Chapter five

Elara’s pov

“Elara,” he called but I refused to look at him.

“I’m sure you want to talk about how I could possibly repay you, then I’m sorry but you should have left me to die,” I said curtly. Finally meeting his gaze.

He stood there, a familar air around him as he took me in. I recognized something about him and found myself not shrinking in fear at how cold his eyes were.

Or maybe because they weren’t trying to hide anything. Maybe because they were real or maybe because his eyes refracted something…warm.

“I didn’t save you because you were bleeding out on the floor. I didn’t save you out of kindness,” he said and found a chair to perch in.

My eyes followed his movement as he took a serious pose. I frowned.

If it wasn’t out of charity or whatever rich people do, then why bother to save my life?

“I saved you because the Elara I know wouldn’t be sitting here pretending not to see what’s right in front of her,” he said and the room went still.

Before a small chuckle left my lips.

“I see what this is,” I said, the sound less of what I recognized.

“And for the record; I don’t care about the elara you know because I don’t know you,” I spat then paused with a sad broken smile on my lips.

“Nathan sent you here to butter the rest of the insult, didn’t he?” I questioned but didn’t expect an answer.

“Well, you can go back and tell him that I have nothing left to lose. You can stop this stupid act of yours since he’s already taken everything I have,” I said and Mr Quinn opened his mouth to speak.

A slight change in his persona made me gasp but he quickly controlled himself when the other man stepped forward.

“Elara, my name is Mr Kingsley,” he said and extended a hand. I didn’t shake it.

“Your family lawyer,” he finished and I looked between both men.

“Is this some kind of a sick joke?” I questioned,a quiet rage building in my stomach.

Mr Quinn remained calm and poised even as I shook my head in outright disagreement.

“You know what? I’ve had a shitty day. Both of you should leave,” I commanded, shocked that I could.

He remained unfazed. His eyes like a ticking time bomb. His calm aura, a contrast to mine that oddly felt well matched.

It unnerved me immediately.

“Did you not hear what I just said?” I questioned, prepared to shout for security if I had to but he was already standing up. His eyes holding mine as he walked to my bed.

“Do you remember me?” He questioned out of the blue and I averted his gaze. A sudden headache crept up on me.

“I already answered that,”

“Look me in the eyes, Elara, really look.” He was persistent. I tried to hold his gaze but the more I did, the more the headache spread.

“Tell me, you don’t remember me. That you don’t know my name,” I must have imagined it but his voice quavered.

“That you don’t remember your parents,” he said and I hissed as pain engulfed me.

“My parents are dead,” I bit back.

“How did they die?” He questioned and the lawyer tried to touch Mr Quinn but he shrugged him off.

“They died in a car accident!” I shouted, my head throbbing uncontrollably as an unknown anger exploded in my veins.

“That’s what you think,” he scoffed and my brows furrowed.

What the hell does that even mean?

He didn’t answer. Not immediately.

Instead, his gaze held mine, steady, unflinching—like he was waiting for something in me to catch up.

Then, quietly—

“It means,” he said, “you’ve been remembering the wrong life.”