Chapter 10
Arthur didn’t resist Bella‘ s presence. The sleepless nights over Lilly‘ s disappearance, coupled with his erratic. appetite, had left him exhausted. Having Bella–a gentle, understanding woman–by his side felt like a balm to his restless heart. She brought a calmness he hadn’t realized he desperately needed.
That evening, Bella prepared an elaborate dinner at Arthur‘ s villa. The table was laden with delicacies and she even opened an expensive bottle of red wine. Arthur, already weighed down by his worries, couldn’t resist her gentle coaxing. He drank more than he should have, trying to drown his thoughts.
As the night wore on, his senses dulled. He vaguely remembered being helped upstairs, his steps unsteady. But then, the warmth of a body against his jarred him awake. Startled, he sat up sharply, his heart
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pounding. The sight before him sobered him instantly–Bella, completely bare, gazing at him with a mix of vulnerability and longing.
“Arthur… you‘ ve loved me for so many years,” she whispered. “Don‘ t you want. me?”
Fury surged through him. Without. hesitation, he grabbed a blanket and threw it over her trembling form. “Get out!” he roared, his voice cold and cutting. “I don’t want this to happen again.”
The humiliation in her eyes was evident, but Arthur didn’t care. He stormed out of the room, the air thick with anger and disappointment. For days after, he refused. to see her. He immersed himself in work and doubled his efforts to search for Lilly, desperate to regain control of his unraveling life.
***
Three months later, Birmingham’s elite
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buzzed with rumors of a mysterious new player in the business world: Meyer Group. The company seemed to emerge out of nowhere, swiftly shaking up the capital‘ s established hierarchy. In a matter of weeks, Meyer Group absorbed several prominent. businesses, introduced powerful foreign investments and surpassed even the four great families in influence.
At the center of this meteoric rise were two enigmatic figures. The first was Daniel, the American chairman of Meyer Group. The second was Sheren Meyer, Daniel‘ s fiancée and the company’s president. Gossip swirled that Daniel had named the group after her as a testament to his devotion. His open adoration earned him comparisons to Arthur, who had once held the title of the most protective husband–to- be in Birmingham. Now, with Lilly gone, Daniel had become the new “wife
protector.”
Arthur had heard enough whispers about the pair to pique his curiosity. At a lavish
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business reception, he finally had the opportunity to meet the legends face–to- face.
The moment I saw Arthur enter the reception hall, my heart clenched involuntarily. He walked in confidently, Bella on his arm, their figures striking against the glittering backdrop.
He had no idea that Sheren, the poised and unrecognizable woman before him, was me–Lilly, the woman who had vanished three months ago. I had changed everything about myself, from my name to my face, through meticulous planning and plastic surgery. Still, the sight of him brought back a flood of memories I thought I had buried.
As he and Bella made their way closer, I steadied my nerves, schooling my features. into a mask of calm. Daniel, ever
composed, stood beside me with a small smile, his handsome mixed–race features
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effortlessly commanding attention.
Arthur extended a hand toward Daniel, his expression neutral but intrigued. “Mr. Daniel,” he said, lifting his wine glass.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you. I’m Arthur–pleased to finally meet you.”
Daniel arched a brow, his deep–set eyes gleaming with polite amusement. The scart that had once marred his face was gone, replaced by flawless, strikingly attractive features. “Mr. Arthur, the pleasure is mine,” Daniel replied smoothly. “Your reputation precedes you–a young talent of rare caliber. They say seeing is believing and now I understand why.”
The men exchanged a few cordial words before Arthur’s gaze shifted to me. His sharp eyes locked onto my face and for a moment, the room seemed to freeze. I felt my pulse quicken, a flicker of unease darting through me. Did he recognize me? Was there something I’d overlooked?
I forced a serene smile, the practiced
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expression of Sheren. “Mr. Arthur, is something the matter?” I asked lightly.
“If you keep staring at me like that, your companion might get jealous.”
His breath hitched and he quickly averted his gaze, an awkward smile tugging at his lips. “I apologize,” he said, his voice low and strained. “You must be Ms. Sheren. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just… you remind me so much of someone I used to
know.
I felt the faintest tremor run through me but kept my composure. “Oh?” I tilted my head slightly, feigning curiosity. “I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It is,” he admitted, though his voice carried a tinge of sorrow. He downed the rest of his drink, his hands tightening around the glass as if grappling with a memory that refused to fade.
As the evening progressed, I couldn’t shake the feeling of his eyes following me, his presence a constant weight on my
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mind. Little did he know, the woman he mourned was standing right in front of him -hidden in plain sight, wearing a new name and a carefully crafted identity.
