Shadows of the Past

Evelyn's legs felt unsteady as she stepped away from the fountain, her mind still reeling from the vision. The echoes of laughter, the warmth of Lucien's hand in hers, the ominous warning—all of it lingered like a phantom touch.

Lucien remained close, his gaze sharp as he studied her expression. "You remembered something significant," he said quietly. "Someone was trying to take you away that night."

She exhaled shakily. "Yes. But I don't know who."

Lucien's jaw tightened. "I have a guess."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. "Who?"

He hesitated for a long moment before saying, "Your family."

The words hit her like a wave of cold water. "My family?"

Lucien nodded. "They were involved in more than you realize. That night… they didn't just want to separate us, Evelyn. They wanted to erase your connection to me entirely."

Her hands clenched into fists. "Then they had something to do with my memory loss."

Lucien reached for her hand, his warmth grounding her. "I don't know all the details yet, but I do know one thing—they didn't act alone."

A chill ran down her spine. "Someone helped them."

Lucien's gaze darkened. "Yes. And whoever it was… they had the power to manipulate time."

Evelyn's breath caught. The idea was unfathomable, but deep in her gut, she knew it made sense. Something had torn her away from Lucien, from the truth of her past. And it wasn't just the passage of time.

"We need to find out who did this," she said, determination hardening in her voice. "And we need to stop them before they do it again."

Lucien nodded. "Agreed. But if we keep searching, they'll know we're getting closer."

Evelyn lifted her chin. "Then let them come. I'm not afraid anymore."

The garden around them was silent, but the echoes of the past were growing stronger. And Evelyn was ready to face them head-on.