She said, "I'm going to go change. Wait here for me."
I wanted to follow, but she was already heading upstairs before I could get a word out.
The next second, I saw Grant Heath.
"Did you know Winona's been undergoing memory recovery treatment?"
"She's almost remembered me."
A shrill ringing filled my ears, and something inside me snapped.
A violent shove sent me crashing to the ground. Grant's stiletto heel drove into the back of my hand, grinding down until it felt like it would bore straight through.
"Ahh—"
The elegant music and the roar of conversation around us swallowed my cry whole.
I lay there on the floor, watching Winona glide through the crowd in her exquisite gown.
"Winona!"
Grant smiled and waved her over, falling into step beside her.
They danced one song after another to thunderous applause—the picture-perfect couple, as if the universe had made them for each other.
I felt like a thief caught peering through a window. Numb and hollow, I turned and stumbled out of the Henson estate.
Outside the door, Claire was seeing off guests.
"Winona and Grant's wedding is set for the fourth day after New Year's. You're all invited."
Amid the chorus of congratulations, Claire added, "The Henson estate isn't the kind of place just anyone can waltz into."
I knew exactly who anyone meant.
It was only one block away, but the walk home felt like it took forever.
That night, for the first time, Winona didn't come back to the villa.
Something came up at the office. I won't be coming over today.
I knew she was lying.
But there were words I needed to hear her say to my face.
She didn't come for half a month.
The day she finally showed up, her expression was dark as a storm cloud.
"Dominic, Grant told me he came to Millbrook looking for me. He even said he saw you."
"But you hid it. You told me you'd never seen him. Is that true?"
It was the first time Winona had ever been angry with me. The way she looked at me—it was the way you look at a stranger.
I forced down the tears burning behind my eyes and lifted my chin. "I didn't."
I wouldn't confess to something I hadn't done.
"I never saw anyone come to Millbrook looking for you!"
"You're still lying!"
Winona's voice cracked like a whip. She thrust her phone forward and hit play.
The video showed villagers from Millbrook, one after another.
"Oh, sure, I saw him. City fellow. I even pointed him the right way."
"That's right! I told him the person he was looking for was at the Delgado place. I remember thinking it was strange he didn't take Miss Henson home with him."
"Must be that Dominic kid hiding her on purpose!"
One voice after another, all of them pointing the finger at me—accusing me of keeping Winona hidden away.
I had no defense. All I could do was clutch Winona's sleeve and repeat that I hadn't done it.
"Dominic isn't that kind of person, Lena!" Grandma pulled me into her arms and faced Winona head-on, grabbing her hand, begging her not to believe the villagers' gossip.
But those dark eyes held not a single trace of warmth.
"My name isn't Lena. It's Winona."
She shook Grandma off. Even when Grandma stumbled and fell to the ground, not a flicker of emotion crossed her face.
It hit me all at once—the woman standing before me wasn't my Lena anymore.
She was Winona. Grant's Winona.
"If I'd known it would come to this, I never would have brought you to Ashford!"
One merciless sentence, and she'd handed down my death warrant without so much as a trial.
"You've remembered, haven't you, Winona?"
Grant's words echoed back to me, and I understood. She had recovered her memories.
That was why she'd disappeared for half a month.
Because she'd remembered who she was supposed to love. Who she was supposed to marry.
And it wasn't me.
"You really didn't have to put on that whole performance for me. If you'd just said the word, I wouldn't have clung to you."
Winona glanced down at me, her expression detached, devoid of anything resembling emotion.
"It wasn't a performance."
"Dominic, Grant waited for me... for five years. I can't betray her."
I lowered my head and laughed—couldn't help it. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes.
"Her five years count as five years, but mine don't?"
Winona's step faltered, just barely. Then she walked out of our home without looking back.
"Consider the house compensation for you and your family. The Hensons will cover your living expenses going forward."
"And from now on... don't come looking for me."
After that, the villa became my cage. And eventually, my grave.
That year was the darkest of my life.
The pain from the dream bled into reality. I thrashed awake.
I sat up, looked around the room, and let out a long, slow breath.
It was just a dream.
In this life, I hadn't followed Winona.
A sudden, frantic knocking erupted at the door.
I pushed it open. The hand I'd tucked behind me was slick with sweat.
The person standing outside was none other than Winona.
