"Mr Blackwood, your latest results are looking good and we're ready to discharge you, but due to your amnesia, we recommend you stay with someone for the time being," the nurse announced after three days in the hospital.
Molly didn't even wait for Noah to respond.
"He's staying with me, of course! I'm his fiancée, where else would he live?" she chirped. "Come on, babe. Let's get your things and go home."
Noah looked at the nurse and then at Molly, caught up in her excitement. Something just didn't feel right. Did he really love this woman? She felt familiar, but he wasn't sure it was in an entirely good way.
That girl, supposedly his stalker, felt like a more tempting choice than moving in with Molly. But she had the ring, and he wouldn't give it to just anyone. Molly must be the love of his life and they just needed time to get reacquainted with each other. This could be a terrific opportunity.
"Sure… Of course," Noah says with a forced smile. "You are my fiancée."
"You used to stay at my place a lot. We were so happy. Except when…" Molly's lower lip quivered as she acted upset. "Never mind."
"Except when?" Noah asked, wanting to know what made his fiancée upset. He was supposed to care about her.
Molly sat down next to Noah. "Except when Lexi schemed to break us up. She once tried to trick you into thinking she was pregnant with your child."
Noah frowned. Was Lexi really that bad? She didn't seem dangerous. But he had only seen her for a few minutes. Maybe his headache had been a warning to stay away from her.
"Luckily, you didn't buy it. I mean… How could she be? You never touched her," Molly kept going. "You've only ever wanted to touch me."
Molly leaned in for a kiss, but something just screamed no! In a moment of panic Noah faked a sneeze.
"Sorry. I think I'm coming down with something. We should avoid kissing until I'm better," he lied.
Molly looked disappointed but plastered on an understanding smile.
"Of course. I have a runway show coming up. I wouldn't want to catch anything," she said and quickly stood up. "I'll pack your things."
It worked. Thank god!
"Can you give me some clothes? I'll go handle the discharge papers."
—-----
Meanwhile Lexi was trying to distract herself by finishing the last details for the charity event in two days. It was finally happening and afterwards she could finally let all the planning go and focus on what to do next.
She had planned on celebrating with Noah, but he was with Molly now. It still didn't make sense. Surely, she would have noticed that him and Molly became that close.
Of course… He did jump to her defence at the premiere party. Maybe he had always had feelings for Molly, like she said.
The phone ringed, jolting Lexi back to reality. Against better judgment, she quickly grabbed it, heart beating fast, just to sink as she sees Jake's name on the display. She knew it wouldn't be Noah, so why was she still so hopeful?
Lexi sighed to steady her voice before she picked up. *Hey, Jake! Did you get the stickers for the auction?"
"Of course! I had to turn on the charm quite a bit, but she got it done."
Lexi chuckled. "Yeah, that must have been so hard for you," she said sarcastically and was rewarded with a laugh.
"Hey… Lex… would you like to grab dinner with me tonight?"
Lexi tapped her lip with the tip of the pen. Going out in public. Was she ready for it? She used to be social, used to love going out and was always the life of the party. She forgot Jake was still waiting for an answer.
"Lex? Are you there?"
Lexi knew what Gia would say if she asked for her advice. Go out and have fun, find a sense of normalcy. She had to eat anyway.
"Eh…. Yeah, sure. Food sounds good."
"Great! I'll pick you up at 7,* Jake promised, smiling victoriously to himself on the other side.
----------------
Noah looked around in the Carlton mansion after being released from the hospital. It felt familiar, but it didn't feel like home. There were none of the light, romantic energies he had expected. It didn't even smell right. Something was just off with this whole thing.
"Are there any recent pictures of us?" he suddenly asked as he picked up a picture of Molly and her father.
Molly suddenly seemed nervous. She racked her brain, trying to come up with something.
"Oh, honey! Of course, there are. Lots of them," she lied and got closer to Noah. She smiled seductively, her expensively manicured finger trailing down his temple and cheek. Did she think this scratchy feeling was a turn on?
"There are some very hot pictures too… I often find them in your nightstand," she spoke softly, inching closer to Noah's lips. He managed to stop her just in the nick of time.
"Ehm, the cold… remember?" he reminded her.
Molly changed attitude in half a second, crossing her arms and the resting bitch face not so resting anymore. "You don't seem sick to me," she claimed sourly. "Are you avoiding me?"
