Dennis's sudden appearance startled Claire at first, but as soon as she recognized him, she was overjoyed and instinctively threw herself into his arms.
Dennis, however, looked completely bewildered, not recognizing her at all. He even tried to push her away, which felt like a lightning strike to Claire, instantly turning her love into anger.
"Don't you remember me?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "Just admit you don't love me and let's end this."
Dennis's silence and avoidance made Claire lose control. "Fine, we're done!" she shouted, but the tears streaming down her face betrayed her deep sorrow and reluctance.
At that moment, Fido's sudden appearance terrified Claire, and she instinctively clung to Dennis for protection.
Though Dennis was somewhat exasperated by her overreaction, he still commanded, "Fido, stop."
Out of pity, Dennis offered, "Let me take you home."
In his eyes, Claire saw only unfamiliarity and coldness. Being treated like a stranger by the one she loved felt like a knife to her heart, causing unbearable pain.
Unwilling to give up, she pressed, "Do you really not remember me?" But Dennis continued to avoid the question and even turned to leave.
Driven by desperation and lingering affection, Claire rushed over and hugged him again, pleading, "Please, don't go."
Dennis was deeply puzzled by his body's and heart's lack of rejection towards Claire's closeness. He couldn't understand why he felt repelled by Ivy's advances but not by Claire's.
He decided to respond to her earlier question.
Claire, both nervous and hopeful, feared the answer that might break her heart.
When Dennis finally said "yes," Claire confirmed it multiple times before realizing he was admitting he had never loved her. In despair, she returned the letters Dennis had written to her, ending their relationship.
Distracted, Claire nearly tripped over a flowerbed. Dennis reached out to steady her, and she fell into his familiar, warm embrace. But stubbornly, she pushed him away and chose her own path, heading in the wrong direction.
She ran off in the wrong direction, and Dennis tried to stop her but was too late. Claire fell into a pond.
When Dennis arrived, Claire was struggling to get out but kept slipping back in.
Dennis had no choice but to jump in and pull her out. Holding her on the shore, Claire felt a familiar sense of care in his scolding, as if the Dennis who cared about her had returned, lifting her spirits.
Afterwards, Claire playfully insisted, "You have to take me home now."
Amused by her childish behavior, Dennis agreed.
At her room's door, Dennis refused to indulge her further, saying, "Find a maid to help you."
Claire declared, "Even if you're getting married, I'll always love you," then turned and went inside.
Dennis stood there, stunned, watching her sad figure disappear. He opened the letter and saw his familiar handwriting.
Though he recognized the handwriting as his, he couldn't recall the related memories. With the wedding approaching, he decided to investigate after the wedding.
Ivy, upon learning that Claire was attending the wedding, harbored malicious intent, planning to torment Claire to avenge past grievances.
Claire, sleepless and confused by Dennis's hot-and-cold behavior, investigated his schedule and test reports with Raymond and Zachary. They found nothing unusual except for a visit to Hayden's lab.
The next day, the estate was bustling. A maid took Claire to the stables, where she met Ivy. Despite stating she was only there for the wedding and wouldn't approach Dennis, Ivy still gave her a hard time, forcing her to ride a horse.
Claire's refusal was futile, and she was forcibly placed on a horse by bodyguards. The frightened horse bolted, leaving Claire terrified.
Meanwhile, Dennis, three miles away, was unsettled by the previous night's events.
Hearing a familiar scream, he realized someone was in danger and used a whistle to control the horse. Claire was thrown heavily onto the grass.
Recognizing her, Dennis asked, "What happened?" Claire lied, saying she came to ride, not mentioning Ivy's involvement.
Claire, injured and unwilling to get up, lay on the grass talking to Dennis, asking about his feelings for Ivy and reflecting on their differences, saying she would move on.
Dennis, still confused about their relationship, invited Claire back to the estate. Initially reluctant to leave the scenery, Claire eventually agreed due to her injured foot, riding back with Dennis, holding him tightly.
As the horse walked slowly back, Claire, sitting behind Dennis, blushed and her heart raced, filled with affection.
This unintentional closeness caused a reaction in Dennis, making him wonder if Claire was doing it on purpose. He reminded her, "Sit still."
To ease the tension, Claire thanked Dennis for saving her the previous night. They joked a bit, the atmosphere becoming slightly reminiscent of the past, making Claire feel sweetly nostalgic.
Meanwhile, Ivy, in the stable's café, panicked upon learning Dennis was alone at the stables, fearing for Claire's safety. She quickly sent someone to find her.
When Dennis appeared with Claire, Ivy was shocked and angry, her forced smile fading.
Seeing Claire injured, Dennis immediately showed concern.
He personally carried Claire out of the car. When Ivy offered to take Claire home, Dennis refused.
"You go back. I'll take Claire to the hospital." Ivy watched them drive away, her nails digging into her palms.
At the Gonzalez family's private hospital, Claire, enduring the pain, refused to let Dennis carry her. But after a few steps, she couldn't stand.
"Serves you right," Dennis mocked, but he bent down and carried her to the hospital lobby.
The doctor said Claire had a ligament sprain and needed rest.
After getting the medication, they drove back to the estate. Ivy, watching from above, was filled with jealousy.
"Don't move. Let me carry you." Dennis carried Claire to her room and gently placed her on the couch.
Claire, feeling sorry for his effort, was questioned by Dennis about their past relationship.
Claire claimed they were just friends.
She even used photos with her "boyfriend" on her phone as an excuse to refuse Dennis's request to see her phone.
This led Dennis to believe she had a boyfriend, making him cold.
Raymond and Zachary, using devices to eavesdrop on the Hayden family, learned from Ivy and Cleo's conversation that Hayden had erased Dennis's memories of Claire using biotechnology, explaining his current indifference.
Hayden also had further plans.
He intended to implant intimate memories with Ivy, ensuring Dennis's affection for her post-marriage, aiming for a child to secure their position.
Cleo was prepared to forcibly remove Claire from the Gonzalez Villa to avoid disrupting the wedding.
Upon learning this, Zachary immediately wrote an anonymous note, warning Dennis that Claire was in danger.
Dennis recognized Zachary's handwriting and, recalling Claire's strange accident at the stables, became alert.
To protect Claire, he arranged for her to stay in the room next to his.
"Take Ms. Murphy over and get her some new clothes."
The butler followed the instructions, thinking to himself: Dennis must be crazy, giving the new guest the room next door.