Before she had the chance to even process, talk less respond to the text she has received, a sudden hand on her shoulder startled her. "Sony I'm late." The voice apologized.

Her body suddenly became alert and she nearly snapped her head around to view the owner of the hand who stepped beside her. "Damn you Riley!" She hissed.

The man chuckled at her reaction, removing his hand from her shoulder.

"My, my, you really are mad, aren't you?" He joked and pulled the chair opposite her and seated down.

"You think? Anastasia asked sarcastically and shook her head, hastily burying her phone inside her purse. "What took you so long?"

"I was stuck in traffic, had a meeting and all that jazz, Lloyd waved his hand dismissively. "Now, how about we order?

Anastasia so wanted to take him up on his words, traffic and all, but today, no recently, she wasn't really in the mood to play cat and mouse, mote so after seeing the text message she had just gotten. Remembering it for a moment was enough to have her fingers curlying around the table cloth.

In down, it might just be a prank. She told herself while Lloyd raised his hand and beckoned the waitress over.

"Two glasses of lemonade and uh," He paused to glance at Anastasia, who was still looking somewhat distracted. "Anastasia, you hungry?"

"Huh?"

"Food, are you hungry? Lloyd questionedquestioned, watching as she blinkes a handful of times as if too think deeply about his simple question before shaking her head. "Oh, uh, no.

Lloyd nodded his head and ordered two plates of pasta, handing the waitress the menu and sending her off.

"Are you okay?" He asked once they were alone.

"Yes, of course." Anastasia said.

Lloyd didn't believe her, but saw no reason to push on. He had simple asked out of courtesy, so, whether she really was okay or not, wasn't really any of his business. "Okay then, shall we get started?" He asked, clapping his hands together and smiling.

"Yeah, we should." Anastasia replied. "So, you have a plan or not?"

At her question, Lloyd brought out his phone and placed it on the table, sliding it to her. "Here, is operation memory recovery."

Anastasia took the phone and glanced at the screen. The moment she did, she couldn't help but frown.

"This is just a list of random activities."

*Exactly." Lloyd smiled, clearly proud. "The best way to help one recover their memory is to do activities they're familiar with. Says medical research."

"Medical research?" Anastasia repeated, her frown growing deeper.

"Yup." Lloyd said, popping the 'P. "I looked it up."

Anastasia shook her head and handed the phone back to him. "Look, I don't know what the hell you're thinking, but, there is no way Gabriel's memory can be treated with a bunch of random activities. You need a professional and a plan. A good one." Lloyd grumbled underneath his breath, annoyed by the fact that Anastasia was shooting down his plan.

"Alright then," He said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the chair. "How do you propose we handle this?"

"How do I propose? This is your idea, you brought me out here because you had an idea to help my best friend and her son, my godson, but well, from the looks of it, you've got nothing"

Lloyd didn't seem too pleased with her answer and his frown deepened.

"Well, if you've got a better plan, speak up."

At his words, Anastasia opened her mouth, ready to speak. Only, she paused and closed it.

She had a plan, well, kind of,

She wasn't sure it her idea would work, or if it was a good idea, but, it was better than nothing

"I do "She spoke

"Really?" Lloyd asked, raising a brow. "Care to share it?"

"Gladly." Anastasia said, leaning forward and flashing a smirk.

"Alright, let's hear it."

"The key to regaining lost memories is to make the person relive their old days. So, if Gabriel is going to regain his memories, he needs to relive his old life."

Lloyd seemed to have been thinking over her words, nodding his head a few times.

"Okay," He said. "So what's the plan?"

Gabriel needs to live with Leonica," She painfully admitted, cringing at the thought and the thought of her friend's face if she were to suggest something like this to her. ay, I'm all for that."

Walt," Anastasia raised her hand. "You are?

Lloyd nodded his head. "Why wouldn't I? If living with his ex wife would help him, why wouldn't I be for it."

"Wow, didn't think you'd actually agree"

"And why's that?" Lloyd asked with a slight pout as he leaned forward on the table.

Anastasia stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly caught in the look in his eyes but after a few seconds, she shook her head and waved her hand dismissively.

"Never mind," She said and glanced away, watching as the waitress approached.

Lloyd on the other hand, watched her, something about the way she has been acting, now avoiding his gaze and all, pricked him. Perhaps it was because no woman, at least the ones he had scored, never did something like this. Maybe it was a sign that she was different. In a good way?

Lloyd couldn't help but scoff at the thought, shaking his head and chuckling, not knowing what else to do.

"Maybe I'm just imagining things.'

With a deep breath, Lloyd sighed.

"Yeah, I probably am."

Two days later, Gabriel was discharged from the hospital, given a few drugs to help with the recovery of small scratches and the stab wound and some to help with his memory, Simply vitamins, nothing too much. Once that was taken care of, his papers of discharge were handed over and after a short conversation Bill left his office

However, on their way out, Gabriel spotted two familiar faces standing outside the hospital, "Hey," He called out.

with Doctor Baile

Bailey, he along with

The two, whom had been conversing turned their heads and the younger one's lips instantly curved into a smile when he saw his father. "Daddy!" Ashley called out and rushed towards him. Gabriel caught him with a grunt, wincing slightly when he felt a sharp pain on his right shoulder.

"How are you champ?" He asked.

"Fine." Ashley answered while his mother's presence looked behind him and soon she placed her hand on his head, ruttling his hair "Hey, you need to be careful. Your dad still needs to recover." She scolded him gently Ashley nodded his head. "I will, mominy.'

