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

He returned, the corner of his lips

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

pointed back to

the word. "Can we follow daddy home?"

No!" Leonica shook

a

this. Your

you guys coming around." Gabriel

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

Ertel nodded.

said while nodding. "I'm sure Bill wouldn't

Bill said I with a

grinned. "So, are you guys coming

back in the house she and Gabriel had shared during the two years of their marriage. "Please mommy, please!"

She finally gave in and watched as

""Yay!" He exclaimed.

cheered, Gabriel couldn't help but chuckde, but

was clear that she was hesitant to come along. He

she had

maybe she felt uncomfortable being there, even though it was her home. Sighing, Gabriel

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

the car, Bill holding the doors open for them one

the only one left, he quickly walked

drove off, Ashley's cheerful voice filled the car as he told Gabriel everything that happened the last couple of days and the older man listened, smiling

A part o

if he was going to be

words concluded her thoughts as they pulled into

they had lived in.

which she couldn't decide if she wanted to remember or

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

the fact that she would have to work closely

car, followed by her son and soon, he was by her side, holding the

long, silent breath before gingerly

would soon be proven

Wife Is

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 into the house as Ashley pulled her by

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 with a breathy tone

his disbelieving gaze, however, it soon turned genuine as memories, find ones at that,

back

doing well, WILL" She said, tipping her head in a small bow

way Leonica shifted as he had addressed her by her old title, as he turned

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

at him, but none the less, his greeting was returned. "Hello Mr.

the child's 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 felt

gaze? He thought, briefly trying to wrap his head around what seemed so different in his employer. Or

aura?

had surrounded Gabriel had visibly reduced,

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

1

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

a few steps from

alright? He seems, different "Will asked, not wanting to do right off the bat and

change that fast, at

Gabriel to be precise, before she opened

couple of severe injuries during the fire and that least to amnesia." She

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

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 parents harsh treatment and conditions to be met for successor. He had also witnessed his joy and sorrows, regrettably latter more

danger, by the person he loved, the very same woman he had tried

making a mental note to chase Angelina with a stick broom if he ever saw her, the

sad even. Did the doctors say when his memories will come back?" Leonica

the direction where Gabriel and her son was, only to find them missing Soon, however, she located them on the couch,

Will pondered over the information, something clicking in the

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

nodded while Leonica explained the much needed information in the next couple of minutes. When she was done, he nodded. "I

when he

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

smelt the familiar smell of roses

home once

in a more

Leonica, almost missing the look she gave him while engrossed in scanning her facial

him said; I explained it

Nothing more, nothing less..

and smiled, "Thank you, Will. I look forward to your care in

sale on the older male's lips

him when it seemed

"Yes, Madam?"

again cringing at the title, she asked. "Would you happen to

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

pleasure. Would you be needing anything else?" The question was directed

heads, Ashley

""Most certainly"

answered with a

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

H

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 House's ice cream

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

alone, he turned to face Leonica who was

have ice cream in his house? Booze and wine, sure she could understand,

sound of his voice

"Nothing" She denied.

have Ice cream in my house?" He questioned, rising a brow at

himself be lonew "That's aside," He said, pushing the subject aside before his thoughts could spiral

walked towards and soon, up the stairs. It didn't take long before he was up on his

her ostrich like 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

eliminating the darkness and stunning Leonica with what

room where Will had said pictures wasn't just filled with pictures,

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

wardrobe.

scanned her surroundings, seeing more and more of

footsteps stopping by the threshold of the open door and spun

didn't get rid of

belonging at her question before settling on who he suspected was the

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

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