Chapter 7

Katie could tell Scott wasn't himself and asked, "Hey Scott, what's up? You look kind of down. Is it because you're worried about Victoria?"

Suddenly, Victoria's phone lit up. She glanced at it and quickly turned it off, looking flustered.

For just a split second, Scott caught a glimpse of the message. It was from the doctor treating Katie's amnesia, and it simply read: [1 million dollars.]

He figured it must be something about helping Katie get her memory back.

Scott didn't think much of it.

He didn't let the sudden interruption get to him and spoke softly to Katie. "Katie, I know you've always believed Victoria caused that car accident on purpose, that she wanted to kill you so she could end up with me. But you were lucky. You didn't die, you just ended up with amnesia.

"Later, we realized that whenever Victoria got hurt or embarrassed, it could trigger your memories. So we came up with all kinds of ways to trick her, get revenge on her, and play pranks on her, all to help jog your memory.

"Over the years, we've really put Victoria through a lot just to help you get your memory back. Even if she really did try to kill you back then, she's suffered enough. That's more than enough punishment.

"Now that your memory's almost back, so let's stop messing with Victoria from now on."

Katie bit her lip and asked, "Scott, are you actually feeling bad for her?"

Scott just stayed quiet.

Katie's eyes welled up with tears, her voice shaky with panic. "Scott, do you not love me anymore? Did you fall for her?"

Scott felt totally lost. He just didn't know how to answer Katie.

'Did I ever love Victoria? Yeah, I did. Back in the day, I was sure of it,' Scott thought.

But after that mudslide, when Katie risked everything to save me, and Victoria just ditched me and jetted off overseas like she didn't care if I lived or died...

That was when the hate started to build.

So when it came to helping Katie recover her memories, I was always the first to step up.

I figured if I made Victoria suffer, maybe I could finally get rid of all the bitterness I felt toward her.

'But now? Back then, when Katie risked her life to save me... who did I really love?' Scott wondered to himself.

Scott muttered under his breath, "I just don't want to hurt her anymore."

Katie felt uneasy. She'd hoped that this time, Scott would finally see Victoria at her most pathetic, get completely turned off by her, and shut down any chance of them ever happening.

But now, things were heading in the exact opposite direction. It looked like Scott was actually starting to sympathize with Victoria.

Katie was freaking out inside. It felt like Scott was drifting further and further away from her.

She had to marry Scott as soon as possible, before something unexpected happened and ruined everything.

Katie grabbed Scott's hand, her voice trembling as she sobbed, "Scott, please don't leave me, okay? Don't fall for Victoria, alright? I need you.

"I remembered everything today. It all came back to me. I even remember that before I lost my memory, you said you wanted to marry me. Do you still mean it?"

Scott let out a sigh. "Yeah, try to get some sleep. I've still got some work I need to finish up, so I should get to it."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Katie watched Scott walk away, her gaze instantly turning venomous.

She couldn't figure out what kind of schemes Victoria had pulled, but somehow, she'd managed to get Scott so caught up with her.

Katie remembered her college days. She was the queen bee, the girl every guy wanted. They were practically lining up, tripping over themselves just to get on her good side.

But the second she saw Scott, she was done for. It was instant. She fell head over heels.

She put herself out there, confessed her feelings to him more than once, but Scott just acted like he couldn't care less.

Back then, Scott only had eyes for Victoria. She was all he ever thought about.

If it hadn't been for that freak mudslide on the mountain, and if she hadn't, by sheer luck, ended up taking credit for saving Scott's life when someone else had anonymously donated blood, she never would've become the person Scott owed everything to.

She'd schemed and fought so hard to steal Scott away; there's no way she'd ever let him go, not in a million years.

But Victoria had always been the biggest roadblock between her and Scott. If Katie wanted to get rid of Victoria for good, the only way was to get rid of her.

So Katie had the wolves ready and waiting. Even if Scott didn't want any part of it, she still made him send Victoria off to that godforsaken island, wolves and all.

No way Victoria was lucky enough to make it out alive with those wolves on the loose.

Once Victoria was dead, she and Scott could finally be together, forever, no more obstacles.

With that thought, Katie finally relaxed. She smiled, put on her sleep mask, and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Truth is, Scott didn't have any work left to do.

He just used that as an excuse to leave. He needed to clear his head.

Scott had no idea how he was going to face Victoria tomorrow.

He'd told her he was just going to the shore to grab some fireworks he'd already prepared.

It should've only taken about an hour and a half round trip, but he'd ended up being gone all night.