"DON'T you find it weird?" I asked Gideon that night. We were already home from Gideon's surprise dinner celebration.
"What's weird, sweetheart?"
"Diana…" I muttered in a small voice.
"Diana?"
"How she suddenly appeared… just in time for your birthday?"
I remembered what happened earlier.
"What happened to you, Diana?" Amelia asked the woman we all recovered from the shock.
"How are you alive? Everyone thought you were dead. You were declared dead."
"It was a long story, Amelia," Diana started. "You all know now that I really didn't die. I was saved by an old couple in a small town. They said they saw me on the shore. They brought me to the small hospital. But when I woke up, I couldn't remember anything. I didn't know anything about myself… The old couple decided to keep me with them. For seven years, I lived with them, until finally, my memory came back… The first thing I did was go back here to LA. But I found out that my family wasn't here anymore."
"Well, one year after your death, your family migrated to Europe, Diana," Amelia said to the woman.
"Yeah. I looked for them in Europe. I stayed there and studied."
I looked at her. She had suffered from amnesia?
"Oh. I'm happy to know that you're alive, Diana," Amelia pulled the woman in a hug. "I couldn't believe what you've been through, dear."
"Thank you, Amelia." Diana smiled, her eyes misty with tears. "After years of staying in Belgium, I decided to go back here… and look for all of you." She looked at Charlie. "On the plane going here, I bumped into Charlie. He told me that you're still here in Huntington. He volunteered to accompany me here."
Amelia wiped the corner of her eyes. "Oh. We're very happy to see you, Diana."
Diana smiled as she wiped the tears from her face. Then slowly, she turned to Gideon. "I hope you're happy to see me again on your birthday, Gideon."
"I'm sure Gideon was very happy to see you, Diana." Amelia held the woman's arm. "It's just unfortunate that Gideon couldn't remember you, Diana. He had an accident almost a year ago that caused him to lose his memories prior to the accident." The old woman explained.
"I'm sorry, Diana," Gideon finally managed to say. "I don't remember you right now…"
Diana smiled sadly. "It's okay, Gideon. I understand. I've been through that. I'm just really happy to see you again…"
Gideon returned her smile. "I'm happy, too. I'm happy to know you're alive."
Gideon looked at my face. "Why do you find it weird?"
"I mean… she said she recovered her memory five years ago. But why does she only show herself to you now?"
"She told us she was in Europe for the past years…"
My brows furrowed. "But you're important to her. She'd make a way to contact you or something. But she didn't, right? She said earlier that it was the first time she saw you after twelve years. That means she never tried to contact you before."
Gideon's brows furrowed. "Maybe she forgot about me over the years, Bianca."
I shook my head. I don't think so. Given her reaction earlier. She was too happy to see Gideon.
And thinking about their past. Diana and Gideon were in a relationship when the accident happened. The first thing you do after remembering your memory was look for the people you love and inform them you're alive. But Diana didn't do that with Gideon. Even if she went here to LA five years ago.
It took her more than five years before she showed herself to Gideon.
It was… weird and suspicious.
"Maybe there's something else that happened to her that she didn't tell in her story earlier…"
Gideon slightly raised his brow. "Maybe you're right. But why are you so invested in her?"
I frowned at him. "Well, she's your ex! He's your first love. And now… now she's back."
Gideon pursed his lips. "So what if he's back."
I rolled my eyes at him. "She's back and it was obvious that she wants you back!"
Gideon put on his shirt and went to me. He sat on the edge of the bed facing me.
"Really?"
"It was obvious with the way she looked at you."
"Maybe she was just delighted to see me. We didn't even know if she's married or in a relationship."
"She mentioned she was single when Amelia asked her…"
"Oh. I didn't hear that." His lips curled in a smile while he was staring at me. "I was only preoccupied with you…"
I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from smiling. Damn this man.
I was getting worried here but all he wanted to do was flirt with me.
"Shut up, Gideon. I'm serious here."
"I'm serious, too."
I raised my brow. "You didn't feel anything for her when you saw her earlier?
"Well, I was surprised. I mean… everyone thought she was dead, right? For her to suddenly showed up was surprising…"
I examined his face. "You didn't feel anything?"
"Sweetheart… I don't remember her. How can I feel something?"
I cleared my throat. "Did you… find her pretty?"
Gideon's brows furrowed. "Well… she is. But my eyes were only with you earlier."
He cocked his brow while examining my face. "What is this all about, sweetheart? Do we have a problem with her?"
I bit my lower lip. "I… I just couldn't help but worry."
"What are you worried about?" he asked in a soft voice.
"Diana… you're first love was back. She's back from the dead and now she wants you back, too. What if your memory comes back and you realize you're still in love with her?" I gave him a small smile. "You loved her, Gideon. You hated Charlie because of her. You forced me into marrying you to get revenge on Charlie. See? That's how important she is to you…" My eyes fluttered. "I'm scared that once your memory comes back… you'd realize you're still not over her."
Gideon cupped my face. He looked at me… his eyes piercing my soul. "I'm in love with you, Bianca. For the past months that we weren't together, you were all I could think about. Not any other woman." He caressed my cheek. "Diana might be a part of my past, but she's already in the past. You're already my present, sweetheart. And my future. Even if my memory comes back, I don't think my feelings for you will change…"
His other hand reached for mine. He intertwined it with his."I'm in love with you. So so much, baby… Please, trust my love for you, will you?"
I slowly nodded, the corner of my eyes heating up with tears. "I love you, Gideon."