Chapter Eighteen

Rose

Emmet sighs deeply, turning to look at anything but me before sitting down on the bed, letting me watch him being in his thoughts, ''Who is he?'' I ask, this time—my voice sounds like I've had enough.

''Who is he?!'' I ask again, louder than before which causes him to look up at me; clenching his jaw in respond. My heart continues to beat fast, making me sit down on the nearest chair as I run my fingers through my hair, carelessly.

The both of us keep quiet, not a single sound manage to disturb our own thoughts yet I can't take my eyes off of Emmet—wanting to watch his every movement, his every gesture. For once, I don't care what his parents might think at the moment because I can't deal of living with lies especially with the man I've been with for a year.

''I met him a year ago before you started going to law school. He asked me to help him—more like a favour. He also said that he would pay me if I do as told, if I protect you.'' He says before looking up at me, straight into my blue eyes, ''That's when I met you,''

I try to hold back the tears from forming, knowing how I've been a fool for loving him. I wait for him to continue, ''You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, I can't help but be more than friends. You took my breath away, Rose. Months after knowing you, I—I started to fall for you.'' He mutters under his breath.

''Do you even love me?'' I finally speak, after minutes of keeping quiet.

He looks at me once more, this time his lips are pressed into a thin line—showing signs how he's not uttering a single word. I nod my head, letting a few tears fall down my cheek before I start to wipe them away, ''Okay, Emmet. I get it now, you were paid to know me—your feelings for me aren't real, you're just pretending to be my boyfriend. I saw your text with Elia, he said not to make me fall in love with you and that the agreement is over.'' I say.

''It's not like that,''

I stand up, taking my suitcase from under the bed before seeing him walking towards me, trying to stop me from packing my clothes and my stuff but I refuse, ''When you said you were going out to meet Henry, is it even Henry?'' I ask, looking straight into his eyes.

He breathes out, clenching his jaw before looking down on the ground.

''Fuck you, Emmet.'' I say, quickly picking up my suitcase and pulling it out of the bedroom once I've packed everything I need—including my handphone and my purse. When I step out of the room, I see both of his parents look at me in surprise but I just look away and walk straight towards the front door.

I let out a breath of relief once I step out of the apartment before realising that I'm actually bursting into tears—without anything holding me back; not even my will. I continue to walk down the road, wiping away the tears from blocking my sight but every time I wipe them away, they keep on coming back.

After knowing that I'm far from the apartment, I put my suitcase down before sitting on it and cupping my own face, continuing to let tears out. My heart is aching so much that I can barely feel the touch of reality anymore; it feels like I'm going through different types of pain at the same time yet it's only a heartbreak.

I feel someone tucking a strand of hair behind my ear which causes me to look up, seeing the familiar brown eyes looking straight at me with concern all over his face. My breathing hitches, not expecting to see Elia, ''What do you want?'' I ask, pushing his hand away.

''I want to explain,'' He replies.

I stand up, pulling my suitcase as I continue to wipe my tears away before walking down the road, leaving him behind. As I continue to walk, I hear him trailing behind me, ''Rose, you don't understand. You don't remember. Let me explain,'' He says, making me stop walking.

Turning around to face him, I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, ''What do you mean that I don't remember? You know what, Elia. I don't understand, you're right. I don't know what's the truth or anything anymore. He said, you paid him to protect me? From what?'' I shake my head, ''Who are you?''

Then, all of a sudden, memories come rushing in—memories of Elia and I being in a vehicle while he drives down the road and we were laughing, as if enjoying the moment. I immediately regain my consciousness before taking a few steps back.

''A year ago, I sent you for a persuasion therapy after injecting you with some drugs to make you unconscious. The therapist managed to replace your memories of me to something different, making you forget. Then, you started to wake up at the hospital, only one thing in your head, that you had an accident and your parents died while you survived.'' He says and I realise that what he's saying is actually true—but he could be lying.

''It's just a coincident that he has the same brown hair and eyes as me. It's also a coincidence that his name starts with the letter, E. I didn't know what else I can do to push you away, Rose. I didn't want to hurt your feelings and making you forget was the only option. You have no one, I thought that I could trust Emmet. He did protect you but I didn't expect you to fall for him,'' He adds.

''You're stupid then. Why on earth would you let a man and woman be together and expect them to just stay friends or acquaintances? This is not Barbie, Elia.'' I reply, rolling my eyes in annoyance.

He sighs, taking a few steps towards me, ''While you were living the normal life, I was suffering. You don't remember the danger that we've been through together because that kind of danger is what I want you to stay away from. You deserve better, I said that before.'' He says.

I look up into his eyes, realising how I actually know him too well. With every word he speaks, I manage to trust him easily—while I didn't even bother listening more to Emmet's explanation.

''Who are you?''

''Elia Dominic Morello,'' He replies. ''I met you a year ago, in a nightclub. You were stunningly beautiful that you manage to catch my attention just by a single glance. I don't really want to go into details but you were a prostitute. I paid one million dollars to set you free, to make it seemed like you were mine.''

A prostitute? I thought.

''I like you, though.'' He mutters, making me chuckle.

Suddenly, my eyes start to widen as another wave of memories come rushing in my mind—making me take a few steps back. My eyebrows furrow in confusion, surprised at the fact that my life isn't what I expect them to be. It's faint but I manage to remember well; slowly even.

