f calm washing over me. Their whispers, their judgments, they didn't

to Ethan. "Oh, Eth, I wish we could just get marri

Someone shouted,

He leaned down and gave Chloe a li

for a split second over Chloe's should

. It wasn't jealousy, not anymo

m, a group of Chloe's friends, women I

le must be hard. Especially when Ethan was so obviously head-over-heels for C

added, her voice dripping with malice. "Wrote her poe

to provoke me,

. "Liam is a wonderfu

? Because everyone knows Ethan and Chloe are

isper. "He was never going to marry you, Ava. You were

wound, barely regist

mething unexpected.

id, not soundi

was the ornate railing of a balcony overlooking t

led, trying to grab on

n I was

er of the Hudson r

lungs. The currents were strong, pulling me under. Panic seized

his eyes wide with shock. "Ava!" he yelle

a wild, irrational ho

Ethan! Oh my god, I think I'm going to faint! The shock!

d around. His focus

ng her as she "swooned" into his

at the water. He did

se her

further down. My lungs burned. Dark

hands grabb

d me to the surface, his arm securely arou

der, helping me climb out

essed" Chloe, who was now sobbing into his chest

et around my shivering sh

upon by Eleanor and Richard Carter, Ethan and Liam's parents. They were wealthy, influential figures

, ever playful, decided to try paddleboarding

nto the relatively shallow water, shrie

swim!" (A lie, I knew s

her from the water with a flourish, carrying her to

go back to shore, a rogue wave, stronger than the others, knocked

wing water, the cur

m and efficient, and pulled me out while Ethan was stil

, while I was resting,

o mean. I'm so sorry they pushed you. They told me it

ed, too tir

Chloe continued, fluffing a pillow.

ously. "So, Liam... he's nice, rig

a good ma

t married soon. That's why I was asking a

sible. He was so devoted to me before... before I lost my memory.

that Ethan. The Ethan who wrote poems.

ve into the ocean for

. He was capable of that all-consuming lo

tell me much about the accident. Just that I was sailing, and there was a sto

sion. She deserved to know. She deserved the tru

began, "the

re we are, ladies. Just what the doctor ordered." He smiled, but hi

And he was