Chapter 1

As my consciousness slipped away, I vaguely heard voices erupting around me.

"Oh my God, someone just got hit by a flower pot."

"Call 911! This girl's bleeding everywhere."

"Call the cops! Find out who owns that flowerpot!"

I didn't know how long I'd been out, but when I finally woke up, the strong smell of disinfectant hit me.

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar white ceiling. My forehead ached dully, and when I reached up, I felt thick bandages wrapped around it.

The steady beeping from the heart monitor next to me made it clear I was in a hospital.

It took me a long time to gather my thoughts.

Thinking back to that fight, Liam's cold words, and the accident with the flowerpot, a bold, almost vengeful idea suddenly popped into my head. 'What if I pretended to have amnesia from a concussion and see how he reacts?'

If he really loved me, he'd stay and help me remember. But if I meant nothing to him… this fake amnesia would finally show me the truth.

Just then, the hospital room door opened. Liam walked in. Rain still clung to his clothes. His hair was a mess. There was a faint tiredness in his eyes—but none of the worry I'd expected.

I quickly masked my emotions, putting on a blank, confused look. I stared at him and asked softly, "Who are you? Why am I here?"

He froze. A flicker of panic crossed his face before he quickly smoothed it over. When he spoke, his voice was flat, like he was discussing something trivial. "The doctors said you have an amnesia. Temporary memory loss is possible. I'm your boyfriend's best friend. He's tied up, so he asked me to check on you."

"My boyfriend's brother?" I repeat.

Those words hit me like an ice pick to the chest

I thought he'd panic, grab my hand, and say, "Lena, it's me, Liam." But what I got instead was a cold, distant denial.

Three years together, childhood friends turned lovers, and all it took was a little amnesia for everything to shatter.

I opened my mouth, but it felt like something was stuck in my throat. I couldn't say a single word—just stared at him, stunned.

Seeing that, Liam seemed to relax a little, a hint of relief on his face. He walked over to the bed, tucked the blanket around me, and said, "Lena, just get some rest. I'll go call and see where Kai is, so he can come take care of you."

I nodded in silence, my fingers clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. Only when his footsteps faded down the hall did I let my eyes close, forcing back the sting in them.

So, in his eyes, I wasn't even worth a few more minutes of his time.

Liam and I went way back—to when I was nine, in a city called Crescent City.

That summer, his parents' jobs required them to move, so their whole family ended up in our neighborhood.

On moving day, I was squatting in our yard, feeding my new pet rabbit some greens, watching movers haul furniture back and forth. A boy in a white T-shirt and jeans followed behind his mom, his eyes full of curiosity about the unfamiliar place.

"Hey," he said, walking right up to me with a grin full of straight white teeth. "I'm Liam Winters. We just moved in."

"I'm Lena Hart," I mumbled, suddenly shy, twisting the hem of my shirt.

And just like that, with one simple greeting, we became inseparable.

We flew kites on the neighborhood lawn, bought spicy chips and popsicles at the corner store, and did homework together in the fading afternoon light.

He was half a year older and always looked out for me like a big brother. If anyone picked on me, he was the first to step in. When I cried, he'd awkwardly hand me tissues and tell clumsy jokes to cheer me up.

Liam's parents got along great with mine. We had dinners together all the time.

His did, Thomas, was always cheerful and loved a good drink, while his mom, Sarah, was gentle and always made amazing food.

At every dinner, Thomas would pull me aside, saying what a good kid I was and telling Liam to learn from me.

As time went by, we grew up together—from clueless kids to awkward teens—and eventually, we both got into Silverwood College, becoming schoolmates there.

For fifteen years, we were close—so close that everyone around us assumed we'd end up together eventually. The real shift happened at last year's Christmas family dinner.

That day, the elders from both families gathered around the table, piled high with delicious dishes. The air was thick with the smell of food and booze. Everyone was in high spirits.

Thomas was pretty drunk, his cheeks bright red. He grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go, slurring as he rambled on.

"Lena," he slurred, "Liam—I've never seen him take an interest in anyone. But he's known you for fifteen years, and the way he looks at you—we parents notice these things—"

"Thomas, cut it out, you've had enough," Sarah said, quickly elbowing him.

Thomas grunted, the booze wearing off a bit, and swallowed the rest of his words, scratching his head awkwardly.

The whole table suddenly went quiet. You could hear every clink of fork.

With all eyes on me, my face flushed bright red and my heart was racing so fast it felt like it might jump right out of my chest.

Just then, Liam suddenly stood up. His ears were a little red, but his eyes were steady and determined as he looked right at me.

"Lena," he spoke. "I do have feelings for you. Will you be with me?"

I froze, staring into his serious eyes, my mind just went blank.

Fifteen years of memories flashed through my mind like a movie—all those happy times, all the ways he'd looked after me.

I opened my mouth, but all that came out was a tiny, breathless sound.

And somehow, that was enough. That was how we went from childhood friends to lovers.