All Chapters of When All Of Me Chose You: She Forgot, He Remembered: Chapter 41 - Chapter 48

48 Chapters

41

ALYONAI walked back to my desk with heavy steps, keeping my head down so no one would notice the tears threatening to spill. The moment I sat down, I pressed my palms against my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. I wouldn’t cry here. Not in this office, not because of him. But his words kept ringing in my head. I can’t wait for your six-month contract to end.The sharpness of it cut deeper than I wanted to admit. He hadn’t just dismissed my work. He had dismissed me. Like I was nothing more than an inconvenience he had to tolerate.For so long, I had told myself that maybe my mother was right. That Alexander wasn’t always this way. That the man I worked for couldn’t truly be so cold, so heartless, that every harsh word he threw at me had no weight in his chest. I kept hoping—foolishly—that one day he would see me differently, that he might speak to me with something other than sharpness.But I was wrong, completely wrong. He hadn’t changed at all. He never would. One mistake, and he wa

42

ALYONAI placed the pizza box on the polished table, the smell of pepperoni filling the quiet VIP room. It was bigger than any office dining space I’d seen, and honestly, it felt strange being here with him. Oliver lifted the lid without hesitation, took out a slice, and placed it on a plate before sliding it toward me.I shook my head lightly. “No, thank you. That’s yours. I ordered it for you.” His brows lifted, and that teasing grin curved his lips. “You’re really going to sit there and starve while I eat this all alone?”“I’m not starving. I already brought my lunch box,” I said, trying to sound casual. Oliver leaned his elbows on the table, his gaze fixed on me in a way that made my cheeks heat. “Come on, Alyona. Don’t make me eat alone. It feels… depressing in a room this big.”I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You’ll survive.” “I don’t want to survive. I want to enjoy lunch,” he said smoothly, then tipped his head at me. “So go grab that lunch box of yours. Unless you enjoy t

43

ALYONAOnce I reached home, I headed straight for the shower, letting the warm water wash away the day. By the time I stepped out, I already felt lighter. I dabbed on a little makeup, just enough to brighten my face, and slipped into a yellow floral dress that made me feel fresh. For a moment, I studied my reflection in the mirror, smoothing down the fabric nervously. My phone buzzed. It was Ivy.“Come meet me,” she said eagerly. I hesitated before admitting, “I can’t… Oliver asked me for coffee.”There was silence for a beat, then a squeal so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Babe, go and enjoy!” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Do you even realize? He’s Alexander’s brother!”I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. “It’s not a big deal, Ivy. He casually asked, and I just said yes.”“It’s a big deal for me,” she teased. Her words lingered even after I hung up, and I caught myself smiling. My heart felt strangely light. I had never dated anyone bef

44

ALYONAI slipped off my heels the moment I stepped inside and let out a long breath, sinking onto the couch beside Mom. Without thinking, I curled into her side, resting my head against her shoulder. She wrapped an arm around me, warm and familiar, and for the first time all evening I felt myself relax.“So,” I murmured, half-burying my face against her. “Tell me what you were saying earlier… about Cassie?”Mom hesitated, smoothing her hand over my hair before speaking. “Alyona, baby, Cassie called. She wants me to come to California for her delivery.”I frowned, pulling back to look at her. “But, Mom, she still has a few months before the baby comes.”“Yes, I know,” she said gently. “But her doctors put her on strict bed rest. And Lucas asked me to come stay with them—they need us right now.”She paused, as if gauging my reaction, then added, “Cassie asked me herself. She doesn’t want to be alone through this. And you know what? It’s actually perfect timing. You’ve got your job now,

45

ALYONAIt had been almost three weeks since Mom left, and the house hadn’t felt the same since. I never thought her just being in the other room could bring me so much comfort. At night, knowing she was sleeping nearby always made me feel safe. Now, even though I was still in the same house, it felt emptier… strange, even. I kept telling myself I just wanted Cassie to have her baby soon so Mom could come back to me. We spoke every day on the phone, but it wasn’t the same. I missed her presence more than I ever expected.After our last dinner, Oliver hinted to me that Alexander knew we’d gone out together. From the way he said it, I could tell Alexander hadn’t taken it well. But what surprised me most was that Alexander never asked me a single thing about it. No questions, no remarks—just silence. For the first few days, he seemed to ignore me altogether, and then he left on a business trip to Paris.While he was gone, I threw myself into work, catching up on reports and deadlines. It

46

ALEXANDERI entered the elevator and pressed the button for the parking floor. Peter was already waiting when the doors opened. He came forward, opening the car door for me.“How are you, sir?” he asked politely. “Fine,” I replied shortly and was about to step in when I realized something—I had left the presentation file on my desk. A curse escaped my lips as I turned back toward the elevator. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”As the elevator doors slid open on my floor, an odd silence welcomed me. It was too quiet. Alyona’s desk was just a few steps away, but she wasn’t there. That was strange. My eyes moved across her workspace—everything was neatly arranged, her files stacked in order, even her phone lying beside the notepad.I frowned. Maybe she went to the restroom? But something about the air felt heavy, almost… wrong. I don’t know why, but my instincts screamed that something wasn’t right.I walked down the hall, my footsteps echoing against the marble floor. I stopped near her

47

ALYONAThe warmth of his arms was the first thing I felt when I opened my eyes — firm, steady, and trembling just slightly. For a moment, I didn’t understand where I was. My body felt heavy, my mind foggy, and all I could hear was the sound of his heartbeat against my ear. It was strong… too strong.Then it all rushed back — the scream, the shadow, the fear that had clawed at my chest. My throat tightened, and a soft sob escaped me before I could stop it. I slowly lifted my head and blinked through the blur of my tears. Alexander’s face was close — too close. His hands were still around me, one at my back, the other on the side of my head. His touch was careful now, as if he was afraid I’d break.Realizing how close we were, I instinctively pulled back a little. My body ached all over, and embarrassment crawled up my neck. “Where… where am I?” I whispered, my voice shaky and hoarse. I quickly wiped at my tears, avoiding his gaze. “You’re safe,” he said quietly, his voice softer than I

48

ALYONAI looked at myself in the mirror, and a faint blush crept onto my cheeks. My eyes still looked dull — traces of exhaustion and fever clinging to them — but the color in my face had returned a little. His T-shirt hung loosely on me, slipping off one shoulder every time I moved. I quickly tugged it up, as if covering my skin would help hide the strange warmth that filled me from within. My hair fell around my shoulders, messy yet soft, framing a reflection that almost didn’t look like me. His scent lingered on the fabric — faint, clean, masculine — and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.Get a hold of yourself, Alyona.His T-shirt brushed the tops of my thighs, long enough to be modest but short enough to make me self-conscious. I hesitated before stepping out, my fingers twisting the edge of the sleeve nervously.The house took my breath away the moment I stepped into the living room. Everything about it screamed elegance — modern lines softened by warmth. The lights were dim

1 2 3 4 5

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP