The Sway and Slide of Love

Dylan had imagined a thousand ways Noelle might respond to him, but he had never expected her to ask, "Who are you?"

He stood frozen in place, momentarily questioning whether he had misheard her. Or had he mistaken someone else for her?

"I should know you, right?" Before he could react, Noelle spoke again, "But I'm sorry, I can't remember who you are."

She couldn't remember? Dylan almost laughed. And then he did.

What was this? Was she trying to tell him that she no longer had any feelings for him? That now, she had even forgotten who he was?

His jaw clenched, his gaze locking onto her.

Noelle sensed his anger. Realizing she might have misspoken, she quickly explained, "I'm sorry. I was injured before, so I forgot some things. If I said something wrong, please forgive me."

At that, Dylan loosened his fists. Then, he looked at her in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

"I said I forgot some things, so—"

Noelle wasn't even sure if she should know him. But the way Dylan was looking at her...

Just as she was lost in thought, Dylan suddenly closed the distance between them. He looked straight into her eyes and asked, "So, you've forgotten who I am. Is that it?"

After a brief hesitation, Noelle nodded. His proximity made her uncomfortable. She instinctively stepped back, but Dylan pressed further.

"What about Hendrix? Do you remember him?"

"Isn't he my husband?"

Dylan fell silent. He just stared at her, searching her eyes for any hint of deception.

His scrutiny was so intense that Noelle frowned and tried to retreat again. Dylan quickly caught her wrist.

"What are you doing?" Noelle furrowed her brows, and she instinctively tried to pull away.

"Yes, he's indeed your husband," Dylan said slowly. "But Noelle, we almost got married once. Do you remember that?"

The moment the words left his lips, Noelle stopped struggling. Her head snapped up, eyes wide with shock.

The look in her eyes made Dylan instantly certain of one thing-she wasn't lying.

So, she really had forgotten. Which explained so much-why she'd

stayed away from Coppersvilletnoveldrama

despite being alive and why there'd been no emotion in her gaze when she first saw him.

And most importantly, why she claimed not to know him. But clearly, she hadn't just forgotten him.

"That's right. We would've been married by now if it weren't for Hendrix coming in between us."

Noelle's eyes widened. "I cheated on you?"

"No." Dylan tightened his grip on her hand. "Hendrix forced us apart. You don't remember what really

happened between you twoln

you?

I bet he didn't tell you that you two were divorced before, did he?"

"W-What?"

"And for years, you were living alone in Stormridge. When you gave birth to Rosie, he wasn't even there. If it weren't for your friend, you and Rosie might not have survived."