He Deserved the Price of Choosing Her Over Me

Third Person's POV

"How could I possibly remember? Simply judging by how broke you look, I doubt you could afford any of these expensive things. You also said I used to like you. So if those aren't from me, then who else could’ve given you all this?" He arrogantly answered.

Then crossing his arms, he scoffed, "But don't get any ideas. I don’t care what you do—what’s in the past is in the past. I’ll never fall for you again. My heart belongs to Eileen now. After all, we’ve been childhood sweethearts since the beginning."

'Childhood sweethearts?' Starlet echoed inwardly, hitting her like a slap.

She had no idea there was a deeper connection between them. If that was the case, then what about the day he saved her all those years ago? Was it really a coincidence, or had it been planned all along?

Everything they’d shared—the warmth, the laughter, the whispered promises—how much of it had been real? And how much of it had been a lie?

The memories and the betrayal twisted together like claws, tearing through her already shattered heart.

She turned her cold gaze to Eileen. The woman was dressed to perfection, her fox-like eyes filled with smug satisfaction. Then, as if to drive the knife deeper, Eileen wrapped her arms around Aldrich’s neck and kissed him.

"Aldrich, didn’t you say you weren’t close to her? Why is she still here?" she pouted.

Aldrich chuckled, pinching her nose playfully. "Relax, she’s not living in our villa. She stays next door."

And he wasn’t wrong.

Ever since Aldrich lost his memory, he had refused to acknowledge his relationship with Starlet. He had even ordered the servants to throw out her belongings.

At the time, she had been relieved that three months ago, he had put a villa and a sports car under her name. But looking back now, it was clear—it had all been premeditated.

Ignoring the couple, Starlet turned and walked away.

Aldrich’s gaze followed her retreating figure, an uneasy feeling creeping into his chest. His heart pounded erratically, like something important was slipping through his fingers.

Something wasn’t right.

'Starlet hates Eileen. Shouldn’t she be jealous? Angry? Shouldn’t she be confronting me, demanding an explanation? Why is she so calm?' Aldrich wondered.

After a brief pause, he assumed, 'Could it be… she's only holding back because I've lost my memory? Is she only suppressing her emotions for my sake?'

Even so, a sharp pang of guilt still hit him.

As such, he decided that once he was done having fun, he would make it up to her. He would spend the rest of his life making her the happiest woman in the world.

That evening, Starlet took a walk down the quiet streets, holding onto Bowie’s leash.

Bowie, a golden retriever, had been Aldrich’s first birthday gift to her. Over the past ten years, they had raised him like their own child.

Although she had thrown away everything else, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon him.

As they strolled along the familiar path, she waited until the streets were empty before unclipping the leash and letting Bowie run free.

Watching him sprint around with boundless energy, a small smile tugged at her lips for the first time that day.

But just as she was about to call him back, a sudden blinding light made her raise her hand to shield her eyes.

And then a loud thud followed by a sharp yelp tore through the night.

Starlet froze.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Bowie lying in a pool of blood.

Her heart clenched painfully, and she scrambled forward, her hands shaking as she scooped him into her arms.

"Oh no! Aldrich, I… I hit a dog! I didn’t know it was Starlet’s! I didn’t mean to!"

Eileen stepped out of the car, her voice laced with feigned innocence as she clung to Aldrich’s arm.

But under the glow of the streetlights, Starlet saw it—the amusement in Eileen's eye, the barely concealed satisfaction. She had done it on purpose.

Knowing that, rage burned through Starlet's veins.

Without a word, she stood up, marched toward Eileen, and slapped her across the face.