Since I had made up my mind, Gabrielle stopped trying to persuade me and asked, “The wine is in the safe. Do you know the code?”
I shook my head. “Let’s just try.”
1 instinctively entered my birthday, and the safe clicked open.
I froze for a moment, unsure how to feel.
It really was my birthday.
I had no memory of the past few years. My mind was completely blank. I had no idea what my relationship with Jonathan was really like.
All I knew were the things that had happened after I woke up. From what I saw, he didn’t love me at all. Whenever it was between me and Alicia, he always chose Alicia without hesitation.
However, the small details of everyday life told a different story. Jonathan and I weren’t just a couple who
hated each other.
There were many signs that we had some truly sweet moments.
The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. But even if I asked Gabrielle, she wouldn’t
know much. After all, she had stopped talking to me not long after I got married.
All I could do now was rely on bits and pieces, hoping to piece together the truth of our marriage on my
own.
Inside the safe was a bottle of pink wine. Compared to the rows of elaborate bottles around it, this one
looked simple and pure. Its pink glow came entirely from the liquid inside, making it look even more
radiant.
“No wonder this wine is called First Love,” I murmured in admiration. “It really suits the name just from
how it looks.”
Gabrielle helped me pick a few more bottles to go with it. We packed them carefully in a wooden gift box
and left the villa.
I stood outside La Doghouse, staring at the big sign, unsure of what to make of it.
From what I knew, this was Frederick’s place, and it was the biggest bar in Harthville. Still, I couldn’t
believe this was the name he chose.
Gabrielle asked me, “What’s wrong? Let’s go in.”
“Who came up with this name?” I asked.
“You did,” Gabrielle said helplessly. “Did you forget that too?”
Chapter 41
I was surprised. “How could I have named it? I’ve never been close to Frederick.”
“You weren’t,” she replied. “That’s why we were all shocked when he actually used a name you blurted out
as the name of his bar.”
Gabrielle pulled me inside, and we walked down a long hallway until we reached a private room.
“None of us had a clue he was into you back then,” she went on. “We were all just hanging out at some random school mixer. You were sitting quietly in the corner, and he barely said a word the whole night. Then out of nowhere, one of his friends asked what he was gonna name his new bar. He looked straight at you and asked for ideas. You just shrugged and said, ‘Nothing beats your own doghouse.‘ And boom, he actually named it La Doghouse.”
I chuckled dryly. “He’s pretty casual about things…”
Just as we reached the door of the private room, a woman in a pink dress stepped out and blocked our
way.
“Sorry, this area isn’t open to just anyone.”
She was tall–about 5’9“-with high heels and a commanding presence that made Gabrielle and me look small and delicate.
I smiled and said, “Sorry, we’re here to see Frederick. Could you let him know?”
She shook her head. “No. Mr. Guzman said no visitors.”
Gabrielle stepped forward. “Tell him Elise is here. He’ll let us in.”
The woman let out a cold laugh and glanced at her watch. “Elise? I’ve never heard of any Elise close to the boss…”
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