3

Her whole body quivered the moment she stepped out the car. Oddly enough, it wasn't due to the weather, but rather an outcome of her jumbled thoughts running through her mind. The indescribable emotions she experienced were impossible for her to put into words.

"Careful, lean on me," Adrian muttered, helping her, his hand unconsciously moving to her waist while with the other he positioned her on the wheelchair the driver pulled out from the back of the car. Amara swallowed feeling dryness in her throat, hands still hadn't stopped shaking as she settled in the chair.

“Call Rhys.” She heard Adrian talking to the guard as the latter nodded and disappeared into the house. Now that she was in the open air, the confined air of the car had been replaced with nature's freshness. Her eyes were cautious yet curious as she innocently looked around herself, this was a large ground where the car was parked. Her curious eyes caught the large pool on the left side of the gigantic house, on the side of the pool she could see grass lying with captivating colourful flowers surrounding the area. Looking at the flowers gave her a sense of déjà-vu, but she couldn't process what this memory was about.

Adrian followed her gaze.

He stood just behind her, but he could still feel her Bambi curious eyes looking around. He wondered if bringing her to his brother’s mansion was the right decision or not, but then he remembered all the scars on her body and the reports. He did right.

There was no place safer than Rhys De Luca’s mansion. For the time being, Adrian knew he wanted to investigate the situation further, he needed to keep Amara safe so that she wouldn’t get hurt again.

He couldn't understand but every time he thought of what happened to her, his blood would boil and all he could see was red.

"Adrian.” Amara flinched when her eyes landed on the tall-haired man standing a few feet away. She had to tilt her head to see his face clearly. Amazed how she had been encountering attractive men one after another. His eyes were slightly almond-shaped and had a sharper appearance, and his features had a cold vibe. His lips were heart-shaped, adding a delicate touch to his masculinity. His hair was as dark as the night sky, in stark contrast to the sunlight surrounding her, and it was long enough to partially cover his forehead. He wore a white tailored shirt paired with dark pants that created a striking contrast, and a gold chain hung from his neck. A few tattoos were visible on his arms as his sleeves were rolled up to his elbow.

Her cheeks flushed when his gaze turned towards her and she saw something flashing through his eyes before it disappeared into nothingness.

"He is Rhys, my brother." She looked confused at Adrian and he sensed her eyes on him. "You will be living with him for some time." She swallowed hard. Was he leaving her? Why? Did she do something?

“Are…you not…” she mumbled lowering her head feeling upset.

Adrian swallowed hard crouching in front of her before taking her hands between his and squeezing them. “You see, I have some business to take care of. And it might get messy and I can not risk your safety. But I promise, I will be back soon.” She felt tears stinging her eyes, there was heaviness in her chest. In this short time, she had become so attached to him and when he was telling her he was going to leave she felt her world-shattering.

Adrian gulped and quickly averted his gaze to Rhys. “Keep her safe.”

He stood up with a heavy heart. Amara did not look at him, she refused to when she sensed him backing away.

There were silent gazes exchanged between Rhys and Adrian. But none of them said anything. Amara clenched her jaw as tears ran down her cheeks but she did not look up. Not even when Rhys stepped forward before bending down and rolling her wheelchair over on the ground as she looked over her shoulder at Adrian looking at her with clenched jaw and dark eyes.

Amara couldn’t understand why Adrian left her here, but she decided to not think about him. With blurred memories and nameless thoughts, she let Rhys push her chair. Her hold tight on the side rests as she sniffed.

Rhys could hear her sniffling, and it disturbed him.

‘Even after losing her memories, her habit of crying didn’t go away.’

She nervously gulped when they reached the doorstep and looked at Rhys for a moment as the said man just gave her a cold glare.

Rhys ignored her teary gaze. Now that he was looking at her, she could see the depths of his dark grey eyes that looked like shining cognac diamonds. Like churning champagne and danger.

"You want me to carry you?" He suddenly asked and she frowned feeling too intimidated by him. Rhys sighed, moving in a way that he was standing in front of her. He was so much taller than her, and her neck had started to strain. Rhys found her cheeks crimson under his gaze.

"W-what?-" before she could process, he said. His voice was still raspy and cold.

"Your room is upstairs, I can not wheel this up the stairs."

"It's f-"

"Hold on tightly," he muttered not giving her any time as he bent down and placed his arm under her knees and one behind her shoulders before he scooped her in his arms. She yelped at the sudden movement and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck afraid she might fall.

