Chapter 21
Nina froze.
She stared at Samantha’s tear–streaked face, completely caught off guard. “What are you talking about?”
Samantha’s voice broke as more tears slid down her cheeks, dropping onto the desk with soft splashes. A few coworkers turned toward the sound, their curious gazes drifting over.
She quickly wiped her face with a trembling hand, then tugged Nina into a nearby office, shutting the door behind them.
“Yesterday,” Samantha said, barely holding herself together. “What exactly did you say to Julian?”
Nina looked at her closely, realizing this wasn’t some petty outburst–something had really happened. She carefully repeated every word from yesterday’s conversation, word for word.
“That’s it,” she said. “I didn’t say anything else. Why? What happened? Why did you tell me to leave him alone?”
Samantha was silent for a beat, then turned her head. “I’m sorry. You just… you look like someone.”
Nina stiffened. She knew this face–Hayden Monroe’s–didn’t really resemble her old one, except for the eyes. The eyes were almost
identical.
Samantha never elaborated. But now, seeing the confusion on Nina’s face and thinking back to her own reaction just now, she added in a quieter tone, “Ever since… she died, Julian’s never been the same. I think he’s projecting. Seeing you must’ve brought it all back.”
So this was a stand–in story after all?
Nina met her eyes. “But you’re the one he’s marrying.”
Samantha hesitated, then gave a bitter smile. “I wish that were true.”
Outside the hospital, Julian slid into Officer David’s car. As the vehicle moved through traffic, David cast a glance at Julian’s pale
profile and sighed.
“It’s been three years. Still can’t let go?”
julian didn’t respond. He kept his gaze fixed out the window.
David tried again. “I mean… look at who’s still here. Samantha’s been by your side through it all. She was there when you hit rock bottom. You really never felt anything for her?”
Julian remained silent.
David let out another long sigh. “Okay, fine, I won’t lecture you. But you’ve been stable for almost a year now. And then yesterday—you suddenly spiral again. What happened?”
Julian’s eyes flicked up, faint motion in his stare. “I saw her.”
David frowned. He opened his mouth to dismiss it as grief resurfacing, but Julian cut in, turning his head.
“Pull over.”
David did. Julian got out of the car and nodded in thanks. “Thank you, David.”
As the car drove off, David’s eyes narrowed. He glanced toward the café Julian was walking toward. In the window, seated side by side,
were a man and a woman.
At the café, Nina stirred her coffee slowly. “I still don’t remember anything.”
Lysander leaned back in his chair, gaze steady. “So you dragged me out here just to say that?”
“And,” Nina said, lifting her cup with a faint smile, “to have a coffee.”
He gave her a sidelong look and scoffed. Then he stood, ready to leave.
a Phabter 21
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Nina grabbed his wrist. “What, no manners?”
He pulled his hand free, wiped it down with a napkin like her touch had dirtied it. “You think you have the right to demand that?”
God, he really had a talent for sounding like the coldest jerk in the room.
“I think I do,” she said calmly, meeting his eyes. “Last time we talked, I was barely conscious. But I thought about it. If you want to study me, fine. But I don’t see why I should just roll over. If you want my cooperation, maybe you should be the one asking me.”
Lysander’s expression sharpened. “You want me to beg?”
“If you’re the one asking,” Nina said sweetly, “then maybe act like it. Tell me what I really am. What secrets are you hiding about me?”
Lysander stared at her for a moment, then slowly sat back down.
“When you remember everything,” he said quietly, “you’ll understand your secrets. In some ways, we’re chasing the same thing.”
Nina frowned. “Well, in different methods. Help me get my memories back. I don’t want to stay near Julian.”
“Oh?” Lysander looked amused. “You dislike him that much?”
“I don’t dislike him,” Nina said honestly. “I just don’t want to see him.”
“Not even once?“/
“No.”
“Even if it’s the last thing you do?”
“No.”
Lysander’s lips curved faintly. Nina narrowed her eyes at the smile, confused by the look on his face-
Then she heard it.
A quiet voice behind her, cold and distant: “Really?”
Nina turned slowly.
Julian was standing right behind her, eyes locked on hers, unreadable and freezing cold.
