All the guests here know how much Kyros loves me and how devoted he is to our relationship. I expected the raised eyebrows, the hushed whispers, the swirling rumors. But I came prepared. If necessary, I’ll use this day to expose Kyros for who he really is.
Am I cruel? Maybe.
But should I show kindness to a man who disrespected my love and our relationship?
“That’s right. A mutual friend said Kyros was in another city. They were in lockdown so he couldn’t return in time for the wedding,” a guest murmured, though their words reached me clearly.
“Poor Kyros. He adored Gazelle. He was the one who planned this entire wedding for her.”
“You mean he arranged everything?”
“Absolutely! He invested millions to create this perfect day.”
“If Gazelle has married his
Gazelle Another week had passed at the Sinclair mansion, and I was still trying to find my footing in this strange new reality. I’d started therapy because I believed this was more than just memory loss—it was psychological trauma, and my therapist warned me not to force anything or risk damaging my brain cells even more. Maximus had fallen into a routine of coming over for dinner, and tonight was no different. Lulu sat contentedly beside me, occasionally reaching for my water glass. It all felt so strange. I never knew when my past might catch up to me. Was it too painful to remember? Breaking the silence, my father cleared his throat. “Gazelle, forgive me for bringing this up, but I must ask you something.” I shifted my attention from Lulu and looked at him. “What is it?” “I don’t want to pressure you, especially with everything you’re processing, but I’m curious about your plans. Have you thought about what you want to do? Like career…” “I want to work at the Sinclair enter
Gianna met Dante’s gaze, her composure a carefully constructed mask. She had learned to project strength in front of him and their friends, but she felt utterly powerless beneath the surface. Things were weighing her down, things beyond her control. Her life was a mess. Completely screwed up. Dante’s jaw tightened, his voice strained with years of suppressed frustration. “When I met you in medical school, I didn’t know about your family or your background—none of it. But I accepted you completely.” Gianna’s eyes darkened. “That was over ten years ago, Dante. It was all in the past. I don’t have time for this.” “You’re always running away!” His voice rose. “That’s your specialty. That’s what you’re good at—hurting people and walking away like nothing happened.” “Dante, you heard it yourself!” she snapped. “My husband is part of the Cassian Doyle family. That name alone should scream complicated! What did you expect me to do—introduce myself as the daughter of a syndicate soldier?
Gazelle Chairman Sinclair—who claims to be my father—arrived with his assistant, Mr. Harrington. The lines on his face told me he had lived a long life, but the familiarity of his features shook me. I didn’t remember him, not really, but the moment our eyes met, tears streamed down my face. It was instinctual like my body remembered something my mind couldn’t. Whatever those memories were… they must have hurt. We gathered in a room, joined by faces I was told were my friends. “Gazelle,” Chairman Sinclair said gently, studying me like I was a ghost from his past. “What happened to you? Have you been eating well? Sleeping enough while you were gone?” My nod was the only answer I could manage. My throat was tight, choked with a thousand unspoken questions and a suffocating fog of confusion. How do you even begin to rebuild a life that suddenly feels like a stranger’s? Dr. Dante Castillo stood quietly near Maximus. Royal and Gianna sat beside me, their presence oddly comforting. Th
Maximus (The day prior…) “What do you mean you found Kyros?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. Sleep deprivation was making everything feel surreal—was I really hearing this, or had exhaustion finally caught up with me? Ivan and Lucas exchanged a meaningful glance. “I was in Bristol, having a catch-up with chums, when word came through that Kyros had returned to the Ferrero estate,” Ivan said carefully. My jaw tightened. I immediately called one of my trusted contacts at the Ravenwood. They confirmed it. Kyros had been there the entire day, speaking with his mother and Chairman Ferrero. Beyond that, they knew nothing. I turned to Ivan, frowning. He was preparing coffee while Lucas sat at a table in the pantry, typing rapidly on his laptop. “Kyros is alive?” I asked, stunned. “What about Gazelle? Have you found my wife?” “Working on it,” Lucas replied, eyes locked on the screen, his fingers dancing across the keyboard. Ivan set down the coffee pot and faced me. “Someon
“Miss Elle! Where are you going? You bad people! Where are you taking Miss Elle?!” The weight in my chest felt like I was drowning from the inside. Security walked on either side of me, not rough, just firm, as they led me down the marble halls of Hillcrest Estate’s main building. My head was spinning with what I’d just seen in Maximus’s room—that photo, those questions no one seemed willing to answer. Lulu saw everything. Nanny Beth held her back, arms wrapped tightly around her as Lulu struggled to get to me. That’s when the tears started. I couldn’t even say sorry. I couldn’t say goodbye to my twinkle… “Miss Elle!” Lulu’s cries pierced through the heavy oak doors, through the walls, straight into my breaking heart. “Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave!” Lulu’s voice faded until there was nothing but silence. I stood there outside the driveway, all by myself. Then the sobs came—deep, gut-wrenching sounds I barely recognized as mine. I didn’t know how I was supposed to start ov
Elle Three days had passed since I’d taken over caring for Lulu. Both Nanny Beth and Mandy had welcomed me with unexpected warmth, making the transition easier than I’d anticipated. On the first day, Bonnie stopped by. After learning I needed to stay at her boss’s estate, she brought me some of my personal things. That night, I only had Mandy’s clothes to wear; thankfully, she had lent me a few. Getting Lulu settled at nursery school had been my first real challenge. She stuck to me like glue for the first two days, quietly watching the other kids from afar. But a little patience went a long way. By the third day, my heart lifted as I watched her run after a little boy, laughing happily across the playground. Throughout it all, I’d kept Maximus updated through our chat conversations, sending him photos of his daughter’s daily adventures. But today, the weight of their separation had finally caught up with little Lulu. “Miss Elle, I miss my daddy. Can I call him?” she asked, her s