The Unremembered Betrayal

ompany. "Everyone is so excited to see you, Ava," he said, handing me a tight,

asn't, made my stomach clench. But Liam insisted. He said it was important for business, for

t. He guided me through the room, introducing me to people whose names I immediately fo

er questions for me, patting my arm condescendingly. "She's still a

th down my dress, her touch making my skin crawl. "You look beautiful, sis

w a familiar purse sitting on the counter. It was Chloe's. It was unzipped, and som

ent. I had dropped my phone and was looking for it on the floor. I saw that same silver '

expression tight. "It's not

s mine. I must have dropped it. Liam gives m

he back seat. I was in the passenger seat. They had lied. They had li

hey thought I wasn't looking. Liam subtly touched the small of Chloe's back as he passed her. She

pane of glass. These two people, my fiancé and my sister, were strangers to me. Wors

. I turned to leave, but som

coat. He was wearing a simple dark suit and looked complete

d, surprised. "What

, his gaze warm and direct. "I came to support him.

and actually seemed to want an honest answer. Liam and Chloe always asked, "H

ed, my voice barely a wh

redibly disorienting. It's not just about forgetting facts, i

you are. Oh, Dr. Wright. Good to see you." He put his arm firmly around my waist, pulling me agains

used with Ethan, it was all so clear to me now.

see the tension, the unspoken truth of the situation. "Of course," he s

en me, the real me, the lost and confused person underneath the facade. His kindness was a small light i