Months later, Amy Carter celebrated at a hotel with her research team after returning from an international award cer-
emony.
Her eyes sparkled as she downed her wine glass in one gulp.
“This experiment’s success proves our research direction is spot–on!”
“Thanks to everyone’s hard work—and especially Keith’s sacrifice in letting me take first authorship. I’m beyond touched!”
Seeing her drain another glass, Keith Garcia swiftly took the cup from her hand.
“That’s enough.”
Amy pouted, accepting the yogurt he offered.
“Are you my mom, Keith?
Since when did you become stricter than her?”
Noticing his frown, she chuckled and peeled open the yogurt lid.
“Thanks, Keith. Yogurt’s my favorite anyway.”
Teammates exchanged knowing smiles. Someone nudged Keith, flushing his cheeks crimson.
Everyone recognized his feelings for her–especially after that night rescuing Amy from the bridge.
They’d all witnessed his breakdown: sobbing outside the operating room, cursing Walter Davis‘ entire family.
Yet Amy played oblivious, acting like a mischievous little sister around Keith–teasing him, provoking him, then in- stantly apologizing when he got truly upset. She had him wrapped around her finger.
Another round was proposed. Their boisterous laughter soon drew stares from nearby diners.
Walter’s gaze drifted absently until it froze on Amy’s radiant, smiling face.
The face haunting his dreams, appearing behind closed eyelids.
He shot upright, his chair screeching against the floor.
Michelle Campbell glanced up from her birthday gifts just as Walter vanished from his seat.
“Amy!”
His voice trembled uncontrollably as he charged forward.
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Chapter 16
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Only that face mattered now–impulse overriding all reason.
He crushed her against his chest the moment she looked up in shock.
His grip threatened to merge their bodies.
Months of terror, despair, and midnight screams choked his throat, leaving only a ragged whisper:
“You’re alive… God, you’re really alive!”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I know you’re still angry. Yell at me, hit me–anything. Just stay alive.”
Her body stiffened violently before thrashing against him.
Smack!
The sharp slap silenced the entire restaurant.
Walter’s head snapped sideways, cheek burning.
He stared in disbelief at Amy’s eyes–once filled with love, now wide with terror and revulsion, as if confronting a madman.
“Who are you?”
Her voice shook as she retreated, red marks blooming where he’d grabbed her wrist.
Keith instantly rose, shielding Amy while glaring at Walter.
Walter’s gaze dropped to Amy’s hand clutching Keith’s arm.
Sheltering behind him. Leaning on him.
He forced down the gnawing jealousy and looked away.
“Darling, it’s me.”
“Walter!”
His voice was hoarse, his heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand.
“How could you not know me?”
Other colleagues in the research lab stood up at the mention of Walter Davis, glaring at him with open hostility.
“Darling?”
Amy’s brows knitted tighter, her eyes brimming with unmistakable unfamiliarity.
She looked at Walter as if appraising a complete stranger.
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Chapter 16
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not your wife.”
“And how do you even know my name?”
Panic seized Walter instantly. He stared intently at Amy’s face, searching for any flicker of deception.
She must hate him so much, pretending not to know him.
Yet her expression was utterly resolute.
“Amy, look at me!”
Walter lunged to grab her hand, but she evaded him.
She retreated fully behind Keith, only her dewy eyes visible, watching him with wary suspicion.
His voice cracked with pleading, his eyes frighteningly red.
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“We grew up together. We were together in university. Don’t you remember? At graduation, I proposed. You were thrilled, clutching that diamond ring, sleepless for days.
Soon after we married, you burst into my office, hugged me right in the middle of a meeting, shouting you were preg-
nant.
After Robert was born, we traveled as a family. You said you must be the happiest person alive.
You… have you forgotten all of it?”
He rambled incoherently, each sweet memory now cutting him to pieces.
Amy’s gaze remained utterly impassive, her wariness only deepening.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“If you keep harassing me, I’ll call the police.”
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