Semua Bab Did I Steal My Fiancé’s Ex Identity: Bab 121 - Bab 130

Andre’s POVI had promised myself I would never attend another one of my father’s family dinners, but here I was again.My car pulled up to my parents' house. I did not want to be here. I got out of the car and stood in front of the DeLuca estate like a man walking into a trap. My stomach was already in knots.Inside, the place was smelling like food.My mother loved hosting dinners like this… grand, loud, meant to remind everyone who her family was.The butler opened the door and nodded. “Welcome back, sir.”I nodded back and walked in.The butler took my coat. I took a deep breath and went in. I came alone, with no date and no fake smile. I just wanted to get it over with.When I entered the dining room, every head turned to look at me. My father sat at the head of the table, wearing a new navy suit. My mother was to his right. Charles was sitting two seats away from him, laughing about something with Clara, his fiancée, whom I had seen before, and who was the subject of ever

Lisa’s POVThe text from Andre was simple. We need to talk. Can we meet? My first instinct was to ignore it. The memory of him showing up at my door late at night was still fresh. But a stronger instinct, the one that needed his help, won. I agreed to meet him at a small, quiet park not far from my apartment.I found him sitting on a bench, staring at his hands. He looked up as I approached, and I saw the same tired uncertainty in his eyes that I felt in my own heart."Lisa," he said. He looked nervous."Andre," I said. I sat down on the bench. He sat next to me."Thank you for coming," he said. For a moment, neither of us said anything."You said we needed to talk. So talk." I spoke up.He took a slow breath. "I know things are... difficult between us. But we started this investigation for a reason. I think we need to continue. We need to put our differences aside and focus on finding the truth.”He was right… We could not let our personal problems get in the way of finding the

Lisa’s POVI could not stop looking at the stain on the floor. My mother died right here.I made myself walk further inside. The house was small. The first door was a bedroom. My bedroom.I opened the door. There was a bed with a blue blanket, and a desk with law books on it. A stuffed bear sat on the pillow. Dust covered everything.I picked up the bear and held it to my chest. I remembered as a child, my mother would come to tuck me in at night. I remembered her voice telling me a bedtime story.For a long minute, I just stood there. Riley stayed behind me, quiet.I moved to the next room.It was hers.The first I saw was mother’s apron… I had made it for her with my handprints on it.It was on the chair beside the dresser. She used to wear it whenever she cooked. It was blue with small white flowers. I picked it up. The fabric felt soft. There was a lump in my throat, and before I knew it, I started crying.I tried so hard to stop, but I was hiccupping and a mess.Riley st

Lisa's PovHe caught my eye.“I kept the prom photo,” he said suddenly. “I swear I did. I thought maybe-” He laughed, and it sounded like it came from his chest. “Maybe I’d find you again.”I wanted to change the subject.I couldn't pretend I understood his feelings or what had happened in the past.I cleared my throat.“So… you came to the funeral?” I asked instead.He blinked and frowned, like he hadn't expected that.“I did,” he said. “I went. I waited outside because I didn’t have the right to get close. They didn't have your body. But they said you were gone, and the town wanted answers. I wanted to find answers too, but I didn't know where to start.”I nodded.I was right, I had no one who was actively looking for me.He reached for my hand, and I pulled it back like a reflex. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know. I didn’t mean… I really wanted to, and seeing you made those times we had come back again. I keep thinking I missed a chance to help.”I wanted to be angry. I almost was.

Lisa's Pov“You sure you can do that?” he asked.“Yes,” I said. The word felt solid. I had been a lawyer once. I had skills that the blank spots had not taken. The dream in the courtroom had shown me I could still argue, still read a witness, still know where to look. I would use that.“I'm done being a victim, Andre. I'm done waiting for my memories to come back on their own. I'm going to find out who killed my mother, and I'm going to make them pay. Will you help me?”"Yes," he said. "I'll help you. Whatever you need.”“Thank you.”“If you go into a firm like that, you will need cover,” he said. “You will need documents. You will need someone to call HR and ask for a short-term temp if this Kenneth guy refuses to hire you. I can do that. I can call a friend. He owes me favors.”I thought of Riley and Mark and the house and the chalk. I thought of the law school photo and the way my mother had smiled in it. I thought of the closed case.“All right,” I said. “You find a back door. I w