Pieces of Shane

After everything that had happened, Anna did her best to avoid Patricia, Phillipa, and Phyllis. She spent most of her time in her room, keeping to herself, unwilling to deal with any more confrontations. The last thing she needed was another calculated insult or another petty scheme.

Mr. Jing was nowhere to be found. At first, she thought it was unusual, but after asking around, she learned that Samuel Tiu had taken him along on an important business trip. Anna wasn't sure whether Mr. Jing's primary role was to watch over Shane or to handle Samuel's affairs—but either way, she couldn't stop him from leaving.

Left alone in the grand Tiu mansion, Anna found herself growing restless. Shane's bedroom was nothing compared to the spacious, modern comfort of Shane's penthouse. The heavy decor and overwhelming luxury of the room felt suffocating, trapping her within walls that weren't really hers.

She needed to get out.

Fortunately, she didn't have to figure out the logistics of leaving on her own. Before he left, Mr. Jing had arranged for a driver to be assigned to her, ensuring she could go wherever she needed without hassle.

Still, the waiting gnawed at her.

She had another long stretch of time before the exam results were released, and the uncertainty was eating away at her patience. The feeling of being stuck, of not knowing what her next move should be, made her uneasy.

More than anything, she needed someone to talk to.

Her first instinct was Lucas. But there was one problem—she didn't have his phone number.

Frustrated, she searched through Shane's belongings, but it was useless. Then, an idea struck her. She grabbed Shane's phone and went straight to social media. If she couldn't contact Lucas directly, maybe she could find him online.

But she couldn't risk creating a new account under Shane's name, nor was she willing to use her own—Anna's account. That would be too easy to trace, and the last thing she wanted was to draw the wrong kind of attention.

So, with quick fingers, she created a new profile—one that wouldn't be easily linked back to Shane or Anna. 

Now, all she had to do was find him.

After a few minutes of searching, Anna finally found Lucas Park's account. His profile picture was simple—just him casually leaning against a motorbike, wearing a hoodie and jeans. He hadn't changed much. The same sharp eyes, the same calm expression.

Seeing his face again stirred a strange mix of relief and apprehension in her.

Would he even believe it was her?

She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. If she used Shane's real name, he might think it was a prank. But if she was too vague, he might ignore her completely.

Taking a steadying breath, she pressed the "Add Friend" button, then quickly typed out a message.

Sheeshcret: Hey, it's me, Shane. Can we meet today?

She stared at the screen, watching the three little dots appear and disappear as Lucas started typing—then stopped. Her heart pounded. Was he unsure? Suspicious?

Finally, his reply came.

LucasPark: Who's this?

She exhaled sharply. Of course, he wouldn't believe her right away.

Sheeshcret: It's really me, Shane. We met two weeks ago.

Another pause. This one dragged on longer.

LucasPark: Prove it.

Anna bit her lip. She needed to say something only Shane would know. But nothing came to mind—she couldn't remember any specific details about their friendship.

Then, a memory surfaced. Something Lucas had said to her before.

Sheeshcret: We became friends because of that secret.

Seconds passed before his reply popped up.

LucasPark: …Shane Tiu? Oh my god, girl. I never thought you'd actually make a social media account. But of course, you have amnesia and don't remember how much you hated leaving any trace of yourself online.

Anna sighed in relief—he believed her. But the fact that Shane deliberately avoided leaving any trace of herself online stirred even more questions in Anna's mind. Why had she been so cautious? What was she trying to hide?

Sheeshcret: Yeah. Can we meet?

Another long pause. Then finally—

LucasPark: Yes, but not in public. I'll meet you at your penthouse.

Anna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Sheeshcret: Thank you.

She locked her phone, gripping it tightly. This was it. The first step.

Now, she just had to hope that seeing Lucas in person wouldn't make things even more complicated than they already were.

-

Anna arrived at her penthouse, exhaling softly as she stepped inside. The familiar space should have felt comforting, but instead, it only reminded her of how unfamiliar everything still was.

The driver hadn't accompanied her, remaining in the parking lot as instructed. That was fine—she preferred some time alone to gather her thoughts before Lucas arrived.

She placed the bags on the kitchen counter, unpacking the ingredients she had picked up along the way. If she was going to meet Lucas, she couldn't just invite him over without offering anything in return. Food was the least she could prepare.

Cooking had always been something Anna loved. Back when she worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant, she had spent her breaks watching the chefs move around the kitchen, studying how they chopped vegetables, simmered sauces, and plated dishes with precision. She had absorbed every detail, fascinated by the process, longing for the day she could try it herself.

Now, she finally had that chance.

Anna didn't know if Shane had any cooking skills, but that didn't matter. She was in control now, and she intended to make the most of it. Besides, having access to the best ingredients—something she could never afford before—was a luxury she wasn't going to waste.

She glanced at the fresh vegetables, the cuts of meat, and the seasonings she had bought. A dish she had always wanted to try but never had the means to make before lingered in her mind.

Tonight, she would cook—not just for Lucas, but for herself.

As she rolled up her sleeves and prepared to start, a thought crossed her mind.

Would Lucas notice the difference?

