Michael’s eyes reddened. “I can make it up to you. At least give me a chance…


    “You don’t deserve it… “I pushed Michael away and walked out, fighting back the anger. You’re


    nothing but a liar.”


    I had considered a thousand reasons why Michael had stopped loving me, but I had never


    imagined that I was the reason.


    I was the one who had been confused. I loved the wrong person, and I was deceived.


    Struggling to contain the fire raging in my chest, I felt like losing my mind. I was shaken to- the point


    where I could barely walk.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    As tears flowed uncontrobly from my eyes, all I could think of was Steven.


    I saw the image of him standing in the backlit mist, turning back to look at me.


    How could you, Stephanie Carlson?


    How could you forget about him?


    How could you erase himpletely from your mind?


    And how could you… fall deeply in love with another man without the slightest hesitation?


    How could you…


    Tears streaming down my face, I rushed to the emergency exit and delivered a hard p to


    my own cheek.


    “How could you… “I questioned myself.


    How could you not remember anything? How could you?


    “Ah!” Overwhelmed by despair, I copsed into the corner, grabbed my hair, and groaned.


    low.


    Why couldn’t I remember anything?


    Why had I forgotten about Steven?


    Why did I mistake Michael as someone to count on back then?


    This was the reason I died, wasn’t it?


    Because I had betrayed Steven by mistaking Michael for him.


    If Steven was the one who murdered me, I should just ept it because I deserved it.


    deserved it!


    Stephle…


    On the stairs of the emergency hallway, Steven stood there in his patient gown, his fingers dripping


    with blood.


    I looked


    up at him, feeling tears welling up. I lowered my head and continued to sob.


    “Are you abandoning me again?” Steven walked up to me, his voice hoarse.


    I looked at him as if I were gazing at a god.


    He wasn’t a devil; he never was.


    “Steven… “I reached out to him.


    Steven anxiously grasped my hand, his gaze darting around.


    “You’re such a fool…” No genius would act like him.


    He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. “Mm–hmm, I am a fool… As long as Stephie.


    won’t abandon me.”


    “The nurse said you’re not supposed to get out of bed,” I said with tears.


    “Sorry, I didn’t listen,” Steven apologized softly, his words soothing me. “You can punish me …Just


    don’t abandon me. Don’t go with him, and don’t trust him…


    “Did you pull the needle out yourself?” I asked, noticing his still–bleeding hand.


    I quickly pressed down on the wound while wiping my tears.


    “It doesn’t hurt at all… ” he said softly, wiping away my tears for me.


    “Silly,” I chided him.


    “Why are you crying?” Steven cradled my face, asking gently, “Did he upset you? I’ll kill him


    I shook my head as tears continued to flow. “It’s just… Why can’t I remember anything?


    Why?”


    No matter how hardJ tried, all I could recall were little fragments of memories.


    Why had I forgotten about Steven?


    I hated myself.


    As I continued to me myself, Steven’s fingers stiffened for a moment. His fingertips turned cold.


    “It’s okay… You don’t need to remember.”


    He lowered his head, gently kissing away the tears from the corner of my eye. It was as if he were


    cradling his most precious artwork…


    Suddenly, memories flooded back of the basement filled with ss disy cabs and


    taxidermied animals. It was the ce where Eason had taken me.


    “Steve… why did you collect those animal corpses? Did you kill those small animals and insects?” I


    asked softly.


    A flicker of panic and evasion crossed Steven’s gaze.


    Nervously, I looked at Steven, afraid he might admit to having killed those taxidermied animals


    disyed in the ss cases.


    “No… they were gifts from someone.” Steven lowered his head, gripping his fingers tightly.


    I was startled, wondering whether Steven was lying or if they were indeed gifts from a


    friend.


    My first thought inexplicably went to Simeon, whom I had almostpletely forgotten.


    Judging from the photo I saw at Carol’s ce, it seemed that Simeon, Steven, and I had a decent


    rtionship–at least enough to take photos together.


    Despite this, I had absolutely no memory of him.