"But you promised not to leave."
The words tumbled from his lips, a desperate, broken mantra as he wandered aimlessly down the street. His surroundings blurred, a distorted, dreamlike haze. He didn't see the car until it was too late—a speeding vehicle hurtling toward him. The impact was sudden, violent.
Kelly woke up with a scream, his body drenched in cold sweat.
Another nightmare.
He sat up in bed, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The nightmare had returned, more vivid this time. Every time he closed his eyes, it was there, replaying over and over again.
The soft sound of Jane's even breathing beside him broke through his panic. He turned to look at her, her peaceful expression contrasting starkly with the turmoil in his mind. Of course, she was still asleep—Jane could sleep through an earthquake. A small, humorless chuckle escaped his lips as he brushed a kiss on the side of her head.
The glowing red numbers on the alarm clock read 5:25 a.m. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, grabbed his phone from the nightstand, and padded quietly to the kitchen.
Kelly poured himself a glass of water, savoring the coolness as it slid down his throat. But it wasn't enough to calm him. He hesitated for a moment before dialing Dani's number.
She picked up after the third ring, her tone carrying a mix of annoyance and curiosity.
"It's five in the morning, Kelly."
He chuckled weakly. "You're a businesswoman. I figured you'd be awake."
"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Celebrity Chef. What's up?" Dani's sarcasm was light, but her concern was evident.
He sighed heavily, rubbing his hand over his face. "I had that nightmare again, Dani. The same one. It's been two weeks now."
Her voice softened immediately. "What happened in the nightmare?"
"I was walking down a street," he said, his voice trembling. "I kept muttering something—I couldn't stop—and then... I got hit by a car. Everything went dark, and then I woke up."
There was a brief pause on the other end. "Oh, Kelly."
His grip on the counter tightened. "It actually happened, didn't it?" His voice cracked, rising in panic. "That's why I have retrograde amnesia, why my memories are all fucked up—"
"Kelly, breathe." Dani's voice was firm but soothing. "Just breathe. You're spiraling."
He closed his eyes and forced himself to follow her instructions, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. After a few moments, the tightness in his chest eased.
"You've got to call Dr. Johnson," Dani said softly. "You know therapy helps. You've made so much progress already, K."
"Yeah," he murmured, his voice hollow. "I will."
"I'll come see you later this morning, okay?"
"Okay."
"Try to get some rest, K." She hung up, leaving him alone in the quiet kitchen.
Kelly leaned against the counter, staring at the glass in his hand. He hated this—hated feeling so helpless, so out of control. It was as though his mind was holding his past hostage, showing him glimpses of a life he couldn't fully remember but couldn't escape, either.
He sighed, knowing that the nightmares weren't done with him yet.
***
"Wakey wakey, baby," Emily cooed softly at her three-year-old, who slept soundly. Ayla groaned, her small face scrunching up in a way that tugged at Emily's heart. She turned away, her back facing her mother, snuggling deeper into the blanket.
Emily chuckled at the sight, her maternal affection glowing. She carefully scooped Ayla into her arms, the little girl instinctively curling against her.
"More sleep, Mommy," Ayla mumbled sleepily, her tiny voice muffled as she buried her face in Emily's shoulder.
Emily kissed her curls gently and whispered, "Not today, sweetie. It's a daycare day."
That did it. Ayla's head popped up almost immediately, her blue eyes wide with excitement. "Daycare?" she asked, her lips stretching into a grin.
Emily smiled. "Yes, but first—breakfast. Pancakes are waiting for you."
With a nod, Ayla scrambled out of her mother's arms and onto the stool by the kitchen island, her excitement palpable. As Emily prepared her coffee, she couldn't help but steal glances at her daughter, who was happily munching on her pancakes.
Ayla Decker was her everything. The three-year-old was a beautiful blend of herself and her late husband, William. She had inherited Emily's striking blue eyes but had William's warm brown skin, curls, and charming dimple. A mini Emily with her father's soulful touch.
As Ayla finished her breakfast, Emily began her usual routine of preparing her for daycare. She dressed Ayla in a floral dress and white sneakers, her curls tied back into two neat puffs. Ayla twirled in front of the mirror, giggling.
"Pretty like Mommy!" She declared.
Emily laughed softly, smoothing down Ayla's dress. "Pretty just like you."
Once Ayla was ready, Emily changed into a professional yet comfortable outfit: a navy blouse tucked into high-waisted slacks, paired with her trusty flats. Her job as an English professor at the University of California demanded a polished but practical look.
By the time they left the house, the morning sun was already shining brightly. Emily hailed a cab, holding Ayla's hand securely as they waited.
The ride to Wood-Shaw Daycare was filled with Ayla's bubbly chatter. She talked about her friends, her favorite toys, and how much she wanted to paint today. Emily listened intently, occasionally chiming in with questions or smiles.
When they arrived, both mother and daughter stepped out of the cab, Emily thanking the driver.
