Chapter 177 After our one-night stand
~Hermes~
Ted walked in, the sound of his steps, slicing clean through the tension like a scalpel.
"What’s going on here?"he asked, his tone calm—too calm.
June jerked away from me so fast the air between us shattered. I exhaled sharply, feeling the loss like someone had just punched a fist through my ribs. And then I watched—forced myself to watch—as Ted’s hand settled at the small of her waist.
A place my hand had memorized first.
My stomach twisted. Tightened. Soured.
This must be wrong. So wrong.
How the hell did June go from me… to Ted? My best friend? My doctor?
Was she—God forbid—some kind of gold digger?
I didn’t want to believe it.
But the sight felt like betrayal. A betrayal I had no right to feel… yet couldn’t shake.
"I told him about our relationship,"June said quickly, voice steady—but her fingers were trembling. Then she leaned closer to Ted and whispered something I couldn’t hear.
Something he heard.
Something that made him nod.
Ted pulled her closer, almost protectively, and said,"She’s right. We’re dating now. She wanted to tell you herself and then—”
"Wait."My voice cut through his like a blade.
I didn’t blink. Didn’t breathe.
"Did you know I and June were having a—”
"I knew,"Ted interrupted, smiling gently as he looked down at her with this annoyingly fond expression—one I’d never seen him give any woman.
His fingers brushed her side.
He was touching her like she belonged to him.
"She said that’s all in the past now,"Ted continued, warmth in his voice."And I respect that.”
Past.
Past?
The word detonated in my skull.
I stared at June—at her flushed cheeks, at the way she avoided my eyes, at the way her breath shivered in her chest.
The kiss still tingled on my lips.
The same lips she’d kissed twice today. The same lips she’d kissed at that damn hotel.
Past?
Like hell.
My jaw clenched. My pulse growled in my throat. And the only thing louder than Ted’s voice was the question hammering inside me:
What the fuck is going on here?
"Are you okay, Hermes?" Ted’s voice cut clean through the haze, but all I could focus on was June’s face.
I wanted—no, needed—to tell him we had just kissed.
That her lips were on mine seconds ago.
That something between us wasn’t done, wasn’t over, wasn’t dead.
But the look on her face…
Wide eyes. Tight jaw. A tremor she tried to hide.
Something inside me froze.
I didn’t know why the hell I swallowed the words back.
Why I protected her lie—Ted’s hand still on her waist, her pulse fluttering in her throat.
Why did I care if the truth made her sad?
She practically just dumped me.
Right to my face.
Like whatever we had—all the heat, all the wanting—meant nothing.
But the worst part?
I didn’t remember enough to fight her on it.
I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why she left me or what I did.
I bit my lip hard enough I tasted metal.
"Was I the one that introduced you guys?"I asked, my voice cracking in a pathetic way I hated. I stared at the floor so I wouldn’t have to see the pity on either of their faces.
Ted nodded.
"Yeah. I got to know June from you, Hermes.”
Great. Perfect.
Even the origin of their relationship was mine.
My own damn doing.
I dragged a hand through my hair, frustration burning in my chest.
How could I not remember something that important?
How could I not remember her?
I opened my mouth—to ask how long, to ask why, to ask what the hell happened between us—
But Ted cut me off.
"Ah, yes.”
He stepped slightly in front of June, protective.
"Hermes, I arranged a therapy session with Doctor Oli. One of the best neurophysiologists I know. He’ll help you slowly regain your memories. He’ll be here in an hour. You should get ready.”
A neurophysiologist?
My stomach dropped.
That wasn’t what I wanted.
I didn’t want a doctor analyzing me.
I didn’t want clinical explanations for the chaos in my chest.
I wanted answers and my memories.
I wanted to know what I did that made June walk away from me—and walk straight into Ted’s arms.
At first, I wanted to refuse the whole damn thing.
Let my memories come back on their own or never.
Who cared?
But then the thought hit me—
What if the session helps me remember everything?
Everything that answers why she chose Ted over me.
The possibility slammed into me so hard I sat up straighter.
"I’ll do it,"I blurted.
Ted and June both blinked, startled.
I didn’t wait for their reactions. I couldn’t.
If therapy could pull back the curtain in my head, then I needed it more than oxygen.
The examination room was too white, quiet, bright, and empty.
I lay on my back, staring at the pendulum the doctor held between two steady fingers.
Her voice was calm, grounding.
But the only thing I could actually see— was June and Ted’s hand curled around her waist like she belonged there.
The image stabbed hot into my chest.
"You look worried, Mr. Hermes,"the professor said gently.
"Try to relax so we can begin.”
I snapped my gaze to her.
"Alright,"I muttered, inhaling slow.
But the second I exhaled, the unease clawed up my throat.
I couldn’t help it.
"What about my secretary?"I asked suddenly.
"She’s supposed to be here. You should… send for her.”
It sounded stupid out loud, but the doctor didn’t mock me.
She only tilted her head.
"And why do you think she should be here?”
I tapped my fingers against the chair, throat tightening.
"W-well, she’s always with me everywhere I go… or I am… since I woke up and—”
I stopped. Because that wasn’t it not even close.
The real reason was uglier.
I didn’t want June alone with Ted.
I didn’t want them having time to… do whatever couples do or her aughing with him the way she used to laugh with me.
The professor nodded slowly and rose from her seat.
"I understand why you feel your secretary should be everywhere you are, but—”
Her phone rang sharply.
She frowned, murmured a quick apology, and stepped out of the room.
I stared at the ceiling, jaw flexing.
Seconds stretched. Minutes twisted.
Then—
"Mr. Hermes,"she called from the doorway, her tone carefully neutral.
"As much as I would like to allow your request, it seems it isn’t happening.”
I jerked upright, brows shooting up.
"What do you mean?”
The professor hesitated, eyes flicking to her phone again.
"Uh—your secretary was involved in a small accident. She s—”
My pulse slammed into my throat.
"What did you say?”
My voice didn’t even sound human.
"She’s fine, Mr. Hermes. It wasn’t serious, she just—”
"Where is she?”
I didn’t wait for an answer.
I was already moving, already shoving past her, already breaking into a run.
I didn’t remember everything about June— But I remembered enough to know that the idea of her hurt shredded something inside me.
I stormed down the hall, ignoring nurses who called after me.
Ted’s office door was closed.
I didn’t knock.
I kicked it open.
Inside—
Ted was sitting beside June on the couch, his fingers gently massaging her wrist.
June winced softly, biting her lip.
Ted murmured,"I’ll be gentle.”
And something in my head
snapped.
My breath caught—
my vision dipped—
And suddenly—
FLASH
Her back slams into the hotel wall.
Her wrist pinned above her head beneath my hand.
Her pulse racing under my lips.
Her body trembling.
Her voice breathy as she whispered my name.
My mouth on her skin, tasting her.
Needing her.
More.
More.
More—
END FLASH
My own wrist shook.
Ted’s thumb brushed the same place I once kissed.
I felt sick. Possessive. Jealous. Angry. Confused.
Everything at once.
"Don’t—touch her like that.”
The room went silent.
Ted’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing.
"Hermes....Why not?”
I swallowed hard, chest tightening.
My voice cracked, low and furious:
"Because I—”
I looked at June. She looked terrified, conflicted, and heartbroken.
I hated all of it.
"…You’ren't supposed to be dating him,"I forced out, jaw clenching.
My fists trembled.
"I don’t know if it's because I treated you badly…”
My voice dropped to a near whisper.
"…after you became my secretary. After our one-night stand.”
June’s breath hitched.
Ted froze.
And I—
I stood there, every part of me unraveling, unable to stop.