CHAPTER TWO

NORA POV

My heart nearly stops.

“Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?”

For one terrifying second, I forget how to breathe.

Everything crashes into me at once.

That night.

The hotel.

Mai.

The life I’ve spent three years trying to rebuild.

I force myself to stay calm.

“You must have met a lot of people,” I say carefully.

His eyes stay on mine.

Steady.

Searching.

It’s as though he’s trying to pull a memory from somewhere just out of reach.

Then, after what feels like forever, he leans back in his chair.

“Maybe.”

Relief washes over me so suddenly that my knees almost give way.

Maybe he doesn’t remember.

Maybe that night means nothing to him now.

Thank God.

He lowers his gaze to the file on his desk.

“You graduated top of your class.”

“Yes.”

“Previous work experience?”

I answer each question as calmly as I can, keeping my voice steady even though my heart refuses to cooperate.

Every now and then, I feel his eyes return to me.

Watching.

Observing.

Trying to figure me out.

The interview should only take a few minutes.

Instead, it stretches on.

By the time he reaches the last page of my file, my palms are damp and my shoulders ache from holding myself so rigid.

He closes the file and looks at me.

“You start tomorrow.”

I blink.

“That’s fast.”

The corner of his mouth lifts in a faint smile.

“We hired you because we need you.”

The smile is gone almost as quickly as it appears.

“You can see HR on your way out.”

I nod.

“Thank you.”

I rise from my chair, but my feet hesitate before taking the first step.

He notices.

His eyes narrow slightly.

“Something else?”

My fingers tighten around the file.

“No.”

The word comes out a little too quickly.

I force myself to meet his eyes.

“Thank you for the opportunity.”

For a second, neither of us says anything.

Then I turn, walk to the door, and let myself out.

The moment the office door closes behind me, I finally let myself breathe. I got the job. I should be happy, but instead a heaviness settles over me.

Because starting tomorrow, I’ll have to see Davis Rowan every single day.

The thought follows me all the way home. By the time I step into our apartment, evening has already settled in.

Laughter drifts through the living room.

My favorite sound in the world.

Lucy is the first to notice me.

She jumps off the couch before I can even close the door.

“Well?”

I laugh, trying to sound normal.

“Well what?”

“Oh, don’t do that.” She points a finger at me. “Did you get the job?”

I shake my head with the most serious expression I can manage.

“You’re impossible.”

Her eyes grow wide.

“You got it!”

I can’t hold back my smile anymore.

I nod.

She lets out a scream loud enough to wake the neighbors before throwing her arms around me.

“I knew it!”

My mother appears in the kitchen doorway, smiling.

“See?” she says. “I told her you’d get it.”

I smile back, but it doesn’t last.

Her smile fades almost as quickly.

She knows me too well.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Nora.”

“I’m fine.”

She folds her arms and waits.

Without thinking, I look away.

The moment I do, I know I’ve made a mistake.

My mother notices everything.

“Something happened.”

I force a small laugh.

“Nothing happened. I’m just tired.”

“You’re lying.”

“Mum…”

“Tell me.”

I set my bag down on the couch.

“Traffic was terrible. That’s all.”

She studies me for another moment, clearly unconvinced.

Before she can ask another question, a familiar voice fills the room.

“Mummy!”

A tiny body races toward me.

I barely have time to bend before Mai throws herself into my arms.

The weight pressing on my chest eases the moment I hold her.

“Hey, baby.”

She leans back just enough to study my face.

“Why do you look sad?”

The question catches me off guard.

I smooth a hand over her hair and smile.

“I’m not sad, my love.”

“Then why are you making that face?”

Lucy presses her lips together, trying not to laugh.

I give her a look.

“I’m just stressed.”

Another lie.

Mai watches me for another second before giving a small nod.

“Okay.”

A moment later, she’s already running off to play again.

My mother is still watching me.

“I’m serious, Nora…”

“Mum, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

She doesn’t look convinced, but this time she lets it go.

At least for now.

An hour later, I finally make my way to my room.

The moment I close the door, there’s a soft knock.

I already know who it is.

“Come in.”

Lucy steps inside and quietly closes the door behind her.

The excitement from earlier is gone.

She looks at me for a long moment before speaking.

“What happened?”

I let out a tired sigh.

“Lucy…”

“Nora.”

Her voice is gentle, but firm.

“Stop lying to us.”

The words leave me with nowhere else to hide.

I lower my eyes.

“I saw him today.”

She frowns.

“Who?”

I take a slow breath.

“Mai’s father.”

Silence fills the room.

Lucy stares at me.

Then her eyes widen.

“What?”

“At work.”

She blinks twice before sitting down heavily on the edge of the bed.

“You found him.”

I shake my head.

A weak laugh escapes me.

“No.”

I meet her eyes.

“He’s my new boss.”

For a moment, Lucy just stares at me.

“For real?”

I nod.

The shock on her face mirrors exactly what I felt when I walked into that office this morning.

“What happened?”

“He doesn’t remember me.”

At least, I don’t think he does.

Lucy runs both hands through her hair.

“This is bad.”

“I know.”

“What if he finds out?”

The question knots my stomach.

It’s the same question that’s been following me all day.

What if he finds out?

What if one look at Mai is enough?

Every time I look at my daughter, I see pieces of him.

The same eyes.

The same stubborn expression.

The same quiet way of looking at people.

The thought alone makes it hard to breathe.

Later that night, after Mai falls asleep, I sit alone in the living room.

The apartment is finally quiet.

My phone vibrates on the coffee table.

An unknown number.

I frown.

Who could be calling me this late?

For a moment, I consider ignoring it.

Instead, I answer.

“Hello?”

Silence answers me, and few seconds pass before a familiar voice comes through the phone.

“Ms. Edward.”

Every muscle in my body goes still.

Davis Rowan.

My fingers tighten around the phone.

Why is he calling me?

Did something happen?

Did they change their mind about hiring me?

Or…

Did he finally remember?

“Sir?”

“I forgot to mention something earlier.”

I sit up straighter.

“Okay.”

“Orientation starts at eight tomorrow morning.”

I blink.

That’s all?

The tightness in my chest eases a little.

“Of course. I’ll be there.”

“Don’t be late.”

“I won’t.”

Another silence settles between us.

Not awkward.

Not comfortable either.

I pull the phone away from my ear and glance at the screen.

The call is still connected.

He’s still there.

Waiting.

Then I hear my name again.

“Ms. Edward.”

I lift the phone back to my ear.

“Yes?”

A pause.

Long enough for my heartbeat to start climbing again.

Then he speaks.

“Have we met before?”

My breath catches.

Everything inside me goes still.

My mind goes blank.