Chapter 3

I took Ethan from Sophie and hauled him back into his wheelchair. “Ethan, are you okay? Why were you in such a hurry? Your legs haven’t healed yet…”

As I spoke, I started crying again.

My hands moved anxiously over his legs, checking for injuries.

He pulled me onto his lap without a word, his lips pressed tight. I immediately buried myself against his chest.

He stared at the wounds on my legs.

Sophie grew anxious. She grabbed me and tried to pull me up. “Emma, let me take care of those cuts. Sitting on someone’s lap in front of everyone… that doesn’t look very appropriate, does it?”

“Let go.”

My hand loosened on his shoulder.

I looked even more heartbroken, tears streaming down my face.

A deep, satisfied smile flickered in Sophie’s eyes.

“I told that woman to let go of you.”

He angrily tore her hand off me and flung it away, then wheeled us out.

I knew he had to feel awful. He’d humiliated himself, and he hadn’t even managed to stand up for me.

I wanted him to feel guilty.

He took me home and treated my injuries. They weren’t serious.

Just scrapes and a little blood.

Holding me close, he stroked my hair. “There’s nothing between us.”

“But… why does she know something so private? I’m the one who brought you home. I’m the one who took care of you…” I started crying again.

“Still, if she knows who your parents are, you should go with her.”

“The medical care here isn’t very good. Maybe they could fix your legs.”

He brushed a finger over my nose, his eyes indulgent. “Silly girl. She’s lived here with you all this time. How could she know all that? And someone’s awfully jealous.”

When he hugged me, I flinched as though my legs still hurt.

“Does it hurt?”

“I’m fine!”

When I went back to my room, Ryan suddenly caught my arm. “What’s going on?”

“Ryan, just go along with me and do what I say.” I knew he’d spoiled me since we were children and always tried to indulge me. “And don’t go anywhere alone with Sophie. If she asks you to meet her, you have to tell me!”

I was worried, so I repeated it several times.

After that, Mr. and Mrs. Reed became strangely attentive. They kept coming over to see Ethan.

“Well, aren’t you a handsome young man! Don’t take what I said the other day to heart. There’s nothing wrong with your legs that a little treatment can’t fix!”

That only made Ethan less willing to acknowledge them.

They kept fawning over him anyway.

A few days later, Sophie arrived with Ethan’s biological parents.

“Emma, they’re a wealthy family. Why would they want anything to do with our little village?” Sophie’s eyes were full of sadness and helplessness.

Once Ethan told his parents I was the one who’d saved him, their attitude toward me softened considerably.

They insisted on taking Ethan home, but he refused.

For one thing, he still hadn’t recovered his memory. For another, he didn’t want to leave me behind.

In the end, they gave Ryan a large sum of money and brought me along.

The cars had barely started moving.

Sophie planted herself in front of the lead car. “Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I’m the one who helped you find him. Could you take me, too? I’ll do anything.”

“Ethan, let her come. That way I’ll have company.”

She’d delivered herself right to my door. I would have been disappointed if she stayed behind.