Chapter 99

Chapter 99
At Mason’s penthouse, Candice stormed down the stairs after him, her heels clicking angrily against the floor.

"What do you mean by this, Mason?" She demanded. "What do you mean you need more time? We agreed to get married."

"I need time," he said, pouring himself a glass of water, considering Candice’s reaction and what Damon had said. "Time to recover, time to think. Marriage can wait. This isn’t about us, it's about me."

Candice scoffed, knocking the glass out of his hand causing it to fall to the floor and shatter.

"You're perfectly fine! This is just an excuse. There's no reason to delay the wedding. You promised me, Mason!"

"Why are you in such a rush?" Mason shot back, his patience wearing thin. "Why can't you wait?"

"Why are you trying to call it off? Why do you want to back out now? Is it because of her?"

“Who?”

“Raven! She’s been between us ever since you woke up!”

“It’s got nothing to do with her. It’s because I want my memories back!" Mason yelled, his voice echoing in the kitchen. "I spoke with Damon, and he suggested I meet with her. Maybe it’ll help."

Candice flinched but recovered quickly.

"Why do you believe anything they say? They all hate me, they were always against us from the very beginning. Why do you think Raven has the answers? You’re letting Damon fill your head with nonsense. Don't tell me you’re choosing her over me. She’s a stranger, you don’t even know her."

"I need to know the truth, Candice. If Damon thinks meeting Raven might help, then I'll meet with her. I didn't want to go behind your back, but I've decided... I'm moving back to the mansion." Mason said firmly. "I can't keep living in the dark, maybe staying at the family home where everything is familiar will help me remember."

Panic flashed in Candice’s eyes. "You think I’m the reason you don’t remember? Is that what you think? That I'm keeping you in the dark."

"That's not what I'm saying, Candice. Why can't you understand that I just want to get my memories back?"

"Why?" Candice asked, making Mason question whether she was being supportive or if Damon was right about her.

"Candice?" Mason said, not sure if he wanted the answer to his question but knowing he needed it. He tilted his head as his gaze scrutinized her. "How did I find out you faked being pregnant?"

Candice paled at Mason's sudden question. "W... what are you talking about? I don’t know what you mean."

Before Mason could press further, his phone buzzed with an alert for a meeting. He gave her a long, hard look before walking upstairs, leaving Candice trembling with fury.

She clenched her fists tightly. "They're ruining everything," she hissed, her nails digging into her palms.

\~~~~

Raven and Julie sat at opposite ends of the couch in Michael’s home office, tension between them they had never felt before. Julie was watching Raven through tears that were already threatening to spill over before either of them had had a chance to speak. Raven, on the other hand, was staring straight ahead at a picture that hung over the fireplace that she had never noticed before.

“Do you think that’s my mother?” she asked, her voice soft as if she didn’t mean to speak them out loud.

“She looks like you,” Julie said gently, looking up at the painting. “I wish you could have known her.”

“Me too… have you noticed that our lives kind of ended up being the same? We were both virtually kidnapped and raised by women who weren’t our real mothers. My parents are gone, it’s too late for me, but you? You have a chance to talk to your birth parents.”

Julie gasped, shocked at how perceptive her friend was.

“I’m so sorry, Raven. It was awful! I’ve seen what you’ve been through with Mason but… I know he’s still in there somewhere.”

“Maybe he is, but I can’t put my life on hold on a maybe. I’ve been through so much with him, with Lenora and Blair. I just want to be happy.”

Raven began to cry, and Julie hurried to her side.

“Does Damon make you happy?” she asked.

“Yeah, he does, he makes me smile and feel relaxed. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without him; he’s been amazing!” she hesitated, looking deep into Julie’s eyes. “Is it a Romeo and Juliet type of love, maybe not. Do I have feelings for him? Yeah, I do. Right now, that’s all I can handle. I can’t cope with the roller coaster of Mason Barrett anymore.”

“But, if he remembers-”

“That’s a big ‘if’, Jules. I can live by questioning everything I do around if Mason remembers me or not, or I can find someone who can make me happy.”