Chapter 370
ALL
Summer’s POV
I sat on the edge of our bed at The Hamptons estate, still shaken from everything that had happened at the hospital. My hands trembled slightly as I hugged myself, the memory of Victoria’s face–wisted with hatred as she held that syringe–still fresh in my mind. If Sophie hadn’t intervened…
The sound of the bedroom door opening made me look up. Brandon tood there, his expression softening immediately when our eyes met. He looked exhausted, the weight of the day evident in the light slump of his shoulders.
“Hey,” he said softly, crossing the room to sit beside me. How are you feeling?”
> I leaned into him as he wrapped his arm around me. “Better now that you’re here,” I admitted. “Is Sophie…”
“Sean’s still with her The surgery went well, but she’s not out of the woods yet.” His voice was steady, but I could hear the underlying tension. “He’ll call as soon as there’s any change.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “And Victoria?”
Brandon’s expression darkened momentarily. “She’s been taken care of. She won’t hurt you again.”
He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask for details. Some things were better left unsaid.
“I’m sorry,” Brandon said suddenly, pulling me closer. “I should have been there. I should have protected you.”
I looked up at him in surprise. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“It is,” he insisted, his jaw tight. “I knew what Victoria was capable of. I should have had better security, should have anticipated-.
I pressed my finger to his lips, stopping his self–recrimination. “You can’t control everything, Brandon. Not even you.”
He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. “When it comes to your safety, I should.”
We sat in silence for a moment, the events of the day settling around us like a heavy blanket. Brandon’s thumb traced soothing circles on my shoulder, and gradually, I felt the tension begin to leave my body.
“Why don’t we go outside?” he suggested after a while. “Get some fresh air. The garden is beautiful this time of evening.”
I nodded, grateful for the distraction. “That sounds perfect.”
“Brandon, I… have I met you before? A very long time ago?”
The question slipped out before I could stop myself. We were sitting in the garden of The Hamptons estate, the evening breeze gentle against my skin. Something about the way Brandon looked at me in that moment–a mixture of tenderness and nostalgia- triggered a strange familiarity that I couldn’t place.
My heart fluttered when I asked it, and I could feel heat rising to my cheeks. There was something about Brandon that felt so deeply familiar, like a half–remembered dream.
Brandon’s expression softened, his eyes studying me with an intensity that made my breath catch. “What do you think?” he asked quietly.
1/3
Chapter 370
I frowned, frustrated by the fog in my mind. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. Sometimes when you look at me a certain way, I get this feeling like… like we’ve known each other forever.”
My mind struggled to piece together fragments of memories that seemed just beyond my reach. I knew Brandon was Professor Thompson’s student, but there was something more, something I couldn’t quite grasp.
“God, why can’t I remember anything?” I groaned, lightly tapping my forehead with my knuckles in frustration. “It’s all just… blank.”
Brandon reached out, gently catching my hand before I could knock on my head again. “Hey, stop that,” he said, his voice tender. “You’ll hurt yourself.”
“I don’t care,” I pouted. “Even if I make myself stupid, I’d stiff be your wife. You’re not allowed to complain!*
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” said, pulling me into his arms. “I’d want you no matter what. And don’t worry about the past–we have every day ahead of us.”
I melted into his embrace, feeling safe and warm, but a nagging sense of unfairness lingered. “It’s not fair though,” I whispered against his chest. “You know everything about us, and I can’t remember anything. I feel like I’m missing so much.”
Brandon was quiet for a moment, his fingers gently stroking my hair. Then he pulled back slightly, looking down at me with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“You know, you weren’t always this quiet and well–behaved,” he said, a teasing note in his voice.
I pulled away, indignant. “What? That’s not true! Both Grandpa George and Grandpa Jonathan always said I was a
super well–behaved when I was little!”
Brandon chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction. “If you say so.”
good girl. I was
“Well, what was I like then?” I challenged, genuinely curious. “When we first met, I mean. Was it at some fancy party? Did you see me across the room and fall madly in love with me at first sight?”
The last part was meant as a joke, but Brandon’s expression turned serious. “Yes,” he said simply. “I did fall for you at first sight.”
His directness caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks flush again. Before I could respond, Brandon stood up and held out his
hand.
“Come with me. I want to show you something.”
I followed him inside and up to his study. He went to a drawer and pulled out what looked like an old notebook. The cover was worn, with faded flowers printed on it.
“What’s this?” I asked, taking it from him.
Brandon’s eyes were gentle as he answered. “It’s your diary. From when you were younger… before Victoria had you kidnapped you lost your memory.”
I stared at the notebook in shock. “My diary? How did you get this?”
My fingers trembled slightly as I opened the cover. The handwriting inside was unmistakably mine, though slightly more childish than my current script. I began to read, and with each word, something inside me stirred.
