Chapter 1

When I fell into the ocean, my childhood sweetheart, Ethan, swam towards my cousin, leaving me to be swept away by the waves.

My family thought I was dead.

Ethan married my cousin, Tiffany.

Three years later, I returned home, and my parents’ first reaction wasn’t joy.

Instead, they were worried about upsetting Tiffany and causing her to have a miscarriage.

My mom's eyes darted away, and my dad’s face held a warning.

After Tiffany moved in, my family forbade me from arguing with her, including over Ethan, whom I loved.

But they didn't know I'd lost my memory after falling into the sea.

I now had a fiancé who loved me and a new family.

It was the third year since I fell into the ocean.

My mom, eyes swollen, took my hand.

“Elara, don’t blame them. No one expected you to come back.”

I pulled my hand back, feeling a little awkward.

My dad slammed his hand on the table.

“The search teams went out multiple times and found nothing. It’s your own bad luck; who else is there to blame?”

“Tiffany married Ethan and she's pregnant. When they get here, don’t say anything to upset her.”

I looked at the fork that had fallen to the floor.

A little lost.

Ethan?

It sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t recall much.

After drifting at sea for three days and three nights, Liam Hayes saved me.

He said I hit a reef and lost my memory. It wasn't until recently that I recalled I might have a family.

I hadn’t planned on coming back.

But Liam’s family was so loving.

They didn’t believe their own parents would abandon a child, unless by accident.

Watching my mom guiltily turn her head away and my dad’s unwelcoming expression,

I instinctively felt that my subconscious had been right.

But, it didn't matter.

I'd already died once.

I’ll love those who love me, and ignore those who don't.

I said calmly,

“Okay, I won’t say anything out of line.”

My dad choked on his words.

My mom put some food on my plate, sighing.

“Elara, these past three years haven’t been easy for anyone.”

“Tiffany was with us all this time, and Ethan felt so guilty about not saving you.”

“You don’t know how much they suffered. Ethan lost over twenty pounds, and Tiffany forced a smile to reassure us.”

I picked out the cilantro I didn't like.

Suddenly, I missed the meals Liam’s mom used to make.

Half an hour later, the guests finally arrived.

Tiffany Thompson touched her slightly bulging stomach, her face filled with guilt.

“Mom, Dad, it’s all my fault.”

“My stomach hurt a bit before we left, and Ethan was too worried. He insisted we go to the hospital to get it checked.”

Seeing her pale face, my mom quickly asked Ethan,

“What did the doctor say? Is everything okay?”

I glanced over inadvertently.

Ethan’s eyes were a little red, and he quickly avoided my gaze.

How strange.

I said I didn’t remember Ethan.

My mom thought I was just being stubborn.

She said we used to be inseparable, like two peas in a pod, even sharing a bed when we were kids.

“Elara, let’s talk things out nicely and part amicably. It’s better for everyone.”

She said "good" so many times.

But she never once asked:

“You were missing for three years; how have you been out there?”

When I was rescued, my phone and wallet weren’t with me. Did I have money?

What did I eat, what did I wear, how did I live?

I wasn't complaining.

There was no disappointment.

The Hayes family had been so good to me.

So good that I had come to believe I had always belonged to their family.

I was just curious.

How could parents be so cold to their own child?

From the moment she entered, Tiffany kept looking my way, noticing my glance at Ethan.

Her expression grew agitated, mixed with a hint of sorrow.

“Elara, I’m so sorry.”

“It was an accident when I pulled you into the water. I thought Ethan would save you first.”

Ethan’s eyes completely panicked, afraid to look at me.

My dad interrupted.

“Tiffany, you don’t need to apologize to her!”

“Elara must have pushed you first, and you lost your balance, pulling her down with you.”

“It was only right for Ethan to save you first.”

My mom gently stroked Tiffany's head.

“Silly girl, Elara and you are good sisters; she won’t hold it against you.”

“Rest easy and take care of your pregnancy. Your uncle Richard and I will handle everything.”

Oh, my God.

I knew I was terrified of water. Why would I even go to the beach?

Turns out, someone pulled me into the water!

Seeing that I didn’t speak,

Tiffany’s face turned stark white, as if she had genuinely done something terribly wrong to me.

But, if she truly wanted to apologize.

How was it that every time she spoke, my family blamed me for being difficult?

I didn’t remember what she did.

But the feeling was incredibly uncomfortable.

My dad’s voice grew even angrier.

“You’re back now, so let’s turn the page on this. No one is allowed to bring it up again.”

“Okay!”

My dad was terrifying.

He had none of Robert Hayes’ gentle demeanor.

My mom was biased too.

I, the victim, hadn't even spoken, and she’d already easily forgiven them on my behalf.

Whatever!

Anyway, I didn’t remember anything.

Perhaps, thanks to her pulling me, I completely forgot about my parents.