Bianca Jennings took a light sip of the wine in her glass and said unhurriedly, "When you really remember, maybe you won’t be saying that."

"Shut up! I make my own decisions about my life, I’m not letting you people act like you know what’s best!"

Seeing that Miles Sterling was getting a little worked up, Bianca Jennings slowly put down her wine glass, stood up and said, "Come on then, I’ll take you somewhere."

...

Under the night sky, the car drove over the river-spanning bridge toward the opposite bank.

Bianca Jennings turned her head to glance at Miles Sterling, who had been staring out the window, and asked softly, "Feel familiar?"

Miles Sterling frowned and didn’t speak.

He had been across this bridge a few days ago. There was a strange sense of familiarity, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t remember.

Bianca Jennings pulled up at the foot of an apartment building on the far side of the river. Watching Miles Sterling get out and look around the area, she heard him ask, "Where is this?"

Locking the car, Bianca Jennings headed toward the building as she said, "You lived here for quite a while. Not even the slightest impression?"

Miles Sterling frowned in confusion. Because he had no impression at all, he couldn’t help wondering if Bianca Jennings was lying to him.

Bianca Jennings led Miles Sterling into the elevator. Only after pressing the floor button did she explain, "This is where you used to live with Vanessa. A lot must have happened here."

When the elevator reached the floor, Miles Sterling stepped out hesitantly. Seeing Bianca Jennings enter the code on the digital lock with practiced ease, he asked in puzzlement, "If this was where she and I lived, how come you know the password?"

Bianca Jennings chuckled lightly and explained, "Vanessa told me."

Miles Sterling pressed on, "You two are close?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Bianca Jennings pushed the door open and answered flatly, "Not really."

Miles Sterling followed, standing in the doorway and peering inside.

The cabinet by the entryway was covered in dust; it was obvious no one had lived here for a long time.

"Come in and have a look. There should be a lot of memories of you and her here."

Leaning on his cane, Miles Sterling cautiously took a step and walked into the apartment.

Although the place was thick with dust, traces of someone having lived here were still visible.

Even so, the sight still felt unfamiliar to Miles Sterling—until he saw a guest room tucked in the corner of the first floor, and suddenly images began to overlap in his mind.

It was as if he had often stood at this very angle in the past, looking at that door.

It really did feel like this place existed somewhere in his memory; Bianca Jennings hadn’t lied to him.

Once he confirmed that, Miles Sterling finally let go of his doubts and, with a flicker of hope at recovering his memories, quickened his pace and walked toward that door.

Whether it was the moment he’d just stood there staring at the door, or now as he pushed the folding door open, it all felt like something he had done many times before.

The instant the door opened, his heartbeat inexplicably sped up, as if this room had some sort of special power tugging at his emotions.

Inside, there was a desk with painting tools and paper laid out on it, a bay window scattered with puzzle pieces, and an empty bed...

It was as if traces of Vanessa’s presence could be seen in every corner of the room.

All of a sudden, a scene flashed through his mind: a girl with the hem of her skirt stained in fresh blood, curled up in the corner of the wall, trembling...

A sharp wrench of pain seized Miles Sterling’s head. He dropped his cane, and, ignoring the dust on the floor, collapsed to his knees. With trembling hands he fumbled in his pocket for the pill box Gwen Grant had prepared for him.

He hurriedly shook out two tablets, shoved them into his mouth, and swallowed them dry.

Bianca Jennings watched with a frown. Only when Miles Sterling seemed to ease a little did she walk over and ask, "What did you just take?"