**CHLOE**“So you're Mrs. Blakes?” She cooed, and I laughed.My heart sank, realizing I'd lie to her about my relationship with Jeffrey too. We’d lost contact after college, but she is still like a sister to me.“So you're Jeffrey’s cousin?” I asked, still surprised.“Cuz, how did you meet someone like her?” Rachel asked, approaching us. Disgust was evident on her face.“She's my college bestie,” Audrey cooed excitedly, pinching my cheeks, and I smiled.“Ugh, I can't,” Rachel said, walking away.Audrey looked a bit surprised. “Are you having problems with her?” “Well… She has been picking on me since I came here.” I said.“Pay no attention to her. Rachel is like that sometimes; it's probably her drinking and smoking getting the best of her.”Mary cleared her throat. I had forgotten she was still standing there. “I’ll take my leave now, ladies. You can always call if you need anything,” she said and then left.“You have to tell me everything that's going on in your life! How did you a

**JEFFREY**I went for a check-up yesterday. The doctor said I should gradually start remembering things, but I have no memories of her yet. He advised me to give it time, assuring me that my memory would definitely return. However, I still can't shake the feeling that she's hiding something, and it's driving me crazy.I bought her a new ring. I hated the one she was wearing—the one I supposedly gave her. What was I thinking?I was heading to her room now; I had just heard her and Audrey retire for the night. I knocked, but there was no response.Was she sleeping already? She’d just gone in; no way did she fall asleep that fast. I knocked a few more times, and then she appeared at the door, still fully dressed. For a moment, I’d thought that she might be in the shower.“Hey,” she whispered nervously, blocking the doorway and creating a small opening to speak through.“I hope you weren't already sleeping?” I asked.“Uh, no, I wasn't, she stammered, nervously shifting her weight from o

**CHLOE**I needed to take my mind off things for a moment. Reaching for my phone, I dialed Lily's number.“Hello,” I said.“Hey, Chloe, How are you doing?” she responded.“I'm fine; how's dad?” I inquired.“He's doing well,” Lily replied. “He keeps singing Jeffrey's praises.”“Really?” I asked, surprised.“Yes, and I bet he'll ask about Jeffrey the moment he knows it's you on the phone,” Lily said with a chuckle."Hey, my dear,” I heard Dad's voice call me in the background.“Hey, dad…” I greeted. “How are you doing?”“I'm fine; how's my son-in-law?” Dad asked, making Lily and me burst out laughing.“Your son-in-law?” Lily asked Dad, amused.“Yes, that good man,” Dad replied, and we laughed again.I knew Dad was right. Jeff was a good man, and I loved him.Love? I pressed my hand on my lips. That word is too big.“Dad, Jeffrey is doing well,” I said.“Oh, he already left for the bathroom while we were laughing,” Lily said."So, Lily, you don't want to come see me again?” I asked.“No

**CHLOE**“I… uh, I want to, uhm,” I stuttered, my heart hammering in my chest.He chuckled. “You want to kiss me?” and my stomach stiffened.“Huh?” I blurted out, flustered.“Calm down; I'm just messing with you,” he said softly, taking my hands in his. “If it's not super important, you can always tell me later.”I let out a small smile and nodded. “Yeah, I think that'd be better.”“So here,” he said, extending the card back to me. “Hold on to it,” he insisted.I reluctantly collected the card and shoved it into my clutch.Standing up, he brushed a kiss against my cheek and then headed to the piano. The melody of “Nearer My God to Thee” filled the air as his fingers moved.Goshhh… What can't this man do? I sat there, mesmerized, my gaze fixed on the way his fingers moved gracefully on the keyboard.Butterflies erupted in my stomach.When the last note faded, the crowd applauded. As he returned to our table, a surge of pride swelled in my chest. I blushed; that's my husband.“Did yo

**JEFFREY**I marched to Robert's room with clenched fists and gritted teeth. I flung his door open to see an empty room. I hissed through my teeth and then headed for Chloe's.I got to her room, tugged on the knob, and it opened. Just then, I heard Robert say, “Yeah, you're really your father's daughter; always playing the victim’s role,” his eyes moving from her head to her toe, condescendingly.I froze.Robert was in her room again? Burning anger boiled in my gut, consuming me whole.“Don't bring my father into this! He did what he did for us, and what about you?” she yelled back. “You married me and then tried to kill your own brother for his fortune!” she continued. What was that? Were they responsible for my accident? He married who?Wait... Chloe isn't actually my wife?Robert's eyes snapped to the door and met mine. He had a horrified look on his face, and then Chloe called, “Robert?” My heart sank. I always knew something was up, but I was really starting to love her, a