Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Marked by the Past

"Ahh-!"

Grace screamed, frantically covering her chest.

"You're sexually harassing me! This is assault!" She finally broke free from Vincent's grip, stepping back several paces, her eyes guarded. "I could call the police and have you arrested!"

But Vincent's gaze lingered on the parts of her chest her slender hands couldn't fully conceal, and a slow, relieved smile spread across his face.

"Bella, trust me, you wouldn't."

Grace frowned. "Don't you understand plain language? I've already told you-I don't know you, and I'm definitely not this 'Bella' you keep calling me!"

In an instant, Vincent leaned in close, his sharp, penetrating gaze locking onto hers.

"But darling, you have my mark right here," he said, pointing to her chest.

Instinctively, Grace glanced down.

Close to her heart, on her left breast, were two small, irregularly shaped scars.

For as long as she could remember, she had been puzzled by these strange scars-how they had ended up in such a private and hidden place.

But now.

"I gave you those,"

Vincent said, raising an eyebrow at her shocked expression, his voice dripping with implication. His tongue briefly flicked over one of his sharp teeth.

"That was our first time. I kissed you all over, but I got too excited, didn't control myself and bit you there. You were in so much pain, you kicked me off the bed."

Grace's mind involuntarily filled with images of the scene, and she suddenly felt parched.

She found herself glancing over at the man in front of her, her gaze sweeping over his deep gray-green eyes that seemed to draw her in, his prominent nose, and his healthy, thin lips. As her gaze drifted lower to the sharp lines of his jaw and the strong column of his throat that appeared quite sensual, she couldn't help but wonder: What would it feel like to bite him there?

Unbidden, her thoughts wandered to the sculpted chest that bulged against his suit.

The atmosphere between them grew thick with tension.

Grace felt her breath quicken, heat rising within her.

It was all the fault of her kids' late father, who left too soon, leaving her untouched for so long. Now, all it took was a man like this-a walking temptation-to make her lose her composure so easily.

But the thought of her children's late father sobered her.

She pressed a hand to Vincent's chest-at some point, he had closed the distance between them-and spoke firmly, "Listen mister, whoever you think you are, if you get any closer, I really will call the police."

"Bella, you were in a serious car accident and have been missing since then."

Vincent reached up, gently caressing her cheek, his voice low and affectionate.

"That might be why you don't remember me, but I need you to know-I've been looking for you, relentlessly, for six years."

The truth was, the accident had left behind a charred body, and the DNA tests had confirmed that it was the woman he loved.

But he refused to believe it. Deep down, he had a gut feeling that the woman he loved hadn't died.

And finally, today, that feeling had been proven right.

Even if she had completely forgotten him.

Grace watched him as he spoke so tenderly, feeling a soft pang in her chest, like something fragile being gently nudged.

It was hard to be harsh with someone who looked at her with such affection.

But Grace had been raising two children on her own for five long years, and she knew better than to let her heart rule her head.

"You seem wealthy, so I'm sure investigating me wouldn't have been difficult," she said, her tone cooling.

"Maybe you already knew I had amnesia, and you're just using this story to manipulate me."

"People lie for profit," Vincent interrupted, frowning. "What do you have that's worth lying for?"

Grace fell silent.

She was just an ordinary single mother, with barely enough savings to cover the cost of one of his cufflinks. There was indeed nothing she had that could be of value to him.

Vincent raised a hand and tugged at the pendant around Grace's neck-a vintage lion-head ring.

"On the contrary, I'm the one who should be questioning 'you' for stealing the Fisk Family's heirloom."

Grace followed his gaze to his other hand, where a lion-head ring identical to hers sat on his finger.

The Fisk Family?

Grace's face paled slightly as she connected the dots.

She had no idea where this ring had come from, but something in her subconscious had always told her it was important, and that it should never be shown to others. That's why she'd always worn it hidden close to her skin.

But now it turned out that it was an important heirloom of the Fisk Family-the largest mafia family in Vilena?!

She had unknowingly gotten involved with the mafia.

Could she really be the Bella he was talking about?

"You believe me now?" Vincent asked, his piercing gaze unrelenting.

Grace forced herself to stay calm as she faced the handsome man who kept questioning her.

Her own safety wasn't the issue-she was more worried about her children. Would they get dragged into this mess?

All she wanted was for them to grow up safely and happily, living a simple life.

"I have no memory of you."

Grace forced herself to stay calm. "Maybe I really am the Bella you speak of, but to me and my children, you're just a stranger. We're happy with the peaceful life we have now, and I don't want that disrupted."

"So please, don't show up in our lives again."

She carefully pulled her clothing back into place and said coldly, "Well then, this is goodbye. I hope we never meet again."

With that, she turned and walked away without hesitation, though she kept her body tense, afraid that this man from the mafia might use some illegal means to force her to stay.

She heard his footsteps behind her, and her heart leaped into her throat.

What was he planning to do next?