Chapter 3

"Phoebe? Why do you have the keys to my place?" The question slipped out before I knew it.

Phoebe's brows furrowed, a hint of surprise crossing her face.

Ever since we started dating five years ago, I had rarely called her by her plain name, always using pet names. I had emphasized it to her countless times, even getting upset with her over it, that we were boyfriend and girlfriend after all.

Suppressing her confusion, she scanned the room and instantly complained, "The place is a mess. Couldn't you have cleaned up a bit? Also, where's dinner? I'm hungry."

I stood there, totally baffled. Did this girl have zero sense of boundaries? She ordered people around as if it were her birthright.

Seeing that I hadn't moved, Phoebe's frown deepened. The moment her eyes landed on the photo in my hand, she lunged forward, grabbed it, and tore it to pieces.

"Didn't I tell you not to leave photos around? No one can find out about our secret relationship!"

I froze, stunned at her sudden mood swing.

Secret relationship? With me? As far as my memory goes, didn't she already have a boyfriend?

Sure, I might have had a small crush on her, but I wasn't the type to go around stealing someone else's partner.

"Phoebe, are you sure you didn't mix me up with someone else?"

Phoebe's tone turned dark, becoming even more aggressive. "Damien, what's with the act? You're just upset because I've been staying with David these past few days instead of coming home, aren't you?

"David’s been abroad for eight years and is still adjusting. What’s wrong with me helping him settle in for a few days? Do you really have to be so sarcastic with me?

"It's precisely because you're so insecure, oversensitive, and petty that I don't want to be around you!"

This woman had to be crazy. Why was she picking a fight with me over spending time with her boyfriend?

I let out a sigh, having zero desire to waste my energy on a lunatic, and opened the front door to leave.

Seeing this, Phoebe rushed forward, grabbing the edge of my shirt. Her expression twisted with anger. "You're really committed to this act, aren't you? Can you stop being jealous of David? Being so narrow-minded is so exhausting!"

Out of respect for the fact that she was my sister's friend, I had held back my temper. But seeing her push her luck, did she seriously take my silence for weakness?

I yanked her hand off me and yelled straight into her face, "Phoebe, are you out of your mind?! When did I ever date you? Look at yourself, lashing out. Who in their right mind could ever fall for you?!"

Phoebe stared at me in utter disbelief. "How dare you speak to me like that! Damien, I'm breaking up with you!"

By this point, I had completely run out of patience.

The words came out without a single trace of emotion. "Fine by me."

With that, I walked straight out the door.

…

Phoebe stood there confused, a hint of panic creeping into her voice. "No way... Did he lose his memory?"

However, the very next second, a text in her group chat with her best friends made her instantly relax.

[Phoebe, it looks like Damien found out about your plan to fake amnesia.]

Accompanying the text was a video showing me standing outside a private lounge. My eyes were bloodshot as I gripped the door handle tightly, yet I never pushed the door open to step inside.

Phoebe burst out laughing.

'You silly boy. It was just a casual comment. Why did you take it so seriously? Your fake amnesia act is surprisingly convincing.'

After leaving the apartment, I drove straight to my parents' house.

Standing outside the front door, I hesitated for a moment. I had this strange feeling that I hadn't come back in a really long time, even though, according to my memory, I had only walked out of this house yesterday.

I pushed the door open. Only my older sister, Cora Robertson, was home.

"Well, look who's here. What a rare guest," Cora teased. "Leaving your secret girlfriend behind to come visit us?"

I looked at her, bewildered. "What secret girlfriend?"

"Still playing dumb, huh?"

She pulled out two photos I had once privately saved in my personal cloud album: a pair of custom engagement rings, with "DR loves PS" engraved neatly on the inside band.