Wood-Shaw Daycare loomed ahead—a large, state-of-the-art facility with brightly colored murals on its walls and an air of exclusivity. It was a place where the children of CEOs and socialites played, learned, and thrived.
Emily's gaze lingered on the building for a moment. The only reason Ayla was here was because of Bella, her late husband's mother. Bella insisted Ayla deserved the best, and while Emily initially resisted the idea of such an expensive daycare, she eventually relented. It was hard to say no to Bella, especially when she was still grieving the loss of her son.
"Ayla!" A cheerful voice called, pulling Emily out of her thoughts.
It was one of the daycare staff, a kind woman named Ms. Mary Sanderson. Ayla squealed with excitement and ran toward her, leaving Emily smiling as she watched her daughter's curls bounce with each step.
"Good morning, Mrs. Decker," Mary greeted Emily warmly as she scooped Ayla into a hug.
"Good morning," Emily replied, adjusting Ayla's small backpack on her shoulder. "She's had her breakfast and is excited for today."
Mary nodded. "We've got lots of activities planned. She'll have a great day."
Emily crouched down to Ayla's level, brushing a stray curl from her face. "Be good, okay? And listen to Ms. Mary."
Ayla nodded seriously. "I will, Mommy."
Emily kissed her forehead. "I'll pick you up later. Have fun, my little princess."
"Bye, Mommy!" Ayla waved enthusiastically, already being led inside by Mary.
Emily stood there for a moment, watching her daughter disappear into the daycare. A bittersweet pang filled her chest. Ayla was growing up so quickly, and each moment felt fleeting.
With a deep breath, Emily turned to hail another cab to take her to the university, but a familiar figure caught her eye. The woman was beside the same sleek black car she watched Treon enter two weeks ago. She was crouched down, talking to a little boy that looked around her daughter's age. She kissed his forehead and ruffled his curls.
"I love you mommy." The boy shouted and ran towards the entrance, past Emily.
The woman laughed and stood to her height, watching where her son just ran and then her eyes met Emily's. The smile on her face faltered.
Shit.
"Dani?" She whispered, almost unable to believe her eyes. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes locked with Dani Earnshaw's. After Treon, she wasn't hoping on seeing any of the Earnshaws'.
Dani looked exactly the same as she had years ago, though there was a newfound elegance to her stance. Her long, dark hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail, and her tailored blazer screamed effortless sophistication. For a moment, neither of them moved. It was as though the world around them had come to a standstill.
Then Dani's lips parted, her smile completely gone now. Recognition flickered in her brown eyes, quickly replaced by something else—something Emily couldn't quite read.
"Emily?" Dani asked, her voice soft yet laced with surprise.
Emily swallowed hard, her mind racing for an explanation, an escape—anything to avoid this confrontation. She hadn't planned on meeting Dani, not like this. Not after everything that happened.
"Dani," Emily managed, forcing a polite smile she didn't quite feel. "It's... been a while."
Dani took a step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were trying to piece together why Emily was standing outside Wood-Shaw Daycare.
"Yeah, it has," Dani said slowly. She glanced toward the entrance where the little boy had disappeared moments ago, then back at Emily. "What brings you here?"
Emily's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, her nerves threatening to betray her calm façade. "My daughter, Ayla, attends daycare here." She gestured vaguely toward the building.
Dani's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she quickly masked it. "Your daughter?"
Emily nodded, her lips twitching into a soft smile. "She's three. And that was your son just now?"
Dani's expression softened slightly, and she nodded. "Yes, Raymond. He's three as well." There was a flicker of pride in her voice as she spoke, and for a brief moment, the tension between them seemed to waver.
The silence that followed was heavy, loaded with words unsaid. Emily felt her chest tighten. Memories of the past—of Kelly, of the Earnshaw family—threatened to overwhelm her.
"How's Kelly?" The question slipped out before Emily could stop herself. She regretted it the moment Dani's eyes darkened.
"He's... managing," Dani said, her tone guarded. "Why do you ask?"
Emily hesitated. What could she say? That she'd run into Treon? That seeing Kelly again, even for a fleeting moment, had reopened wounds she thought had long healed?
"No reason, really," Emily lied, shifting uncomfortably.
Dani didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further. Instead, she sighed, glancing toward the daycare. "Look, I didn't expect to see you here. It's... unexpected, to say the least."
Emily nodded quickly. "Same here."
For a moment, Dani looked as though she wanted to say something more, but then she shook her head, as if deciding against it. "I've got to go. I have work to do."
"Of course," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dani turned to leave but paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Take care, Emily."
"You too," Emily replied, watching as Dani walked back toward the sleek black car and got inside the passenger seat, making her wonder who was at the driver's side.
As the car disappeared down the street, Emily exhaled shakily, her shoulders slumping. She hadn't expected to feel this rattled. Seeing Dani brought everything rushing back—the past, the secrets, the heartbreak.
Pulling herself together, Emily hailed a cab and climbed inside. As the car sped toward the university, she couldn't help but wonder what Dani would tell her family—if anything.
_N