The year my lovesick obsession reached its peak, I lost my memory.
I remembered everyone. But the bodyguard I loved most, Serena Ashford, was completely erased from my mind. Gone were the three years I'd spent defying the entire world for her. And yet the beautiful bodyguard who had always despised me looked utterly panicked.
Who was Serena Ashford? After nearly drowning and then waking up, her name meant nothing to me.
My father's expression was strange, difficult to read. He raised an eyebrow, testing me. Serena Ashford is your bodyguard. She's been with you for three years now. You're very fond of her. Those words hesitated on the tip of his tongue, then were swallowed back down. He chose his words carefully.
"You value her greatly."
The moment he finished speaking, a clear, sweet male voice cut through my thoughts.
"Brother, I bought your favorite fruit. Come try some."
I stared at the plate of pre-sliced mango and frowned. My mother only ever gave birth to me. That much I hadn't forgotten.
"Dominic Langford, if your memory has issues, I suggest you get your head examined. But if you're deliberately trying to watch me have an allergic reaction, then I suggest you just say so."
Dominic's hand trembled as he held a stick of candied hawthorn, and his eyes instantly turned red.
"Young master, please calm down. The second young master really did buy this especially for you. He was so eager to make you happy that he momentarily forgot. It wasn't intentional."
A pleasant, steady female voice rang out. I pressed my lips tight.
"Who the hell are you? And did I give you permission to speak?"
The moment those words left my mouth, the atmosphere turned strange. A servant hurried to explain. "Young master, she is Serena Ashford."
Only then did I look directly at the woman standing behind Dominic. She had thin lips, dark eyes that were refined and elegant, and even the small red mole on her straight nose fell perfectly within my aesthetic preferences. A face like hers genuinely dazzled me for a moment. I suddenly felt that perhaps what my father said wasn't a lie after all.
Dominic tugged at Serena's hand, looking wounded. "Serena, please don't get in trouble with him because of me. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come."
With that, Dominic left the room, looking dejected. Serena watched Dominic's retreating figure, her hand hanging at her side twitching slightly, as if restraining herself. Then she said coolly, "First young master, I have other matters to attend to, if you'll excuse me."
She didn't even wait for my permission before quickly leaving. Was this a deeply ingrained habit? I laughed coldly, somewhat bewildered. That face was beautiful, true. But someone who couldn't distinguish between primary and secondary, someone so lacking in judgment — why had I valued her before?
My father's face darkened as he threw out the word "fool" and stormed off after her.
Afterward, the servant beside me couldn't help but speak up timidly. "Young master, Miss Ashford seems unhappy. Should we follow the usual routine and prepare a gift for her?"
I burst out laughing when I heard this. "Tell me, why should I apologize to a bodyguard?"
My gaze drifted to a classical piano sitting out of place in the corner. The servant noticed where I was looking and explained, "Miss Ashford enjoys playing piano. You had this specially shipped from New Zealand by air freight—"
"Drag it out and burn it." I cut him off coldly.
The servant was stunned, but still obeyed and called people to carry it away.
I slept until midnight, restless for some unknown reason, and left my room to wander. As if guided by something unseen, I found myself before an unfamiliar room. It was as though my body's memory was leading the way. I was about to leave, but then I heard strange sounds coming from inside. A female voice, barely suppressed, drifted out hazily.
"Dominic, I belong to you."
Through the crack in the door, I could see everything clearly. Serena's cold, angelic face was now flushed with desire and longing. Her slender hand caressed her most intimate places. And then she lowered her head, pressing a kiss to the photograph before her. The man in the photo wore a white dress shirt, devastatingly handsome. It was Dominic Langford.
After a while, Serena stirred. She stood and walked into the bathroom.
My eyes narrowed, and I pushed open the door with a cold expression. In the trash can in the corner, a notebook caught my attention. I opened it, and dense handwriting filled my vision.
Today I deliberately ran into Serena's room wearing my pajamas. She immediately wrapped me up tight, escorted me back to my room and had someone lock the door so I couldn't leave. She definitely cares about me. Otherwise, why would she say she was worried I'd catch a cold?
Today I made a mistake. I drugged Serena. She would rather stay in the swimming pool at minus ten degrees all night to flush it from her system. What exactly is wrong with me?
The handwriting was painfully familiar. It was mine. Even though my memories of Serena had been erased, I had to admit that these past three years of mine had truly been a madness beyond all reason.
In love with a bodyguard.
Just then, the sound of running water gradually stopped. I could hear Serena inside talking on the phone.
"Serena of the Ashford family, haven't you had enough of playing bodyguard and tutor? Come home and inherit the family fortune already. Don't tell me you actually like that Julian Langford."
"No." Serena's voice was decisive. "Julian Langford is the kind of arrogant, self-righteous fool who isn't worth one of Dominic's fingernails. The only reason I lowered myself to work as a bodyguard for the Langfords is for Dominic."
I curved my lips into a silent, cold smile.
I didn't alert her to my presence. Instead, I gathered up all of Serena's clothes that were lying on the bed. I carried them to the backyard and, stone-faced, set them ablaze. As the flames roared, I called my father.
"That thing you mentioned about the Sinclair family in Harbor City, the disabled daughter from the Sinclair family. I agree to the marriage alliance, but I have two conditions. Transfer the shares of the bus company under your name to me. That's what my mother deserved. Second, Dominic wants a piano teacher, doesn't he? Serena is perfect for the job. Give her to him."
She loved her precious Dominic so much anyway. Why should I keep this eyesore around?
My father, who had never spoken a kind word to me, suddenly became animated with excitement. "Julian, you're not joking, are you? As long as you agree, we can hold the wedding in one week."
The moment I hung up, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. I turned around. Serena was wearing nothing but a thin lace slip, striding quickly toward me.
"First young master." Serena spoke, her pleasant voice now tight with barely contained fury. "I've told you I have no feelings for you. Why do you keep clinging to me?"
I laughed coldly and stepped closer. Serena suddenly rose on her tiptoes and leaned in close, studying my face. Her radiant, delicate features suddenly filled my entire field of vision. For some reason, Serena's heart began to beat faster, and she immediately reacted, instinctively trying to push me away.
But I was faster. I stepped back several paces, my tone dripping with disdain and impatience.
"I was just curious how thick your skin could possibly be. Everything you own, I bought it for you, didn't I? What's wrong with me burning what I paid for? Besides, since you were willing to come be my bodyguard, you were willing to be my dog. You're just a dog. I can do whatever I want. If you don't like it, quit and get out."
The moment the word "quit" left my mouth, panic flashed through Serena's eyes.