CHAPTER 3 : THE FAITH
1262 Words
The man who had saved her earlier when she fell unconscious at the hotel.
He was unconscious. His shirt was torn. Bruises marked his chest and side.
Without thinking, Bella opened her car door, lifted him with effort, and drove him home.
Next morning when Edward wakes up.
He stirred. His eyelids twitched, then slowly opened.
He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, the soft cream-colored sheets, the sound of birds outside the window.
“Where… am I?”
He sat up, groaning. His chest ached. He pulled open the top of the shirt he wore and saw the bruises. But nothing looked familiar.
Just then, Bella walked in holding a cup of tea. “You’re up!”
He turned to look at her. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt, her eyes wide with relief—and a bit of panic when she realized he was half-naked.
She yelped and threw his white shirt at him. “Put that on! What are you doing?”
He smirked. “Do you know me?”
Bella rolled her eyes but blushed. “Yeah. Kind of. You saved me a few hours ago when I was unconscious at the hotel beside the pool. That was my first kiss, you know…”
He raised an eyebrow. “So you brought me home to sleep with me?”
Bella gasped. “No! Of course not. I found you drunk and unconscious on the side of the road. I figured since you saved me, I’d return the favor.”
He leaned back, still smirking. “And that’s it?”
She held up something on her finger.
A silver ring.
It matched the one on his own finger.
“I found this,” she said. “Where did you get yours?”
He stared at his ring.
Pain shot through his head. He winced and gripped his temple.
“I… I don’t know,” he muttered. “I think… I’ve lost my memory.”
Bella's face softened with concern. “You don’t remember anything? Not even your name? Where you live?”
He shook his head. “No. Just this strange feeling in my chest.
She reached out gently. “Hey… it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out together. I’ll call the police. They can help.”
He grabbed her hand, eyes wide with fear. “No. Don’t. Please. I… I don’t know why, but I feel like I can trust you.”
Bella hesitated. Then nodded. “Okay. You can stay here… until we figure this out.”
She smiled. “In the meantime, can I call you something? How about Mr. Memory?”
He gave a tired grin. “Yeah, sure. Mr. Memory works.”
Meanwhile… At the Packhouse
Beta Alex walked briskly into Alpha Edward’s office. He looked tired, restless.
He opened the door, “Alpha, you’re finally back. We’ve been…”
The chair turned.
It was Edwin.
Alex blinked in confusion. “Mr. Edwin? This is Alpha Edward’s office…”
Edwin slowly rose from the Alpha’s leather chair.
“I understand that, Alex,” Edwin replied. “However, a pack cannot function without its Alpha. And a company cannot run without its CEO. As Vice President, it’s my responsibility to step up when situations like this arise.”
Alex straightened his back, concern in his eyes. “You don’t have to worry, Mr. Edwin. I’ll inform the search team to expand the search radius. We’ll spread the word, we’ll find out where….”
Before he could finish, Edwin’s voice rose sharply, cutting him off.
“Are you trying to destroy my family, Alex?” Edwin barked. “What do you think happens if word gets out that our Alpha and CEO has gone missing? The Moon Pack’s stocks will plummet. Investors will panic. The council will question our leadership.”
Alex lowered his gaze, flinching. “I’m sorry, Mr. Edwin. I didn’t think it through.”
Edwin’s voice softened, falsely warm. “You’ve always been loyal. I value that. Now… get me the Moon Pack acquisition files.”
Alex nodded, backing out. “Right away, sir.”
As the door closed behind him, Edwin chuckled to himself and leaned back in the chair again. “Now this, I could get used to it.”
When Bella got home after having a long day.
Bella walked into her apartment, dropping her bag by the door and calling out, “I’m home!”
She stopped at the sight of Mr. Memory—Edward—sitting at the small kitchen table, scarfing down a bowl of noodles like a starving wolf.
The moment he saw her, he said, “I was hungry.”
She laughed, tossing her keys on the counter. “I can see that.
She sat beside him, watching him devour the food.
“Have you always eaten like that?” she teased. “Even as a kid?”
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smiled. “How about a guess?”
Bella smirked. “Well, it’s a good habit. You’ll finish before I even sit down.”
Then he slid a receipt across the table.
Bella glanced at it. “Wait, where did you get money?”
He shrugged. “Found some cash in the cabinet.”
She blinked. “You took money from my dresser? That was my savings. I have nothing left.”
He tilted his head. “Well, I don’t have any money either.”
She sighed and smiled playfully. “Okay. Then what can you do for me?”
He leaned forward. “I don’t know. I can probably do anything.”
Her eyes lit up. “Great. Then you’re coming to work with me tomorrow.”
He nodded.
The next morning, Grace was pacing the ground, eyes scanning every inch.
When she spotted Alex, she rushed over. “Alex! Thank the Goddess. I can’t find my new ring. Edward gave it to me… it’s gone.”
Alex frowned. “Slow down. What happened?”
“I think I lost it around the indoor swimming pool yesterday. Or maybe in the garden…” Her voice trembled. “Edward will hate me if I don’t find it.”
Meanwhile Bella and Edward walked into the employee entrance of the Moon Pack Hotel.
Bella had her cleaning apron on and handed Edward a spare.
Inside the laundry room, Edward blinked at the wall of machines. “So what now?”
Bella smiled. “The laundry.”
He nodded confidently and went to one of the washers. “Looks easy enough.”
But after pressing random buttons, nothing worked.
“I think it’s broken,” he said.
“Did you try turning it on?”
He poked at it again, squinting. “Hmm… maybe the answer’s in here.”
Bella turned her back for one second—and that’s when bubbles exploded.
White, foamy soap began gushing out from under the washing machine, spreading across the floor.
“Edward!” she shouted.
“Okay, I did not do this on purpose,” he defended.
Bella slipped. “Ah!”
He caught her just in time, holding her against his chest. They both froze—eyes locked—soap swirling around them.
breaths quick, hearts racing from something deeper neither of them could name.
“Careful,” he said softly.
Bella nodded, almost breathless. “Thanks…”
Grace and Alex arrived outside just as the foam started creeping through the doorway.
Alex chuckled. “What is going on in there?”
Grace said, “let's take a look.”
- Writer
