Chapter 1

Three years prior, Darren vanished without a trace, targeted by his adversaries. In a last-ditch effort, I managed to salvage his life's work.

Now, after three long years, Darren has miraculously returned. The physician explained he suffered from amnesia, with his memories intact only up to his college graduation, before our romance began.

Back then, Vivie, his first love, meant everything to him. I was merely someone he loathed.

Upon his return, Darren demanded I relinquish control of the company to him, then promptly wed Vivie.

Devastated, I prepared to leave. Before my departure, I inquired, "If your memories ever return, will you feel remorse?"

His response was, "I'll only be thankful for this second chance with her."

——

When I encountered Darren again, it felt surreal.

Since his disappearance, I'd often seen him in my mind's eye.

An hour earlier, someone reported spotting a man resembling Darren at the hospital.

I dismissed it as another false lead.

The whole city knew of my search, and there had been countless false sightings.

"Darren?" I called out uncertainly, watching as he slowly turned, frowning at me.

Three years had passed, yet I recognized him instantly from his profile.

Upon seeing him clearly, I froze, as if my entire being had shut down, leaving only him in focus.

This familiar face was the one I'd loved and lost for three years.

Darren continued to frown, his lips parting as if to speak.

Then, he extended his hand.

My breath caught as I waited, but the next moment felt like plunging into icy water.

A delicate, fair hand grasped his.

"Darren," came a sweet voice belonging to an even more enchanting woman.

I recognized her too - Vivie, Darren's first love.

Their natural intimacy rooted me to the spot, my mind blank.

All this time, Darren had been with Vivie. Where did that leave me?

Their picturesque coupling was both beautiful and agonizing, especially Darren's expression as he looked at me - one I'd seen years ago.

Disgust and contempt.

I'd held back tears upon first seeing him and even when I saw him with Vivie.

But that look was too painful, reminding me of all our past conflicts.

In an instant, my heart felt shattered, and I could no longer contain my tears.

It was then that Darren's friends arrived.

Seeing Darren and Vivie together, their expressions changed. As one, they turned to me.

"Cindy, what's happening with Darren?"

Everyone sensed something was amiss. Darren and Vivie hadn't been in contact for nearly six years, so their current closeness was perplexing.

"I don't know," I shook my head, feeling lost. I truly had no idea.

A group gathered in the hospital lobby, and it didn't take long for Darren to notice.

He frowned and finally approached us.

I held my breath, almost moved to tears, but then heard him say, "Ned, Juan, why are you with her?"

He looked extremely displeased, his gaze towards me filled with intense disdain. "Cindy, what scheme are you plotting now?"

Darren gripped my hand forcefully, the pressure so intense it felt like he might crush it.

The air around us grew thick with tension. No one understood what was happening.

They only knew that Darren had once loved me deeply.

He wouldn't just touch me casually; even his tone would be impossibly gentle.

The typically cold and domineering CEO, Darren, had been like a devoted puppy with me, known as a "lover's slave" among his peers.

But now, he seemed to despise me utterly.

"Darren," Vivie suddenly approached, gently pulling his hand away and even stroking his head.

"There's no need to be so harsh, you'll frighten people."

Indeed, upon hearing this, Darren's hostility seemed to melt away.

He fell silent, but his guard remained up, unchanging.

I stubbornly held back my tears, watching them walk away.

It wasn't until Vivie led him into a consultation room that I finally broke down.

"How did he end up like this?"

Juan and Ned chain-smoked, avoiding my gaze.

They both knew that during Darren's absence, I had suffered the most.

I had once boldly declared to them that if Darren wasn't dead, I'd drag him to the sparring room and beat him half to death.

When the moment finally arrived, I was overjoyed, wanting nothing more than to rush up and embrace him tightly.

But someone else was by his side.

We stood in the corner for a long time, until Darren and Vivie emerged hand in hand, and only then did we move.

Juan extinguished his cigarette, tossing it in the trash, and pulled me towards the consultation room.

"Come on, let's find out what's going on."