Excommunicated From His Heart

I had always dreamed of my engagement to Killian Costello. But that dream shattered when he was caught in an ambush and suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

The cruelest irony? He remembered everyone but me—the one woman he’d sworn to protect with his life.

I tried again and again to awaken his memories. But Killian didn’t just despise me; he stood by as a woman named Bianca Rossi methodically stripped me of everything I held dear.

He stood by and watched as that woman tortured and killed my beloved Doberman. He remained indifferent even when she caused me to miscarry, leaving me unable to ever have children of my own.

In the end, swallowing her lies, he banished me from the family while I was still weak and recovering.

Just as I was building a new life, finally free from the ghosts of my past, Killian’s memory came rushing back. He searched for me like a madman, desperate to tell me he remembered everything.

I gazed at the man before me, his face a mask of regret, and asked, "Who are you?"

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1

"Who are you?" Killian Costello demanded, his icy gaze shoving me away more effectively than his hands ever could.

Bianca Rossi stood behind him. Her fingers were wrapped possessively around his arm, her eyes filled with malice. "Killian doesn't remember you anymore, Aria. Why are you still clinging to him?"

"Killian, look at me. It's me, Aria Sterling!" I pleaded, my voice trembling as I fought to break through the fog in his mind. "Our engagement ceremony is in three days!"

Killian frowned, taking a step back in disgust. "Engagement? What are you talking about? I never promised you anything. Bianca, get her out of here. I don't need some stranger messing with my recovery."

"A stranger?"

My heart shattered. "You said you would marry me!"

"Enough!" Killian roared, the oppressive aura of the Don's heir crashing down on me. "I don't know you. If you harass me again, I'll deal with you according to family rules."

Bianca smirked victoriously, pushing me toward the door. "Did you hear that? Killian only has eyes for me now."

I stumbled out of the room.

The ambush had shattered his mind, and with it, every memory he had of me.

...

I stood vigil outside his private hospital room for three days and three nights, without a moment of sleep.

On the fourth night, Killian's car pulled away from the family's private club.

He was behind the wheel, Bianca plastered to his side. When he shrugged off his jacket, my vision swam.

The tattoo on his chest—the elegant script of my name, "Aria"—was now hideously marred by a crude spade, Bianca's name scrawled beside it.

I threw myself in front of the car. "Killian! That tattoo was mine! You designed it for me!"

The car stopped, and Killian rolled down the window. His gaze was a shard of ice.

"This is the last time I'm telling you, Aria. Stop harassing me. I'm with Bianca now. And that's final."

"What you want?" I seethed, my body trembling with rage. "You were ambushed trying to retrieve a gift for me! You lost your memory, but that tattoo was supposed to be the one thing that proved our love!"

Bianca chuckled, stroking Killian’s chest. "This belongs to me now. Killian wants me. What gives you the right to interfere?"

"Shut up!" I snapped, glaring at her. "You did this. You colluded with a rival faction. You planned that ambush!"

Killian's face darkened. He threw the car door open and stepped out. His powerful presence instantly bore down on me as he demanded, "How dare you speak to Bianca like that? Aria, one more word, and I'll banish you from the family!"

I looked into his eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Now you want to banish me? Have you forgotten our vows?"

"That was all in your head," he said, turning to take Bianca's hand. "Ignore her, Bianca. Let's go."

He leaned down and gently kissed Bianca's cheek. He used to kiss me just like that.

I staggered backward, all strength deserting me, and ran.