn
Naomi could only hum softly as she listened to Rowan's teasing remarks. Bending down, she reached for the coffee cups placed in front of them, an order she had made for both of them. Savoring the warmth, she took a delicate sip before carefully placing the cup back on the table.Inwardly, Naomi grasped the subtle undertones of Rowan's words. Since meeting James, she felt a shift within herself, a desire to embody qualities that might earn his admiration. But could she confide in Rowan that the catalyst for her change was the very man who harbored feelings for her?"Miss Rowan, I can't say there's any love involved. Let's just say someone's critique nudged me towards self-improvement," Naomi replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Rowan's gentle smile lingered, leaving Naomi to ponder if her response had hit the mark."You know, being challenged by someone and feeling compelled to better oneself because of them, well, it's akin to love. You might not realize it now, but soon enough
Before James exited the hospital, he had arranged to meet Naomi, only to hear the distressing news that she was banned from leaving the house. Naomi, a pivotal figure in her father's company, had inadvertently stirred up trouble by being seen at clubs, inviting scrutiny from shareholders and adding pressure to her father's plate. She was slated to marry into another wealthy family to enhance the company's stature. James, though conflicted, found himself driving toward Naomi's house despite his vow to stay away and avoid complicating matters for both families. The prospect of being desired by Naomi's father for his daughter weighed heavily on him, even as he questioned his own intentions. Arriving at the grand mansion, James couldn't help but admire the exquisite taste of Naomi's father. The meticulously landscaped gardens, the elegant architecture both inside and out, and the grandeur of the estate left James in awe, despite his familiarity with opulent surroundings. "It seems I'll
David's desperate calls echoed in the air, chasing after Rowan who seemed to be slipping away from him. The tears streaming down her face mirrored the storm of emotions raging within her. The weight of reality crashed upon her, a cruel revelation that left her heart shattered. The love she thought would one day be hers had been claimed, sealed, and signed on a marriage certificate.Her steps quickened, driven by a mix of anguish and fear. She wished she could stop, and gather herself, but the intensity of her emotions made it impossible to fake composure. The fear of David thinking she was running away from his happiness gnawed at her, yet the pain of witnessing the love of her life marrying someone else was unbearable.Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts and the ache in her chest, Rowan's misstep jolted her back to reality. Her leg collided with an obstacle, threatening to send her crashing to the ground. Just as she teetered on the edge of falling, a strong hand encircled her, savi
Three agonizing days had crawled by since Rowan left David's house. The deafening silence hung heavy in her heart as she resisted the urge to reach out to him or answer his father's calls. Flora's mysterious behavior and her cousin's news about an award only added to the tumult of emotions swirling within her. The absence of David was a constant ache, the void left by his departure filled with memories that refused to fade. Today found Rowan grappling with the challenges of the IT department at the hospital, a temporary distraction from the emotional turmoil. As she navigated the hospital corridors, a man emerged from a ward—discharged after six months of battling mental illness triggered by a traumatic accident. His struggle mirrored Rowan's own internal conflict. The man, seemingly normal at times but haunted by bouts of lunacy, resonated with her. What gripped her most was the unwavering love poured onto him by his family, clinging to the hope of his eventual restoration, even in