Frustration

Camilla's breath caught as Drew's gaze lingered on her longer than usual. His brows furrowed, as if he were struggling against the thick fog of forgetfulness that Tanis had wrapped around him.

For a brief moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of recognition in his steel-gray eyes, a small spark hidden beneath the layers of deception Tanis had created.

"Drew… please," she whispered, her voice barely rising above the soft murmur of the upscale restaurant where she worked. "You have to remember me."

Drew's lips parted slightly, his fingers twitching on the linen tablecloth. He swallowed hard, feeling something shift within him, something both strange and achingly familiar.

But before he could respond, a perfectly manicured hand rested on his forearm. Tanis. She offered a sweet smile and leaned in possessively, making sure Camilla noticed how deeply she had inserted herself into Drew's life.

"Baby, you're stressing yourself out again. You have had a long day" Tanis said softly, brushing his hair back. "Let's go home. I'll prepare a bath for you and make it worth your while."

Drew blinked, momentarily confused, and Camilla's heart sank. Just like that, the moment slipped away.

"Yeah… maybe you're right," he replied, pushing his chair back. Yet, his eyes found Camilla's again, searching and questioning.

She wanted to scream, to reach out and shake him, to remind him that she was the one who had been there for him during his darkest nights, the one he had once promised to be with forever.

But before she could muster the courage, Tanis pulled him away, casting a triumphant smirk back at Camilla.

Camilla struggled to get through her shift that evening. By the time she returned home, she felt drained, not from work, but from the relentless pain of being so close to Drew yet feeling so distant.

Drew had always had his lunch and sometimes dinner at the restaurant seeing that it wasn't far from his office. And this has always given them an opportunity to interact and bond.

She had hoped that his presence at the restaurant today will spark a memory or two. But Tanis had been there as usual to thwart all her motives.

Her small apartment felt stifling. She collapsed onto the couch, pressing her palms against her eyes. This had been going on for months—months of battling Tanis' lies, watching the love of her life slip away, and suffering the pain of knowing he was being controlled.

The hardest part? Many didn't believe her. But how could they? She had wanted to keep her relationship with Andrew private to avoid media gossips and scandals. Even when Drew was planning an elaborate proposal and media coverage, she had kicked against it.

Now everyone found it hard to believe.

Except for her close friend, Lila.

A knock at the door jolted her, but she already knew who it was.

"Let me in, Cami. I've got wine and questionable choices," Lila's playful voice called from outside.

A faint smile appeared on Camilla's face as she opened the door. Lila bounced in, her curls springing as she placed a bottle of red wine on the counter.

"You look like you've been through a lot." Lila sank onto the couch.

"I have." Camilla poured two glasses, filling them generously. "Drew was at the restaurant today."

Lila's face darkened. "Did he—?"

"No," Camilla interrupted. "But… I think I noticed something. It's like a part of him senses that something is off."

Lila took a sip and exhaled sharply. "We need to act fast. If he's starting to have doubts, we must push him to confront it before Tanis solidifies her lies."

Camilla nodded, aware of the urgency. But the challenge was… how?

The following morning, Camilla made a choice.

She was determined to get Drew alone. Without Tanis.

She knew he worked out at a private gym every morning before heading to the office, a high-end facility that catered only to the elite. Getting in would be difficult, but she had a plan: her cousin Nate, a personal trainer at the gym.

When she called him, he hesitated. "Cami, I'd do anything for you, but if security finds out—"

"They won't," she interrupted. "I just need five minutes with him. Please."

After a long pause, he sighed. "Okay. Be here at six. And wear something… not suspicious."

The following morning, Camilla showed up at the gym wearing a basic athleisure outfit, her heart racing. Nate had given her a guest pass, and she tried to stay inconspicuous.

Then, she spotted him.

Drew was finishing his workout at the punching bag, sweat glistening on his toned arms, his breathing steady and intense. Camilla felt her throat go dry. She really missed him.

Gathering her courage, she walked over just as he was wiping his face with a towel.

"Drew."

He turned to her, his brows knitting together. For a brief moment, he looked blank.

Then, she saw a spark in his eyes.

"Camilla?"

Her breath hitched.

"Yes, it's me."

He stared at her, gripping the towel tighter. She stepped closer, eager to cling to that flicker of recognition.

"I—" His voice wavered, but then something seemed to click in his mind. "You… you were at the restaurant."

She nodded, forcing down the lump in her throat. "I was."

Drew let out a sharp breath. "Why do I feel like I know you?"

Because you do.

But before she could respond, the gym doors burst open.

Tanis.

Camilla's stomach dropped as Tanis stormed in, her face twisted in anger. "What is she doing here?"

Drew's expression changed immediately, his uncertainty replaced by the hesitation that Camilla recognized as Tanis' influence. "I—"

Tanis stepped in front of him, grabbing his arm. "Let's go, baby." Then, she shot a smug look at Camilla. "You should really stop embarrassing yourself, Camilla. It's getting pathetic."

Camilla clenched her fists, every part of her wanting to fight back. But as Drew allowed Tanis to lead him away, casting one last conflicted look back, her heart broke a little more.

This wasn't finished.

Not by a long shot.