I didn't sleep, and it wasn't because I was afraid. At this point, I was so familiar with fear I found it almost boring. It was because my mind wouldn't stop replaying that single sentence.
WELCOME BACK.
It was morning, and the sun was rising. I sat on the edge of the motel bed, the envelope spread open on my lap like evidence at a crime scene. Stupid reason for my sleepless night.
My old name stared back at me.
The name I long buried.
The name that had cost someone else their life.
I closed my eyes and pressed my palms to my face. I was screwed, like really bad. When I relocated, I had sworn this city wouldn't recognize me. I planned every step carefully, wiping every trace, and memorized my lies until they sounded like the truth.
So how?
Someone knocked on the door. Sharp, not too loud.
I froze, my heart beating loudly.
Again, another knock, slower this time, like whoever stood there already knew I was up.
"Mara," a man's voice sounded, calm and controlled. Too close. I knew that voice. I kind of felt relieved, and at the same time, my nerves fired.
Adrian Halloway. What was he doing here? I didn't move.
"You have thirty seconds," he said mildly, "before I use the keycard."
My stomach tightened. "You're trespassing," I called back, my voice carrying more courage than I felt.
"You're hiding, Mara," he replied. "We're both doing things we shouldn't."
The lock clicked. I stood as soon as the door opened. Did he just unlock the door without my permission?.
He stepped inside like he owned the room, and maybe he did, considering the Halloway Group owned half the city. I noticed he looked different this morning. He was putting on a jacket, sleeves rolled up, not in his usual boss mode. Tired lines around his eyes that hadn't been there yesterday.
"You ran," he said.
"You're wrong. I went home."
"This isn't your home." He was right. There was something in his tone, like he was so sure of himself that made goosebumps rise on my skin.
"What do you want?" I asked.
His gaze moved to the envelope on the bed. "That," he said.
I stuck it into my bag. "You don't get to ask." He may be my boss, but this wasn't the office, and I had my rights.
He sighed softly, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "You have no idea how many people are already asking."
Okay…that hit harder than any threat. "Who?" I demanded, my voice almost a plea.
Before he could answer me, his phone rang. He looked at the screen and went still. Then he answered.
"Yes," he said.
A pause.
"No, she's not."
Another pause, this time longer. I hadn't realised I was holding my breath until his eyes met mine, assessing and dark.
"I don't care what he remembers." He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Adrain studied me like I was a risk calculation. "Someone who shouldn't still be alive," he said.
Adrenaline kicked in. By noon, my invisible life had officially stopped pretending to be normal. Adrian insisted that I return to the office. Of course, he didn't take no for an answer. He never did when he wanted something.
"You're safer where I can see you," he said.
"Is that supposed to be comforting?"
He smiled faintly. "It wasn't meant to be,"
***
The drive to the office was quiet. None of us said a word, but the tension was obvious. The moment we walked into the building, I felt it, the shift. The attention, like someone's eyes, was on me.
I looked around and then I saw him.
Lucian Peters stood near the reception. Charming as always, looking so good in his dark suit. He was smiling politely until his eyes landed on me. Then it wavered. I was fast enough to see it. The look of recognition. No, not recognition. Confusion rather.
"Adrian," Lucian greeted smoothly, extending a hand. "You didn't tell me we were hiring again."
I scoffed just to myself. Adrain didn't let go of my shoulder. "We weren't."
Lucian's gaze dropped to where Adrian touched me. Something unreadable crossed his face. "And yet," Lucian said slowly, his attention back on me. "Here you are."
I forced a polite smile. "Mara." His eyes lingered on my mouth. I wasn't enjoying the attention.
"Mara," he said. "You look…familiar."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "I get that a lot," I lied.
Lucian studied me like a lawyer weighing a witness. "No," he murmured. "You really don't."
What was Lucian driving at? Adrian's hand tightened on mine. "Lucian has a meeting," he said coldly. I thanked my stars, and it was a welcomed interruption.
But Lucian didn't move. "I've defended men who forgot their own names," Lucian continued quietly. "I know what it looks like when memory tries to claw its way back."
His gaze never left mine, as if pressing for a confession.
"And right now," he added, "mine is screaming."
I swallowed, then another voice cut in. "Because you're looking at a ghost."
I turned immediately. Caleb Ross stood a few feet away, he still hadn't changed, his scrubs were visible under the tailored coat he wore, his hair slightly messy like he'd rushed straight from the hospital for an emergency.
His eyes locked on mine and softened. Weird, right?
But I felt an emotional pull. It happened so fast it stole my breath. What was wrong with me?
"That's not funny," Lucian countered.
Caleb ignored him, stepping closer. "I've seen her before," he muttered. "In a room that smelled like antiseptic and blood."
My knees weakened, and I was grateful for Adrian's support on my shoulders and hand, none of them noticed. "You're mistaken," I said, barely audible.
No, don't touch me. I was praying in my mind as Caleb extended his hand near my wrist but didn't touch It.
"You looked at me the same way," he said. "Like you were. apologizing for surviving."
Everything in the room became blurry for me. I swear I was developing a migraine.
"Adrian swore under his breath. "Enough," he snapped. This is not happening here."
Caleb's gaze lifted. "You know."
Adrian didn't deny it.
Lucian's expression darkened. He had been watching the whole time. "Know what?"
Before anyone could give an answer, alarms started ringing across the building. Phones buzzed. Voices rose.
A woman screamed near the elevators. "Mr. Cross collapsed!"
My chest tightened. Evan Cross. We ran to the source of the commotion. By the time we reached the conference floor, Evan lay on the ground, his face went white, his eyes slightly open. His breathing was shallow, like he had been sucker-punched.
And the moment he saw me, his eyes widened in terror. "You," he gasped.
Every eye turned to me. I wished the ground would open and sawllow me.
"You're supposed to be…" His voice trailed off. He convulsed violently.
Caleb went into action, and he dropped on his knees, issuing orders.
Adrian grabbed my arm, Lucian kept watching me like I was the key to his memory."
Evan's hand held my sleeve tightly. His grip was desperate, like he was about to tell me his death wish.
"You were never supposed to come back," he whispered.
Then, he lost consciousness. And it occurred to me with horrifying clarity…
They didn't just remember her.
They were afraid of me.