Page 106 of Unapologetic Obsession

The familiar look of love on her face made me swallow hard. Lying to me had been eating away at her, and I didn’t believe she would have done it unless she thought it was for my benefit.

I gently touched her arm. “I know. It’s okay.” We smiled at each other, and relief flooded me at all she had disclosed. With my ire entirely erased, I tried steering the conversation to neutral grounds. “Do you know why I ran away from the hospital?”

She shook her head. “I came to your room one day, and you were just gone. The hospital’s close to the river. My best guess is that you were disoriented when you woke up and wandered off.”

Caden suggested I’d seen someone who scared me into running. But according to Amelie, the only person constantly around me at the hospital was him.

“God, Rose. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through. Dr. Maxwell hired so many men to search for you and enlisted my help, too. He didn’t realize you had lost your memories and thought you ran away because you were disconcerted. He only agreed to do the cruise’s final inspection because your family owned a bunch of sailboats on the pier and he thought you might be hiding in one of them. He planned on searching them afterward. Considering his effort, I still have no idea how we didn’t find you sooner.”

Probably because I was too scared to leave the dumpster. “Is that why he has guards following me everywhere I go?”

She nodded with a smile. “He was worried you might forget and run away again.”

“Oh.” My mouth dragged downward, wondering how long the “escorts” would continue. It was hard to breathe freely with them always around. “How did you end up working for Caden anyway?”

“I’m guessing that has less to do with me and everything to do with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was a nursing assistant at the hospital and became a registered nurse after graduation. But starting salaries are too low. This two-week gig pays better than two months at the hospital. I think he wanted to be in your good graces by helping your friend. I desperately needed the money.” Amelie glanced at her empty flute, her despair palpable.

“Amelie, what’s wrong?”

She looked as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I-I don’t want to burden you with my problems. You already have enough on your plate.”

“You’re not burdening me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“My boyfriend went through something awful recently.” She paused and then held up her hand. She was wearing a silver band on her left hand. “Well, I guess he’s my husband now,” she said coyly.

“Oh, wow.”

It seemed everyone around me had gotten married in the time I had been indisposed. Life moved on, not waiting for anyone to play catch-up. Considering I had exactly one family member visiting me while I was in a medically induced coma, the idea of marriage and gaining a new family suddenly seemed exciting.

I pulled Amelie into a hug, hoping she found a home in her new husband, though I barely remembered him. “Congrats. I’m so happy for you.”

“I wish it were under better circumstances.” She sighed. “His folks passed away.”

“Oh God. I’m so sorry.”

“Me too. They were young and left behind three little kids. We got married so we could take over their guardianship.”

“I really am sorry.”

She waved it off. “The point is that Dr. Maxwell helped my family when we were in a bind. He got me this job and covered all the expenses for the funeral and guardianship. And he did it because he thought it might make you happy.”

“I provided financial assistance to someone who had done me a favor. Cavendish wasn’t thrilled about it.”

Caden admitted to making a generous donation to a mystery acquaintance, and Amelie fit the bill. She had done him a favor by hiding the truth from me. She was right, it did make me extremely happy to hear it. But why would Cavendish want to bankrupt Amelie?

As if on cue, a short waitress with bangs and pink glasses interrupted us. “Amelie.”

“Yes?”

“You’re needed in the medical suite. We have a guest with a hand injury.” She lowered her voice to whisper, “He’s a total hottie, by the way.” She turned her head to the side.

Kai Cavendish stood there in all his glory, gaze steadfast on Amelie. A bloodied linen napkin was wrapped around his right hand, though he seemed oblivious to the pain. The way he watched her made my stomach drop.

Amelie didn’t seem to notice. “Duty calls.”