Chapter 286 The Lie Unravels 1

“Coming to get my wife.” Yardley ‘s one left no room for argument as he stepped into her office. “I heard about the elevator. Were you planning to sleep here instead of coming home?”

Nancy opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. “I already called Elara. She didn’t say anything urgent was happening.”

“Nice try.” Yardley crossed his arms. “Elara’s worried about you, and you’re hiding behind work reports instead of dealing with what happened today.”

Every excuse Nancy had prepared fell apart under his steady stare. She bit her lip nervously.

“Actually, I was just finishing up anyway. Let’s go.”

She stood quickly, grabbed her jacket, and shut down her computer harder than needed.

The few workers still in the office did double takes when they saw the gorgeous man standing in Nancy’s doorway. As Nancy and Yardley walked toward the elevators together, whispers started behind them.

“Holy crap, Nancy’s husband looks like that? How has she been hiding him?”

“I swear, the managers here get all the luck! Beautiful people just find each other somehow.”

Nancy’s face turned bright red as she walked faster, too embarrassed to look back or at Yardley.

The elevator opened with a soft ding. Nancy paused for just a second before stepping inside.

“It’s okay. I’m here with you.” Four simple words that somehow made all her worry disappear.

Yardley had been watching Nancy carefully since he arrived, and something felt different about her today. He couldn’t figure out what it was, but her behavior had changed in ways that made him more protective than usual.

Nancy automatically moved to Yardley’s left side, touching her ear without thinking about it as the elevator started going down.

Yardley froze completely.

She probably didn’t realize it, but since her memory loss, Nancy had always stood on people’s right side. Always. It was one of those small things that had convinced everyone, including him, that she really couldn’t remember anything.

But before the accident, when they were teenagers walking together, she’d always stood on his left side. Always.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he pressed the parking garage button. His face stayed calm, but his mind was racing with questions.

“Nancy, did the building people tell you what caused the elevator to break?”

Nancy blinked, surprised by the question. “Something about a cat getting into the electrical area, I think? I didn’t ask for details. I’ll make sure they fix their maintenance schedule.”

“A cat.” Yardley’s voice sounded casual, but inside he was thinking hard.

What were the chances that some random cat would cause exactly the type of elevator problem that could have killed her?

—

Back home, Orion kept glancing at his Spider-Man watch, bouncing on his toes with restless energy.

“Grandpa , are Mom and Dad on some secret date without me?” He looked absolutely betrayed by this possibility. “That’s totally not fair! If Mom was picking, she would’ve brought me for sure!”

Alpha Hunter ’s lips twitched with amusement. “Orion, your father would be heartbroken to know you think he’s that selfish.”

“Are you kidding? Dad’s totally paranoid that I’m gonna steal Mom away from him. But jokes on him because Mom definitely likes me better anyway!” Orion’s chest puffed out with six-year-old pride.

When two familiar figures finally walked through the front door, he practically launched himself forward. “Mom! You’re finally home!”

Seeing her son now, with every memory crystal clear in her mind, Nancy felt her chest tighten with overwhelming emotion. She remembered every sleepless night of pregnancy, every painful contraction, every terrifying and beautiful moment of bringing him into this world. Tears blurred her vision. “Yes, baby. I’m home.”

“Mom, your eyes are all puffy! Did Dad make you cry?” Orion immediately whipped around to glare accusingly at the tall figure behind his mother.

A muscle jumped in Yardley’s jaw. “Orion, do you want to spend the evening in your room?”

The kid was constantly challenging his authority, and his Alpha patience was wearing dangerously thin.

Nancy quickly stepped between them. “No, sweetheart, don’t blame Daddy. I just got something in my eye from all the construction dust downtown. Your father would never make me cry.”

Orion squinted suspiciously at his father. “Promise?”

“Mom, if Dad ever gives you any trouble, you have to tell me immediately, okay? I’ll protect you.”

Alpha Hunter called them to the dining room where dinner was waiting. Spring break was coming up next week, and Orion was already plotting adventures.

“Mom, can we go to Miami for spring break? Please, please, please?”

Nancy’s breath caught like she’d been sucker-punched.

Miami. Where everything had started between her and Yardley. Where she’d conceived Orion during one unforgettable night of passion and mistakes.

“Actually, honey, your father and I have already done Miami to death. What about Charleston instead? They have amazing beaches, incredible shrimp and grits, and perfect spring weather right now.”

Every muscle in Yardley’s body went rigid. His eyes turned molten with barely controlled fury.

How the hell did she know they’d been to Miami together? She wasn’t supposed to remember any of that.

So she had gotten it all back. Every single memory. Every moment they’d shared.