I was hypnotized.
Through the haze, I heard the hypnotherapist say, "The session was successful. When Miss Riley wakes up, she'll fall in love with the first person she sees."
Fall in love with the first person I see?
I slowly opened my eyes and saw Ethan Blackwood.
His eyes brimmed with affection. "Autumn, do you remember me? I'm Ethan, your boyfriend of seven years."
I scanned everyone in the hospital room, then nodded as they expected.
But I knew deep down – he wasn't the one.
…
Six months after the hypnosis, Ethan proposed.
I stared at the platinum diamond ring between his fingers, unable to say yes.
Perhaps I stayed silent too long. Ethan's sculptured face showed a flash of displeasure. "You don't want to?"
Pushing down the turbulent emotions inside, I took the ring and slipped it on. "I'm just… overwhelmed with happiness."
"Ethan, didn't you say we've been in love for seven years? I must have been waiting for this proposal all along."
At my words, Ethan's body tensed slightly.
I looked up at him, feigning confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." A shadow crossed his eyes.
I was about to probe further when the doorbell rang.
Ethan turned to answer it.
Standing alone, I gazed down at the ring on my finger – a simple platinum band with a diamond solitaire.
Ethan came from old money and academic prestige. A renowned artist at such a young age, people called him the untouchable ice prince.
I used to paint too, until certain events made it impossible to hold a brush. Now I'm just a middling romance novelist.
By any measure, this marriage would be me honor to marry him.
Yet I couldn't summon any joy. Instead, something kept pulling me down into darkness…
"Ethan, why aren't you answering your phone? The gallery opening's about to start!"
A woman's voice cut through the living room.
I looked up to see Morgan Pierce, Ethan's agent, striding in.
When she spotted me, she didn't bother hiding her contempt.
She turned away and reached for his tie. "Why do you wear such a plain tie choice. What would you do without me?"
That tie – I had just fixed it for him ten minutes ago.
I watched Ethan stand there, not stopping her. I stepped forward, deliberately using my left hand with its new ring to grasp Morgan's wrist.
"Ethan prefers understated elegance, Morgan. You still don't know him well enough."
Ignoring Morgan's darkening expression, I readjusted Ethan's tie myself and smoothed his collar affectionately.
"Remember to come home early. We need to discuss wedding plans."
Ethan pulled me into an embrace and kissed my forehead. "Of course."
I walked him to the door, feeling Morgan's sharp stare burning into my back.
After watching their car disappear, I returned to my home office to continue my unfinished work.
The night grew deep.
Ethan still hadn't returned, and I gradually drifted off.
In my dreams, memories of our romance flooded back.
We kissed on the Ferris wheel, embraced on the carousel…
But when he turned around, the face I saw wasn't Ethan's!
A dull ache shot through my chest. I jerked awake to notice light spilling under the door.
Was Ethan back to home?
Puzzled, I got up and walked out to find him in the studio, burning some paintings.
Those paintings all depicted the same man from all kinds of aspects – front view, profile, sitting, walking, sleeping… Each piece was masterfully done, showing the artist's deep devotion to the subject.
And the man's face – it was identical to the one from my dream!
But strangely, each painting bore my signature.
"Did… did I paint these?"
Ethan glanced at me, his voice cool. "Yes. Just some unimportant pieces. Don't worry about them."
Unimportant?
Yet my heart burned as if set ablaze, crumpling in on itself.
I instinctively stepped forward, reaching for the paintings.
But Ethan threw them all into the fire immediately.
"Whoosh!"
The flames leaped up, instantly devouring the man's face…
In mere minutes, the paintings were reduced to ashes. Yet my heart remained tightly coiled, throbbing with waves of pain.
Ethan watched the pile of ash, his tense shoulders finally relaxing.
He came over to wrap his arms around my waist, burying his face in my neck. "Autumn, I love you."
Love me? But Morgan's perfume still clung to him.
And all those photos I'd received over the past six months – Ethan embracing and kissing other women…
If this counted as love, then Ethan's lover could circle Central Park.
I simply patted his arm in response, a hollow gesture of reassurance.
Ethan perked up. "Autumn, what kind of wedding do you want? Traditional? Modern? Or should we elope?"
Staring at the ashes, I answered hoarsely, "Whatever you choose, I'll like it."
"A modern ceremony then. I'll make sure you're the most beautiful bride." He withdrew his arms from my waist to call the bridal shop and schedule tomorrow's appointment.
I watched him walk away on the phone, then turned and headed to the bathroom…
The next day at the bridal boutique.
