Chapter 165 WHOLE AGAIN

Chapter 165 WHOLE AGAIN
(Eli's POV)

The darkness was full of voices. At first, they were distant, muffled beneath layers of static, like someone speaking from the other side of a wall.

Then one voice became clear.

“We’re gathered here today…”

My breath caught, and light exploded behind my closed eyes.

I'm in a hall. There's flowers, cameras, people sitting in rows… and Julian.

I stared at him from across the altar, my heart hammering so violently I could feel every beat in my chest.

The officiant continued speaking, but the words blurred around me.

I looked down. The polished floor reflected the lights above us.

My hands were trembling.

Then Julian turned toward me completely. His expression was calm. His voice carried effortlessly through the hall.

“I vow to protect what’s mine,” he said. “To provide, to maintain, and to ensure stability; even when chaos tempts it. You’ll never have to wonder who holds control, Eli. You’ll always know.”

The room went silent.

Even the cameras seemed to hesitate.

My mouth went dry. Then the officiant looked at me, my cue.

I opened my mouth. “I vow…”

My voice sounded strange, small, and uncertain.

“…to remember who I am.”

Julian's expression shifted, like he didn't like what I just said, but the shit quickly disappeared.

“Even when everything else tries to make me forget,” I finished.

The officiant smiled. “I now pronounce you—”

Applause erupted. Cameras flashed.

And Julian leaned closer. His voice was low enough that only I could hear.

“Remember, you agreed to obey.”

My eyes snapped open inside the memory.

No.

Another image crashed into it. Another day. Another room.

And this one has me and Anton in it.

His lips were on mine. I didn't remember leaning toward him, I only remembered suddenly feeling him.

The kiss was slow at first, tentative, testing…

Then something changed. His hand settled against my waist, and he pulled me closer.

And somehow, without remembering when I'd moved, I was sitting on his lap with my fingers tangled in his hair.

His kiss felt different from Julian's. It felt dangerous.

When we finally separated, we were both breathing hard.

Anton stared at me.

“This is a bad idea,” I whispered.

He didn't disagree. He only leaned toward me again.

Then,

The front door opened, and Anton froze.

I turned to see Julian standing in the doorway. His briefcase slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.

His eyes went straight to me; to me sitting on Anton's lap, to Anton's hands around my waist, to the closeness between us.

Julian simply stared for some time. Then he turned around, and walked back out.

The door closed behind him.

The sound echoed through my head like a gunshot.

“Oh God.” I tried to climb off Anton's lap.

He didn't let me. His arms tightened around me.

“Stay still.”

I stared at him. “What?”

“He knew I'd kiss you sooner or later.” Anton grinned. “He'll come around.”

My heart pounded.

“And when he does…” he continued. His eyes gleamed with amusement. “…we'll be doing more than kissing.”

“What?” My face burned.

Anton laughed. “Your lips taste good.”

The memory warped into another one. Opening on Julian and Anton standing across from me in a pool.

Julian's expression was serious. “If you had to choose,” he said quietly, “between me and Anton… who would it be?”

I blinked. “What?”

Anton immediately shook his head. “Don't do this.”

Julian ignored him. “If one of us had to leave,” he continued, “who would you want to stay?”

I laughed nervously. “Hopefully… no one has to leave.”

Julian's jaw tightened. “Who do you like more?”

His voice was quieter now, but more direct.

“Me— or Anton?”

I swallowed. “Do I have to like one more?”

“No,” Anton said firmly.

Julian stared at me. I looked between them, something inside my chest hurt.

“I’m sorry…” My voice broke. “I can't choose because I like both of you.”

The words came back to me now with painful clarity.

“I know it's insane and shameful…”

I remembered the confusion, the fear… and the strange warmth pulling me both men.

“I didn't catch myself falling.” My voice trembled. “I didn't even realize I fell face first…” I smiled despite myself. “…because it wasn't a painful one.”

The memory faded.

But this time, it didn't disappear completely. It settled. Everything came rushing back; the arguments, the laughter, the fear, the moments I'd forgotten, the moments I'd misunderstood, the way Julian touched my hair, the way Anton always stood between us and the world… the way I had slowly, impossibly, fallen in love with both of them.

My memories weren't fragments anymore. They were mine. All of them.

I remembered. I remembered everything.

My eyes opened to white ceiling, hospital lights, and the faint beeping of a monitor.

For several seconds, I simply stared. Then I turned my head to see two familiar faces were watching me.

Julian sat on one side of the bed, Anton stood beside him. Both looked exhausted, and terrified. They were staring at me as though they were afraid I might disappear again.

I blinked.

A smile slowly spread across my face.

“Hey, husbands. Was it fun dealing with teenage Eli? ”

Neither of them moved.

Julian's eyes immediately filled with tears.

Anton covered his mouth. “You…”

Julian's voice broke. “You remember?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

Anton stepped closer. “How much?”

I looked at both of them. “Enough.”

Julian swallowed. “Enough? You don't remember everything?”

I smiled. “I remember enough to know I don't want to leave you.”

Julian's face crumpled.

I reached for him, and he took my hand. “I don't care what anyone has to say. You can be crazy as long as you're mine.”

A tear slipped down his cheek.

“I love you, husband.”

Julian bent down and pressed his forehead against mine. “I love you most. I've been wanting to tell you, I love you so much. I can't live without you, so please don't leave me. I promise I'll never ever lie to you again, no more games, I opened my heart for you.”

“I'm not ever leaving,” I lifted his head and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I love you, and want to stay with you.”

Then I turned toward Anton.

“And you…”

He laughed through his tears.

“I don't know how you manage to still have the purest heart. Thank you for always being our strength.”

Anton looked away, wiping his face.

I smiled.

“And our lover.” I added.

He laughed softly. “I love you too.”

That was all it took. They both leaned over me at once.

Julian kissed my forehead. Anton kissed my cheek.

I laughed as they crowded around me, and for the first time since waking from that coma, everything felt right again. More right than before.

I was home.