CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER THREE
The Stranger Wearing Ethan's Face
For one impossible second, Amelia forgot how to breathe.
"Ethan..."
The word barely escaped her lips.
His eyes swept across the ballroom.
Across the guests.
Across Cassandra.
Across Vivian.
Finally...
Across Amelia.
There was no recognition.
Nothing.
Only polite confusion.
Amelia felt the floor disappear beneath her.
Impossible.
Cassandra walked toward her son with effortless grace.
"There you are."
"I'm sorry I'm late."
"You arrived just in time."
Ethan nodded before noticing the unusual silence.
"What's going on?"
Cassandra smiled gently.
"A misunderstanding."
His gaze shifted back toward Amelia.
She took one trembling step forward.
"Ethan..."
He frowned politely.
"I'm sorry..."
His voice was calm.
"Have we met?"
The sentence shattered her.
Several guests exchanged satisfied looks.
Vivian looked away.
Amelia couldn't move.
"You... don't remember me?"
Ethan searched her face.
"I'm afraid I don't."
Her breathing became uneven.
The baby kicked sharply.
Everything inside her screamed that this wasn't real.
He couldn't have forgotten.
Not after everything.
Not after promising to bring her the whole city.
Cassandra placed one hand on Ethan's arm.
"The poor girl has been confused for months."
Amelia looked directly into Ethan's eyes.
"What happened to you?"
"I don't understand."
"You told me you loved me."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Ethan's expression didn't change.
May you like
"I'm sorry."
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
