Chapter 7 . One Lie, One Second Chance

One Lie, One Second Chance

Claire.

"I'm his girlfriend? Doctor, what are you talking about?"

The doctor smiled gently at me. “Don’t be shy. I know Victor had been keeping you a secret from the entire public. I won’t tell anyone. I’m happy he has someone like you who can take care of him properly.”

He reached into a small bag and brought out an engagement ring. “We found this in his pocket. Along with his watch. Keep the ring safe. It’s yours, after all.” He set it in my hand.

I held the ring in my hand. It felt heavy. Victor was really about to propose to someone else. He had gone to buy a ring. The thought burned in my chest. Who was she? Who was he in love with?

Victor looked at the ring. Then at me. "She's my girlfriend?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes. You told me you loved her very much. You said you were proposing today."

Victor's eyes moved over my face. From my hair to my eyes and my trembling hands.

I couldn't believe what was happening. For a moment, it felt good. Victor was really looking at me with tender eyes for the very first time. Like I wasn’t the person he hated.

Dad and I exchanged a look. I didn’t know what to do.

Victor asked, “What is your name?”

“Claire,” I said.

He repeated it softly. “Claire.”

I couldn’t lie to him. Not after everything with Bonnie. Not after all the pain and the hate and the years of loving him in secret. “Victor, the truth is I’m not your girlfriend—”

Dad stepped in fast. “Claire, it’s okay. You two can stop keeping it a secret. Victor is already in this situation, and he needs you now more than ever. Let's not confuse him."

Dad looked at Victor. “Claire is my daughter. She is your girlfriend. You love her so much, and you’re planning to get married to her.”

“Dad!” I said. "What are you doing?"

Dad squeezed my shoulder and kept talking. “You two have been together for a while. You were going to propose today.”

Victor looked at me. He didn’t look mad. He looked confused, but there was something soft in his eyes. “She is really beautiful,” he said quietly.

I couldn’t believe what was going on. For a moment, it felt good to have Victor look at me like he was doing now.

Victor smiled a little. “I feel the connection. I just don’t remember anything. But I feel something for her."

The doctor nodded. “For him to remember properly, Claire needs to stay close to him and help him recover his memories. It may take time. It may be any day. We can’t be certain.”

I was really scared now. “When will he recover his memories?”

The doctor shook his head. “I’m not certain. It may be any time.”

Then the doctor walked out of the room.

I looked at the ring in my hand, and It was sparkling under the hospital lights. And it wasn't mine. This isn't mine, I thought. I can't do this. I can't lie to him again. I felt the tears coming down on my face.

Victor's voice was soft. "Claire? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

I couldn't answer. Then he turned to Dad. "What's wrong with my girlfriend?"

Dad looked at me. His face was careful. "It must be the shock. She thought she lost you. It's been a hard day, Victor."

Victor turned to me. "Claire, look at me."

I hesitated. I couldn't look at him. If I looked at him, I would break.

"Look at me," he said again.

Then I looked up slowly.

Victor's grey eyes were soft and filled with concern for me. How did this happen all of a sudden?

"Come closer," he said.

I hesitated, but I did. I stood right next to the bed. He looked at me. He reached up and brushed the tears from my cheek with his thumb. “Hey, It's okay. I’m so sorry I scared you. It won’t happen again.”

I felt my chest rising. The sound coming from my heart was too loud. Victor Cavendish's hand was really on my face.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I promise."

He pulled me closer and hugged me. His arms were strong around me. I froze for a second, then I hugged him back. His body was warm. His scent was the same as I remembered from years ago. For a moment, everything felt right. Like the hate had never existed. Like we were really together.

I closed my eyes and let myself feel it. Just for a little while because I had waited eight years for this. Eight years of loving him in secret. Eight years of watching him hate me.

And now, Victor was really holding me in his arms. But I couldn’t stand it. it was too much and too good to be true. My heart was racing too fast. I pulled away gently. “Please excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.” I placed the ring on the table beside Victor’s bed.

Victor reached for my hand. “Hey, wait—”

I didn’t wait. I left the room quickly. Outside, I leaned against the wall, breathing fast. My heart was pounding. "Breathe," I told myself. "Just breathe." I put my hand on my chest, felt my heart thundering.

"Breathe."

Dad came out a moment later. "Claire—"

I snapped. “Dad, what was that all about? You want us to lie to Victor?"

He sighed. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I just think this could be a fresh start for you and Victor."

"There is no me and Victor." My voice shook. "Victor hates me. What if he gets his memories back tomorrow? Or the day after? What happens then, Dad?"

Dad looked at me. His eyes were filled with hope. "I know," he said. "I know you're scared. But I've watched you love him for years. I've watched you carry this pain alone. And I've watched you stay away because he asked you to. You deserve something good, Claire. Even if it's just for a little while."

I shook my head. "He has a ring, Dad. That means he has a girlfriend. He was going to propose to her. We saw him on TV. He said she was the love of his life."

I felt the tears coming again.

"What if she shows up?" I asked. "What happens then?"

Dad was quiet for a second. “When we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it. For now, you are Victor’s girlfriend. You should act like it. From the look of things, he already thinks you are his girlfriend. He said he feels something for you."

"Dad—"

"Did you see the way he looked at you?" Dad said. "He's never looked at you like that before."

I didn't know what to say.

Then Tyler walked in on us. He had heard everything. “Claire? You are you Victor’s girlfriend? How?"

I looked at Tyler. His face was confused. His eyes were wide.

"Tyler, I can explain—"