BOOK4 Chapter5
The salty sea breeze whipped across my face, stinging my skin. Jessica’s laughter
drifted down from the second floor. I looked up and saw Ethan Harris gently blowdrying Jessica’s hair, his careful and loving movements so familiar. Jessica
was
comfortably nestled in his arms, while I, the one who once belonged there, had
become just an observer.
I was frozen in place by that laughter.
What if–what if I told him that I’m the one who’s supposed to be his fiancée?
Ethan
Harris is a man who takes responsibility seriously–what would he do then?
I don’t want his pity; I just want Ethan Harris to love me.
By the time I had composed myself and returned, it was already the middle of the
night, but Grace was still awake.
“Ethan figured it out on his own. Even though he’s lost his memory, he hasn’t
forgotten his old instincts.”
“I know.”
Ethan has always been smart. It’s no surprise he noticed Detective Parker’s subtle
attempts to get close to him.
10:36
Fight Years Lost: A Love Unclaimed
BOOK4 Chapters
“And his parents? Did Detective Parker tell him?”
The air was silent for a few seconds. “He was told it was a car accident.”
I nodded, not saying anything further. At least that explanation was something he
could accept.
“Ethan said that after the wedding, he’s coming back to Maplewoodwith us.”
After a long pause, I finally spoke, “He’s established a life here, it’s only right for
him
to take his wife back to see his parents… It’s the right thing to do.”
“Did Ethan ask you?”
I thought about the man who had waited for me at the door.
“He did, but I didn’t say anything. Don’t worry.”
“Sienna, you know that’s not what we meant.”
I clutched my stomach, where the pain was radiating, “But it’s what I mean.”
From eighteen to twenty–eight, ten whole years–Ethan Harris had become a part
of
my life, entwined in my most precious memories like a vine. Now, as he’s being.
torn
away, it’s as if I’m being ripped apart, leaving me bloody and broken.
By the third day here, my insomnia had returned. I lay awake until dawn, with only
two days left before their wedding. Early in the morning, Jessica’s voice echoed
through the courtyard as she organized the preparations.
“Here, I want a floral arch with red roses. How long does the red carpet need to
be?
How big should the backdrop be? Ethan, if we don’t have a photo wall, you’re in
big
trouble!”
Her voice carried on through the courtyard. I buried my head under the covers,
but
Jessica’s voice pierced straight through.
We had a wedding planned too. The aisle was lined with white jasmine from his
proposal, and the bouquet was handmade by Ethan–orange freesias, their scent
sweet with a hint of freshness. The guests‘ chairs were adorned with orange
ribbons,
and we had revised the menu four times before finally settling on the dishes. Even
the wedding favors were chosen together, with our cartoon likenesses printed on
the
boxes.
He held my hand as we walked down that long flowered aisle, his warm hand
trembling slightly. It was only a rehearsal, but he was already so nervous.
Everything was going perfectly, but then came the mission that night. He never
BOOK4 chapters
got
the chance to place the wedding ring on my finger, never got to see me in the
wedding dress embroidered with his name.
He kept apologizing, saying he’d be back in a week. Just one week, and he’d come
right back to marry me. So I waited. I waited five years, only to hear that he was
marrying someone else.
By the time I finished getting ready and went outside, the courtyard was bustling
with people setting up for the wedding. As soon as Jessica saw me, she ran over,
“Sienna, I need a small favor from you.”
The last thing I expected was for Jessica to ask me to help with her wedding.