She hid her face in embarrassment as he carried her up the stairs

***

"This will be your room for the time being. The kitchen is on the ground floor." Rhys bellowed as he settled her on the bed. Her limbs stretched as he placed pillows before making her sit comfortably against the bed rest. Her heart was beating so fast against her rib cage that she found it hard to meet his gaze or even look at him. Rhys took a step back once he was satisfied that she was comfortable.

There was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he saw the way she was flushing.

"There’s some books, paints and brushes." He motioned to the bedside table where some books were placed—fantasy books. Amara felt nostalgic looking at the books.

“Do I like these?” She asked genuinely curious picking up the top one as her fingers caressed the cover. Rhys looked down at her with a hint of amusement.

“You do. You like to read, paint, sing, and dance, your favourite colour is red yet you look angelic in beige. You are allergic to meat and like sweets and chocolates. You even once played the piano on my birthday. You prefer peonies to roses—“ Rhys suddenly stopped.

What was he doing? And why the fuck did he remember all that? Wasn’t he promised that he’d forget her? Didn’t he swear not to get attached to her again?

"Who are you?" Amara whispered, shifting slightly and leaning against the bed rest. Her doe eyes stared up at him with hundreds of questions. How—no—How did he know all about her?

"Adrian told you who I am, didn’t he." Rhys saw unfamiliarity in her eyes, something that shouldn’t trouble him, but it did. To the point, he felt his feelings resurfacing.

"...Rhys..." she tested his name on her tongue while nodding. Rhys stiffened hearing his name coming from her tongue. Something he dreamed of every day for the past two years. There was a strange sensation in the way she muttered his name. Something he hadn't gotten before. He cleared his throat averting his gaze from her face and said.

"I'll send someone to change your bandages. Your clothes are in the wardrobe, all the necessities will be in the cabinet below the sink." He continued. "Dinner will be ready at 8. If you are hungry, I'll send someone with snacks-"

"I'm not hungry." She interrupted him shaking her head. Despite being dizzy-headed and weak, she barely felt like eating anything. 

"Then have some rest." He decided to leave her to rest as he closed the door after exiting the door. He took a few deep breaths to calm his heart as he walked to his office where Adrian was waiting for him.

"Is everything prepared?" Adrian asked when Rhys stormed inside his office. He frowned noticing the dishevelled look in his brother's eyes. Before he could say anything, Rhys grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and poured it into the glass before taking the seat.

"Why my house? You know what this means right?" Rhys trailed swirling the glass of whiskey in his fingers, eyeing the liquid. Adrian sighed. Not this shit again.

"Cause I know you’ll never hurt her,” Adrian said with a softer voice. The glass shattered in Rhys's hand, the glass shreds piercing his skin yet he remained silent.

Adrian took it as his chance to continue. “Whatever happened in past, let it be. I am not saying it was right, but Amara is far more important than anything right now. I need to find the culprit who did this…to her.”

Rhys scoffed.

"Do I look like fucking caretaker to you?" Rhys snarled. A muscle in his jaw twitched as his cold eyes pinned Adrian. “You snatched her away from me, and now when you are not capable of keeping her safe, you are pushing her onto me.”

"Rhys-" Adrian sensed the tension in the air as he sighed and tried to talk but Rhys was already circling the table. Adrian cursed himself for bringing the past.

Before he knew it, Rhys was fisting him by the collar and pushing him hard on the table. The loud crack resonated in the room. “This doesn’t work this way, brother. If I get to keep her now, then I am keeping her forever not for some fucking months. If you think you’re not capable of being a good husband, then I will take your place.”

Adrian swallowed hard, his eyes widening. “What are you saying?”

“I said what I said.” There was a long pause. “I am keeping your wife as mine.”

“Father will—“ Adrian swallowed.

“Fuck, father! I do not give two flying fucks what he thinks or not. You will divorce Amara if you want me to keep her safe.” Rhys scoffed.

Adrian liked at Rhys for a long moment. His head swirling with thousand thoughts before he sighed.

“Alright. But I have a condition.” Rhys raised his brow. Adrian already hated the words he was going to say.

“I will divorce her, but once she falls for you,” Adrian said knowing for well Amara would never fall for Rhys. Call it arrogance or confidence, Adrian was the man Amara fell for two years back between the brothers. “Five months, if she falls in love with you, I’ll divorce her, but if she doesn’t, you will forget the fantasy of making her yours.”

Rhys contemplated and then a wide grin plastered over his face before he let go of Adrian. “Sounds tempting.”

Adrian dusted the front of his shirt adjusting the collar. “Also, if you dare touch her, the deal’s off.” Rhys tilted his head fat amused by the proposition.