Chapter 997:

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I decided he needed something to pull his attention elsewhere. Putting on an exaggeratedly jealous expression, I teased, “What is this? You’re still thinking about another woman while sitting at home with me? Should I start getting jealous?”

He froze. Then a helpless smile slowly replaced the tension on his face.

Before I could react, he stood and lifted me straight into his arms. I gasped, instinctively looping my arms around his neck as he carried me toward the bedroom. He lowered me carefully onto the mattress, bent down, and brushed a gentle kiss against my forehead.

“I’ll finish a little work in the study and come back soon,” he whispered.

I nodded and watched him disappear through the doorway. For the first time that evening, my heart settled.

Iոst𝗮𝘯𝗍 𝘢𝖼c𝖾s𝘀 о𝗇 𝗴𝘢l𝗻𝗼𝘃e𝗹ѕ.𝖼𝗈𝗺

This was all I’d ever wanted. Nothing extravagant. Nothing complicated. Just an ordinary life filled with quiet moments like this.

While I waited for him, I showered and changed before climbing into bed. I leaned against the headboard and reached for my phone, intending to check my messages.

Before I could open anything, an unfamiliar number appeared on the screen. I stared at it for a moment before answering, “Hello?”

Silence lingered briefly. Then a woman’s voice came through, thick and slightly slurred. “Am I speaking to Miss Riley?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

She didn’t answer directly. “Someone wants to talk to you. He’ll be contacting you soon.”

The line went dead before I could ask another question.

I lowered the phone and stared at the screen, completely confused. Maybe it was someone connected to the studio. I sent Noah a quick message. “I just received a call from an unknown number. The woman said someone was trying to reach me. Is this related to one of our suppliers?”

His response arrived almost immediately. “No. I have no idea who that could be. Besides, Alpha specifically told everyone not to involve you in work anymore. Lianne, you need to rest.”

I couldn’t help smiling at the message. Ethan’s concern touched me, even though part of me still struggled with being completely removed from the career I’d worked so hard to build.

I sighed, placed the phone beside me, and reached to switch off the bedside lamp.

Before my fingers touched the switch, the device vibrated again. The same number.

My brows knitted together as I answered. This time, a man’s voice came through. “Lianne?”

My entire body went still.

Something about that voice struck a buried memory. It was familiar — far too familiar. I couldn’t immediately place it, but the cadence, the slight inflection in his words, all of it stirred something from years ago.

The caller seemed to notice my silence. “What? You can’t recognize me anymore?” he asked, sounding almost amused. “I’ve never forgotten you.”

My fingers tightened around the phone. My mind raced as I tried to connect the voice to the memory forming in my head. A name surfaced. But it made no sense. Why would he suddenly contact me after disappearing for so long?

I hesitated before finally asking, “Brian?”

“Yeah.”

His confirmation sent a jolt through me.

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