Eyes narrowing, desire still glittering in those baby blues as he watched her with the same intensity that he had kissed her. Out of nowhere the image of a predator stalking its prey raced through Ella’s head. Whoever this man was he was dangerous. Maybe not physically, because she didn’t think he would harm her, but on some deeper, more personal level. “I asked who you were,” she said, unnerved by his silence. “Javier.” “Javier,” she repeated, sampling the sound of his name on her lips. She waited for some flicker of recognition, some memory to go with the name. When none came, her head began to throb in earnest. Pressing her fingers to her temple, she closed her eyes and ran his name, his face, his kiss through her mind again. Nothing. No inkling that she knew him, that she remembered him. All she encountered were more blank pages. Her heart picked up a panicked beat at that realization, and she was forced to acknowledge that her memory was filled with far too many blank pages. S
C H A P T E R 1 4 : O V E R D U E R E U N I O N A N D F O R G I V E N E S S E L L A S T A N F O R D Ella looked at her mother, Eleanor Stanford, for a few seconds before finally dragged her gaze back to her father, Derek Williams. Both of them were staring back at her expectantly as if waiting for her answer however she did not have any. In the end, she asked them a question instead, “What are you asking me to forgive you?” Her mother blinked. Once. Twice. Then she turned to her father. “How much have you told her, Derek?” “I did not get a chance to tell her much. I think Javier might have told her something beforehand,” he replied and when he saw Eleanor was about to interrupt him, he quickly added, “which I have no idea what.” 
C H A P T E R 1 5 : F A M I L Y A S A W H O L E E L L A S T A N F O R D There were two reactions: a sharp gasp from Ella and a low grunt from Derek. The rest of the room stayed still. “Oh my gosh, Momma, I am so sorry,” muttered Ella softly. Feeling bad that she had more or less pushed her mother into revealing this traumatic experience, she opened her arms and reached out to her mother. Eleanor held Ella’s hand, a sad smile was on her face. Derek stood still like a statue for one full minute before he could form a response. “I am sorry, Eleanor.” He shook his head. Guilt and contrition were in his eyes. “I have failed you, haven't I? I was supposed to protect you.” “No.” Eleanor shook her head slowly as she fina
C H A P T E R 1 6 : L U N C H D A T E W I T H C L A R A B E L L EJ A V I E R S U M M E R S“Brother?” Clarabelle tilted her head and frowned before calling her brother again by his full name, louder this time. “Javier Rainard Summers!”Her brother who had been staring blankly ahead this whole time with a forlorn look on his face blinked then turned his gaze to Clarabelle. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack, Clarabelle Anneliese Summers?”“I am not,” she replied back with a huff. “Stop calling me by my full name. You know I hate my middle name.”“You started it,” commented Javier quietly.“Only be
C H A P T E R 1 7 : F O R G I V E B U T N E V E R F O R G E T J A V I E R S U M M E R S By the time Javier had returned, both of Ella’s parents had left and she was sleeping. He brought himself slowly down to the seat on the left side of her bed. His elbow was placed on the arm of the chair while he rested his head on his palm as he continued to stare at her. The memory of their life together flashed before his eyes and it brought a small smile to his face.
C H A P T E R 1 8 : L O S T F E E L I N G S E L L A S T A N F O R D Ella woke up and saw Javier and a nurse holding each other’s hand. She waited for a moment as she continued to stare at them yet nothing came. No feelings whatsoever. If he truly was her fiancé like how he had claimed to be, surely she would feel something. Maybe not some sense of ownership but at least a little bit of jealousy. Yet nothing. She waited for a few moments before deciding to interrupt them. “What is with all the noises?” “Ella,” he greeted back and pulled his hand out of Aimee's grasp. “This is Aimee Sonata. She is a nurse here.” “And why do you both look like you have known each other for a long time?” she asked out of curiosity and also because there was something in Nurse Aimee's eyes that she found to be irritating. There was that look that she
C H A P T E R 1 9 : H O M E I S W H E R E Y O U R H E A R T I S Carefully swinging her legs around to the side, Ella started to get out of the car when Javier suddenly scooped her up into his arms. “What are you doing?” she demanded, her body stiff even as her arms circled his neck. “You just recovered. Let me carry you,” he informed her as he strode toward the building, ignoring the look given by the passerby. “Do not be ridiculous.” She could feel her cheeks heated and tried her best to conceal her face. “I am perfectly able to walk.” “Humor me,” he teased as he climbed the stairs of the porch. “It makes me feel useful.” “But it is ridiculous. I really do not need—” Javier cut off her protests with his mouth. The kiss had simply been a reflex, a means of preventing her from telling him what he already knew, that she did not need him. She had never needed him, not the wa
C H A P T E R 2 0 : B E C A U S E W H E N Y O U L O V E S O M E O N E E L L A S T A N F O R D “I think you should lie down, Ella,” suggested Tanner with a concerned look on his face. Feeling that it might be best rather than being here and mulling over the fact that she had lost some important part of her life, she nodded then walked towards the bedroom. She closed the door behind her then approached the bed. She sat on the edge of it at first as her hand touched the fabric. Ella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was hoping that the doctor and Javier had been right, that coming back here would bring some of her memories back, and yet thus far, all she could remember was useless things such as where she had bought some of her furniture. Slowly she broug