The Night Before I Knew Him의 모든 챕터: 챕터 151 - 챕터 160

>I dismiss the useless styling team June dragged in here with one flick of my wrist. They scatter fast—good. I don’t have the patience for incompetence tonight.As soon as the door shuts behind them, I dial my phone.The line barely rings once."He is still at the store. The wine section," a deep male voice reports.Perfect.A smile stretches across my lips—wide, triumphant. I end the call without another word.I twirl around the room, humming as I reach for the wine bottle, and give myself generous pour, and a well-earned sip. Everything is falling exactly into place.Hermes doesn’t remember June.I just fired her.I removed her from the board like the insignificant little pawn she is.And Hermes… oh, Hermes looks at me the way he used to. As though I’m his constant, his comfort, and his ultimate choice.The world finally feels right again.But then— A thought creeps in, slithering into my mind.What if he regains his memories of her?The glass in my hand stills, as my pul

JuneI froze, staring at the tall figure standing before me. He looked unfamiliar… yet familiar, dressed in a sharp tuxedo like he was about to step into a gala."Uh–" my lips moved, trying to form words, but nothing came out."Hi… uhm— I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m–" he started, his voice hesitant."Ted," I cut him off, shaking my head. "I’m sorry, Doctor Ted. I remember you. You’re Hermes’s… I mean, Mr. Grande’s friend. You treated me back then…" My voice trailed off, heat rushing to my cheeks.Why was Hermes’s friend here? How did he even know where I lived? Hermes had never been to my house."Yes. I’m Ted. Teddy Aussie," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.A beat of silence fell between us, thick and awkward, as we stared at each other."Can I… please come in?" he asked, forcing a polite smile."Of course," I snapped, stepping aside for him.I watched him step inside, still smiling politely, his eyes sweeping over my home with an expression I couldn’t read. My

>I stare at Hermes from the corner of my eye as the Bentley glides through the city lights. He looks calm. My father said Hermes might already know about the plan—about everything—and yet here he is, sitting beside me as if I didn’t just deliberately shatter his phone minutes ago.He didn’t even flinch. He just smiled that polite, unreadable smile, bent down, picked up the broken phone, and opened the car door for me like nothing happened.That should be sincere… right? But I don’t know anymore.I used to pride myself on understanding Hermes Grande—his moods, his tells, his little silences. I spent years believing no one knew him like I did. But right now? Sitting next to him? I feel like I’m beside a stranger wearing the face of the boy I loved.I let out a slow, quiet sigh, turning my gaze to the tinted window. The gala tonight was supposed to be perfect. My night. Our night. I had imagined it a thousand times—Hermes on one knee, the applause, the cameras, the Grande lega

Author's POV (For Omniscient Reading)The chandeliers in the grand ballroom glittered violently, their fractured light scattering across marble floors.Hermes blinked, slow and disoriented, as if waking inside a nightmare.Why was he here? The last thing he remembered was…Was— His breath hitched. Nothing. It was suddenly just a blank wall.His hands slipped away from Natalya’s arms as panic overtook him. He staggered back, clutching his head with both hands, eyes squeezing shut as if that would force memory back into place.Across the room, Dominic watched with a curling smirk. Perfect. Exactly how he planned it. He didn’t need the theatrics anymore. Even if the game was already lost. Hermes was disoriented, and now he'll take everything down with him. "Hitler. Alex." Dominic’s voice sliced through the room. He pointed lazily toward the trembling Ted. "Get rid of that one."Then his finger shifted, landing on the girl kneeling on the floor."And adorn her with our little surprise."

JuneONE WEEK LATER.My face is crumpled, my eyes clouded, as the priest’s words float over the gravestone. I sigh, licking my lips, tasting the bitter salt of my tears.This isn’t real, right? It has to be some cruel, twisted dream.I can’t believe it. I never got the chance to say thank you, to apologize, to tell him anything.I can still see his smile, hear the warmth in his voice, feel the kindness in his touch. And now… it’s gone. Vanished. Dust.Beside me, Leila wails, her cries rising with each heartbeat. Kayla and Lia hold her tightly, trying to soothe her, but I can’t join them. I need comfort too, but there’s nowhere to find it. My hands tremble as they clutch the edge of the folded program, my chest heavy with grief that refuses to ease.I swallow hard, forcing myself to stand tall, but the emptiness presses in from every side. All I can do is stare at the gravestone, whisper a quiet apology, and wish—wishing with every fiber of me—that I could turn back time.The priest’s