Ethan meticulously selected gowns, having me try on every single one in the store. Only at the final dress did he show satisfaction. "Beautiful. This is the one."
"Later we'll visit your parents to share the good news." Ethan had planned everything perfectly – I had no reason to refuse.
But on the way to my family's home, he suddenly left for an urgent gallery matter, leaving me to announce our engagement to my parents alone.
My parents were all stunned momentarily before breaking into delighted smiles.
Perhaps noting my subdued expression, Dad spoke sternly: "The Blackwoods are prestigious, and Ethan's a rising star. Marrying him is your good fortune."
Mom nodded in agreement. "Once you two are married, better to have a child soon to settle down. Then you can quit that unsuitable job of yours. It'll help you forget about… the past."
"What past?" I looked up sharply.
Mom faltered, laughing awkwardly as she changed the subject.
I was considerate enough not to press further.
After dinner at my parents', I returned home. At the doorstep, I spotted two familiar figures embracing under the streetlight.
Ethan and Morgan.
I should have felt angry, but my heart didn't stir at all. I simply stood there, waiting for them to separate.
Eventually, Morgan noticed me and flashed a provocative smile. "Miss Riley."
Ethan turned to look me too. When our eyes met, he pushed Morgan away and strode toward me.
"Why didn't you call me to pick you up? Are you tired?" He reached for my hand.
I didn't pull away, but gazed at his handsome features and asked softly,
"Who was that man in the paintings last night?"
Ethan's expression changed drastically before he forced composure. "Just a model. Why ask him suddenly? You don't know him."
"Is that so?" I lowered my eyes and withdrew my hand, walking into the mansion alone.
The bedroom was dark. Watching the curtains flutter in the breeze, my mind filled with the face of the man from yesterday's paintings.
Everyone told me I should love Ethan. After all, the hypnotherapist said I'd forget my past and fall in love with the first person I saw upon waking.
But what if… the hypnosis never worked?
I turned on the light and retrieved a sketch of that man from deep within my bookshelf. In the drawing, he wore a navy uniform, his police badge gleaming proudly.
I still remembered him, remembered our seven years together, remembered every smile, every embrace, every kiss…
But he was dead.
At this thought, the festering wound in my heart surged with bone-deep agony.
Fighting back tears, I carefully put away the drawing, afraid to let it get wet.
Then I opened my laptop, started a new novel, and typed the synopsis word by word—
[I had someone I loved deeply, but his sudden death forced our love story to change its protagonist.]
[But I will always remember, the man I loved was named Gabriel Stone.]
[He was a police officer.]
As I finished typing those words, my face was ice-cold, and I couldn't write anymore.
My mind drifted back to Ethan's words: "I'm Ethan, your boyfriend of seven years."
How absurd. My seven years with Gabriel had become seven years with Ethan.
Grief flooded over me like a tidal wave, drowning me in the endless night. After what felt like forever, I heard the lock turn at the door.
I quickly closed the webpage.
The next moment, Ethan walked in, approaching step by step.
He was so close now that I couldn't hide my reddened eyes, so I looked up at him. Our eyes met.
Ethan froze for a moment, then touched my face. "Why are you crying? Is it because of Morgan and me?"
He thought I was jealous about his embrace with Morgan?
I was speechless.
But Ethan grew more certain, holding me with tender concern. "If it upsets you, I'll stop seeing her from now on"
While Ethan made his earnest promise, my mind was full of Gabriel. In our seven years together, Gabriel never gave me reason to doubt him, always making me feel secure.
I knew I shouldn't compare two completely different men, but the more time I spent with Ethan, the deeper my love for Gabriel grew.
"Autumn?" Ethan interrupted my thoughts.
I came back to reality, patting his broad back. "Morgan's just your agent. I'm not upset."
Ethan's stern features softened. "That's good. Autumn, you can always tell me what's bothering you. I'll always be here for you."
I remained silent, letting him deepen the embrace.
…
That day, Ethan had a sudden inspiration and brought me to his gallery.
"I've decided to hold our wedding here." He led me inside as he spoke.
The moment we entered, Morgan's gaze pierced me like needles. After three days apart, she looked worn down. Seeing Ethan's arm around me made her face pale further, though it couldn't mask the jealousy in her eyes.
I ignored her, listening to Ethan describe how he'd transform the space for our wedding.
Then he suddenly changed topics: "Autumn, would you draw my portrait?"
I clenched my fists in refusal. "Ethan, I haven't painted in so long…"
"How will you know if you don't try?" He led me to the studio in the inner courtyard, preparing paper and pencils.
