Her face streaked with tears, her voice barely audible through sobs, "I'm sorry... forgive me for making this choice... I'm truly sorry..."
Jasper's face lost all color, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his hand clenching tightly before he slammed his fist into the steering wheel.
The force shook the car, and he looked at her in agony, his gaze finally landing on her white dress, "Is this... something he bought you?"
"It's not, he..."
Before Rachel could explain, his sharp voice cut through the car: "Rachel, don't forget. You're my fiancée. How could you... with him?" Jasper's voice trembled, unable to utter the words.
Tears like pearls tumbled from Rachel's eyes; she'd never seen Jasper so furious.
Jasper grabbed her dress collar, gritting his teeth. "Tell me, how am I not enough for you? Why do you still want to be with him?"
Jasper mistakenly thought she went to Kingsly for their past relationship. She wanted to explain it, but his mother's words echoed in her ears.
"Rachel, don't let Jasper sell Silverstone; it's all our family has left..."
The damage to Jasper was done; if she had explained it now, her visit to Kingsly would have been pointless... She knew if Jasper understood she didn't want him to sell Silverstone, he'd never let her go.
Having made this decision, she couldn't leave herself an escape. Neither her past nor present self deserved to stay with Jasper, who was so good, but she'd never given him anything.
"I can't forget him... I'm sorry, Jasper... I've tried to forget, but I can't remove him from my heart... I've thought of him constantly, hoping to meet him, hoping he'd come for me, forgetting I already had you..." She spoke mechanically, words not from the heart, yet they felt true.
Jasper closed his eyes in pain, "So, my doubts were right; you never forgot him."
"I don't want to lie to you anymore, Jasper..."
Let all the pain Jasper feels now fall upon me, the liar... She didn't want to hurt the best man in her life this way...
Jasper slowly released her, suddenly laughing coldly, the sound echoing in the cramped car.
Sitting on a bench by the street, Rachel Foster's mind replayed the moment Jasper Reed drove away, his face devoid of emotion. She had never seen him so cold, not even glancing back as he sped off into the distance.
Her eyes were red from crying, and she had long shed tears. Eventually, in her daze, she found herself here.
Lifting her gaze, she looked across at the Silverstone Holdings building, her heart aching as if cut by a knife. Six years, nearly two thousand days, of walking in and out of that building with Jasper.
All those memories seemed to end at this very moment.
Her phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Sniffing back tears, she composed herself and retrieved her phone from her bag.
It was Noah calling.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear.
"Sis."
"Yes."
"Mr. Scott held a meeting about the 'Westwood Heights' project today but didn't mention the losses. He only said I should continue with the renovations. None of the directors raised any objections... It's like the matter has been dropped."
Having anticipated this outcome, Rachel felt no joy, only relief, "That's good news."
"Sis, why isn't Mr. Scott holding me accountable? Did Jasper help?"
The mention of Jasper tugged at Rachel's heart. "Noah, Jasper, and I broke up."
"What? How?"
Rachel shook her head, "I'll explain later..."
"Is it because of my situation?"
"No, it's my own issue." She never let her brother know she made a deal with the devil.
"Then who helped me..."
"I'll tell you later." Her mood was too foul to elaborate now.
"Alright, but you sound upset... Can we meet?"
"Let's meet later. Just ensure you do well at Titans Group and don't make any more mistakes." She could help once, but not again.
"Sis, I'm really worried... I can't be at ease without seeing you."
Unable to refuse Noah's insistence, Rachel agreed to meet him for dinner.
"You don't look well, Sis. Eat more!" Noah urged after ordering.
Kingsly Scott had invited her to dinner that evening, but she ignored Helen's call. Right now, Kingsly was the last person she wanted to see.
Not wanting her brother to worry, Rachel smiled, "You, too, eat more. You've lost weight recently."
The siblings were about to discuss Rachel's breakup with Jasper when a familiar voice interrupted, "Dining with Noah here?"
