Charlotte felt as if her blood was flowing in reverse. The ringing in her ears was so vivid, for a moment she wondered if she was just imagining olliit. /li/ol

    He said he’d fallen for her long ago.

    “Is that so?” she stared at a patch of sunlight on the wall, voice steady. “You im your heart was mine from the start, yet iyou /iforced me to y second to Tricia. You never trusted me. You’re the ione /iiwho /ipushed me away, made me feel utterly alone, weren’t you?”

    There was only silence behind her.

    With the same calm, emotionless expression, she continued, “You were never truly on my side. Even if you hesitated for a moment, your loyalty was always with Tricia.”

    “I sided with her because I thought I owed her. But after she came back from abroad, whatever I’d once felt for her was gone. And I realized–it was meeting you that made me lose control of my heart.”

    “All those years, I didn’t really want to shut you out. I just hated myself for betraying her, and so I kept my distance from you.”

    Charlotte grew dazed for a moment, unable to answer.

    He’d never shared what was on his mind back then. She’d never really known what Evander was thinking.

    “I admit it,” he said quietly, “I suppose I did fall for someone else. But after I lost my memories of the kidnapping, Tricia just happened to be there when I needed someone most.”

    “Before high school, I’d been at a private academy overseas. Because of my family, people–students, teachers–approached me with an agenda. I hated socializing. My mother brought me home, enrolled me at a public school, hid our family’s background so I could fit in. But I was awkward, withdrawn, and the other kids shunned me. Tricia was the only one who

    12-

    reached out.”

    Charlotte lowered her gaze, lips pressed together.

    After the kidnapping, she hadn’t seen Evander again. She knew nothing of what happened to him in the years that followed.

    The next time she recognized him, she was already a college freshman.

    “Charlotte.” Evander pulled her into his arms. i“/iOnly now do I realize–when I first saw you, that strange flutter in my chest wasn’t

    simply because of how you looked. We’d known each other before; my memory just buried it. But even seeing you again, I couldn’t help but be drawn to you.”

    He gave a soft, ruefulugh, then asked, “Do you think that’s fate?”

    Charlotte closed her eyes, pretending she’d fallen asleep.

    Evander waited for her answer, but none came. He knew she was only pretending, and though he tried to convince himself it didn’t sting, he couldn’t lie about the disappointment. But how could he me her?

    The next morning, Charlotte jolted awake from her sleep.

    She’d meant to feign sleepst night, but had actually drifted off for real.

    Turning, she nced at the man beside her. She sat up suddenly–why was he still here?

    Evander was still asleep. In fact, he was so deeply asleep, his breathing was barely audible.

    “Evander?” Charlotte nudged him.

    No response.

    A jolt of panic shot through her. She reached out tentatively to check if he was still breathing, and–thank God–he wasb. /b

    Evander’s brow furrowed before he slowly opened his eyes.

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    Charlotte’s hand, pulling away, caught his attention.

    “Looking at me like that–were you worried I’d died in my sleep?”

    She turned away. “Well, waking up next to a corpse would be pretty traumatizing, don’t you think?”

    Evander sat up. “I haven’t done anything I’d regret. Why should I be

    afraid?”

    She said nothing.

    Outside, muffled voices grew louder. Evander went to open the door, and a small crowd stumbled in, practically falling over themselves.

    At the front was Lilith.

    Natalie and two nurses trailed after, looking mortified. Natalie forced a smile. “Mr. Howard, Mrs. Howard, you’re awake…”

    Evander shot Lilith a nce, then turned to Natalie. “I can understand Lilith barging in, but you? I thought you had better sense.”

    The remark was clearly meant for Natalie.

    Natalie silently protested–this was all Lilith’s idea!

    “Evan, you can’t me us,” Lilith’said, grinning at Charlotte. “You’re the one who couldn’t stay put in your own hospital room.”