Ethan's eyes were full of anticipation. I had no choice but to pick up the pencil. But my hand wouldn't stop trembling. My mind was filled with Gabriel's sharp features, his straight nose, his often-pursed lips.
Lost in memory, I'd drawn a pair of tender, almond-shaped eyes on the paper.
I snapped back to reality to find Ethan standing beside me, his deep eyes like frozen pools.
I gripped the pencil tighter. "I…"
"Go get some fresh air. I just remembered I have an unfinished painting here." He took the pencil from my grip, his expression dark.
"Okay." I turned without hesitation, hurrying out under Ethan's shadowed gaze.
Outside the gallery was a park, full of the air fresh after rain.
I had just sat down on a bench when a familiar middle-aged man approached.
Gabriel's father! My expression changed instantly as I turned to flee.
But his voice reached me first: "Autumn…"
I stopped, my eyes burning.
Before Gabriel's death, we had been planning our wedding. If he hadn't died on duty, I would be calling his father "Dad" by now.
But since his death, I'd rarely seen Gabriel's family and had never visited his grave.
Fighting the pain in my heart, I turned with a forced smile. "Uncle Stone…"
He nodded. "I heard you're marrying the Blackwood heir."
"Yes…"
Understanding flashed in his eyes. "That's good. If Gabriel knew you'd moved on, he'd be happy. After all, his last wish was for you to forget him and live well."
Had I really moved on? I didn't know.
But it was because of Gabriel's words that I pretended to forget him, following my parents' wishes to be with Ethan.
Yet no one told me how to forget someone I'd loved for seven years.
How was I supposed to spend decades with someone I didn't love, bearing his children, spending the rest of the life together?
The thought twisted like a knife in my heart, leaving me speechless.
After a few more strained pleasantries, Gabriel's father left.
I watched until his silhouette disappeared, then turned to head back to the gallery. But I froze – Morgan and Ethan stood behind me, her face twisted with hatred, his dark with anger.
My breath caught. Had they heard?
Before I could process this, Morgan strode forward and slapped me hard across the face!
The slap stung fiercely against my cheek.
Morgan opened her mouth to say more, but Ethan's cold voice cut her off: "Morgan, back to the gallery."
She fell silent instantly, shooting me a venomous glare before clicking away in her heels.
I looked at Ethan, whose dark eyes were filled with indifference.
Exhaustion swept over me. I wanted to explain everything, to end this charade: "Ethan, we—"
"Let's get some medicine for your cheek," he took my hand, leading me back inside. "Then we can finish planning the wedding details."
My words died in my throat, along with my courage to continue. I let him lead me forward.
We both stayed silent about what had just happened, as if it never occurred.
The wedding preparations continued, each day bringing us closer to the date.
I thought I could accept it calmly, but found myself growing increasingly anxious.
Ethan noticed and teased, "Pre-wedding jitters? How about we go out for a bit?"
Before I could answer, he pulled me out the door.
The amusement park bustled with people.
The moment I stepped in, memories of Gabriel flooded back—our kiss on the Ferris wheel, embrace on the carousel, holding hands on the roller coaster, exchanging promises among well-wishers…
These memories cut like a saw against my heart.
I tried to pull my hand from Ethan's grip: "I don't want to be here…"
But he held my wrist firmly: "Since we're here, let's enjoy ourselves."
He proceeded to drag me through every attraction.
Then Ethan took me to Riverside Glen—where Gabriel had proposed to me.
I finally understood Ethan's intention.
He wanted to retrace all the places Gabriel and I had been, overwriting old memories with new ones.
So that one day, when I revisited these places, I'd think of Ethan instead of Gabriel.
This realization tortured my heart. I resisted, struggling to escape.
But Ethan stared into my eyes: "Autumn, where did we go? What did we do?"
He asked repeatedly, relentlessly, until I recounted every detail.
But Ethan didn't realize—the more he pushed, the clearer Gabriel's image became.
So clear that every night, I carefully recalled each sweet memory, refusing to let any detail fade.
…
For the next few days, he forcefully led me through the entire city.
By the end, it was the night before our wedding.
Ethan dropped me off at my parents' building. As I was about to get out, he suddenly pulled me into an embrace: "Autumn…"
His unfamiliar scent of ink surrounded me, making me stiffen.
His cool voice whispered in my ear: "There are only one day, we'll be husband and wife."
"Everyone will know you're Mrs. Blackwood. You'll be happier with me than you could be with anyone else."
I knew he was referring to Gabriel, but he had no idea how the words "Mrs. Blackwood" made me feel like I was drowning in ice water.
Would I really spend the rest of my life bound to Ethan?
