They Billed Me For Eighteen Years Of Love And I Sold Every Memory Chapter 05

The ballroom fell dead silent.

The smile on Maren’s face locked in place.

“Evie, enough of this.”

She reached for me. Without thinking, I stepped back.

That one step hit her like a slap. Every bit of color left her face.

It used to be that no matter how badly they hurt me, all she had to do was open her arms and I’d run straight

into them.

Now all she got from me was a wary stare.

“Ma’am, please don’t touch me.”

Maren’s hand hung in the air.

“What did you just call me?”

“Ma’am.”

I glanced around at the people closing in on me.

“Excuse me, but do I know you people?”

Bennett snapped out of it first.

“Alright, drop the act, Evelyn.”

He shoved the bike key into my palm.

“Look.”

“I got you that bike for your sixteenth birthday. You scraped your knees raw learning to ride it. Who stayed

out there with you all summer?”

I looked down at it.

It was rusted through, with dust caked along the edges.

“Sorry. I don’t remember.”

Bennett’s temper snapped.

“You’re seriously still playing this game?”

He grabbed me by the shoulders and made me face him.

“I’m your brother, Evie!”

I wrenched myself out of his grip, and the key slipped from my fingers.

It hit the floor with a sharp clatter, and he froze.

Adrian pulled up a photo of the two of us on his phone.

In it, I was leaning on his shoulder, smiling so hard my eyes crinkled.

“Evie, really look.”

“This was the day we got engaged. You told me you’d never marry anyone else.”

I looked at it for a few seconds.

“Okay, that’s me.”

Hope barely had time to flicker in Adrian’s eyes before I handed the phone back.

“I just don’t know who you are.”

“And a picture doesn’t mean I still want to marry you.”

Adrian’s grip on the phone went tight.

Graham’s patience finally ran out.

“That’s enough!”

“You’d pretend not to know your own parents and your fiancé, just to make us feel guilty? What is wrong with

you?”

“Apologize to Tessa. Right now. Then you’re coming home with us.”

He barked orders out of habit, sure I’d fold the way I always had.

Instead, I stared at him, confused.

“Why would I apologize to her?”

Tessa stepped forward, tears welling up exactly on cue.

“Evelyn, this is my fault. You sold your memories because of me.”

“Blame me all you want.”

“I’ll give the money back. Just please don’t pretend you don’t know Mom and Dad.”

She reached for my hand. I pulled it away.

“And who are you?”

Tessa burst into tears.

A murmur rippled through the room.

Graham went purple with rage.

“Selling your memories is no excuse to forget your manners.”

“So you don’t remember us. Fine.”

“But you don’t get to just erase legal records, blood ties, and an engagement because you ‘re throwing a

tantrum.”

“Actually, Mr. Whitmore.”

The voice came from the doorway, perfectly calm.

The memory bank rep, who had lingered near the entrance, stepped back into the center of the room.

“Legally speaking, she isn’t related to you by blood at all.”

“She’s also an adult. Whether the engagement goes forward is her call.”

Graham whipped around.

“This is a family matter!”

“It used to be.”

She took the sealed envelope back from his assistant.

“But you refused to look at the transaction details. And when my client showed clear signs of permanent memory loss, you accused her of putting on an act.”

“To protect my client, I’m obligated to explain what happened to the family members here.”

She ripped the seal open in front of everyone.

A thick stack of records slid out.

A notice in bold print sat at the top of the stack.

[All core emotional memories have been permanently transferred. These transactions are final. Memories

cannot be bought back.]

Maren stared at the words, her lips shaking.

“What does ‘core emotional memories’ mean?”

The rep looked up and spoke slowly, every word deliberate.

“It means she sold every shred of proof that she ever loved you.”