chapter 6

I could not think. I just started crawling down the stairs, desperate to get away from Kieran. I could not stay there another second.

Zara was still putting on her act, crying crocodile tears.

"Kieran, don't worry about me. Go help Esme. I really don't want to come between you two."

I could no longer see them, only Kieran's voice echoing behind me.

"I've already done more than enough for her. Keep giving in and she'll just push further.

"You should take it easy instead. Don't let her stress you out and hurt the baby."

By the time I dragged myself out of the hospital, my hands were scraped raw and covered in blood.

I must have looked pathetic, but all I felt was relief. I could finally breathe again.

A week later, while I was at a beginner's dance class in Steenhout, getting used to the basics again, Kieran showed up, though I had already blocked his number.

His eyes were red as he rushed over and grabbed my hand.

"Esme, it was just a few words. Why did you have to run off this far?

"Come home with me. If you want to remarry, we can do it sooner…"

I yanked my hand away.

I hadn't confronted him before because I was afraid he'd never let it go.

I thought leaving would finally make him let go, but he still came all the way here to keep up the lie.

So there was no reason to hold back anymore.

"Remarry? Kieran, ten years ago when that accident happened, weren't you already planning to marry Zara?"

He froze, his face suddenly pale.

His voice trembled with panic.

"Esme, what are you talking about? Zara saved your life. I only treated her like family to thank her for that. When did I ever say I wanted to marry her?"

He was still lying.

I had a week to let it all sink in, so I stayed calm and asked, "Kieran, did Zara really save me?"

He didn't even hesitate.

"Of course she did. I can prove it, and so can the driver from that accident."

Bribing people had always been one of Kieran's tricks.

That day at the mall after our divorce, I thought he wouldn't actually do something as cruel as taking off my prosthetic just to please Zara.

I never expected he would go so far as to hire people to crash into me and create chaos just to make her happy.

When Zara bragged to me later, she told me everything. Those men worked for Kieran's company. He paid each of them thousands to keep quiet. Who knew how much he paid the driver back then?

Now, I only trusted what I remembered.

"But I remember. When the car lost control that day, Zara just froze.

"I took a step forward and shielded you.

"And you... you held on to her."

When I finished speaking, my voice calm and steady, Kieran's mask finally cracked. The facade he had kept for so long shattered in an instant.

He took a shaky step back, trying to pull himself together. After a long pause, he said something so ridiculous I almost laughed.

"Esme, didn't you lose those memories years ago?

"Maybe everything that's happened lately has been too much for you. You're confused, aren't you? Seeing things that aren't real?"

I actually laughed.

"Kieran, are you so addicted to lying that you can't stop?"

Once I got my memory back, all the lies he had told over the years started to crumble. None of them could hold up anymore.