Chapter 184: Chapter 184 Buried Secrets
Author
Nancy walked back into the hospital room, Yardley’s words still stuck in her head.
"Adopted or not, what matters is how your friend feels about it. Is she mad about being lied to? Or does she want to find her birth parents? Either way, she should go with her gut."
"Follow your heart. Even if it hurts for a while, at least you won’t look back and wonder."
After he said that, Nancy made up her mind. She needed to know the truth, no matter what.
She pulled out her phone and searched for therapists nearby. Good ones. She scrolled past a few sketchy listings before finding one that looked legit. She saved the number.
Maybe if she could get her memories back, things would start making sense.
She figured Yardley had left by now. So when he walked back into the room in casual clothes, she blinked.
"You’re still here?"
Yardley pulled a chair over slowly. "There’s an empty room next door. Go lie down. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things."
"You don’t have to do that, Mr. Wolfe. You’ve already done more than enough."
His dark amber eyes locked on hers. "You said I’ve already done a lot. What’s a little more?"
He shrugged. "Relax. I’m not asking you to stay up all night. I’ll wake you at three."
"You’ve got a lot on your plate tomorrow. You’ll need to be sharp."
Nancy pressed her lips together, studying him. Objectively speaking, a guy like Yardley would make the perfect husband.
But she didn’t have the energy to think about that right now.
"Thank you." She accepted.
His lips curved into the faintest smile. The sharp edge of his canines caught the light for just a second. "I’ve still got work to finish anyway. Go get some rest."
Nancy glanced at the laptop bag by his feet. "Alright. Thanks."
Once she was gone, Yardley opened his laptop and pulled up his email.
A complete file sat waiting in his inbox.
Seven years ago, she gave birth. Then she left this city with her adoptive parents.
She never came back. Not once.
Not even on the anniversary of Nancy’s parents’ death.
Yardley’s jaw tightened. His claws pricked at his fingertips before he forced them back. Even if there was no love left between them, how could she not look back at their son? Not even once?
Yardley could never understand it. Even if there was no love left between them, how could she not look back at their son? Not even once?
It wasn’t until recently that he figured it out.
She lost her memory.
She forgot him. Forgot their son. Forgot her own parents.
Was that it?
--
Carol arrived at the hospital early the next morning. When she pushed through the heavy double doors, she was shocked to find her daughter’s mysterious new guy sitting there instead.
"Yardley, where’s Nancy?"
Yardley rolled his shoulders, stiff from the god-awful hospital chair. "She’s crashed next door. I’ll go get her."
"I got stuck in back-to-back client meetings yesterday and didn’t make it until late. Nancy was dead on her feet, so I made her get some rest."
Carol’s expression softened with gratitude. "Honey, I can’t thank you enough for staying with her all night."
"Don’t mention it."
Yardley headed toward the adjacent room.
Nancy hadn’t slept worth a damn. She’d tossed and turned all night, plagued by twisted nightmares she couldn’t quite piece together.
She rubbed her eyes and saw morning light filtering through the window. "What time is it?"
"Seven. Relax. The doctor hasn’t made his rounds yet. You’re good."
She grabbed her jacket. "Has Dad woken up?"
"Not yet."
Nancy nodded, then caught herself. "Yardley, you should head home and get some real sleep. I’m sorry, you should have woken me. You pulled an all-nighter because of me."
"Don’t you have work today?"
Yardley did have a brutal schedule ahead.
"Yeah.If you need anything, call me. If I don’t pick up, get hold of my right-hand man, Louis."
Nancy studied him for a long moment, then decided not to push back. "Okay."
"I’ll check on your dad before I head out."
Just as Nancy reached her father’s bedside, Robert stirred and opened his eyes.
"Thank the Lord you’re awake! You scared your girls half to death!"
Robert managed a weak smile. His voice came out rough as gravel. "I’m hanging in there."
"I’ve been telling you for months to slow down behind the wheel. But do you listen? Hell no! From now on, you’re taking the company driver. You’re gonna put me in an early grave!"
Carol kept giving him hell, her voice thick with relief. Nancy stood quietly, jaw tight.
Robert noticed his daughter’s silence. "Sweetheart, you mad at your old man too?"
Nancy shook her head. "No, Dad. I’m not angry. I just need to know where my biological parents are."
Robert went rigid. He looked at his wife. "You told her?"
"I didn’t say a word. You needed emergency blood... You can’t accept blood from direct family, so..."
She’d been too freaked out to think straight. The nurse had to explain the medical stuff. That’s how it all came out.
Robert let out a heavy breath. "Nancy, your mom and I never meant to lie to you. But you’re my brother’s kid. That pile-up on Highway 9 took both your father and mother. And when you woke up with total amnesia, I thought maybe it was a blessing in disguise."
Nancy felt like she’d been sucker-punched.
"You’re telling me my real parents are dead?"
Robert’s expression was gut-wrenching. "Yeah, sweetheart."
"But blood or no blood, we’ve loved you like our own from day one. That’s never gonna change."
Nancy’s eyes stung with tears she refused to let fall. "Where are they buried? I want to pay my respects."
