Chapter 4
He paused, like he was steeling himself. "Serena, these past few days, I've started to remember things... It's all messy, but I know I must've done a lot that hurt you. I'm really sorry."
His apology was genuine, with that fragile, lost vibe only someone with amnesia could have.
Mia nudged my foot under the table, a silent warning to be careful.
"It's all in the past," I replied curtly. "What matters now is that you focus on your treatment and get better."
"I know," Lucas nodded, but he stayed put.
He hesitated, then took out a small, elegant velvet box from his pocket, set it on the table, and slid it toward me.
Mia and I were both stunned.
"What's this?" I stared at the box, a sense of dread rising in my chest.
"I found it while going through some old stuff," Lucas said, his gaze drifting out the window before settling back on the box, a mix of nostalgia and confusion in his eyes.
"I don't remember when I bought it, or why. But there's an engraving inside—your initials and a date. I think... I must've meant to give it to you."
He opened the box.
On the black velvet lining, a ring rested, silent and unassuming.
It wasn't the classic diamond ring I wore now. This was a distinctive platinum ring, set with a circle of tiny sapphires, with a small but brilliantly sparkling diamond at the center.
The ring had a youthful vibe, carrying a hint of that college-days romance.
Just as expected, the inside was engraved with tiny initials—"SC & LC"—and a date, marking one of those early anniversaries from years ago, right after we started dating.
My breath hitched.
This ring was completely new to me; I'd never seen it before.
Back when we were together, Lucas was never big on romance or making a fuss about anniversaries, buying a ring way ahead of time? That just wasn't him.
Totally not his style back then.
Was this just another glitch in his memories? But the ring was right there, real as could be.
Mia sucked in a breath, looking from the ring to me, her expression saying loud and clear, "Classic drama, I've seen this before."
Lucas looked at my conflicted expression, hope and anxiety mingling in his eyes. "Serena, doesn't this prove...that at least at some point, I genuinely thought about our future? That I'm not just the person you remember me as?"
I gripped my cup tighter; the chill kept me steady.
"Lucas," I said, carefully enunciating each word as I met his gaze. "Whatever this ring means, it's all in the past. I have my own life now, my own choices. I'm not the one who should keep this ring."
I gently pushed the box back toward him.
The hope in Lucas's eyes slowly faded away.
He closed the box in silence, holding it tight in his palm, his knuckles white with tension.
"I understand," Lucas said, his voice dry. "Sorry to have bothered you."
He stood up and left, his figure seeming lonelier than ever in the dim light.
"Oh, my god..." As soon as Lucas left, Mia grabbed my arm.
"What is this, amnesia romance plus a lost love token side quest? This is straight out of a soap opera! Serena, don't let yourself get swayed! Who knows if he just bought that ring to pull off some tragic act?" she said.
I shook my head, my thoughts all tangled up.
"It doesn't feel like he's acting. That date...it's really from when we first started dating. And the style is definitely old."
But I really had zero recollection of it.
It had felt too strange, like reading a book whose ending was already known, only to suddenly come across an extra page that had never been read before—a chapter with an entirely different plot.
"No way, you gotta tell Derek about this," Mia said, getting all serious.
"Keeping it from him is just asking for trouble. You guys are about to get married. Trust matters most," she added.
I knew she was right.
But how was I supposed to say it? Tell Derek that Lucas showed up with some old ring, maybe trying to prove he once really cared? Wouldn't that just mess with him right before the wedding?
Just as I was feeling all tangled up, my phone buzzed.
It was a message from Derek: [Surgery's done, everything went great. Just saw your missed call. How'd the dress fitting go? My bride is definitely the most beautiful in the world. Still out? I'll come pick you up.]
Seeing his message pop up on the screen, a mix of warmth and guilt hit me all at once.
I texted back: [I'm at the Misty Lounge with Serena. There's something...I need to talk to you about. Come over?]
After sending it, I kept staring at the spot where the velvet box used to sit, my chest feeling weighed down.
Derek showed up in no time.
When he walked into the Misty Lounge, he still carried that faint, clean scent from the hospital. There was a hint of exhaustion in his eyes, but the moment he saw me, his gaze softened.