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Meanwhile, Lucas was drowning his anger and jealousy at a friend’s party. He overheard gossip that Chris had never been my brother by blood but had always cared for me, more deeply than anyone realized.
That did it.
His mind raced, replaying all the years Chris had been there for me. Enraged, Lucas tracked him down at work, bursting into Chris’s office, fists
clenched.
“You’ve got nerve, Chris! I let you into my family, treated you like a brother, and you… you liked her all along!” He swung a punch, and Chris took it without flinching.
“Just look at your texts with me,” Chris replied, wiping his lip. “You practically gave me permission to replace you. Every single time Nina needed you, you sent me instead.”
Lucas scrolled through his messages, and with each one, his face paled. [Go with her to the appointment. She’s having morning sickness again. Take her somewhere nice; I don’t have time to go.]
His hands trembled as he scrolled through years of texts. Chris had done everything he hadn’t. Lucas felt hollow.
I found them like this when I reached Chris’s office. “Lucas, what on earth are you doing?” Chris’s cheek was swollen, and he looked at me with those soft, unguarded eyes. I cupped his face, heart aching.
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“Is this your idea of respect, Lucas?” I asked coolly, and he swayed slightly, his expression pained as he realized just how I felt.
“Nina, I’m… hurt too.”
I turned away, leaving with Chris.
“Security, please escort Mr. Blake out and ensure he’s not permitted back
in here.”
15
Lucas tried using Evan to win me back, hoping I’d give in. But the truth is, I
wasn’t the same person anymore.
“Evan, you shouldn’t keep coming here. I’m not your mom anymore.”
He looked desperate. “But I want you to be my mom, to make me your dark and weird cooking, to tell me stories at night, to hold me while I sleep…”
“Anyone can do that, Evan,” I said. “You’re just used to having me around.”
“No, it’s not like that! Mom, I’ll never call anyone else ‘Mom, I promise!” he cried, clutching at my skirt. “Dad lied; he told me you’d remember me one day and come back. I was terrible, but now I’ll change!”
Iknelt down, meeting his gaze. “Evan, you need to appreciate the people who love you before they’re gone.”
Evan clung to me, tears streaming down his face. “Please, Mom, I don’t
want to lose you…”
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“This is my last lesson for you, Evan: if you want love, you need to give love, and you need to respect others. Everyone who’s hurt leaves eventually.”
He cried harder, kneeling, begging me for a second chance.
But there was no going back.
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10:16
After signing a major contract at a client’s office, I was about to drive home when I ran into Annie. She suggested we grab a coffee together.
“Nina,” she started, her voice soft. “Back at the hospital, when Evan called you ‘aunt, I thought he was just testing if you’d really lost your memory, so I went along with it. I… owe you an apology for that. I shouldn’t have interfered in your life with Lucas. And I shouldn’t have let money influence me to take on the job as Evan’s tutor.” She looked down, clearly ashamed.
“Annie, my divorce from Lucas was never because of you,” I assured her, -wanting to relieve her guilt. “I know you’re not that kind of person.”
I owed Annie a debt of gratitude. She’d been in my class for a short time in high school, when everyone in New York’s elite circles called her the ‘It‘ girl, the princess of the scene. Yet she was never arrogant, always kind and grounded, with a core that was steady and wise. At seventeen, I was desperate to fit into Lucas’s social circle, always laughed at, while Annie’s kindness set her apart. She once told me, “The universe revolves around you when you center yourself.” I didn’t understand it then, but now I know she saw the truth a lot earlier than I did.
Annie looked back up at me, more determined. “I left that job right after you did. I’ve realized I need to stand on my own. I can’t keep leaning on the Blake family’s pity.”
Pulling out my phone, I sent her a file I’d put together. In part, it was to repay the kindness she’d once shown me. I had dug into Wynn Corporation and its affairs; its sudden downfall didn’t sit right, and as a century–old establishment, it wasn’t only wealthy–it was distinguished. I’d found out
about a few underhanded moves by her family abroad. Annie had what she
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you did. I’ve realized I need to stand on my own. I can’t keep leaning on the Blake family’s pity.”
Pulling out my phone, I sent her a file I’d put together. In part, it was to repay the kindness she’d once shown me. I had dug into Wynn Corporation and its affairs; its sudden downfall didn’t sit right, and as a century–old establishment, it wasn’t only wealthy–it was distinguished. I’d found out about a few underhanded moves by her family abroad. Annie had what she needed to take it from here, and I knew that, with her background, the Wynn family had a real chance to bounce back.
