Chapter 56

I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder gently, fingers brushing my arm like they were afraid I would break like a vase.

I blinked against the morning light, my vision blurry for a second before it sharpened into the one face I had last seen. The same face that I no longer recognise these past few days.

Dan stared back at me with a bright smile and warm eyes. “Emerald,” he breathed, relief pouring through every syllable. I sat up shocked and scared what he might say to me, what could be the worse than losing your memories?

“Baby, I remember. I remember everything.” My heart slammed so hard I thought it would burst. I pushed myself up fully, cupping his face, searching his eyes for the truth, terrified this was another dream.

“You remember me?” My voice cracked on every word. He nodded so fast it made his hair fall over his forehead.

“I remember everything, I remember the life we have. I’m so sorry for what happened, I don’t even understand what could've caused me to forget you.” He said looking at me with a confused but relieved look. I didn’t realize I was crying until he wiped a tear with his thumb.

“It’s okay, but how?” I whispered. “What happened to you?” He exhaled shakily and sat on the edge of the bed. I don’t even know what kind of explanation he might have but I need to know everything he remembers before the lights went out.

What was the last thing on his mind before I was wiped from his brain? Was it intentional or a stress side effect? Wait, does he remember me telling him about how I cheated with his stepbrother, Tyson?

“I don’t know exactly. I woke up and it felt like a heavy blanket was over my mind. And then last night, when I heard your voice in my sleep…” He paused, swallowing hard. “It was like someone flipped the switch back on. Everything rushed in.” He doesn’t remember, so why would he sound so sweet and genuine if he remembered?

“You scared me.”I touched his cheek, my chest aching at the thought I had that he would forget about me for the rest of his life.

“I know.” He dragged me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Em. I’m so damn sorry.” He definitely doesn’t remember that I cheated on him. His mouth found mine before I could respond, hungry.

Like he’d been waiting days to kiss me properly. I melted into him instantly. He kissed me like he wanted to remind me of every moment we’d ever shared.

His hands slid into my hair, his grip gentle but needing me. “God, I missed touching you,” he murmured against my mouth. “Missed feeling like myself.” I didn’t want to waste another second.

We tangled up in each other with a kind of desperation that only comes after fear. After almost losing something that mattered more than life itself. Clothes were pushed away, breaths hitched, skin met skin.

His hands traced over my waist, careful of my stomach, his lips moving along my neck, murmuring soft apologies and louder promises. And when we finally moved together, it felt like coming home.

Like everything in my life righted itself in a single heartbeat.

I clutched his shoulders, my breath catching as the moment swept us up. He pressed his forehead to mine, whispering, “I love you.” I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear that until now.

We collapsed against each other afterward, my head on his chest, his hand resting protectively over my belly. I let myself breathe for the first time in days.

“Things will now be back to normal, I missed you so much,” I said unable to express the mere sadness I had every time I looked into his eyes and saw a stranger staring back at me.

“I’m also glad to be back even though I don’t know what might have caused it.” He said kissing my shoulder. A loud knock from upstairs interrupted us, I tried to ignore it burying myself closer to Dan’s warmth.

Another rough knock that sounded more like banging came, and I heard light footsteps running down the stairs assuming it's our housekeeper rushing to open the door and take care of whoever it is at the door.

A minute later a soft knock came to our bedroom door. Dan groaned. “Who the hell—?” Our new maid’s voice, high and nervous, came through the wood.

“Mrs. Cross? I’m very sorry to disturb you but you have visitors.” Visitors? I looked at the clock and it read seven am. Dan raised a brow. “You expecting anyone?”

“No.” I dragged the sheet up and sighed. “Definitely not.” I threw on leggings and a soft sweater, tied my hair up, and headed downstairs, still feeling the warmth of Dan’s hands all over my skin.

I was ready to yell at whoever dared wake us until I reached the bottom step and froze. Standing in the foyer were two women I never wanted to see again.

My stepmother, Marina, and my stepsister, Alyssa.

The woman who drained my father’s accounts when he got sick. The women who disappeared after stealing half of what he left me, walked out on my father when he needed them the most.

They looked out of place in my mansion, like vultures in silk blouses. Alyssa’s face lit up. “Emmy!” What the fuck? Why is she so happy to see me?

I kept my expression cold. “Why are you here?”Marina clutched her handbag dramatically. “We came to apologize, sweetheart.” I actually laughed.

“Apologize? After stealing from me? After abandoning my dad when he needed care?” Marina’s eyes darted around the mansion, taking in every expensive detail.

“We just wanted to visit you,” she said slowly. “To reconnect and fix our relationship, we miss you.” I chuckled in disbelief; this must be some form of dark humor.

I crossed my arms. “You don’t get to ‘fix’ anything, you don’t even have to. I’m not your family.” Alyssa stepped forward, giving me a small, pleading smile.

“Em, please. Let’s talk, we were wrong. We know that now.” I narrowed my eyes. These two idiots are up to something, Alyssa is never this soft or apologetic. “My father died, what the hell are we supposed to talk about?”

Alyssa hesitated and Marina cleared her throat. “Well, we heard you’re expecting.” Of course, the baby. The man that I married, the wealthy Cross family I married into. I felt anger burn through my chest as soon as I made the connection.

“So that’s why you’re here,” I said flatly. “Not to apologise but because you smelled money.” Alyssa frowned, pretending to be hurt. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Before either of them could answer, Dan’s voice floated down from upstairs, warm and reassuring.

“Emerald? Everything okay?” My stepmother’s eyes widened at the sound of a man clearly calling for me. A powerful man, a man they never expected me to end up with.

I just stared at the two people who once tore my life apart and now walked back in like they owned a piece of it. “No,” I said calmly. “Nothing is okay.” And I walked past them, heading back upstairs to the one person who actually mattered.