Would he be able to tell that the Shane he knew wasn't quite the same anymore?

She pushed the thought away. For now, she just needed to focus on the food.

–

Lucas arrived at the penthouse, immediately greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of something rich and savory. He raised an eyebrow, surprised. Cooking wasn't exactly the Shane he knew.

He pressed the buzzer once out of habit, but when there was no response, he let himself in. Of course, he still remembered the passcode. Shane had given it to him long ago, though she had always insisted he only use it in emergencies.

As he stepped inside, the scent of sizzling garlic, butter, and freshly cooked meat filled the air, leading him toward the kitchen. He smirked. Shane cooking? Now this I have to see.

Quietly, he made his way through the penthouse, following the irresistible aroma. The sight that greeted him as he reached the kitchen stopped him in his tracks.

Anna—Shane, as far as he knew—stood at the counter, focused intently on plating a dish. She moved with confidence, her hands swift and precise, arranging the food with a level of care he had never seen from her before.

He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Since when do you cook?"

Anna nearly jumped, startled by his voice. She spun around, eyes wide before narrowing slightly. "Lucas!" she huffed. "You scared me."

He chuckled, pushing off the doorframe. "I buzzed, but I guess you were too busy playing chef to hear it." His gaze drifted to the plate she was working on. "Seriously, though… this looks way too fancy for the Shane I know. What gives?"

Anna hesitated for a moment before forcing a casual smile. "I wanted to try something new," she said, turning back to her dish. "And besides, just because I never cooked before doesn't mean I can't."

It was an assumption she had to make.

When she first started chopping the ingredients, something had felt off. Her hands had moved awkwardly, the knife unfamiliar in her grip, as if Shane's body had never held one before. The strange disconnect between memory and muscle made even the simplest tasks feel unnatural.

It had taken her time—longer than she expected—to adjust, to make Shane's body respond the way she needed it to. Each movement had felt forced at first, but gradually, with patience and effort, her body had started to adapt.

She wasn't sure if it was muscle memory forming or if she was simply forcing Shane's body to learn through sheer will. But one thing was certain—every time she introduced something new, she had to teach this body how to handle it.

And with enough time, Shane's body would eventually become accustomed to Anna's way of doing things.

Lucas watched her carefully, sensing something different—something subtle but unmistakable.

"Uh-huh," he murmured, stepping closer. "Well, whatever's going on with you, I won't complain if it means free food." He plucked a piece of something crispy off the plate, popping it into his mouth before she could swat his hand away.

"Lucas!" she protested, but he only grinned.

His eyes widened slightly as he chewed. "Damn. This is actually good." He pointed at her. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with Shane?"

Anna froze for a split second before masking it with a light laugh. "Change is the only constant in this world, Lucas," she said smoothly. "Now sit down before you end up eating everything before it's even served."

Lucas narrowed his eyes playfully but took a seat at the counter. As she set the food in front of him, Anna couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching her a little too closely, as if trying to piece something together.

And she wasn't sure how long she could keep him from figuring it out.

Lucas dug into the food, and with every bite, his eyes widened slightly, as if each flavor was a new and unexpected discovery. He chewed slowly, savoring every taste, then quickly went for another bite. It was almost amusing to watch—like he was experiencing something he never thought possible in this penthouse.

Anna leaned against the table, silently observing his reactions. There was something satisfying about watching someone enjoy the food she had prepared. When she was finally content with his enthusiasm, she picked up her utensils and started eating as well.

"I don't ever remember you telling me you could cook," Lucas said between bites. "Every time we hung out here, we just ordered takeout. But this—" he pointed at his plate before taking another eager bite—"this is heaven."

Anna smiled but studied him carefully. "So you never knew whether I cooked or not?" she asked, subtly fishing for more information about Shane's life.

Lucas shrugged, swallowing his food before responding. "I suspected you didn't, but you never actually told me."

She hesitated before asking the next question. "When did we meet? When did our friendship start?"

Lucas paused, his fork lingering in the air. His expression shifted slightly, his usual playful demeanor giving way to something more serious.

"You really want to remember, huh?"

Anna nodded. "Mr. Jing told me to take things slowly, but after what happened at home… I feel like I can't take it slowly."

Lucas's brows furrowed. "Why? What happened? Did those two evil stepsisters of yours mess with you again?"

Anna's grip on her fork tightened. So it's true, she thought. "So they really did hurt me… And not just once or twice, but a lot of times?"

Lucas's expression darkened, his usual teasing tone replaced with quiet sadness. There was pity in his eyes, but more than that, there was a deep frustration—like he wished he could have done more.

"I agree with Mr. Jing," he said after a long pause. "Remembering everything might not be good for you." He exhaled sharply, setting his fork down. "But… I can still tell you things you should remember. Like our friendship." His voice softened. "It sucks, you know? Knowing you don't remember me of all people."

Anna stared at him, feeling an unexpected pang of guilt. She didn't know why, but something about the way he said it—like their friendship was something that truly mattered to him—made her chest tighten.

She wanted to remember. For his sake and for Shane's.

"Then tell me," she said, meeting his gaze. "Tell me everything."