The CEO WHO Erased Me

The Picture That Shouldn’t Exist

Chapter three

I didn’t move

For a long time, I just stood there staring at the words at the back of the photograph like my brain refused to process them

This was taken the night before he chose to erase you

Erase me

Again

That word

Why did everyone keep using that word like it meant something real

My fingers tightened around the picture as my eyes moved back to the front

It was really me

No doubt about it

Same face

Same smile

But something about it felt strange

Unfamiliar

Like I was looking at a version of myself I didn’t recognize

I looked… happy

Not just normal happy

The kind of happy that comes from being completely in love

And Sebastian

He was standing beside me

Closer than just “friends”

Closer than colleagues

His hand rested lightly at my waist

Possessive

Protective

Intimate

My chest tightened

No

This didn’t make sense

If we were like this…

Then how did we end up like strangers

Why would he walk away like that

Why would he pretend not to know me

Unless

My head started to hurt again

Sharp

Sudden

I gasped, gripping the edge of the bed as flashes hit me

Music

Lights

Laughter

That same dress I was wearing in the picture

Sebastian’s voice, softer this time

“Stay with me tonight”

My breath hitched

The image shattered

Gone

Just like that

I blinked rapidly, trying to steady myself

“What is happening to me…” I whispered

My heart was racing now

This wasn’t normal

These weren’t just random thoughts

They felt real

Too real

Like memories trying to break through

My phone buzzed suddenly

I flinched

For a second, I didn’t want to check

But I already knew

Unknown number

Of course

I answered immediately this time

“What did you do to me?”

Silence

Then that same low voice

“I didn’t do anything”

“Then explain this” I snapped, holding the photo even though he couldn’t see it

“You found it already”

My stomach dropped

“So you’re the one who left it”

“Yes”

My grip tightened

“Why”

A pause

Like he was choosing his words carefully

“Because you deserve to know the truth”

My heart pounded harder

“Then say it”

Another pause

Longer this time

“You were in love with him”

“I know that”

“No… you don’t”

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten

“What does that mean”

“You don’t remember how deep it was… how far things went… how dangerous it became”

Dangerous

That word again

My breathing slowed slightly

“What are you talking about”

But deep down, I already knew I wasn’t ready for the answer

“He didn’t just leave you, Amelia”

My heart skipped

“Then what happened”

Silence

Then

“He chose to forget you too”

My breath caught

“That doesn’t make sense”

“Doesn’t it?”

My mind raced

“No one can just choose to forget someone”

A soft laugh came from the other end

“You’d be surprised what people are capable of when they’re desperate”

My chest tightened painfully

Desperate

“For what” I whispered

But the line went dead

Again

I stared at my phone, frustration building inside me

Why did he keep doing that

Dropping pieces and disappearing

Like he was playing with me

Or worse… protecting me

I looked back at the photo in my hand

There had to be more

There had to be something else

I turned it over again, running my fingers across the surface like I might find something hidden

Nothing

Just the same words

But something felt off

I frowned slightly and held it closer to the light

That’s when I noticed it

A small mark at the corner

Almost invisible

My heart skipped

I moved quickly to my table and grabbed a pen, pressing lightly against the edge

The paper shifted

There was something inside

My pulse quickened as I carefully peeled it open

A thin piece of folded paper slipped out

My hands were shaking now

This wasn’t just a photo

It was a message

I unfolded it slowly

Very slowly

Like I was afraid of what I might see

Three lines

Just three

Written in handwriting that felt strangely familiar

“If you’re reading this, it means something went wrong”

My breath caught

“Do not trust anyone, especially him”

My chest tightened painfully

“I didn’t have a choice”

I froze

Completely

Because I knew that handwriting

I knew it

Even if I couldn’t explain how

It was mine

I dropped the paper like it burned

“No…”

That didn’t make sense

Why would I write something like that

Why would I warn myself about him

Unless

A loud knock on my door made me jump

My heart slammed against my chest

I turned slowly toward the door

Another knock

Harder this time

My throat went dry

“I know you’re inside, Amelia”

My breath stopped

That voice

Sebastian

What was he doing here

My mind raced

The photo

The note

The call

Everything hit at once

“I just want to talk” he said, his voice calmer now

But something about it didn’t feel calm

It felt controlled

Too controlled

I looked down at the photo still in my hand

Then at the note on the floor

Then back at the door

My heart was pounding so loud I could hear it

“Open the door” he said softly

And for some reason…

That sounded more like a warning than a request