Chapter 6

I settled into Liam's villa.

The room was spotless, but it was right next to his master bedroom.

He gave a grand excuse, saying people often act erratically after a major shock.

Since I was under his roof, he had to look out for me.

"Look out for me" stung sharply in that moment, and my face paled.

I slept fitfully all night. When I woke, Liam was gone.

Two maids were cleaning the living room and greeted me respectfully. "Mr. Hewitt went to the office. He left a note for you on the table."

His handwriting was neat, just like him. "Call me when you're up. I'll send someone to get you."

Below was his number, with a note that it was also his messaging ID.

I smiled faintly. Was he expecting me to add him?

Without overthinking, I dialed. It took a while for him to answer.

"In a meeting. Sorry, my phone wasn't nearby."

It wasn't something he needed to apologize for, and it felt unlike the Liam I knew.

I remembered the people who snuck into the villa's yard at night, throwing harsh words under his name.

Without his approval, they wouldn't have dared act so boldly in Riverhaven.

I pushed the thought aside. "No problem."

A driver arrived soon after. I ate the breakfast the maids prepared and headed out.

The car sped along the road. My phone held several unread messages.

None from Cayden.

While I was hospitalized, Vivian had kept my phone.

She must have put in some effort to delete every trace of Cayden from it the moment she heard about my memory loss.

Her messages were mostly warm check-ins.

In the past, they would have warmed my heart.

For years, I had been alone, and Vivian was the first person I trusted amid the sneers and schemes.

She was like a little sun, brightening my high school and college years.

Even now, I couldn't let go of her. Thinking of her made my heart ache faintly.

She asked if I really spent the night with Liam.

And if I had remembered anything.

"Nothing."

She seemed disappointed. "Julia, I never thought you'd forget even me."

A thought stirred, and I replied quickly. "Do you want me to remember or not?"

Her "typing" status lingered for ages before a short reply came, minutes later. "Julia, of course I want you to remember. We're the best of friends."

I tossed the phone aside in disgust.

I couldn't imagine what mood she was in, lying in Cayden's arms, typing that.

The car stopped outside the Hewitt Group's building.

As I looked down, a friend request popped up in my message list.

A poorly disguised "Cayden."

I looked up, spotting Liam through the crowd, walking toward me.

Broad shoulders, long legs, perfect proportions-he stood out even in a sea of people.

But he was Cayden's cousin.

My gaze turned cold in an instant.