Chapter 13
Thinking about what he’d done these past few days, Ryan’s face went ghost white and his pupils shrank.
He couldn’t even bring himself to think about it anymore.
If Stella was really gone, then what was the point of any of this?
Wasn’t he faking the amnesia to give Stella a better life in the first place?
A few months ago, Ivy had confessed her feelings and told him that Mr. Reed was dying. The doctors said he
had less than a year to live. So Mr. Reed had already written his will, leaving everything to Ivy.
Everyone could see how much Mr. and Mrs. Reed favored Ivy over Stella. When Ivy said they were leaving
her the fortune, Ryan believed it.
vy promised him that if they got married, she’d split the inheritance with him fifty-fifty.
Ryan was tempted.
He’d grown up dirt poor, and clawing his way from nowhere to where he was now had been brutal. Every tep up the ladder was a fight.
With marriage on his mind and Stella suddenly finding her rich bio parents, Ryan felt like the gap between hem was getting wider every day.
The insecurity was eating him alive.
He wanted to make enough money to feel worthy of proposing to Stella.
to he worked his ass off, pulling crazy hours and chasing every deal. But everything he made wasn’t worth
vhat Ivy spent on lunch.
Finally, he swallowed his pride and came up with this whole fake amnesia plan. He figured he’d get the nheritance, then propose to Stella properly.
ust one year. He was sure Stella loved him too much to actually leave.
Even when she found out why he’d done it, she’d definitely forgive him.
But he’d miscalculated big time.
His phone lit up, showing Ivy’s name on the screen.
12:03 O
The Last Text I Sent My Ex “Rot in That Wheelchair. I’m off to Marry a Better Man”
50.0
Chapter 13
Ryan was already stressed as hell. Before, he would’ve picked up immediately.
Now? He just wanted to be left alone.
For the first time in months, he hung up on Ivy.
Suddenly, he thought of Stella’s best friend Emma – she’d definitely know where Stella went.
He frantically grabbed his phone and asked Emma to meet up.
While waiting for her, he kept checking the time obsessively, like every second was dragging on forever.
The moment Emma sat down, Ryan blurted out: “Emma, do you know where Stella went?”
eeing the panic and anxiety all over Ryan’s face, Emma looked confused as she set down her purse: “I hought you had amnesia? Why are you suddenly looking for Stella?”
hen Emma added with obvious contempt: “Shouldn’t you be with your girlfriend Ivy instead of asking me
where Stella is?”
hat’s when Ryan realized – since he’d started faking the amnesia, he hadn’t seen Emma at all.
efore, because Stella and Emma were tight, their friend groups would hang out together sometimes.
Now this looked sketchy as hell.
tyan fumbled for an excuse: “Stella quit her job a few days ago, said she was going abroad. Today I can’t find er anywhere and I’m kinda worried.”
Worried? Worried about what? From what I’ve seen, being around you is the most dangerous thing for her! You don’t remember what happened before, but you can’t have forgotten how you’ve treated her these past ew months, right?!” Emma looked like she’d heard the world’s biggest joke. “You knew Stella put in her esignation days ago, so why are you only asking me now that she’s gone? Did you just not give a shit, or were you too chicken to care? What’s the deal – does your girlfriend keep you on too tight a leash?”
And honestly, if Stella’s gone, why don’t you just text her directly? Why go through all this trouble, jumping hrough hoops to ask me?”
‘You know exactly what’s going on better than anyone!”
Emma’s sharp stare felt like it was seeing right through him, exposing all his bullshit.
He went quiet: “I… forgot.”
“Forgot?” Emma snorted. “If you’re still gonna lie to my face, then we’ve got nothing to talk about.”
I’m off to Marry a Better Man”
