NOVEL NEXT Chapter 695: Did the doctors lie to her?
Arwen blinked. "Isn't that too extreme? Won't you think of a way to coax me back?" she asked.
But he shook his head, looking serious. "I don't think I could coax you even if I wanted to."
She noted the way his eyes dimmed with fear. Gently, she reached to cup his face, her touch as warm as her voice. "Why? I don't think I am that difficult at all. As long as you try, I would be easily coaxed."
Although she assured him like that, he didn't seem to believe her. Like, there was something that held him back from believing her —a shadow, a memory, he couldn't shake off.
"You aren't easy to coax at all," he said quietly, his gaze darkening with remembrance he couldn't see to let go.
Arwen noticed the slight twitch in his brows, the way his entire expression tightened. Fear ran deep in him —not one, but quite several —all related to her. She could tell just by looking into his eyes. She wanted to know the root of it. She would give the world for it. But she knew, at this moment, even the world wouldn't be enough.
"Fine," she said softly, breaking the heavy silence. "If you say so, then I will give you a golden card. A card that will make you win me back —not one, not twice, but every single time. I promise."
His eyes flickered, and he looked at her.
She pursed her lips. "What? You don't believe in my promise?" Pouting faintly, she added, "I take promises and commitments seriously. So you better not doubt it."
"..." he remained quiet, his silence heavier than words.
Arwen pressed her lips into a thin line. "Since you don't believe me, I won't tell you," she huffed, then gently pushed him aside to get back on her feet.
But before she could move away, his hand caught her arm again.
She turned back, a little smile tugging at her lips. "What? You agree to believe now?"
"Tell me," he said at last, nodding with quiet determination.
Her smile widened. She turned to fully face him, leaning down until their faces were level. Her eyes shone with certainty. "Stick to me … always."
He arched a brow at her.
She nodded firmly, humming a little tune as though sealing a vow. "Mhm-hn~ As long as you stick to me, I will never leave you. No matter what happens."
His gaze deepened, his voice low and hoarse. "No matter what happens?"
"No matter what happens."
"What if you forget everything —me, and everything between us?" His words caught her off guard for a heartbeat.
But then she smiled tenderly and leaned closer, pressing her lips to his forehead. "I promised you, husband. Believe my promise. No matter what happens, as long as you stick to me, I will be with you."
She wasn't just promising it to him. She was sure of it. Because she trusted her heart too much when it came to him. She believed, no matter what trials life forced them through, her heart would always fall for him again.
Just like decades ago.
Even after she had forgotten completely.
"So, husband, even at worst, stick to me. Don't leave me." Like you did leave me back then.
Her lips curved up as sthey stared as they stared at each other for a long moment.
They were only snapped out from the moment when they heard someone clearing their throat at a distance.
Arwen was first to turn and look. Seeing Emyr standing, she gave him a small smile before pulling away from Aiden. "Good morning, Mr. Ethan."
"Good morning, Madam. I am sorry I didn't intend to disturb you and sir."
Arwen flicked her eyes to Aiden once before shaking her head. "You didn't disturb us. I was just on my way to leave." She then checked the time on her watch and turned to Aiden to say, "Alfred must be ready with the car. See you later in the evening."
Saying that, she didn't linger any longer. She left.
Aiden watched her, his gaze deep. He didn't know why he mentioned that earlier, but he couldn't help it. The dream last night just scared him too much.
He knew she didn't forget him intentionally. But her promise back then still scares him to death.
Although they were together now, he still couldn't help but feel insecure when it came to her.
"Sir?" Emyr called out when he saw Aiden staring blankly.
"How is the investigation going?" Aiden asked, not forgetting what he needed to find out.
Emyr also understood at once. "Sir, we are trying to track them. We will be able to do it soon since we have finally got a clue."
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Meanwhile, in the car, Arwen stared out of the window, thinking about Aiden. The more she thought, the past between them seemed simple, the more it felt complicated.
His hesitation, his fear —all seemed backed with a memory they shared which she had forgotten, but he had remembered.
And every time she sees him struggling with it alone, she couldn't help but blame herself helplessly.
Why did she have to forget him?
Why couldn't she remember him at all?
If she did, he wouldn't be struggling as much as he was now.
Only if she hadn't forgotten him …
She wanted to blame the accident that made her forget it all. Even the person who saved her from it.
How would he have felt when he would have seen her recognizing someone else?
Her fingers clenched, feeling the pain he might have felt at that moment.
But then something else made her frown when she thought about it.
Her accident.
Although she had gone through the surgery but the doctors never mentioned it to be as serious as one to make her forget a part of her memories.
Did the doctors lie to her?
Or, had she not at all lost her memory in that accident?
She didn't know why that thought stuck with her then. But when it did, she simply couldn't shrug it off, or ignore it anymore.