CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Adrian’s POV

“D… Damien?” My voice came out shaky, and his eyes locked on me. But there was nothing in them. No recognition.

“Who are you?”

Just like that, my world split in half. My chest burned, my knees almost gave out. God, it hurts. It hurt so bad I thought I couldn’t breathe.

“Damien, what are you saying?! That’s your fiancé, it's Adrian Hale. Don’t you remember him?” Bianca’s voice trembled as she tried to shake sense into him.

I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My eyes stung, the tears already threatening.

“It’s me, Damien. It’s me, Adrian!” I rushed to his side, grabbed his hand like it was the only thing keeping me alive. I searched his eyes, desperate for anything that proved he still knew me. But all I saw was confusion.

“Who are you? Please… stay away.”

His words cut straight through me. My grip loosened, and I let go of his hand. Tears slipped free, sliding hot and bitter down my cheeks. I thought I’d run out of tears long ago, but apparently not.

“I… I need to go. I’m sorry.” My voice cracked as I wiped my face and turned toward the door.

But before I could take another step, a hand caught my wrist.

“Gotcha.”

I spun around, startled, only to see Damien smirking at me like a kid who just won a game.

I froze, wide-eyed. “You… you what?!”

He was grinning. Actually grinning.

“You absolute asshole!” My shock gave way to rage. I scrambled onto his bed and started raining punches on his chest. “How dare you scare me like that! Do you know how terrified I was, you jerk!”

“Ow Adrian! Quit it, I was just in a car accident! My ribs!” Damien groaned dramatically, flinching with every weak punch I threw.

I stopped immediately, guilt flashing through me. Then I crumbled against him, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face in his chest. His familiar scent filled my lungs, grounding me even as I sobbed.

“I thought… I thought you really forgot me.” My voice broke into pieces as tears spilled faster.

His hand found the back of my head, gentle. “I thought it’d be funny. I told you I’d forget everything, remember? Not just you.” He pressed a soft kiss on my hair while I cried against him, the warmth of his body telling me he was still mine.

“Adrian!” His voice snapped me out of the memory. Damien’s lips brushed my ear, his arms sliding around my waist from behind.

I flinched slightly. “What?”

“What are you thinking about?”

“That stupid amnesia prank,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

He chuckled and nuzzled into my neck, planting kisses along my skin. “You love me too much to stay mad. Admit it.”

I sighed, half annoyed, half melting. “I hate pranks. I hate pranksters. I hate everything.”

“But…” he teased.

“I love you though,” I mumbled, and I could feel his smile against my neck.

After the accident, Damien spent a whole month in the hospital. I stayed angry about the prank for a while, but eventually let it go or at least, pretended I did.

Time flew. Drew showed up for the wedding the final wedding, hopefully. Thomas and Drew were being weird around each other, but I didn’t have the energy to care.

The ceremony was only two days away, and the stress was starting to eat everyone alive including me. My job? Keep Damien out of trouble, because with him, something always happens.

And the debt that started all this? It was “taken care of,” at least according to Damien. He insisted I leave it to him, so I did. I hated it at first, but looking back… maybe I should thank my dad. If not for that debt, I wouldn’t be standing here with Damien. Not that I’d ever thank Damien’s uncle man was a nightmare.

Now, here I was, about to marry Damien Cross. It felt unreal. Like just yesterday I was storming into Cross Inc., yelling and demanding answers. Those chaotic days were the beginning of everything, and strangely, I wouldn’t change a thing.

I glanced at Damien, who was busy staring at his reflection in the window, adjusting his hair for the hundredth time. Typical.

“Can’t get enough of yourself?” I teased.

He smirked. “Nope.”

I laughed, shaking my head.

“Oh, Damien Cross,” I sighed with a smile. “What am I ever going to do with you?”

He walked over, grabbed my chin, and kissed me softly. When he pulled back, his eyes locked with mine, serious for once.

“Love me. Love me the way I love you until my last breath.”

My chest tightened. I smiled, brushing my lips over his. “I hope it won’t be hard.”

His brow arched. “What won’t be hard?”

“You know…” I shrugged, grinning mischievously.

“What?”