All Chapters of From Lovers to Strangers: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Seconds later, the room exploded."Oh my God! Who is that? She kinda looks like the bride, but that's definitely not her!""Wait—isn't that the woman who tried to kill Kyle at the last wedding and almost killed the bride instead?""No way. Kyle hooked up with the woman who tried to kill him? In the bedroom he shared with his bride?""I knew something was off when he left his bleeding bride on the floor and carried her attacker away. Turns out she was his lover!""And then they put out that statement saying Kyle panicked and grabbed the wrong woman, and the wedding was still happening. I actually believed that crap.""After everything his bride did for him, this is how he treats her? What kind of guy does that?"The whispers got louder.Then someone who knew the truth spoke up, not quite quietly enough."I know her. That's Allison Smyth—Kyle's ex-fiancée! Her father started the fire at the Fenton estate six years ago!"The room erupted."What? He slept with his enemy's daught

The light outside the OR stayed on all night.When it finally went dark, the doctor stepped out and pulled off his mask, his face grim."Mr. Fenton, Ms. Smyth has been dealing with severe malnutrition and emotional instability for a long time. She also took medication without medical supervision, so the pregnancy was already high-risk."Between the hunger strike and the fall, she lost the baby and suffered massive blood loss."We saved her life, but... her brain went without oxygen for too long. She may never wake up."Kyle stared at him."What do you mean, never wake up?""She's in a vegetative state..."'A vegetative state?'Kyle stood frozen outside the ER.His ears rang, drowning out everything the doctor said after that.He didn't even remember walking to Allison's room.He sat beside her bed, staring at her motionless face, his mind spinning.Suddenly, Allison's words came rushing back:"Hurts to lose the person you love, doesn't it?""I know you found Elena to rep

Elena stood in the study doorway, her wedding dress soaked in blood, despair in her eyes."Kyle, why didn't you save me?"He reached for her."Elena, I'm sorry..."Elena, I love you. I'll never let you go again, okay?"His hand closed around nothing.She wasn't there.Kyle laughed bitterly and took another long drink.Still clutching the bottle, Kyle stumbled to his computer and pulled up a video he'd saved.Their wedding.On-screen, Elena threw herself in front of him without a second thought.The knife plunged into her chest, and she collapsed into his arms, blood spilling from her mouth.'She loved me enough to die for me. How the hell did I not see it?'Kyle replayed it again and again.Every time felt like that knife was going straight through his own heart.Then he opened another video.The one Elena had played at the wedding—him and Allison together in their bedroom.Crash!Kyle hurled the bottle at the screen.The sound ripped through the empty mansion.The

Elena flinched.Pain shot through her wrist, and she immediately tried to pull free."What are you doing? Let go!"Ace stepped in, grabbed Kyle's arm, and shoved him back.Then he moved Elena behind him, his eyes hard."Back off."Kyle stumbled.Then he saw Elena hiding behind another man.She stared at him with nothing but confusion and caution.No love.No hate.Nothing.Like he was a total stranger.Kyle's joy vanished, and his stomach dropped."Elena... you don't remember me?"Panic slipped into his voice before he could hide it.'That's Elena. I'd know her anywhere.'Ace kept Elena behind him and looked toward Wallace and the medical team leader."Mr. Carter, we'll head to the clinic and get ready for the handoff."Then he led Elena away.Kyle instinctively tried to follow, but the team leader stopped him."Mr. Fenton, calm down. She's the community doctor. Are you sure you've got the right person?"Kyle didn't answer.He just stared at Elena walking away.

Cold sweat soaked Elena's pajamas, leaving them clammy against her skin.A soft knock came at the door."Elena, you okay?"Ace.Elena pulled herself together, got out of bed, and opened the door.He stood there in his pajamas, holding a glass of warm water.Her nightmare must've woken him, and he'd come straight over."Another nightmare?"He handed her the glass.Elena wrapped her fingers around the warmth, and her racing thoughts slowly settled.She nodded.Ace didn't ask what she'd dreamed about.He just stayed beside her until she finished the water."If you can't sleep, I can stay and talk."With Ace there, the tension slowly left her body.Eventually, she fell asleep and slept peacefully until morning.After that night, the nightmares wouldn't leave her alone.They got clearer, but somehow more chaotic.Sometimes, a tall figure pinned her against a desk while tears of humiliation blurred her vision.Other times, men chased her through the dark as she ran for her