[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603134E5B19-31":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},31,13,"Chapter 13: The Unremembered Past","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine Evans, Archer Reynolds' assistant, had a knack for anticipating his needs. Their two months working together had been surprisingly smooth sailing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">What she couldn't quite figure out was her own uncanny ability to read people. It felt like a superpower she’d suddenly developed, yet she had no memory of ever possessing such a talent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Little did she know, this skill was hard-won, meticulously built over three years of navigating life alongside Dante’s grandfather and Dante Williams himself.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her new life was a vibe. She was killing it in a career she loved, and her boss was a total sweetheart.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Basically, her dream life.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only late at night, sometimes, she’d think about the mystery couple who’d funded her education ages ago. She wondered how they were doing now.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She felt so much gratitude towards them, but she’d never managed to find out who they were. Otherwise, she’d totally hit them up with a gift.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That evening, post-shower, Celine hit the hay.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She couldn't shake the image of the guy from last night who’d grabbed her and called her name.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d acted like he knew her, knew her name, and even went as far as calling her his wife.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine was 100% sure she’d never met him, but his intense stare and no-chill tone had still thrown her for a loop.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Whatever, no way she knew someone like that. He must’ve had her confused with someone else.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The next day at work, Archer hit her up to tag along to a dinner party that night.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This was par for the course for Celine by now. She often chauffeured him to business dinners and schmoozefests. Since she was a non-drinker and nobody ever pressured her, these gigs were mostly about showing face and, let's be real, snagging a free meal.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At seven sharp, Celine rolled up with Archer at the booked restaurant. To her surprise, the massive private room was set for just two.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine’s eyes popped as she turned to her boss. \"Whoa... Mr. Reynolds, why just us?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What do you think?\" Archer found her reaction hilarious, knowing she’d totally misinterpreted the situation and decided to mess with her a little.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Can I hazard a guess that this isn't just a dinner date to treat me?\" Celine asked, playing it safe but direct.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just then, a voice echoed from behind. Archer slung an arm around her shoulders, spun her around, and replied with a grin, \"The guests I invited have arrived.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine muttered under her breath, \"Knew it wasn't about me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer let out a chuckle and gave her shoulder a pat. \"Am I not footing the bill? Aren't you eating?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Okay, when he put it like that, he had a point. She was included. Celine nodded, a silent agreement.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As she looked up, she caught Archer greeting the latecomers. \"Mr. Williams, over here. Isabella, you made it too.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Long time no see, Mr. Reynolds.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Isabella Lopez, Dante Williams, and Archer Reynolds? All high school squad goals. Coming from legit families in the same city, they’d been tight before Archer bounced overseas.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But since Isabella and Dante had been a thing back then, Archer hadn't really hung with them as a couple.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Indeed, it has been a while. Must be nearly 24 hours now,\" Dante said, his voice cool as ice. His gaze locked onto the woman in Archer's arm, his brow starting to furrow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After the initial pleasantries, Isabella finally got a good look at the woman by Archer's side. She was pretty cute. Not a head-turner, but with a subtle glow-up and a killer figure, she had that low-key, magnetic charm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But… she looked so familiar.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Isabella gave her a hard stare. \"Celine Evans?! What are you doing here?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You know me?\" Celine’s brow furrowed. Here was another person acting like she should know them, but she had zero recollection. Was she that famous?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You don't remember me?\" Isabella asked, genuinely floored. Seeing the sheer confusion on Celine’s face, she turned to Dante. \"What’s going on?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante’s expression turned frosty as he shrugged. \"Don't ask me. She doesn't remember me either.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Isabella was shook. \"How is that even possible? I get not remembering me, but how could she forget you?!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine was getting seriously confused.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That Dante guy from yesterday had said the exact same thing, as if it was literally wild for her not to know him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And now, this woman, who was clearly Dante’s boo, or at least super close, was also acting like Celine should totally recognize Dante.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This definitely suggested they knew each other, probably with some serious history.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But she genuinely had zero memory of it. Maybe something happened that wiped her slate clean.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Still…\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her gut instinct screamed nope the second she saw these two. So if something did go down in the past, it was probably some seriously sketchy business.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And honestly, she had zero desire to dredge it all up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer watched this awkward reunion tank, and slowly, plots began to hatch in his mind.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But he kept his poker face on.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Everyone, have a seat,\" he said, smooth as silk. \"I've already ordered. Let's just treat this as a chill dinner between old friends. Dig in.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante brushed off the loaded look Isabella shot him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He knew what she was hinting at, but he hadn't figured it out himself yet. Plus, he couldn't quite read Archer Reynolds, so for now, playing it cool and observing was the move.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The dinner was a total vibe killer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Each of the four was lost in their own head, running their own calculations, making for a meal that was pure, strained silence.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After the ordeal, Archer drove Celine home.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272932248]