ign, so distant, as though Elena was talk

s supposed to be so clos

neath her. "I should know him, right? There should be something. A memor

ife, yet evoke nothing inside her? It was as if the w

fully before speaking again. "Ava, you've been through so much. Trauma... it can do strange things to the mind. Maybe it's just temporary.

nds shook. "It doesn't feel right. The way he looks at me, the way he ta

There was something guarded in her eyes now, as

ght shift in Elena's demean

a sudden desperation in her voice. "Any famil

u haven't had many visitors. Ethan made sure you were comfortable

who could help her piece together the fragments of her life. It was as though Ethan was the

a's voice was barely above a whisper, her heart pound

ouldn't fully hide. "He cares about you, Ava," she said softl

with a growing sense of realization. "He's the one

t, now felt oppressive, suffocating. The sterile smell of antiseptic clung to the air, the rhythm

s. And now that she was awake, she still felt trapped. But this

ha

d to force it into place. His calm, composed demeanor, the way he controlled every aspect of her

int why. She had no memories, no evidence, just a g

trust him," Ava murmu

. Her touch was gentle, but there was something behind h

e barely audible. "Don't rush anything. Your

cts screamed at her to dig deeper, to question everything. But how could sh

nig

d back in, his phone now tucked away in his pocket. His presen

, his eyes scanning the room as if he could s

she replied, though her voice felt hollow, l

e. He moved closer, his hand gently cupping Ava's chin as he leaned down to kiss her f

n, Ava's breath caught in her throa

eight of the past she couldn't remember and the growing

was worse than the darknes

mor

ss in her chest. She sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring blankly at the discharge papers in her hand. Her nam

erie calmness he always carried. His eyes, sharp and dark, bore into her, and despite the

mooth, almost soothing, but Ava hea

o

f safety, warmth, a sanctuary. But the thought of going anywhere with Ethan made her f