When memories fail...

"Chase."

"Hmm?"

"Will you believe me if I say, everything that happened today, I read don't know anything about it?"

Chase was standing beside beside her. He looked at his side. Chloe still stared at the sky.

Since childhood, she never called him brother; he was always like a best friend to her. Chase also didn't have a problem with that, it made him actually comfortable.

"Yes."

He answered in a calm voice.

Upon hearing, suddenly she looked at him.

"Why?"

"What do you mean by why?"

He asked.

"Why will you believe me? I'm not even your biological sister. Just being a member of this family can actually make you believe that I'm telling the truth!"

He smiled.

"Yes. Because I have known you since childhood, and I know you more than anyone else. So even if you are not my biological sister, I still believe you can't do anything that'd potentially harm our family."

"And...

Even if the whole world stands against you, I'll still believe what you say. I'll still stand next to you."

Chloe's heart fluttered with emotions. The day she entered this house, from then Chase was always with her. He always had her back, supported her, protected her no matter what. But today...!

She didn't think even today he'd support her! But unlike others, he listened to her and believed.

She didn't know, but her heart was longing for a long time to hear these words.

Suddenly, she threw herself upon him. Her hands held his neck tightly, and after a long time, she burst into tears.

Chase didn't say anything; he just patted her head while holding her in a warm embrace. After some time, when her sobbing stopped gradually, he said calmly.

"Hushh.. it's ok, don't cry anymore. Whatever happened, happened. Everything happens for a reason. Don't be so sad and don't pay attention to what others say. Because in your heart, you know very well that you did nothing, right?"

"Umm."

"That's it. Now stop thinking and go to sleep. Don't be sad. Okay?"

She moved a little away.

"Hmm."

"That's my girl! Listen, sleep well tonight. And about today's matter, don't worry. We'll definitely find out everything."

"Okay."

"Good night; now go inside, or you'll catch a cold."

He patted her head again, then jumped back to the balcony of his room. She was going back inside, suddenly he called her.

"Chloe?"

"Hmm?"

"Remember, I believe you."

Throwing a big smile at her, he went inside.

Chloe headed towards her room and leaned on the bed. She was tired, but she couldn't sleep. Staring at the ceiling of her room, she lost in thoughts.

Chloe was adopted. When she was ten years old, she was rescued from a river terrace. She lived in an orphanage for about two months before Mr. And Mrs. Smith adopted her and took her to this house. Since then, she has been living with them as their elder daughter. Though Chase welcomed her with open arms, Clara never really liked her. Probably someone coming from outside snatched her parents, she didn't like it. But though she didn't like her, she never treated her badly. She always used to keep a distance from her. Their relationship was formal yet harmonious.

But in the initial ten years of her life, she totally forgot it! She didn't know who her parents were, and how she ended up in that river terrace. She couldn't remember a single thing of those ten years. All her memories were swept away as if someone erased them from her brain clearly with an eraser! Whenever she tried to remember, there was always a blank space, like a void with no end. And she ended up with a severe headache.

At first, her parents encouraged her to recall her memories and took her to some counseling sessions. But seeing her suffering, they finally gave up and stopped her from recalling. Chase also agreed to their decision. Actually, he was quite happy. Because as long as she couldn't remember her past life, she would only be his sister, exclusively!

The topic of her origin was always a sensitive spot for her. It always made her uncomfortable, so most of the time, she used to avoid it. But today, everyone in the engagement ceremony deliberately pricked her old wound, which made her think once again... Who was she!

The next morning when she woke up, it was almost seven thirty am. After freshening up, she went to the dining room. Her parents, Clara and Chase, everyone was there, sitting before the table.

"Good morning"

While sitting down, she greeted everyone.

But.. there was pin-drop silence. Only Clara looked at her once while applying butter to the bread, then focused on her plate.

"Good morning! Did you sleep well?"

Chase smiled at her.

"Hmm, it was good."

She took two breads on her plate. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was silent till now, now Mr. Smith looked at her.

"Chloe, are you okay now?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Fine, then.. Can you tell me what actually happened yesterday?"

Chloe knew that this question would come to her anytime, she said.

"Dad, I really don't know about yesterday's matter. Trust me, I don't know from where that certificate came, not even that it's real or fake!"

"Chloe, do you have any idea how much face loss we had faced yesterday! Do you even know everyone, literally everyone was making fun of us! Mrs. Park, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Ford, and everyone in the WhatsApp group were discussing that we couldn't give you proper education. Do you know our family became a joke overnight!"

Mrs. Smith suddenly yelled at her in a frustrated tone.

"Ah, mom! Please!" Chase murmured.

Mr. Smith was calm.

"Stop, everyone. Chloe, I will give you three days, you have to clear up all the mess. Millers are an essential partner of ours, we cannot afford to upset them."

He said every word in a dismissive tone, then focused on finishing his plate. But Chloe sat still, and suddenly she realized,

Actually other than Chase, no one really cared about her. Everything they did, was just for the sake of business!