A tall figure approached, and Rachel knew that voice all too well.
Kingsly casually draped an arm over Rachel's chair, a bold, possessive gesture as if declaring to everyone that she was his.
Rachel froze, not expecting to see Kingsly nor that he'd approach her in front of her brother.
Noah stood, respectfully greeting him, "Mr. Scott."
Kingsly ignored Noah's greeting, speaking to Rachel, "I'll pick you up later."
Rachel's face flushed with embarrassment, caught in Kingsly's public display of familiarity.
No one noticed Noah's peculiar expression as he observed Kingsly's closeness with Rachel.
Rachel swallowed her pride and said, "Mr. Scott, if you don't mind, I'd like a quiet meal with my brother."
Kingsly smiled nonchalantly, "Of course, this is my restaurant. The meal's on me, enjoy."
"Your restaurant?" Rachel stood in shock. When did this Italian restaurant become his? Titans Group has yet to venture into dining.
Noah was equally surprised.
Kingsly checked his watch, smiling casually, "I bought it ten minutes ago."
Standing behind Kingsly, Helen adjusted her glasses. She added, "The CEO has acquired all Pure Taste Group's hotels and restaurants."
"Noah, I think I'd like to dine elsewhere. Let's go," Rachel said urgently, pulling Noah's hand.
Noah hesitated, not wanting to offend Kingsly, "But Mr. Scott..."
"Seems Noah likes the food here," Kingsly whispered softly, pressing Rachel back into her chair.
Resigned, Rachel sat down, avoiding her brother's gaze on Kingsly's hand on her shoulder.
Seeing through her thoughts, Kingsly smiled.
"Make yourself at home," Kingsly said softly, as if soothing a lover, before turning to leave as quickly as he'd arrived, Helen following closely.
Noah was stunned.
Rachel's frustration was evident; she knew Kingsly had come deliberately to punish her for refusing dinner with him.
"Sis, you and Mr. Scott..."
Her brother's hesitant question brought her back.
"Did you ask Mr. Scott for help?" Noah asked again.
"Uh..." Rachel bit her lip, struggling to answer.
"Sis..." Though pleased with the outcome, Noah feigned surprise, "Did you break up with Jasper because of Mr. Scott?"
Rachel struggled internally before admitting, "Yes, he helped."
Noah's eyes widened.
"So the rumors are true. I got into Titans Group because of you and Mr. Scott..."
Rachel quickly interrupted, "It's not what you think... we only got together recently."
"So you broke up with Jasper for Mr. Scott?"
Rachel felt guilty, pretending to calm down as she sipped water, "Noah, I might have mentioned an old boyfriend when you were young."
"That was Mr. Scott?"
Rachel nodded, "Back then, you and Diana were young, so I didn't say much... but we loved each other very much."
"Then why did you break up?"
Her mind drifted to their breakup, still tinged with heartache.
"Maybe we were immature, breaking up over something small." She'd never tell her siblings she left Kingsly for them.
Noah watched her expressions, seeing her loss and sadness. He thought, Sister, when will you tell us you gave up your love for us?
Noah asked urgently, "So, seeing Mr. Scott again rekindled your love?"
Rachel shook her head, "No..." she said truthfully, "I've been devoted to Jasper, never fantasizing about him, especially since he's married to a successful career. We can never be."
"Nothing's impossible... if you still have feelings, you can overcome anything," Noah insisted.
Rachel forced a smile. "Noah, you're too naive. He's already with someone he loves, and even if he were single, we couldn't be together."
"Why?"
"Because he forgot me long ago. He's interested in me not for past feelings, just for conquest."
Noah frowned, "Are you sure he forgot you?"
"I searched on Google. Six years ago, he had a car accident, brain surgery, temporary amnesia... I think after recovering, he forgot I existed."
"Even with an accident, you can't be sure he forgot. Maybe he doesn't mention the past because of his wife."