I stop looking around as I see an unknown man looking at me. His brown eyes are as dark as it could be and his face is nicely sculpted. My eyes continue to eye his entire face—realising how amazingly beautiful he is. How he has a strong jaw and perfectly shaped lips. He's too beautiful to be human; he seems like an angel. An angel that is out of place.

He continues to look at me and I do the same. To my surprise, he says something to the man near him before standing up and making his way towards me. He won't stop looking at me and I can't stop looking at him either. My cheeks heat up as soon as I see him curving his lips into a small smile—revealing his dimples.

Then it comes rushing in,

Elia smiles as he looks down at the ground before lifting his head up, looking straight at me. ''No. I want her.'' He points at me—which causes my eyes to widen in surprise but I stay put. It feels as if the whole world has stopped moving. Gonzales turns to look at me but I continue to look at Elia. Who does he think he is? He plans on wanting me? I'm not an object. Oh note the sarcasm. Look where I am and look what's holding me back.

One by one.

Elia keeps quiet for a second or two before clenching his jaw and starts to speak once more, ''How much?'' He asks and I start to feel a little pain in my chest.

''One million.'' Gonzales says out of nowhere.

When I started to run away.

''Stop!'' I hear someone shouts from behind and I turn around to see that it was the previous man from before—the man that Elia talked to.

Groaning, I continue to run; making a sharp turn before bumping my arm into the wall—making me groan harder. Fuck the dirty streets, I just need to get the hell out of here. I finally agree with myself for once as I look around—seeing that there's an open street up front. This might be my only chance of escaping! I have to act quick.

As the figure starts to get closer, I fasten my steps. I immediately stop running as I see someone standing a few feet away from me. Due to the dim lights, I can barely see his face but after looking closely, images of him comes flowing by. Of course, he would be here. Of course. Exhaling, I start to take a few steps back but if I do so, I will end up bumping into one of his men but if I just stand here, he'll get me.

When he caught me.

I look up and see him looking down at me—even in the dark, I manage to see the warmness of his eyes. He uses the back of his hand to run it smoothly on my cheek; making me gulp unknowingly. Our eyes aren't looking away, not even a single blink could interrupt us. He leans in and I feel his lips brushing against my cheek, making me hold in my breath.

His lips travel to my earlobe, ''I'm sorry, mio amore.'' He whispers, softly.

I blink a few times, looking back up at Elia—seeing that he has his eyebrows furrow while he eyes me but the memories won't stop rushing in, as if I can't stop myself as I continue to remember. This is what I want, right? To remember. I thought.

His letter.

Mio Amore,

I'm sorry that I didn't have the chance to say this in person. What happened last night, I truly regret it. It wasn't thoughtful of me to inject drugs into your system but I had to calm you down and because of that, I would like to apologise.

I'll see you soon, Rose.

Sincerely,

Elia

When we actually met face to face for a horse ride.

Once I've reached the stable, I push open the wooden door and I look around to see horses. Four horses. My lips curve up into a smile as I walk towards each one of them and I stop as I see one that caught my attention—a black beauty. I run my hand on her face and she nickers; pleasantly accepting my touch.

''You're really beautiful.'' I mutter towards her and look straight into her eyes; seeing how lively they are.

I look at the other horses and I see that they are all as beautiful as the black beauty. They look like they are well taken care of. I've never had the chance to be near anything like this—my previous was a trap. It was as if I was living in a box. An empty box.

''She really is.'' I hear a familiar voice says from behind and I turn around to see Elia leaning his side against the wooden door. My hand drops down to my side at the sight of him—isn't he supposed to be back in a week?

When his hands were on my waist.

He looks up and our eyes meet instantly. Due to the sunlight, his eyes seem lighter than they were before. It feels like the whole world is silencing as it's only Elia and I. My heart starts to beat faster at our closeness—but I can't seem to move or look away. I blink a few times, ''Huh?'' I ask, didn't completely hear him previously.

''You okay?'' He asks, again.

Nodding my head, I answer, ''Yeah.'' And he immediately grabs me by the waist which causes me to yelp as soon as he picks me up and place me on the horse. My eyes widen—not really expecting him to lift me up but hey, at least I'm up. I look at him once more and see him eyeing my entire posture.

When we fell onto the ground caused by the black beauty itself.

Slowly, both of us stops laughing and I peek through my hands to see him looking straight at me. He seems to be out of breath and so am I. We both continue to stare at each other's eyes—which we've been doing quite a lot. I must say, that.

Elia pushes a few strands of hair on my face slowly and his thumb stops on my cheek; as he leans in. I expect what is going to happen next but I don't feel like stopping him. It might be a sudden act, a sudden kiss but it feels like I wanted to be kissed by him, especially now. For some reason, I don't mind falling on the ground just so that we could share a kiss.

What the hell has gotten into me.

The tip of his noses touches mine as he tilt his head to the side but before his lips could even brush mine, I feel drops of water on my forehead which causes him to back away slightly.

When he kissed my, cheek.

He leans in and to my surprise, kisses me on the cheek. I stay still while our face are inches from one another. Then, I hurry myself towards my room, not even glancing back at him.

''Wow, okay—I'm okay,'' I mutter under my breath, looking away from Elia before falling onto the ground and controlling my breaths. Elia crouches, eyeing my face up close as my heart continues to beat at an unexpected pace.

Then, another memory comes rushing in.