Chapter 5

Lily looked at Daniel, tears streaming down her face like broken beads, her shoulders trembling violently. "Danny, tell me this isn't true... You said you'd marry me, that you only loved me..."

Her voice was resolute. "I may come from a poor fishing village with little education, but I know right from wrong! I'd never be a homewrecker!"

She covered her face and sobbed, heartbroken.

Daniel watched her cry, her face like a rain-soaked flower, and his heart softened.

He reached out to comfort her, but she shoved his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" Lily cried harder. "You're married now. We... we can't be like we were before... I'm going back to the village and won't bother you anymore..."

She turned toward the door, her steps unsteady, as if she might collapse.

"Lily!" Daniel chased after her, grabbing her wrist, his voice urgent. "Listen to me, it's not what you think..."

"What is it then?" she demanded. "Is the marriage certificate fake? Don't lie to me, Daniel!"

Daniel fell silent, his face flushing and paling.

"Mr. Carter," Sophie interrupted their struggle, "since Miss Harvey cares so much about legitimacy, why don't we go to city hall now and sort it out? Let her see if we're really married."

Daniel's expression grew darker. "What? Afraid to go?" Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Or is that marriage certificate fake?"

Eleanor's eyes widened.

Always sharp, she grasped the situation instantly.

She stared at Daniel in disbelief. "Daniel..."

Daniel's lips moved, but he lowered his head, silently admitting the truth.

Eleanor trembled with rage, unable to speak, and suddenly collapsed.

"Eleanor!" Daniel shouted, rushing to catch her.

The living room erupted into chaos.

Days later, the doorbell rang urgently when Sophie was organizing documents for her move abroad.

Daniel stood outside, his hair disheveled, a shadow of his former confident self.

When Sophie opened the door, the sharp smell of disinfectant hit her.

He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse. "Sophie, the doctor says Eleanor's not doing well."

Sophie remained silent.

"She keeps asking for you," Daniel said, his eyes pleading. "Could you... could you visit her at the hospital? For the sake of... our past."

Sophie looked at him, her gaze settling on the faint scar between his brows.

It came from their childhood, when they climbed trees in the yard, and Daniel got scratched protecting her.

Back then, he'dany press the sweetest candy into her hand.

When bullies targeted her, he'd stand in front, saying, "Sophie, when I grow up, I'll marry you."

Those childhood memories flashed through her mind.

Back then, Daniel's eyes held only her, his love pure and fierce.

But his sudden amnesia changed everything.

Sophie sighed.

In Seaside Village, he gave all his tenderness to Lily Harvey.