Mag-log inCHAPTER 47: The ArrestLila’s POVI stood at the counter in the boutique. The cashier swiped my credit card again."I am sorry, Miss Vaughan," the cashier said. "It is declined.""That is impossible," I said. I snatched the card back. I gave her another one. "Try this one."She swiped it. The machine beeped red. "Declined."I grabbed my purse and walked out. I took out my phone and called my bank."Why are my cards not working?" I yelled."Your father froze all your accounts," the banker said. "You have no access."I dropped my phone. My father actually did it. He chose Tessa over me.I got into my car. I drove fast to Julian’s house. I needed him to fix this. We still had his money.I parked outside his house. The front door was completely broken. It hung off the hinges.I ran inside. "Julian!"Julian was in the bedroom. He was throwing clothes into a suitcase. He looked terrible. His lip was bleeding. His shirt was ripped."What happened to you?" I asked."Your father happened!" Jul
CHAPTER 46: The StrikeFelix’s POVI drove straight to Julian’s house. I didn't knock. I kicked the front door open. The wood cracked and the door flew wide.Julian was in the living room. He held a glass of wine. He jumped when the door hit the wall."Vaughan!" Julian yelled. "Are you crazy? I will call the police!"I walked up to him. I grabbed his shirt collar and slammed him against the wall. The wine glass dropped and shattered on the floor."You touched her," I said. My voice was very quiet, but Julian shook."She is my wife!" Julian choked out. "She came to me!"I punched him hard in the stomach. Julian folded over, coughing and gasping for air. He fell to his knees."She came to you because she forgot what a monster you are," I said. "But I remember."I grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head up. He had a bloody lip."You think you won because she lost her memory?" I asked. "You lost. I already bought all your debts."Julian's eyes went wide. "What?""Your hospital is gone
CHAPTER 45: The TrapTessa’s POVI walked into my hotel office. Francesca immediately handed me my schedule."Lila Vaughan is waiting inside," Francesca said.I stopped walking. "Why is she here?""She said it is highly urgent."I opened my door. Lila sat in my chair. She smiled at me, but it was completely fake."Get out of my chair," I said.Lila stood up. "Tessa. We need to talk.""Talk fast.""I know your secret," Lila said. She walked toward me. "I know you lost your memory."I kept my face totally blank. "I don't know what you mean.""Stop lying. I heard you on the phone at my father's house last night. You told your assistant. You forgot everything." Lila laughed sharply. "You forgot how you ruined Julian. You forgot how you used my father.""I didn't use Felix," I said."Yes, you did. You only dated him to get back at me and Julian. My father is just a pawn in your sick revenge game." Lila crossed her arms. "If he finds out you don't even remember loving him, he will drop you
CHAPTER 44: Lila’s SmileLila’s POVThe private elevator chimed, the brushed steel doors sliding open to reveal my father’s penthouse. I stepped out, adjusting my designer bag on my shoulder, ready to play the dutiful daughter. I needed his checkbook, and I needed him to stop freezing Julian out of the city’s development deals."Dad?" I called out, my heels clicking against the imported marble. "It’s me."I rounded the corner into the expansive living room and froze. My blood turned instantly hot, prickling beneath my skin.Tessa was sitting on the custom Italian leather sofa, her legs tucked beneath her, holding a mug of tea like she owned the place. She wore one of my father’s oversized cashmere sweaters.My hands curled into tight fists. *How dare she?* This was my father’s sanctuary. She was invading every corner of my life, stealing Julian’s obsession and now my father’s affection."Lila." My father’s deep voice broke my trance. He walked out of the open-plan kitchen, wiping his
CHAPTER 41: Julian’s LawyerJulian’s POV"Are you absolutely certain?" I asked, leaning over my desk.Vance, the investigator I hired, dropped a folder onto the wood. "I listened to the audio feed from her hotel office. She had a full panic attack after a run-in with your father. She doesn’t remember canceling his funding. She doesn’t remember the photo leak. She doesn’t even remember serving you divorce papers."A slow, triumphant smile stretched across my face."Vaughan brought in a specialist," Vance continued. "Amnesia. Retrograde, localized to the last few months. The trauma from the brain surgery wiped the entire slate clean.""So she thinks we are just... separated." I let out a sharp laugh. "Not at war. Just taking a break.""That’s what it sounds like. But Vaughan is keeping her close. If you make a move—""Vaughan isn't her husband," I interrupted, tossing an envelope of cash across the desk. "I am. Get out."Once he was gone, I didn't waste a second. The universe had just h
CHAPTER 40: A Hand Across the TableTessa’s POV"To the Crown Hotel," Felix said, raising his crystal glass.I clinked my glass against his. "To the Crown."We sat in the private dining alcove of Le Vrai. The official launch of my hotel had wrapped up hours ago, a whirlwind of press, investors, and flashing cameras. Felix had whisked me away the moment the last ribbon was cut."You handled the press like a veteran," Felix noted, setting his glass down. "No fatigue?""None. The surgery feels like a lifetime ago, even if it was just last week." I sliced into my steak. "I told you I was ready.""I never doubted it. But I'll always check." His eyes held mine, steady and intense.I smiled, the warmth in my chest undeniable."Excuse me," a sharp, familiar voice cut through the ambient jazz of the restaurant.I turned my head. Standing near the entrance of our alcove was Arthur Collins, Julian's father.A genuine wave of relief washed over me. Despite my separation from Julian, Arthur had al
CHAPTER SIXI decided to stay at home for the day as I searched online for meals I could prepare for Julian before he got home without so much stress. I needed to tell him about my condition. It'd be so cruel of me to leave this world without letting him know about this. He would blame himself for
CHAPTER FIVEJulian came in with Lila as usual. They were bickering like a young couple in love when they walked in.“Why are you staring at me like that?” Julian asked.She replied, “I’m trying to figure out why you stole my fries.”He frowned. “Your fries? You ordered extra. That’s relationship f
CHAPTER FOURI couldn’t see well. The door was blocking my view. The door only allowed me to see Lila. As I was about to nudge the door open to see the man, Lila’s face jerked upright and she saw me. She quickly pulled off the man and tossed him further into the room, out of my sight entirely. Her
CHAPTER THREEJulian’s words still hurt me deeply, so I hadn't told him about my terminal illness yet. Although he begged me to forgive him all through the night, he woke me up with breakfast in bed, a pancake with “I'm sorry” written with jam on it. Finally, I told him that it was fine and pushed