She opened the file, visibly moved, but then her face darkened with another thought. “And what about you and Lucas?”
I pointed outside the window, where Chris waited, looking calm and patient in his gray coat. Annie smiled, a genuine smile. “You deserve happiness, Nina. And Lucas… he never did.”
Annie left, saying that Lucas wanted to see me. When he arrived, he tried to reminisce, bringing up beautiful memories from the past. I interrupted
him.
“You can visit the past all you like, but there’s no one left there.”
He grabbed my hand, his voice rough with emotion. “Nina, I finally realize it. The one I love–it’s always been you.”
I pulled my hand away, looking at him carefully. “Real love doesn’t need constant reaffirmation, Lucas. Only a love that’s never been certain does.”
He continued, unfazed, “Tomorrow’s my birthday. You always make me that special soup for it…”
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I turned to him, eyebrow raised. “Lucas, do you even know what last Sunday was?”
He frowned, thinking, and then his face darkened with regret.
“You see?” I said, “The only person you’ve truly loved is yourself.”
“I’m sorry, Nina… let me make it up to you. I’ll throw you the biggest birthday celebration you could ever dream of.”
“It’s not about birthdays anymore, Lucas. You missed your chance.” I paused. “Tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the county clerk’s office to finalize
everything.”
Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him. “Since leaving you, I’ve learned how to love myself. Please, don’t interfere in my life anymore.”
Turning around, I ran to Chris, who had been waiting in the cold for too long. I wouldn’t make him wait anymore.
Lucas:
The moment I truly understood I’d lost Nina was when I held the final
divorce papers. Before then, even as we signed the agreement, I felt invincible, convinced that once she regained her memory, everything would go back to the way it was. But I was wrong.
She’d never lost her memory. That realization hit me with paralyzing fear, like something crucial slipping out of reach. Only then did I begin to
understand the value of what I’d lost. People only realize the worth of something when it’s gone.
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I found myself scrolling through old photos, messages she’d sent me over the years, detailing daily moments I’d barely looked at, let alone appreciated. She’d sent me paragraphs of excitement and joy, which I’d often brushed off with short responses. I could see now how her texts dwindled over time, how she began turning instead to Chris.
Chris had slipped into her life where I should have been, and I hadn’t even noticed. I took for granted that her affection and devotion were permanent,
that she’d never leave.
But she’s gone now. And Evan, too, off to boarding school so he wouldn’t need to be looked after by strangers. He told me he’d be fine on his own.
The house feels like a shell now. Empty. It’s not even a home without her warmth. In her absence, I’ve clung to alcohol and regret, haunted by memories of her. And every time I think of the chances I missed, I’m gutted. I could have had everything.
Staring at our wedding photo, tears fall down my face. Why didn’t I see this coming? Why didn’t some future version of myself reach back and stop me, warn me not to hurt her, not to drive her away?
If had just one more chance, I would hold her so tight, not even death could part us.
But she’s marrying Chris now. She was my wife only months ago, and now I have to watch her promise herself to someone else.
I told Evan about her wedding, hoping he’d feel some of my hurt. But instead, he smiled. “Mom deserves to be happy. I want her to be happy.” A child could see what I’d been blind to for years.
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The house feels like a shell now. Empty. It’s not even a home without her
warmth. In her absence, I’ve clung to alcohol and regret, haunted by
memories of her. And every time I think of the chances I missed, I’m gutted. I
could have had everything.
Staring at our wedding photo, tears fall down my face. Why didn’t I see this coming? Why didn’t some future version of myself reach back and stop me, warn me not to hurt her, not to drive her away?
If I had just one more chance, I would hold her so tight, not even death
could part us.
But she’s marrying Chris now. She was my wife only months ago, and now I have to watch her promise herself to someone else.
I told Evan about her wedding, hoping he’d feel some of my hurt. But instead, he smiled. “Mom deserves to be happy. I want her to be happy.” A child could see what I’d been blind to for years.
So, I went to her wedding. Evan insisted on being a flower boy. The ceremony was lavish; she wore a white dress and looked radiant, and for the first time, I realized what I’d lost.
“Congratulations,” I managed to say.
“Thank you,” she replied with a smile that held nothing but peace.
She’d let go. And I–I had let my happiness slip through my hands forever.
This is my punishment, and I know I will never find peace.
