"YOU looked good, son." Amelia smiled as the woman crouched to pull his son for a hug.
Amelia had invited us for dinner at their house tonight. That's why three days after he left the hospital, we're here in the Henry mansion in Huntington.
"You too, Mom." I heard Gideon say.
Amelia was wearing an elegant white dress that matched her huge white pearl necklace. She had always been dressed to kill.
"Thanks, son." Amelia then turned to me.
I smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"How are you two?"
"We're fine, Amelia," I said. "Aside from Gideon's occasional headaches, everything's normal."
The other day, we went to the hospital for his check-up. His doctor assured him that his occasional headaches were normal for someone like him suffering from amnesia.
"I told you, Gideon. You should live with us in the meantime," Amelia told his son.
"It's okay, Mom." Gideon smiled at his mother before his eyes drifted to me. "My wife has been taking care of me."
"Oh." Amelia looked at me, giving me a grateful smile. "Of course. Come inside. Darwin and Charlie are already waiting for you."
I stilled at the mention of Charlie's name.
Of course, Charlie was here. After our last talk in the hospital—about me agreeing to take care of Gideon until he recovers, I hadn't seen Charlie again.
Well… we have nothing to talk about anyway.
"Gideon. Bianca."
True enough. Darwin and Charlie were waiting for us inside.
Darwin stood up to greet us. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before I turned to Charlie who was standing on the other side of the long dining table. He was holding a bottle of wine.
"Charlie."
I gave him a small smile. He was wearing a white black long sleeve shirt and dark grey pants.
He had always been so good-looking. My heart hurts while looking at him.
"Hey, brother."
My eyes went to Gideon who was smiling widely at his brother.
Damn. If Gideon's parents weren't here, I was sure both Charlie and I would be both scoffing at Gideon right now.
Charlie cleared his throat. "How are you, Gideon?"
"I'm fine. My wife takes care of me."
Charlie's eyes zeroed in on me. "I see," he muttered, placing the bottle of wine on the dining table.
Damn. I knew this dinner would be uncomfortable for both Charlie and me.
"Here. Try this, Gideon." Amelia said as she handed Gideon a platter of baked langoustine. "This is one of your favorites."
I was seated next to Gideon. Amelia and Charlie were in front of us while Darwin occupied the head of the table.
"Thanks, Mom." Gideon attentively turned to me. "How about you, Bianca? What do you want to eat first?"
My throat felt dry. I looked at my still empty plate.
"I'd try the baby back ribs," I said, choosing the platter of food nearest to me. I was about to get the platter of baby back ribs but Gideon beat me to it.
Three pairs of eyes were watching us as Gideon put the food on my plate.
The two had a normal look on their faces, but Charlie… there was a slight crease on his forehead.
"Thanks, Gideon," I muttered.
"You're welcome, wife."
I tightened my jaw. Damn. I wanted to stop Gideon, but of course, I couldn't do it in front of his parents.
"I wanted to bring you to the office one of these days, Gideon," Darwin said.
I wanted to thank Darwin for joining the conversation.
"Darling, I think it's too early for that," Amelia said in a concerned tone. "Gideon's still on therapy. Shouldn't we wait until he recovers his memory?"
"We heard from the doctors, Amelia. There's a possibility that Gideon might not remember again." Darwin explained. "You know I need him in the company. He's the CEO, Amelia."
"It's okay, Mom," Gideon interjected. "Dad was right. Besides, familiarizing myself with my work responsibilities might help me remember things."
Amelia sighed. "But Gideon… I'm only worried about you."
"You have nothing to worry about, Mom. Don't you forget that I have my wife here with me?"
I almost choked on my food when I heard what Gideon said. He even glanced at me before looking back at Amelia.
"Of course, I know that Bianca was taking good care of you."
Amelia turned to me with a grateful smile on her face. Gideon did the same. I was forced to smile back.
Damn. This pretending thing was draining.
"What about Charlie?" Gideon asked out of the blue. "Does he also work in the company?"
"No," Charlie answered, a small smile on his face. "I'm a travel photographer, Gideon. I don't have any interest in business, unlike you."
"Travel photographer?" Gideon muttered. I turned to him and saw admiration in his blue eyes. "That's cool, Charlie."
"Yeah," Charlie agreed, nodding his head. "I love my job. I love traveling."
I couldn't help the smile that escaped my lips. I, of all people, knew how passionate Charlie was about his job.
"Oh. What's your favorite place you've been to?" Gideon continued to probe. I couldn't help but feel amused at the bastard's expression. I was sure Charlie also felt the same way.
"The Philippines," Charlie answered after sipping from his wine. "And I'll be going back there next week."
I looked at Charlie. He's leaving?
"You're leaving?" Gideon asked.
"Yeah. Work stuff." Charlie answered Gideon before his eyes went to mine. He gave me a small smile that I hadn't managed to return.