Noah knew this wasn't the time to reveal his doubts to his fiancé. He was probably just confused because of the amnesia, and everything would go back to normal once his brain started doing its job properly again. He forced a smile. He was a good actor and Molly wasn't very bright. "No, Molly bear, of course not," he said reassuringly while moving some stray hairs from her face and placing them gently behind her ear. "I just know how much that runway show means to you, and I want to see my future wife doing what she does best. Look pretty."
Molly looked hesitant for exactly 2 seconds before lightening up and swallowing the sweet talk without question.
"Aww, baby! You're so caring. I'm so lucky to have you," she chirped and quickly gave Noah a kiss on the cheek. "Come on, we're going out to eat. The food at the hospital looked so… peasant."
-------------------------
At restaurant Blue Moon Lexi and Jake are seated at a table for two with a candle burning, lighting up for expectation.
"You look absolutely stunning, Lexi!" Jake compliments Lexi with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Jake. You look… dapper," she attempted to replicate the politeness. "I talked to Lomburg Juice earlier today and they're willing to sponsor the event with some pro- "
Jake suddenly takes Lexi's hand and squeezes it gently. "I'm glad you wanted to come tonight. You know I like you; I always have."
Lexi bit her lip and slowly withdrew her hand. "Jake… I'm married, remember?"
Jake sighs and rubs his face. "And where is your so-called husband now, Lex?" he asks accusatorily.
Lexi didn't know what to answer, but suddenly her heart turned into a knot. Noah walked into the restaurant with Molly. Lexi took a deep quivering breath and Jake followed her eyes.
"There he is. With another woman," Jake reminded her.
Lexi ignored him and couldn't stop staring. Noah was so handsome with that blazer she bought him as a gift when he landed a big sponsorship. It was deep blue with silver embroidery.
------------------------------
As soon as Noah stepped inside Blue Moon, a strange tightness gripped his chest. The low hum of chatter, the soft lighting, the clinking of glasses; it should have felt romantic. Comfortable. But nothing about this night felt right. Especially not when his eyes landed on a woman across the room.
Lexi.
His breath caught.
She was laughing politely at something her date said, but her eyes, those eyes, had locked onto his, the moment he walked in.
He froze. Something electric shot through him. A flicker of something he couldn't explain. She looked beautiful. Devastated. Familiar.
Too familiar.
Molly, oblivious or pretending to be, squeezed his arm. "Ooh, what are the odds! There's Lexi! She looks so happy… doesn't she?" She pouted dramatically. "Let's go say hi."
Before he could stop her, she dragged him toward their table.
Lexi's stomach flipped as they approached. Jake was still talking, but she couldn't hear anything anymore. Her heart was thudding in her throat.
Noah was walking straight toward her.
And he was looking at her like he was trying to remember a dream.
Molly leaned in with a smile that was all teeth. "Lexi! Jake! Wow… you two make such a cute couple."
Lexi's jaw clenched. "Molly."
"Babe, don't they look sweet together?" Molly cooed, turning to Noah and resting her head on his shoulder like she was staking a claim. He flinched slightly, almost imperceptibly. Almost.
Jake, not missing a beat, smirked. "Thanks. I was just telling Lexi how lucky I feel tonight."
Noah's gaze shot to Lexi again. There was something… off in his eyes. Something lost. Or confused. Like he was watching something slip through his fingers and didn't understand why.
Lexi forced a tight smile. "Thanks for stopping by. I'm sure you two have a lot of romantic gazing to do."
Molly's eyes narrowed for a second, but her voice stayed sweet. "I just wanted to say hi. You know, before Noah and I jet off to Milan for fashion week. It's going to be so romantic."
Noah didn't answer. He was still staring at Lexi.
Noah's hand drifted to the inside pocket of his blazer—the one Lexi had had stitched with his initials.
Her initials were there too.
He didn't know why he was reaching for it now. He didn't even know how he knew it was there. But something about the feel of the fabric sparked a jolt through his chest.
"Lexi," he said before he could stop himself.
She looked up. Hope flickered in her eyes.
Molly's grip on his arm tightened. "Come on, babe. Don't make a scene."
He blinked; the moment gone.
Lexi blinked too, and then she nodded. Just once. Like she understood.
But she didn't.
Because how could she possibly understand that he had no idea why his heart was breaking?