Chapter 2

A name slipped from my lips before I even realized it. "Is it… Jacob Cabot?"

The moment I said it, I froze. I didn't even know who that was.

Jake gave a cold snort, his eyes flashing with the unspoken words: I knew it.

But who was this person… and why did I know his name?

…

I kept pressing Jake for answers, but he refused to acknowledge me.

Only when the bodyguard came to escort him to school did he finally pause, throwing a scathing look over his shoulder.

"If you keep following me, when you're old, I'll dump you in a nursing home."

I stopped in my tracks, stunned, and could only watch him leave.

What on earth had happened these past few years? The last thing I remember was that I was twenty-three.

Grabbing my phone, I instinctively entered Alicia's birthday as the password. Sure enough, it unlocked.

But when I opened the contacts list, there was only one entry—hers.

I thought I must be hallucinating. I checked again. Still, only her name remained.

At least I knew she had become the CEO of Reinfield Group. Without hesitation, I hailed a cab and rushed to her company.

What I didn't expect was to be blocked at the entrance by bodyguards. Even after I stated my identity, they refused to let me in.

"Ms. Reinfield gave strict orders. You are not allowed inside."

I was dumbfounded. I never thought Alicia would go this far.

Yet the more ruthless she was, the more desperate I became to uncover the truth.

So I sat down right there in the lobby entrance, drawing stares from employees as they passed.

Before long, a woman approached, claiming to be Alicia's assistant. Her brows knit together, her tone dripping with mockery. "Mr. Deacon, have you seriously forgotten today is the anniversary of Jacob's death?"

Death anniversary? Jacob… was dead?

Seeing me rooted in shock, she let out a derisive snort.

"No wonder Ms. Reinfield called ahead, saying your act was convincing. Seeing you now, I agree—you really are putting on a show, to the point of pretending you don't even remember the day of Jacob's passing.

"Or maybe you chose to fake amnesia today, of all days. Are you afraid Jacob will come back to claim your life?"

I stood there in utter bewilderment. Maybe the twenty-eight-year-old me knew Jacob—but the twenty-three-year-old me truly didn't.

Before I could explain, the assistant summoned security and had me thrown out.

With no other options, I returned home, hoping my family might finally give me answers.

When I arrived at my parents' estate, the house was shrouded in silence.

The servants looked at me as though I were some kind of monster.

Only the old butler rushed over, panic in his eyes.

"Young master, why did you come back today of all days? You must leave at once!"

Before I could react, hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.

I turned my head, just in time to take a hard slap across the face.

Stunned, I looked up to see my mother.

She was nothing like the elegant, radiant woman from my memories. Her hair had turned silver, and wrinkles carved deep lines across her face.

"Mom… why did you hit me?" I asked, bewildered.

But before I could finish, her hand lifted again.

I dodged instinctively, only to see her trembling with rage, her whole body quaking.

"You monster! How dare you come back here? You killed your father and Jacob. Was that not enough? Do you want to take me down with you too? Get out! Get out of this house!"

Her fury left me stunned, unable to comprehend. Just as I was about to ask for an explanation, the butler dragged me away, his face clouded with unease.

"Young master… please. Come back another day."

His voice dropped to a pained whisper.

"You've used this trick before. It won't work."

I stared at him blankly. Why were his words the same as Alicia's?

But I wasn't pretending. I truly couldn't remember anything.

…

Only after I pleaded and sought clarification again and again did the butler finally believe me—believe that I really had lost my memory.

At last, he revealed the truth.

"Jacob was your father's illegitimate son. He bore his mother's surname. Because your wife and father both favored him, you were consumed by jealousy… and caused the car accident."