Rachel smiled sadly. "No... if he remembered me, he'd want to kick me to the curb."
"Why?"
Rachel paused before answering, "We're impossible."
"Then why choose him over Jasper?"
Rachel looked seriously at Noah. "Because of love. Jasper feels like family, always caring and supporting me. I need and care for him, like a sister to a brother, not as a couple. But with Kingsly, it's a romantic longing. Even if he has a wife and forgot me, being near him satisfies me."
Noah knew she was hiding the truth, using past feelings to cover her deal for his sake.
He knew her character. If she knew Kingsly was happy, she'd silently bless and never disrupt him, even if she still loved him.
That's why Noah created a crisis, forcing her to seek Kingsly, hoping she'd find love, not stay with someone she didn't love out of obligation.
"Sister, you're so good, fate won't mistreat you... One day, Mr. Scott will remember and choose you over his wife," Noah voiced his true wish, following her narrative.
Rachel dismissed it with a smile, "I hope he never remembers me, living happily as he is."
...
After dinner, they left the restaurant.
Unexpectedly, Kingsly's driver waited outside.
The driver bowed, "Miss Foster, Mr. Scott is waiting for you at the hotel."
Hesitant, Noah said, "Sister, Mr. Scott is waiting; you should go. I'll take a taxi home."
Having been "honest" with Noah, Rachel tried to hide her reluctance.
Noah hugged her, then hailed a taxi.
Rachel boarded the car, her face devoid of smiles.
Back at the hotel, a hand pulled her into a corner as she opened the door.
"Didn't we plan dinner together? Why didn't you answer Helen's call?" Kingsly held her, stopping her struggle, whispering by her ear.
She struggled briefly before calming, looking blankly ahead, "I know from now on, I must follow your rules, be at your beck and call until you tire of me... I'm sorry."
From today, she'd be obedient, hoping her lack of personality would bore him quickly.
He turned her around, his eyes on her expressionless face. "I was just teasing; there's no need to apologize seriously," he said.
She looked at his handsome face, "Noah told me your company isn't troubling him... thank you."
His smile returned, and he naturally held her as they walked to the window. "How's the night view?"
She glanced outside, nodding, "Beautiful."
He embraced her from behind, resting his head on her shoulder, looking out, his voice low, "See that room across with flashing lights?"
"Mm?" She looked, quickly spotting it. "It's just lights flashing, what's special?"
"Do you like the house's location?"
She frowned, answering thoughtfully, "Facing south, in the city's prime spot, on a high floor, quiet, overlooking landmarks, the night view is stunning... anyone would like it."
He placed something cold in her hand.
Opening her hand, she found a metal key with a keychain and turned to him in shock. "This..."
"That's the key to the house across; I bought it; you'll live there."
Rachel froze, "You... bought it for me?"
He smiled, grabbing his jacket. "I have an appointment tonight. You can check out the place. It's furnished. Let me know if you don't like it."
She still needed to process it.
With his hand on the door, he turned back, smiling. "I might be back late. Wait for me, and don't sleep first."
Snapped from her thoughts, his words made her blush.
After a while, she stood by the window, holding the key, looking across.
Was he always this generous with women? She'd just spent a night with him, and he gave her a house, such an expensive gift.
In his world, everything seemed solvable with money.
Lacking interest in seeing the house, she hugged a pillow and sat idly on the sofa, glancing around.
Suddenly, a gold-edged pen on the table caught her eye.
She got up, picked up the pen, and saw the initial "R" she had engraved.
She gasped.
It was the birthday gift she gave him at twenty.
Why did he still have this pen? Hadn't he forgotten their past?
The pen initially lacked the gold edge, which was clearly repaired and covered previous damage.
Wait...
Why keep the pen if the memory is gone? If it was maintained by accident, why repair it instead of discarding it?
Could it be... Rachel's eyes widened in shock.
He had yet to lose his memory?