LOGINAxelOlivia's expression changed as her brows knitted together tightly."Why are you asking me all these questions?"She shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers tightening around the stem of her wineglass. There was confusion in her eyes now, but something else had begun to creep into her expression—uneasiness.She studied my face as though trying to figure out what had suddenly changed in me."You're beginning to scare me, Axel. Who is this Anna you keep calling me?"She hesitated, her gaze searching mine."Why are you so desperate for me to be her? Is there something about her that I don't know? Why do you keep looking at me like you're expecting me to suddenly remember something?"Olivia lowered her gaze for a moment before looking back at me."I've told you I don't remember this person, Axel. So why does it feel like you're trying so hard to convince yourself that I am her?”I froze.Her words struck me hard. I rubbed a hand over my face and exhaled heavily.Maybe I was indeed f
Axel"Hey, you're here."The moment Olivia opened the door, a warm smile appeared on her face. She stepped aside, holding the door open for me."Come in."I didn't move. For several seconds, I simply stood there and stared at her.Something about seeing her now felt different… Almost like I was looking at her for the first time.The woman standing in front of me was still Olivia. The same woman I'd seen countless times. The same woman whose smile I had become familiar with. The same woman whose presence had slowly become an unavoidable part of my life.Yet somehow… Everything looked different. Her voice, her eyes, even the way she smiled at me. The possibility that she could actually be my Anna kept ringing inside my head over and over again.Could my assumption really be right?"Axel?" Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.I blinked.Olivia was staring at me with a slightly confused expression."Why are you still standing outside? Come inside."I cleared my throat and forced a smal
AxelI found myself standing here… in this same park where everything had supposedly begun more than a decade ago.The realization alone made my chest tighten. I'd been told that this was the park where I used to spend time with Anna. The park where we'd met and created some of the most precious memories of my childhood.Yet, despite knowing all of that, I'd never come here. Perhaps because I had always felt there was no need since Anna, the person who made the memories worth it, was already with me.But now, after everything that had happened… everything I had known for years suddenly felt questionable. Even the memories I'd held closest to my heart seemed to have developed cracks.Jasmine… wasn't my Anna?I shook my head.Maybe Natalie had gotten it wrong. People changed, people grew, and more than a decade was a really long time. We had been children back then. Maybe Natalie didn't remember everything correctly.But then… what about Jasmine? What about everything that had happened
AxelThe next day…I walked into the private room of the restaurant with Derek following closely behind me.We had arrived at the scheduled location a few minutes earlier than expected, and I'd already prepared myself for this meeting.But the moment I stepped inside and saw the figure seated at the table, I stopped.My brows furrowed.A woman immediately rose from her seat. She had a knowing smile on her face as she looked at me."Mr. Axel... it's been a long time."Who was this? My gaze shifted toward Derek, who immediately seemed to understand my confusion."Err... I told you yesterday, sir," he reminded me awkwardly. "Mr. Nate Miles went through an identity change. He's now being addressed as Natalie Miles."For a moment, I simply stared at him, then my gaze returned to the woman.Natalie Miles?Had I really heard him correctly?"Identity change?"Derek nodded.Vaguely, I remembered him mentioning something like that yesterday after sending me the meeting location and the necessar
Axel"What was the meaning of this?!"I muttered under my breath as I stared at the email displayed on my laptop.The more I read, the more irritated I became. This made absolutely no sense!A knock suddenly sounded on my office door. Before I could respond, the door opened, and Derek walked inside.The moment my eyes landed on him, I immediately asked, "Have you seen this?!"Derek sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, I have."I slammed my laptop shut, unable to hide my irritation. "Who could be responsible for something like this?"Derek shook his head."I have no idea yet, but I've already pulled my team together to make inquiries about it. Hopefully, we'll have some news by this evening.""They better have news because this is completely unacceptable!"I leaned back in my chair, running an irritated hand through my hair.I found it difficult to believe that a solid deal like the one between Sterling and Hawthorne Capitals could suddenly start having problems.It was a contract I'd cons
OliviaA soft knock echoed through the apartment.I glanced toward the door before setting my laptop aside and making my way over.When I pulled it open, Axel stood outside, one hand tucked into the pocket of his trousers while the other rested casually by his side.The moment our eyes met, a small smile found its way onto my lips."Hey.""Hi." I stepped aside. "Come in."He walked inside, his gaze briefly sweeping across the living room before settling on me again."Would you like something to drink?" I asked. "Coffee? Wine?""Just water is fine.""Okay."I headed into the kitchen, poured a glass of cold water, and returned a few moments later."Here.""Thank you."He accepted it with a nod, took a slow sip, then placed the glass carefully on the coffee table."How's your mother doing?"His question immediately softened my expression."She's really getting better," I replied with a relieved nod. "The doctor said she just needs enough rest now."He nodded. "That's good to hear."There
OliviaI didn’t remember the drive or the traffic lights or even the turns.All that kept replaying in my mind was the image of blood pooling beneath the dim dock lights.When we reached my apartment building, I stepped out of the car on unsteady legs. We didn’t speak as we walked upstairs.I unloc
AxelI had lost count of how many times I had walked from one end of my office to the other.The day was finally here.The day the final decision would be made.The day I would know exactly where I stood in the Reynolds Group.My stomach tightened at the thought.Years of work. Years of sacrifice.
OliviaI sat cross-legged on my bed, my notebook open in front of me, flipping through pages from my last lecture. My mind was only half-focused, replaying parts of the class while trying to make sense of the notes I had scribbled down in a rush.Just as I underlined a sentence for the third time,
OliviaBy the time I drove into my apartment complex, the sky had already darkened. I parked my car in my usual spot, turned off the engine, and just sat there.I rested my forehead briefly against the steering wheel and let out a slow, weary sigh.Today had just been… No—everything lately had been







