Chapter 1

By the time I composed myself and went home, the living room was full of people. Seeing those two faces, who had been gone for five years, made my mind go blank for a split second.

Mom pulled at my sleeve nervously and asked, “Faye, is your memory getting all fuzzy again? I told you earlier, didn’t I? Your sister and brother-in-law are back in the country today, so I want you to meet them.”

I muttered a response, looked away, and turned to head back to my room. However, a slender hand caught hold of me.

Mandy Green coughed lightly, raising her other hand, which was laced tightly with Ethan Woods’.

In a gentle voice, she said, “Faye, I’m your sister. Don’t you remember me? This is my husband, Ethan. Say hi to Ethan.”

She carried herself gracefully. She was no longer the woman who had begged me in hushed tones five years ago. Even her move to assert dominance was executed seamlessly.

After a long pause, I gave a faint nod and politely greeted him, “Hi.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. However, Ethan pressed his lips together tightly, refusing to respond.

After waiting a few seconds, I lost my patience, turned around, and walked away. Suddenly, the front door swung open.

My daughter, Riley, had returned home from school. The moment she saw the person standing in the middle of the living room, her eyes turned red, and she rushed forward recklessly.

“Daddy!”

Ethan froze.

After a moment of shock, Mandy pushed Riley away. “You’ve got the wrong person. He’s not your daddy.”

Riley stared blankly at Ethan, tears filling her eyes as she turned back to me urgently for confirmation. “Mommy, he is Daddy…”

For a moment, the air grew still. My parents looked at me nervously, and Ethan’s whole body turned stiff. They seemed to be terrified.

I gave a sarcastic smile, bent down, and gently patted Riley to comfort her. “Sweetheart, he’s not Daddy. You were only two years old when Daddy left. You were too little back then, so you don’t quite remember.”

Saying that, I took Riley’s hand and led her back to my room.

As we brushed past them, Ethan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, “Faye, do you remember nothing at all?”

I turned back, confused, but Ethan stared intently at me, as if trying to search for something in my eyes.

Before I could reply, Mom interrupted with a smile, “Faye, the reason Mandy and Ethan came home this time is to have a wedding reception. It’s in three days. You must be there.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

The light in Ethan’s eyes dimmed, and he said, “Since that’s the case, why don’t you serve as our maid of honor?”

I looked at him calmly and replied, “Okay.”