The young woman was familiar; she had been with Clair during their encounter in Australia. Zach remembered her name as Per. However, the young man beside her was a stranger to him. Despite this, Zach noted his friendly demeanor, contrasting with Roy's, though equally handsome. Intrigued by their striking appearances, Zach couldn't help but wonder about the family they hailed from, each possessing such unique and extraordinary beauty.
"Zach, meet Per and Ark. We all traveled to Lynchburg together. They were once your friends," Clair explained, shedding light on their connection.
Feeling uncertain about how to respond upon discovering that the two strangers before him were once close to him, he nervously broke the silence. "Um... Hi. Honestly, I'm not sure what to say right now," he admitted.
Per rose from her seat and embraced him. "I'm glad to see you're doing well," she said, smiling warmly. "I've missed having a little brother."
He returned her smile, a hint of shyness evident as he did so.
"Hey, Zach, it's great to see you again," Ark greeted warmly.
Zach glanced at him, uncertainty still evident in his expression as he struggled to find the right words.
"We understand you're feeling confused right now since you don't remember us. We're truly sorry for how things went down in Lynchburg," Ark explained sympathetically.
"I try not to think about it too much now, but I believe everything happens for a reason," Zach replied, his words thoughtful.
Ark smiled and nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
"Please, take a seat," Per invited, leading him to the chair beside Ark.
"I'll go make some tea," Clair offered before heading to the kitchen.
"I'm sure you've got a lot on your mind," Per said to Zach, a hint of sadness in her smile. "You probably don't want to hear another apology, but I still feel the need to say I'm sorry. That was... a very tough situation for all of us... but especially for Clair... I hope you can forgive her."
"Per," Ark interjected, gently reminding her to be cautious with her words.
"She also went through a lot because of the choice she made for your sake," Per persisted.
Ark reached out, grasping her hand. "Hey, I don't think Clair would want you to mention that to him."
"Don't worry. I never considered blaming her. I didn't see myself as the victim either. She wasn't the only one making decisions in our relationship. It happened because we both wanted it. So, if there was a problem, I played a part in it too," Zach explained, then glanced downward. "When we ran into each other in Australia, the reason for your reaction upon seeing me was because I ruined the sacrifice you made for my sake, didn't I?" He looked at them anxiously. "Did you bring me here to beg me to forget about her again?"
Per chuckled softly. "Sorry, I've seen that side of you before," she said, sighing with a smile. "We're not gonna do that, Zach... When she left you, it was like a light went out in her. I can't bear to see her like that again, especially now that she's found the energy to live her life again because of you."
Zach was speechless, feeling overwhelmed by Per's words.
Per smiled warmly at him. "If things had gone differently then, I wouldn't want anyone else to love her but you... and so far, I haven't been wrong."
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Trapped Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach woke up with an addled mind and empty heart a few days after his surgery. He seemed to feel that his life had begun again. As he continued with what he thought was his normal life, fragments of his lost past slowly b...