I would never have any connection to Gabriel again.
The thought terrified me.
"I'm going up now." I pushed Ethan away forcefully, practically fleeing to my house.
In the bedroom, the white wedding dress stood beside the full-length mirror.
Being an artist, Ethan had chosen something expensive and beautiful, perfectly flawless.
But I could only think of the simple dress Gabriel had chosen for me, not expensive but bought with three years of his police bonus.
He loved me like life itself, yet here I was, about to marry another man.
Tears welled up as I crouched down, hugging myself.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
Ethan's message appeared: "Get some rest. I'll pick you up at 7 AM."
I stared at the glaring screen, my grip tightening, before suddenly standing and walking out.
…
Meanwhile, at the Blackwood mansion.
Ethan slept well and arrived promptly at 7 AM to collect his bride.
Everyone's faces beamed with joy, urging: "Come out, Autumn! Don't keep Ethan waiting."
But the room remained silent.
Ethan sensed something wrong and rushed to get the spare key from my mother. When the door opened, his face darkened.
Behind him, everyone's smiles froze. The room was empty except for the pristine white wedding dress!
—I had vanished.
Everyone was looking for me.
My phone kept buzzing with calls and messages from Ethan and my parents.
I ignored them all.
I gazed up at the gleaming police badge above the station entrance.
How many times had I waited here for Gabriel to finish his shift?
We'd go home together, curl up on the couch watching movies, sharing kisses and embraces…
But now, no matter how long I waited, he'd never appear again, never hold my hand on the way home, never put on an apron to make my favorite noodles…
After what felt like forever, an angry familiar voice came from above: "What are you doing here?"
It's from Ethan.
I looked up at him.
His usually immaculate suit was wrinkled—I'd never seen him so disheveled and frantic. His furious father stood beside him.
Ethan yanked me to my feet. "Why did you run away?"
"Because this was wrong from the start," I answered.
Six months ago, when I first learned of Gabriel's death, I couldn't eat or sleep, wasting away day by day.
Ethan had conspired with my parents, claiming they'd arranged psychological counseling.
I refused.
Then they brought in Gabriel's father to persuade me: "If Gabriel sees you like this, he won't rest in peace."
Not wanting Gabriel to worry even in death, I agreed.
But I never imagined it was all a setup— To hypnotize me, make me forget Gabriel, and marry Ethan.
But now, these mistakes had to end.
I lowered my eyes to hide my emotions: "Ethan, I tried so hard to be with you, but…"
"Autumn!" Ethan's grip tightened. "Come back with me now, and we'll pretend this never happened."
Pain shot through my wrist as I struggled to break free.
Suddenly—SLAP!
The unexpected blow turned my head, my cheek burning.
I looked up to meet my father's condemning glare: "Ethan's willing to overlook your running away, what more do you want?"
"How did I raise such a thing like you! If you don't go back with Ethan today, don't consider yourself my daughter!" My father's harsh words kept coming.
The sting on my face burned into my heart. My father had said similar things when I was with Gabriel, disapproving of him. Perhaps in his eyes, I'd always been just a bargaining chip.
I looked at my father, tears welling up.
Ethan stepped between us, telling my father: "It's alright, I'll take Autumn home." Before I could protest, he pushed me into the car.
As the engine roared to life, I watched that police badge grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared.
My heart felt hollow, impossible to fill.
Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the Blackwood estate.
Ethan led me to the second-floor studio and made me sit down.
"Don't worry about the wedding. I've handled everything. We'll have another ceremony after things settle down."
My breath caught: "Ethan, you deceived me about the hypnosis, but I deceived you too. We should end—"
Suddenly, his rough fingers pressed against my lips, stopping my words. "Autumn, I'm not asking for your opinion," Ethan's eyes were cold. "This is decided. You'll stay here until the wedding. No more running."
He left, and I heard the door lock behind him.
I froze in place, trapped.
The windows and balcony were barred, with only one door for access.
I tried messaging people for help. But everyone thought I was wrong to run away, urging me to stay with Ethan. No one cared about my feelings or situation.
I collapsed helplessly, not knowing what to do.
Then the computer screen lit up, messages popping up in the corner.
I clicked to find readers asking for updates.
People were still reading the novel about Gabriel and me.
Realizing this, I sat at the computer and typed out how we met, and his words when he confessed— "Autumn, since meeting you, everything I've done was to be closer to you."
The words burned like fire in my heart.
Through tears, I remembered his last words: "Autumn, forget me and live happily and safely."
But Gabriel, I tried living the life you wanted for me. Why am I still so unhappy?
