AUTHOR'S POV

Caden's apartment,
08:33 am

The ringtone of Caden's mobile was disturbing his sleep for the last ten minutes. He was sleeping on his stomach, his face was buried under a soft pillow. He searched for his mobile around his bed without opening his eyes. Soon he found it and swipe his thumb on the screen before placing the mobile in his ear. " Hmm".

" Caden she woke up". Caden heard a man speaking from another side of his phone.

" Who the f*ck are you?". He asked in his morning voice.

" I'm Draven. Doctor Draven. Your friend. The girl you brought got her consciousness".

" WHAT?". He immediately sat up running his fingers in his already messed up hair.

" Yes. She's asking for her guardian. What do I do?". Draven asked panickily.

" What else she's saying?". Caden asked.

" She-she lost her memories. She doesn't even remember her name".

Caden closed his eyes shut. His heart shrunken because It's all because of him. 'I should reach out to her guardians as soon as possible. F*ck whatever Elijah has planned'.

" Caden". Draven's voice broke the chain of his thoughts.

" I'll be there in a few minutes". With that, he ended the call.

He took a quick shower, wore something casual, grabbed his car keys, and silently left the apartment. As soon as he reached Grace's ward his feet froze as the door was slightly open. She was sitting on the bed resting her back on the headrest.

A guy was sitting on a tool next to her his back was facing the door but he seemed familiar. Grace was paying her whole attention to him with crashed eyebrows but suddenly her eyes caught Caden standing at the door.

Elijah followed her gaze. "See I told you he'll forget to bring flowers". Elijah said raising his hand indicating for her to give him a high five but got ignored as her eyes were stuck on Caden.

Caden being unaware of their previous conversation forced a smile at them while entering the ward.

" Flower?". Caden said facing Elijah.

" A flower bouquet for your girlfriend Caden. It's a formality to visit someone in the hospital". Elijah said loudly shaking his head, showing disappointment. " I always have to teach him all these. He's inane you know". Elijah added turning his gaze towards the fuddle girl.

" My girlfriend?". Caden muttered scratching the back of his neck.

Elijah leisurely turned his totally done face towards Caden. But he was still puzzled. " Have you lost your memory too Caden?". Elijah faked a chuckle. " Let me introduce you. She's Elly. Your girlfriend. You both got into an accident a week ago. She was in a coma. You have been worried as hell for her. Now she's awake but has lost her memories. I hope this helped". Elijah skillfully explained what he has been telling Grace.

Caden got the whole fake story and unwantedly join him because there's no other way that Elijah left for him. " I was just- the news of her gaining her consciousness was so overwhelming. I- how are you, Elly?". Caden asked looking at her who only nodded.

For her Caden was a stranger he indeed is but the way Elijah lied to her made her believe the fake story. Because for her, what she was witnessing is the truth. Only if she knows it's nothing but a lie.

" I think you both need some privacy". Elijah's voice broke their eye contact. " I'll be outside". With that, Elijah stood up to go outside but Caden grabbed his wrist.

" I swear to God Elijah, I-".

" Just go with the flow. Don't f*ck up". Elijah said petting Caden's shoulder before leaving the ward.

Caden stopped himself from cursing and forced a smile at the girl. He sat on the tool next to her. She followed his figure with her eyes innocently. She doesn't know shit except for Elijah's lies.

"Where's my parents?". She asked lowly.

Sweat formed on Caden's forehead at her question. " They are dead ". He mentally slapped himself for the stupid answer.

She looked down at her fingers. Putting some force on her brain but that was blank. There's no memory left to regain. She closed her eyes shut and touched her banded temple feeling a sharp pain.

Caden sat across the bed and took her fragile palm in his big one. She opened her eyes only to see him sitting so close to her. " Don't stress so much. You need rest okay?". He caressed her cheek softly.

She nodded hesitantly. She wanted to push him away. She's still the same smart Grace she was a week ago but there was something in his big orbs that screamed that his affection isn't fake.

Both of their attention got pulled together the door as a nurse strike before entering inside. Caden left the ward to give them some privacy and straight went inside Draven's room. He slammed the door open only to see Draven palming his forehead while Elijah was sitting in from of him resting his legs on Draven's table.

" WHY THE HELL YOU ADDRESSED ME AS HER BOYFRIEND?". Caden yelled facing Elijah.

Elijah rolled his chair to face Caden. " Because I don't think any girl will get agree to live with three boys in an apartment if one of them isn't her boyfriend".

" Wait. You told her that she lives with us?". Caden's eyes widened.

" Yeah, in your room". Elijah replied nonchalantly. " Because I, Scott and she won't fit on one bed. Even if I manage to kick Scott out. So what? She'll lose her virginity in a few minutes if she'll be left alone with me". Elijah smirked.

" AND WOULD YOU F*CKING MIND TELLING ME HOW YOU KNOW THAT SHE'S A VIRGIN?". Caden growled.

"This reports". Elijah threw a file on the table in front of him and stood up. He tilted his head slipping his hands into his pocket. " It also says that Caden Tarros has donated his blood to her". Elijah added pocking his tongue in his inner cheek.

Caden's head snapped towards Draven's sweating self. " WHY THE F*CK YOU WROTE MY REAL NAME?".

" What is your fake name then". Draven asked making Caden run his palms on his face.

" Lady Gaga". Saying that Elijah chuckled but immediately straighten his face as Caden shoot a glare at him.

" What's next?". Caden asked.

" I'll make our apartment presentable until this evening because Draven isn't gonna help her to hide Elly here anymore". Elijah said in a serious tone. " Get her documents. Fill her bills. Wipe all the evidence like she has never been here. I'll be back with a dress for her to change in. I also have to explain everything to that robotic Scott. He's gonna freak out ". Elijah added leaving Draven's room.

City hospital,
04:33 pm

As per the planning, Elijah came back to the hospital with a dress for Grace along with Scott who understood what has both of his friends doing from last week. Caden also wiped all her evidence successfully and went to pay the bill.

He was busy paying the hospital bill on the counter but suddenly two bulky men entered the hospital. One of them was Dash, Hunter's right hand.

Dash tapped his big palm on the counter table gaining the receptionist's attention. " How can I help you, sir?". She asked lifting her head.

" Is there any patient named Grace Jones admitted here?". He asked.

"Wait a minute sir?". She replied searching the name on her laptop. " No sir, there is no one under this name". She answered looking up at him.

" Have you seen her?". Dash asked showing Grace's photograph.

Caden's blood ran cold when he saw Grace's photograph in Dash's hand.

• We all lie, and that's the truth.

Chapter published on: 2 February 2022