Chapter 2

I stumbled out of the Hawkins Industries building, the city lights blurring through my tears. My mind was a chaotic storm of rediscovered memories and fresh betrayal. I needed a plan. I needed to escape.

I went back to the apartment, our fake little home. The smell of burnt steak still hung in the air, a bitter reminder of my shattered illusion.

My hands trembled as I rummaged through an old shoebox under the bed. It was filled with trinkets from my "past life" with Gavin-ticket stubs from cheap movies, a dried flower he' d picked for me. And underneath it all, a single, crisp business card.

Connor Norton. CEO of Norton Corp.

I remembered it now. A few years ago, before the crash, I'd been an anonymous source. I' d uncovered an espionage plot designed to frame Connor and ruin his company. It was a move by one of his rivals. I sent the evidence to him through an encrypted channel, saving him from disaster. He never knew who I was, but he' d managed to send one message back before I disappeared.

"I owe you a debt I can never repay. If you ever need anything, anything at all, call this number."

I had kept the card, a strange memento from a life I didn't remember I'd had. Now, it was my only lifeline.

Without a second of hesitation, I pulled out my phone and dialed the number. My heart pounded against my ribs with every ring.

A man's voice, calm and professional, answered on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Is this Connor Norton?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

There was a pause. "Who is this?"

"You don't know me," I said, my words rushing out. "A long time ago, I helped you. With a... frame-up. You said if I ever needed anything..."

The line went silent for a moment. Then, his voice came back, sharp with focus. "It's you."

"Yes."

"Where are you? Are you in trouble?"

"I..." Before I could answer, the apartment door clicked open.

Gavin walked in.

He was still in his ridiculously expensive suit, but he' d loosened his tie. He carried a bag from a cheap corner store.

"Ainsley, baby, I'm home," he called out, his voice filled with fake exhaustion.

I quickly ended the call, my blood running cold.

He saw me standing by the bed, the phone in my hand. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Who were you talking to?"

"Just... my boss from the cleaning job," I lied, my voice shaking. "Confirming my shift for tomorrow."

Gavin walked over and took the phone from my hand. He scrolled through the recent calls, his expression unreadable. My heart hammered in my chest. He would see Connor's number. It was over.

But he just frowned. "An unknown number? Ainsley, we've talked about this. It's not safe in this neighborhood. You shouldn't be talking to strangers."

He wrapped his arms around me, his touch making my skin crawl. "I worry about you. All alone here while I'm out getting beat up for us."

The hypocrisy was so thick I could choke on it. I wanted to scream, to claw at his face, to tell him I knew everything.

But I forced myself to stay calm. I needed to be smart. I needed to play his game, just for a little longer.

I leaned into his embrace, a sickeningly familiar gesture. "I'm sorry, Gavin. I was just lonely."

He stroked my hair, a satisfied smile on his face. He loved my dependence. He thrived on it. "I know, baby. I know it's hard. But I'm doing all this for our future."

His words were poison.

He kissed my forehead, a gesture that once felt like the purest form of love, but now felt like a brand. "I'm starving. I picked up some takeout on the way home."

I pulled away, my stomach churning. "I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat," he said, his voice taking on a hard edge. "I need you to be healthy."

I looked into his eyes, searching for any flicker of the man I thought I knew. There was nothing. Only a chilling possessiveness. "You were on TV tonight, Gavin."

His body tensed. Just for a second. Then he relaxed, putting on a confused expression. "What are you talking about, Ainsley?"

"A news report. About a billionaire named Gavin Hawkins." I watched him closely. "He looked just like you."

He let out a short, dismissive laugh. "Baby, you know how many people look alike? I wish I was a billionaire. Then I wouldn't have to fight anymore. I could just stay home and take care of you all day."

He was so good at this. So convincing.

He turned and headed for the kitchen, his back to me. "Come on, let's eat. I'm so tired my whole body hurts."

I watched him go, his confident stride so different from the weary shuffle he usually adopted when he came home. It was all an act. Every single part of it. The way he' d limp. The fake groans of pain.

I remembered him coming home one night with a deep gash on his arm. He' d told me a shard of glass from a broken bottle caught him during a back-alley brawl. I had cleaned it, stitched it myself with a kit from the pharmacy, my tears falling onto his skin.

Now I knew the truth. It was all part of the performance. All designed to make me feel pity, to make me feel needed, to bind me to him with my own compassion.

He was a monster. But he was my monster. And for a moment, the fake memories, the feelings I'd had for three years, clashed with the horrifying truth. The pain was dizzying.

His phone buzzed on the counter where he'd left it. A message from "Heidi."

"Thinking of you. Can't wait for our engagement party tomorrow night at the Grand Oak Auction House."

Gavin walked back into the room, saw me looking at the phone. He quickly snatched it up.

"It's just my coach," he said, not meeting my eye. "He wants me to come in for some extra training tomorrow. I'm sorry, baby, I know we were going to spend the day together."

"It's okay," I said, my voice flat. "Work is work."

He smiled, relieved. "That's my girl."

He left early the next morning, giving me a kiss that felt like ice on my lips. The moment the door closed, I was on my feet. I had to get out. I had to earn enough money to disappear.

I found a flyer for a catering company needing last-minute waitstaff for a big event that night. A charity auction. The pay was good, cash at the end of the night. It was perfect.

The event was at the Grand Oak Auction House, the most exclusive venue in the city. The place was dripping with wealth. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and people in thousand-dollar outfits mingled, sipping champagne.

I kept my head down, balancing a tray of appetizers, trying to be invisible.

And then I saw them.

Gavin and Heidi. They were the center of attention. He had his arm around her, laughing with a group of men in suits. He looked like a king in his element.

Heidi was radiant, wearing a diamond necklace that sparkled under the lights. She leaned into him, whispering something that made him smile.

He looked so happy. So carefree.

He never looked like that with me. With me, he was always "struggling," always "tired."

A group of women nearby were gossiping.

"He's so in love with her," one said.

"I heard he's going to buy her the 'Star of the Ocean' tonight," another whispered. "The blue diamond. It's the top auction item."

"He'd do anything for her," the first woman sighed. "He's completely devoted."

Heidi playfully pushed a piece of cake toward Gavin's mouth. He took a bite, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I love you, Gavin," she said, loud enough for those around them to hear.

"I love you more," he replied, his voice thick with an emotion he never showed me. He leaned in and kissed her, a long, passionate kiss that made the crowd around them applaud.

My tray clattered to the floor.

Everyone turned to look at the source of the noise.

For a terrifying second, Gavin's eyes met mine.

But there was no recognition. Only annoyance. He turned back to Heidi, dismissing me as just another clumsy waitress.