Chapter 4Unforgotten Tides

I rushed back immediately.

Sean was lying weakly in a hospital bed. The moment he saw me, his eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, lit up with a brilliant light.

I took the bowl of porridge Victoria handed me and began to feed him, spoonful by spoonful.

"You're a grown man. What are you doing, trying to kill yourself, going on a hunger strike?"

Sean's shoulders slumped, and he looked at me with red-rimmed eyes, his face a mask of misery. "You're the one who left me first."

"I tried to run after you that day, but you know I have no sense of direction. The only roads I know are the ones in Seaside Cove. I walked around in circles until the housekeeper told me I hadn't even made it past the front gate of the estate."

"Sweetheart, can we please go home?" he pleaded. "I can't eat this bloody rare steak, and I can't sleep on a bed that's softer than a cloud. I just want to go home, back to our boat."

As he spoke, tears started to stream down his face.

I knew I had to say no. But looking at him like this, I didn't have the heart.

Victoria tilted her head back, fighting to keep her own tears from falling. She reached out and tucked the blanket around him.

"When you're discharged from the hospital, I'll let Ava take you home," she said, her voice strained. "As long as you listen to the doctors and take your medicine, I'll agree to whatever you want."

She had given in. She wanted her husband by her side, but she never wanted to drive him to his death.

Hearing her words, Sean let out a long sigh of relief and happily ate another large bowl of porridge.

The single tear that Victoria secretly wiped away fell like a drop of lead onto my heart.

Later, as we left the room together, Victoria gave me a self-deprecating smile.

"Don't think you've won, Ava."

"If Adrian hadn't lost his memory, I know, without a doubt, he would have chosen me."

She took a locket from around her neck and opened it to show me the photo inside.

"Here. This was taken in Iceland."

"I told him I wouldn't agree to his proposal until I saw a rainbow aurora. The fool insisted we stay in Iceland for a whole year. He said if we didn't see one, we'd just live there forever."

Her voice cracked. "The plane crash... he was on his way to an auction in France. He was going to buy a sapphire to have it made into a brooch for me... Damn it. If only I didn't like sapphires."

She smiled and tilted her head up, but tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Forget it, Ava. Take Adrian Stephen with you. As far as I'm concerned, he's already dead."

For a moment, I wavered. But my conscience wouldn't let me. Victoria was his wife. They had a son. She had sacrificed so much more than I had, and she and her child needed him more.

Besides, Sean—Adrian—had loved her. He had just forgotten. His dream of taking me to Iceland was born from his love for her.

Stolen things always have to be returned. Better sooner than later.

I looked at Victoria. "Do you have a brick?"

She stared at me, bewildered, but pointed to a construction site next door. "The crew should have some. What do you need a brick for?"

I hurried downstairs with Victoria close behind me. "To get Sean's... Adrian's memory back," I said. "It's how they always do it on TV. One knock causes amnesia, another brings it back."

"You're insane!" Victoria hissed, but I could see a desperate flicker of hope in her eyes.

We went back to the room. Sean was lying in bed, his eyes bright as he watched me.

"Sweetheart, you're back! Did you and that mean woman work things out? When are we going—"

I didn't let him finish. I swung the brick and hit him squarely on the back of his head.

"Hiss..." He clutched his head and passed out.

When he came to, his eyes fluttered open. He looked around, and his gaze settled on someone.

"Honey," he rasped.

But this time, he was looking at Victoria.