“Is something bothering you? Ever since you left the hospital, you’ve been on edge. This isn’t like you. If something’s wrong, talk to us,” Leo said, leaning closer.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I drank another beer as if it were water. None of them knew that bits and pieces of my memory about Lily were coming back, but it wasn’t entirely clear yet. I needed to be sure if she was the woman who haunted my dreams and caused this turmoil in my head.
“Lily and her—they’re the same person, right?” I asked suddenly. The room fell silent. Gilbert nodded.
“You remember her, dude?” Gilbert asked.
“I’m not sure. It’s like she’s playing in my mind, but I can’t fully recall her. I don’t even know how I feel. Is she the woman who—”
I couldn’t finish my sentence because the door opened, and Valerie appeared.
“Honey,” she said sweetly, walking towards me.
She sat beside me and took the beer from my hand. I stared at her silently, unable to comprehend how we ended up together. I couldn’t even remember courting her. All I remembered was meeting her in London during a car race.
I moved away when she suddenly kissed me on the lips in front of my friends.
“Honey, you’re drunk. Mommy Ella is really worried about you and sent me to pick you up,” Valerie said, her voice filled with concern.
“Leave me alone, Valerie,” I said authoritatively.
She tried to hold my hand, but I quickly pulled away.
“What’s wrong with you, honey? Did you take your medication?” she asked.
“I don’t need any medication because I’m starting to remember my past. Leave, Valerie!” I shouted. She was stunned by what I said.
“Valerie, let our friend think things through. Tell Aunt Ella he’s with us, and she doesn’t need to worry,” Charles said, trying to ease the tension.
“No! I’m not leaving. I’m his fiancée. I should be the one by his side!” Valerie exclaimed stubbornly, her voice laced with defiance.
“Valerie, we’ll talk later. Leave now. Get her out of here,” I ordered firmly.
“But Arlo—”
“No buts, Valerie,” I said, pointing to the door. If she didn’t leave, I wasn’t sure what I’d end up saying.
Despite her pleading, I didn’t let her stay.
“Fiancée? What the hell? How did she become my fiancée? I don’t remember anything about that,” I muttered to myself.
Even though I was dizzy, I still understood what I was saying. Rex and Leo came over and made me sit down.
Gilbert’s phone rang, and he quickly answered. The call seemed urgent. After talking on the phone, he came over, tapped my arm, and said he needed to leave. Gilbert had his own problems with his wife, Jasmine.
“Lily, Lily,” I thought. She was constantly on my mind, like a wheel that never stopped spinning in my head.
“That’s enough drinking, Arlo. Don’t force yourself to remember. You need to rest your mind and take a break for now,” I told myself.
“Why do I feel this way whenever I think of Lily? Why do I feel anger, yet my heart tells me she has a place in it? What did she do to me?” I asked, my throat feeling tight as if it were blocked.
As Arlo explained to you, Lily is the only woman you loved and fought for against your grandfather Thomas. She’s your girlfriend,” Leo answered my question.
“Why is it so hard to remember her? Did she do something to me? Because if we shared something special, why can’t I remember a single thing about her? Why is my mother so furious? Guys, tell me the truth—if there’s something between Lily and me or even Lily, why does the private investigator’s report show that she’s already engaged to someone else?” I asked.
They exchanged looks, and I noticed their lips part in surprise. I felt like they were hiding something about my past and didn’t want to reveal or let me know. If they wouldn’t tell me, I’d find out the truth myself. I could sense there was a bitter past between Lily and me.
Without saying a word, I left the VIP room. As I descended, the music grew louder, and people were dancing joyfully while others sang. Some were wearing Santa Claus hats.
I began feeling even more dizzy and my headache worsened.
“Sorry,” I apologized to a man I accidentally bumped into.
“Can’t you watch where you’re going?” the man said angrily, shoving me.
“Didn’t you hear me say sorry?”
“Looks like you’re looking for trouble, man!” he challenged.
“Are you provoking me?!” I asked boldly.