"You told me you're going to stay for longer. But here you are, leaving again." Amelia said, shaking her head.
Charlie pursed his lips. "You know it's part of my job, Mom. Traveling."
Amelia eyed his adoptive son. "I don't know, Charlie. I feel like you're very secretive, even to me. You haven't even told me what happened to that fiancée of yours."
I stiffened.
"You have a fiancée, Charlie?" Gideon asked, making me completely frozen in my seat.
"Had, Gideon. Past tense."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
Gideon's voice sounded so innocent and sincere that I wanted to shut my eyes. Damn it.
Please stop talking, Gideon!
But of course, he didn't stop.
"What happened, Charlie? I hope you don't mind."
Charlie's eyes lingered on me before they went back to Gideon. "She broke up with me and married another man."
A familiar ache crept into my heart. I fell completely silent as I looked down at my food.
"Oh. That sucks. I'm so sorry, Charlie."
Damn. I feel like we were in a reality show and someone out there was laughing while watching the three of us. Fuck Gideon for sounding so innocent as if he wasn't that bastard who ruined my life. Just fuck him and his fucking amnesia!
"I didn't know that's what happened." I heard Amelia say. "Well, you deserve someone better, Charlie. That ex-fianceé of yours was a good-for-nothing bitch."
I wanted to let out a humorless laugh. Funny, she didn't have any idea that the woman she was calling bitch was just right in front of her. But I knew I deserved it.
You're right, Amelia. I'm a good-for-nothing bitch. I didn't deserve Charlie.
I heard a sigh. I knew it came from Charlie. "Stop it, Ma," he said, his voice careful. "Let's not talk about the past anymore."
"Are you okay, Bianca?"
Gideon's gentle voice filled my ears.
"You're not eating your food. Is there something wrong?"
I bit my lower lip before I looked up. I found that everyone was looking at me. Charlie's sharp eyes were on mine.
I was forced to give Gideon a smile. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" he asked, his blue eyes gentle as he touched a lock of my hair on my face and tucked it behind my ear.
My lips parted but I immediately recovered.
"Yeah." I nodded, turning my head away from him.
I didn't know how I survived that dinner.
"Gideon… I was watching him at dinner earlier. He's fond of you, Bianca." From the large swimming pool in front us, Charlie drifted his eyes at me.
After dinner, Darwin asked Gideon to come with him to his office. I didn't know that Charlie followed me when I went to the pool area.
"I guessed that's what amnesia could do to people." I pursed my lips as I stared at the reflection of the moon on the pool water.
"Have you told him the truth about your marriage?"
"Only the half truth, Charlie. I already told him that we're not really in love with each other. That we hated each other…"
"I'm worried, Bianca."
I turned my head to Charlie. Our eyes met. Those chocolate eyes of his were filled with worry.
"Gideon… he's different now. What if you'll fall in love with him?"
"What?" I muttered. My eyes widened in disbelief. "Me? Falling in love with Gideon?" I scoffed. "I already answered that, Charlie. That could never happen."
"Well… I just can't help it. He's different now, Bianca. He's become gentle… and kind."
I shook my head. "After what he did to me, Charlie? Do you think I'd fall in love with him?" I asked him sarcastically, my brows almost meeting in a deep frown. "He ruined my life, Charlie." My jaw hardened. I looked away. My eyes fell on the water. "I hate him, Charlie. No. I despise him. So falling in love with him was next to impossible. In fact, I can't wait to get away from him."
We both fell silent. Then I felt his hand on mine. It was a gentle, feathery touch.
"I'm sorry. I can't stay here knowing that you're with him. But I'll be back, Bianca. I'll come back to get you."
I looked at him. Something clenched my heart as I stared into his eyes.
"Charlie… I've already told you we're done."
His eyes lingered on me. I felt like melting under his stares. He always had that kind of effect on me.
His hand went to my elbow. "And I also told you, Bianca, I'm willing to wait for you—"
"Charlie. Bianca. You're here."
I automatically stepped back from Charlie when I heard that voice.
I looked to my left and Gideon was there. Only a few meters away from us. I swallowed as he operated his wheelchair toward us.
"G-Gideon," I muttered when he stopped in front of us. "What are you doing here outside?"
Fear started to creep into my chest. I remembered this familiar feeling.
Amelia's birthday. When Gideon saw me talking to Charlie at the party.
Everything he did to me that night came rushing into me like a fucking river. I wanted to shut my eyes.
"Well, I was looking for you." Gideon looked at me before turning his head to Charlie. "I didn't know you two are close."
Gideon's voice was normal but of course, I felt so fucking guilty that my lips parted.
"I… uh."
"We've known each other, Gideon." It was Charlie.
My head snapped back at him. My heart was beating loudly inside my chest.
"Bianca and I… we're good friends even before you two got married."