H

"Good." She said and glanced at Gabriel Hey." Her greeting was so quiet that not only did Gabriel nearly miss it because of the volume, but also because he had not expected her to great first

of his lips

abruptly. "Ready to leave?" She asked, changing the subject, her attention no longer on

home." He pointed back to the

word. "Can we

No!" Leonica shook her

He whined, a pout

we talked about this. Your daddy has to take

guys coming around." Gabriel

and Leonica asked at the same time, the latter seemingly more

Ertel nodded.

nodding. "I'm sure Bill wouldn't mind driving

all, Sir." Bill said I with a shake of his

grinned. "So, are you guys coming or

she and Gabriel had shared during

in and watched as her son cheered loudly,

""Yay!" He exclaimed.

help but chuckde, but that soon disappeared when he

was clear that she was hesitant to come along. He couldn't understand why. Hadn't it been

she

divorce was messy, so, maybe she felt uncomfortable being there, even though it was

go. He told her, watching as she looked at him in the eye and nodded

with that, they walked towards the car, Bill holding the doors open for

he quickly walked

cheerful voice filled the car as he told Gabriel everything that happened the last couple of days and the older man listened, smiling at his son's excitement. Leonica on the other hand, remained silent, occasionally stealing glances at the man sitting next to

A part o

if he was going to be different

concluded her thoughts as they pulled into the familiar

they had lived in.

of good and bad memories, both which she couldn't decide if she

no turning back now. She had decided to help him, so, there was no way

the one who had chosen to accept the fact that she would have to work closely with

by her son and

long, silent

thought however, would soon be proven

Ex Wife

the first time in five years, felt foreign to Leonica. Her eyes wandered the familiar interior while she looked around like a child who had been lost in a wave of busy Monday adults. Everything was the same even after five years, she noted, walking further

recognized as Will, the very same butler whom Lila had transferred from underneath her to look atter she and Gabriel during their first year of marriage, greeted with a polite bow. His eyes was quick to

force a smile under his disbelieving gaze, however, it soon turned genuine as

back of

tipping her head

he had

and you must be young master Ashley," his words came off as a sentence rather than the question it was meant to

cutely as the butler bowed curtly at him, but none the

way of speaking, Will turned to face his employer, about to question how he was feeling after waking up from a three weeks long sleep coma, when he noticed something

around what seemed so different in his employer. Or

aura?

had visibly reduced, making him seen the most approachable Will has ever seen since he had started working in the

who noticed his staring, didn't hesitate to question.

1

Leonica seemed to have noticed when he

few steps from where her ex husband and son

do right off the bat and think that Gabriel has suddenly decided to

couldn't change that fast, at

Gabriel to be precise, before

of severe injuries during the fire and that least to

news, at least the latter part of the news. Taking a moment, he cursed Angelina, because from what he has heard, information from Lloyd and Christian who have been frequenting the estate for the past week, the young master, Ashley, had been kidnapped by Angelina and in a bid to rescue him, Gabriel had

long as he could remember, so it was safe to say he had helped raise Gabriel. He knew the sweet and kind boy Gabriel has been despite his parents harsh

hear that someone who he saw as a son had been put in danger, by the person he

and best believe it, making a mental note to chase

come back?" Leonica shook

however, she located them on the couch, Ashley happily seated in his father's lap. "The doctor says he lost ten years of memories." She further

over the information, something clicking in the back of

Butler's fear, Leonica nodded. "Yes, he's aware of Grandma's death. I

much needed information in the next couple of minutes. When she was done, he

when he

the father and son duo. Gabriel looked up from the tablet Ashley

wasn't just her presence he felt. He smelt the familiar

Bryce, welcome home

in a more

to Leonica, almost missing the look she gave him while engrossed

had given him said; I explained it

Nothing more, nothing less..

Will and smiled, "Thank you,

the older male's lips increased.

to him when it seemed like he was about to

"Yes, Madam?"

"Would you happen

said and turned around, pointing up the stairs. "Mr. Bryce stored all the photos in the last room by your left down the hall. He informed. Nodding her

be needing anything else?" The question was

shook their heads, Ashley piped up. "Ice

""Most certainly"

answered

with Will so

H

his journey towards the land of ice cream, he turned towards his parents one last time and asked. "Should 1 save any for you?" Neither Gabriel Nor Leonica knew how best to interpret that question. Should he save any for

are good, you can go ahead and enjoy yourself." Gabriel answered and with that, Ashley linked his hand with Will and disappeared soon after

were alone, he turned to face Leonica who was trying to process a new question

cream in his house? Booze and wine, sure

The sound of his voice snapped

"Nothing" She denied.

He questioned, rising a brow at her as she became speechless. "Well, you've got to enjoy life no matter

wondering how different he had grown to become from the version of himself be lonew "That's aside," He said, pushing the subject aside before his thoughts could spiral further than he liked. "Picture Album? What for?" "I promised to help you regain those memories of yours, didn't i? And

memories." Gabriel completed her words, earning a nod of agreement from her as she walked towards and soon, up

memory, Leonica found the door to the room and pulled it open. The Inside was dark, windows clothed by curtains of deep dark colors and lights switched off. She fiddled around for the switch

lite, eliminating the darkness

said pictures wasn't just filled with pictures, but much to her surprise,

shoe brands, to her travelling bags, outing bags

wardrobe.

with disbelief as she scanned her

her, she heard the sound of Gabriel's footsteps stopping by the threshold of

get rid of them?

settling on who he suspected was the owner and despite this,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255