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 unconsciously

the subject, her attention no longer on him,

Bill's gonna drive me home." He pointed back to the assistant who bowed

word.

Leonica

whined, a pout

we talked about this. Your daddy has

guys

Leonica asked at the same

Ertel nodded.

"I'm sure Bill wouldn't mind driving

Sir." Bill said I

"So, are you

in the house she and Gabriel had shared during the two years of their marriage. "Please

finally gave in and watched

""Yay!" He exclaimed.

cheered, Gabriel couldn't help but chuckde, but that

to come along. He couldn't

she

being there, even though it was

let's go. He told her, watching as she looked at

they walked towards the car, Bill holding the doors open for them one

left, he quickly walked around the car, got in and

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,

A part o

going to be different if he ever recovered

words concluded her thoughts as they pulled into the familiar drive

had lived in. The one she

was a place of good and bad memories, both which she couldn't decide if she wanted to remember

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

she was the one who had chosen to accept the fact that she would have to work closely with her ex husband, in

her son and soon, he was by her side, holding the door open with

one long, silent

that thought however, would

Wife Is

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

atter she and Gabriel during their first year of marriage, greeted with a polite bow. His eyes was quick to widen the moment they landed on her. "Madam," he uttered

smile under his disbelieving gaze, however, it soon

the back of

said, tipping her head in a small bow to

Madam." The butler responded, missing the way Leonica shifted as he had addressed her by her old title, as

off as a sentence rather than the

at him, but none the less,

about to question how he

thought, briefly trying to wrap his head around what

aura?

Gabriel had visibly reduced, making him seen the most approachable Will has ever

staring, didn't hesitate to question. "Is everything

1

is fine, but..." He hesitated. Leonica seemed to have noticed when he was coming from or rather, the cause

him a few steps from where her ex husband and son

off the bat and

just couldn't change that fast, at least

at Gabriel and Ashley, Gabriel to be

of severe injuries during

Taking a moment, he cursed Angelina, because from what he has heard, information from Lloyd and Christian who have been

how cruel Gabriel may have grown to be, Will had been at the Bryce main mansion, with Lila, Gabriel's grandmother, for as 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

put in danger, by the person he loved, the very same woman he had tried warning him

and best believe it, making a mental note to chase Angelina with a stick broom if he ever

will come back?" Leonica shook her head at

much," Leonica said and stole a glance in the direction where Gabriel and her son was, only to find them missing Soon, however, she located them on the couch, Ashley happily seated in his father's lap. "The doctor says he lost ten years of memories."

over the information, something clicking in the

Leonica nodded. "Yes, he's aware of

the much needed information in the next couple of minutes. When

when he felt

duo. Gabriel looked up from the tablet Ashley was holding on his lap w

her presence he felt. He smelt the familiar smell of roses the closer she

welcome home

in a more

missing the look she gave him

him said; I

Nothing more, nothing less..

back to Will and smiled, "Thank you,

the older male's lips increased. "Certainly!" He

to him when

"Yes, Madam?"

you happen to know where the photo

turned around, pointing up the stairs. "Mr. Bryce stored all the photos in

anything else?" The question was directed towards

heads, Ashley piped up.

""Most certainly"

Will answered with

don't you go along with Will so that he can give you as much ice cream as

H

said and hopped off his father's lap. Before he embarked on 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 them, as in he was planning to eat the entire

mother and I are good, you can go ahead and enjoy yourself." Gabriel answered and with that, Ashley linked his hand with

who was trying to

have ice cream in his house? Booze and

are you thinking about?" The sound of his voice

"Nothing" She denied.

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

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 the

memories." Gabriel completed her words, earning a nod of agreement from her as she walked towards and soon, up the stairs. It didn't take long before

the door to the room and pulled it open. The Inside was dark, windows clothed by curtains of deep dark colors and

the darkness and stunning Leonica with what

filled with pictures, but much to her

her travelling bags, outing bags and clothes that she spotted from the

wardrobe.

scanned her surroundings,

of Gabriel's footsteps stopping by the threshold of the open door

rid

on who he suspected was

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

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