It was torture to seat through the whole therapy session as the words "someone who loves her" kept ringing in my head.

Although the result of the therapy was pleasant. Just through our first session, I had regained the memories of the start of my second year when I met Elian.

In our university's backyard garden, I had been twirling in the first snowfall of the year giddily when I heard someone cursing the snow in disgust—and that was how it all started.

When the session was over, there was an excited skip to my steps.

Kevin was obviously gone, given that Elian was here now.

"Alena," Elian called out when we were outside the clinic.

I was spooked in fear because something about his tone was ominous. "Yeah, Elian?" I turned around to face him.

His hands were in his pocket while his gaze was on the ground. "You know, I still love you."

My heart thumped in anticipation.

Was this it? Was it the moment I was waiting for? Happy confession and our happily ever after?

"That's why it hurts to see you with someone else."

I quickly started to say, "Elian, I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you—"

"I know, Alena. Which is why I'm telling you, if you want to see other men, that's fine. You deserve to be happy. Just... just don't do it right in front of my eyes. Or talk about him with me, for that matter. We can just go back to being the CEO and COO, you know? It will be easier for both of us," he explained.

My heart broke with each and every word he uttered. Not just because of the meaning behind it, but because his voice held so much pain.

It was clearly breaking him to let me go, but he was still willing to, because he just loved me that much.

Yes, I was mad at him for letting go the last time, for giving up on me when my memories were lost, but right now, I couldn't even be mad, because I was watching how much it was hurting him.

Did it hurt this bad last time too?

And I wasn't even there to give him a warm hug?

But I was here now. I wouldn't let any of us suffer alone.

I ran up to him and hugged him.

"Alena—"

"I don't care what you say, Elian. I'm not going to leave you. Because I love you too."

He looked at me as if he couldn't believe what I said. After all, I hadn't said I love you in my current state to him until now.

I smiled and softly kissed his lips. "Yes, I love you, Elian. A lot. But not enough to let you go."

"But why? You know, I'm in the mafia," he mumbled.

"Look at me. Does it look like I care?" I asked, and he actually scanned my face. "I don't know if the me with all the memories knew about your mafia business—"

"You didn't."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Bad Elian. You shouldn't hide such important facts from your girlfriend," I scolded.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"Say that again when all my memories are back, because right now, I don't give a crap about that. I just want you to be with me."

He pursed his lips and said, "Can I think about it a little?"

I huffed and let out, "Fine. Seriously, you're such a girl. Usually, girls are this confused and boys are straightforward. But our situation is completely opposite."

"My feelings are complicated, sorry."

"You will be forgiven if you give me a kiss."

He chuckled and pecked my lips. "Is that good enough?"

I grinned and said, "For now, at least."

"Your plan was a complete bust," I complained to Lance once Elian dropped me home.

"Kinda expected," Lance murmured over the phone.

"What do you mean? You knew this was going to fail and still suggested it to me? How awful!" I chastised.

"I knew Elian was mentally stronger after suffering for the last three years without you. Still, worth a try."

"You suck," I muttered.

"Yeah, well, I have another plan," Lance said.

"It better not be another fail-safe plan," I warned.

"Since Elian's hang-up is on being unable to protect you and getting you in danger, what if you don't need protection anymore?" he suggested.

"Be clear, Lance. If you're suggesting condoms aren't necessary anymore, forget about it, I'm not taking that risk—"

"Geez, is your mind from the gutter or what?" he sounded truly horrified. I didn't usually have a dirty mouth, but it was fun to tease Lance. "I mean, actual physical protection from dangers."

"Yes, I understand. Continue," I urged, stifling my chuckle.

Lance sighed and continued, "You know self-defense, right?"

"Yeah."

"You also got your gun license recently, right?"

"Yeah?" I replied, sounding a little confused.

"Great. We will make you stronger so that Elian doesn't have to worry and feel like he owes to protect you anymore. Do you get what I'm seeing?"

"Yeah."

"Great, I will send a personal trainer for you soon." With that, he hung up.

I was smiling as I put down my phone and thought about my family and best friend. I would always take advice from Abigail, but now, I was taking it from Lance.

And unlike them, Lance really was dedicated to his brother; he was putting up with me just so that Elian was happy in the endgame. And I was honestly lucky that Lance deemed me worthy to be with Elian.

Come to think of it, Elian was very dedicated as well.

Elian loved me for the last three years while I couldn't even remember him. Even tonight, he once didn't say that he wanted to move on himself. He wanted me to be happy while sacrificing himself.

I would never let that happen.

The next day, I came to Elian's cabin, the first thing at the office, to get my laptop.

"So did Jace find anything?" I asked.

"I will tell you. First, sit down." Elian motioned at the couch and walked over to his coffee machine.

I smiled as he started making two cups of espresso. He had made me espresso every morning during our stay at Lance's penthouse.

Once Elian set down the cups on the coffee table, he sat beside me and said, "Jace found out that it was your laptop from which the military assignment data was copied," he informed.

"Who could have done it? Maybe someone broke into my cabin?" I asked, not getting surprised since I was also expecting my laptop to be the culprit.

"I thought the same at first, but then, I realized it had to be someone who was keeping an idea of what projects you were involved in and just got lucky when they noticed the military assignment was a sensitive one," he reasoned.

I took a sip of my espresso and tried to think of someone who could match the description.

Elian and my eyes widened at the same time when we realized who it could be.

God, I was so dumb.

Of course, it was her all along! It could have only been her.

"Anya Aled," Elian and I uttered in unison.