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Lucas tried using Evan to win me back, hoping I’d give in. But the truth is, I
wasn’t the same person anymore.
“Evan, you shouldn’t keep coming here. I’m not your mom anymore.”
He looked desperate. “But I want you to be my mom, to make me your dark and weird cooking, to tell me stories at night, to hold me while I sleep…”
“Anyone can do that, Evan,” I said. “You’re just used to having me around.”
“No, it’s not like that! Mom, I’ll never call anyone else ‘Mom, I promise!” he cried, clutching at my skirt. “Dad lied; he told me you’d remember me one day and come back. I was terrible, but now I’ll change!”
Iknelt down, meeting his gaze. “Evan, you need to appreciate the people who love you before they’re gone.”
Evan clung to me, tears streaming down his face. “Please, Mom, I don’t
want to lose you…”
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“This is my last lesson for you, Evan: if you want love, you need to give love, and you need to respect others. Everyone who’s hurt leaves eventually.”
He cried harder, kneeling, begging me for a second chance.
But there was no going back.
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10:16
After signing a major contract at a client’s office, I was about to drive home when I ran into Annie. She suggested we grab a coffee together.
“Nina,” she started, her voice soft. “Back at the hospital, when Evan called you ‘aunt, I thought he was just testing if you’d really lost your memory, so I went along with it. I… owe you an apology for that. I shouldn’t have interfered in your life with Lucas. And I shouldn’t have let money influence me to take on the job as Evan’s tutor.” She looked down, clearly ashamed.
“Annie, my divorce from Lucas was never because of you,” I assured her, -wanting to relieve her guilt. “I know you’re not that kind of person.”
I owed Annie a debt of gratitude. She’d been in my class for a short time in high school, when everyone in New York’s elite circles called her the ‘It‘ girl, the princess of the scene. Yet she was never arrogant, always kind and grounded, with a core that was steady and wise. At seventeen, I was desperate to fit into Lucas’s social circle, always laughed at, while Annie’s kindness set her apart. She once told me, “The universe revolves around you when you center yourself.” I didn’t understand it then, but now I know she saw the truth a lot earlier than I did.
Annie looked back up at me, more determined. “I left that job right after you did. I’ve realized I need to stand on my own. I can’t keep leaning on the Blake family’s pity.”
Pulling out my phone, I sent her a file I’d put together. In part, it was to repay the kindness she’d once shown me. I had dug into Wynn Corporation and its affairs; its sudden downfall didn’t sit right, and as a century–old establishment, it wasn’t only wealthy–it was distinguished. I’d found out
about a few underhanded moves by her family abroad. Annie had what she
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you did. I’ve realized I need to stand on my own. I can’t keep leaning on the Blake family’s pity.”
Pulling out my phone, I sent her a file I’d put together. In part, it was to repay the kindness she’d once shown me. I had dug into Wynn Corporation and its affairs; its sudden downfall didn’t sit right, and as a century–old establishment, it wasn’t only wealthy–it was distinguished. I’d found out about a few underhanded moves by her family abroad. Annie had what she needed to take it from here, and I knew that, with her background, the Wynn family had a real chance to bounce back.
She opened the file, visibly moved, but then her face darkened with another thought. “And what about you and Lucas?”
I pointed outside the window, where Chris waited, looking calm and patient in his gray coat. Annie smiled, a genuine smile. “You deserve happiness, Nina. And Lucas… he never did.”
Annie left, saying that Lucas wanted to see me. When he arrived, he tried to reminisce, bringing up beautiful memories from the past. I interrupted
him.
“You can visit the past all you like, but there’s no one left there.”
He grabbed my hand, his voice rough with emotion. “Nina, I finally realize it. The one I love–it’s always been you.”
I pulled my hand away, looking at him carefully. “Real love doesn’t need constant reaffirmation, Lucas. Only a love that’s never been certain does.”
He continued, unfazed, “Tomorrow’s my birthday. You always make me that special soup for it…”
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I turned to him, eyebrow raised. “Lucas, do you even know what last Sunday was?”
He frowned, thinking, and then his face darkened with regret.
“You see?” I said, “The only person you’ve truly loved is yourself.”
“I’m sorry, Nina… let me make it up to you. I’ll throw you the biggest birthday celebration you could ever dream of.”
“It’s not about birthdays anymore, Lucas. You missed your chance.” I paused. “Tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the county clerk’s office to finalize
everything.”
Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him. “Since leaving you, I’ve learned how to love myself. Please, don’t interfere in my life anymore.”
Turning around, I ran to Chris, who had been waiting in the cold for too long. I wouldn’t make him wait anymore.
Lucas:
The moment I truly understood I’d lost Nina was when I held the final
divorce papers. Before then, even as we signed the agreement, I felt invincible, convinced that once she regained her memory, everything would go back to the way it was. But I was wrong.
She’d never lost her memory. That realization hit me with paralyzing fear, like something crucial slipping out of reach. Only then did I begin to
understand the value of what I’d lost. People only realize the worth of something when it’s gone.
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