Chapter 8: The Life I Was Forced To Forget
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because my mind couldn’t process what I was hearing.
“I wasn’t poor?””
Victor watched me carefully.
“No.””
I looked at Ellis.
He didn’t deny it.
That scared me more than anything.
“What is he talking about?””
Ellis said nothing.
“Ellis.””
His eyes met mine.
And I saw guilt.
A deep, painful guilt.
“You knew.””
My voice cracked.
“You knew something about me.””
He swallowed.
“Yes.””
The answer felt like a betrayal all over again.
“What?””
He looked away.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
I stepped back.
“Protecting me?””
“You were hurt.””
“When?””
He hesitated.
“Before we met.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Because I remembered my life.
Or at least I thought I did.
A small apartment.
A normal job.
A simple childhood.
Nothing extraordinary.
Victor opened the folder.
“Look.””
Inside were old documents.
Birth records.
Financial statements.
A newspaper article.
I picked it up.
The headline made my hands shake.
LOCAL HEIRESS DISAPPEARS AFTER FAMILY SCANDAL.
My face stared back at me.
Except younger.
Different.
But unmistakably me.
“No.””
I whispered.
“This isn’t real.””
Victor sat down.
“You were twenty-four.””
I stared at the article.
“Your family owned a major investment company.””
My breathing became shallow.
“My family?””
“Yes.””
“And what happened?””
Victor looked at Ellis.
“Ask your husband.””
I turned.
Ellis looked like he wanted to disappear.
“You promised me.””
My voice was quiet.
“What?””
“You promised you would never tell me.””
Ellis closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“Tell me what happened.””
He was silent.
Then he spoke.
“Your father died.””
The words hit me.
“I know that.””
“No.””
Ellis shook his head.
“You don’t know everything.””
I stared at him.
“What are you saying?””
He stepped closer.
“Your father didn’t leave you nothing.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“He left you everything.””
The room spun.
I gripped the folder.
“Why don’t I remember?””
Ellis’s voice broke.
“Because you asked me to help you forget.””
I froze.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“After everything happened, you couldn’t handle it.””
“No.””
“You wanted a normal life.””
“That’s not true.””
“It is.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Ellis looked devastated.
“Sabrina, you came to me. You said you didn’t want money. You didn’t want power. You just wanted peace.””
I stared at him.
Because a small piece of me recognized something.
A feeling.
A fear.
A memory buried somewhere deep.
A hospital room.
Bright lights.
Someone crying.
My own voice saying:
“I don’t want to know anymore.””
I covered my mouth.
“No.””
Victor watched me.
“You remember.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
But I did.
Pieces.
Broken pieces.
My father’s office.
A fight.
A suitcase.
A document.
And Ellis.
Always Ellis.
My phone buzzed.
Noah.
Mom, you remembered, didn’t you?
My hands trembled.
How did he know?
I typed:
Where are you?
His reply came.
I’m sorry.
Another message.
I found Grandpa’s files.
Another.
The ones Dad hid.
Then:
Mom, there’s something you need to know.
I waited.
The message appeared.
Dad didn’t steal the money.
I froze.
My eyes moved to Ellis.
May you like
Another message arrived.
He stole your identity.
