The Hatton family mansion was abuzz with the, aglow with the warm illumination from crystal sconces, their light caressing the rich mahogany panels. The table was set in the grand dining hall, where each piece of porcin, each silver polished to reflective perfection, promised a gathering steeped in tradition.


    Mr. Hatton had decided to gather everyone for a long due family dinner tradition, which was merely an excuse to ess their personal progress on hispanies and in their personal life. Arriving first was Ethan, apanied by Emily dressed in a light blue flowing gown that swept the floor, perfectlyplimenting her bright skin, while he was dressed magnificently in a ck glittering suit, together looking like the power couple they pretended to be but weren’t even close. Emily harbored a distant gaze, her mind still adrift on memories she had yet to fully grasp  ofughter, tender whispers, and a pair of warm, searching eyes belonging not to Ethan  she felt conflicted. Ethan’s revtion about Jackson had clung to her skin like a bad condition, unwilling to let go especially of the little bond they had formed since she lost her memories. But Ethan was adamant on ending her rtionship with Jackson.


    The dinnermenced, cutlery clinking against fine china and murmured pleasantries traded with practiced smiles. Jackson sat on opposite ends of Ethan and Emily, even though he had tried a countless to get her attention, catch her eyes but she seemed to be avoiding him. But it didn’t stop Jackson from punctuating the stiff atmosphere with his carefree charm,


    “So Jackson” Mr. Hatton chimed through, his attention focused on Jackson “There used to be a lot of girls hanging around you, I wake up every morning to find a different girl sneaking out of your room, now it seems like a dessert?”


    Jackson paused, regarding his father carefully “Maybe I’m in love” he said anyways “Maybe I have been for a long time” he locked eyes with Emily but only for a few seconds because she pulled her eyes away, ncing at Ethan for a brief second before focusing her attention on her food that she was most likely pretending to eat.


    “That’s inconvenient” Mr. Hatton said spooning some soup into his mouth,


    “What do you mean, dad?” Jackson asked, but just as he was about to speak, the doorbell chimed announcing the most unexpected guest.


    Anita Brown and her father, walked through the opulent doors, her heels nking as she walked in making her way to the dining section, a bright smile on her face that slowly morphed to into a cunning one, she locked eyes with Ethan and she smirked.


    “Thank you for inviting us Mr. Hatton” she smiled at the old man while she kissed him on both cheeks, followed by both men shaking hands.


    The air tensed, the room a battlefield with battle lines drawn around the gleaming dinner table.


    “Of course” Mr. Hatton smiled “You know, I ran into Anita the other day at a function and I just had to invite her for dinner and besides her father and I have been long time business partners, please sit” he gestured to empty seats, one on the other side of Emily opposite Jackson, which Anita took and one beside Mr. Hatton which her father took.


    “Been a while” Anita whispered to Emily “How’s your  head?”


    Emily looked at her, hinting the sarcasm masked behind her sweet tone but she smiled still “Let’s drop the pretense”


    Anita scoffed, but looked on ahead trying to catch Ethan’s eyes but he looked away.


    “So what’s new with everyone?” Anita announced loudly, as she dished some mashed potatoes unto her te.


    “Jackson said he’s in love” Mr. Hatton humored her in an amused tone and Anita chuckled.


    “I mean that’s not news, we all saw evidence at the banquet dinner”


    Jackson red at her “That was your doing, wasn’t it?”


    “Trust me Jackson, I had better ns up my sleeve but someone had to ruin it” she said back.


    Jacksonid back on his seat as he kept his eyes on Anita, the tension now spreading around the table gripping them all by the throats and not letting go. But Jackson smiled, then he looked at Mr. Brown who wasn’t really paying attention but was busy cutting up steak on his te.


    “So Mr. Brown, quick question  ” Jackson waited till he had his full attention before going on


    “What would you do if you found out you have an illegitimate child somewhere?”


    The air stilled, the question hanging in the air like a virus, Anita shooting daggers at Jackson while Emily stared at Jackson wondering his intentions while her heart pounded, she wasn’t ready yet for him to know, in fact she wasn’t sure she wanted him to know at all.


    “What are you doing?” Ethan mimed to Jackson but he merely shrugged.


    “Why are you asking son?” Mr. Brown asked, a confused look on his face as his eyes went through the inquisitive looks staring back at him.


    “You know just for educational purposes” he said and the man cleared his throat


    “Well, I don’t think that’s possible, but if by chance there’s anyone out there I’d rather they stayed hidden, I don’t think I’ll be prepared for that kind of scandal”


    Anita sat back now and smiled, but Emily quickly pushed back her chair, a broken look on her face “If you’ll excuse me, I don’t feel so well”


    She stood up and walked out the dinning room, heading towards the garden which was her favorite ce to be in the Hatton house. She didn’t need to know that, it was one thing to be hopeful even though she never had any intentions ofing out as his daughter, it was an entirely different thing to have that taken away from you. Soon she heard footstepsing approaching the garden and she wasn’t surprised to find Jackson walking towards her.


    “Emily ” he wanted to sayBelongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    “You had no right Jackson, you did not have to bring that up” she said to him, her voice raised and her face contorted in anger.


    “I just  I just wanted to get back at Anita”


    “And I ended up being coteral damage, if you really look at it Jackson, you’re a stranger to me because I don’t really know you. It doesn’t matter what kind of rtionship we’ve had, I don’t remember any of it so stay in yourne Jackson and maybe stay away from me Jackson”


    “You don’t mean that Emily” Jackson looked somewhat broken at her words “Look around, doesn’t this all look familiar to you, I told you not to get married to Ethan in this very ce, I told you I wanted you, I kissed you right here in this garden  ”


    “Jackson  ”


    “I cannot sit back any longer while you try to push me away for the umpteenth time, you’re married to Ethan and I don’t care”


    “If you’re so important to me, then why don’t I remember? Why do I remember everyone and everything else and not you?” she asked quietly, her eyes almost not meeting his, looking downwards, an inch apart, her hair whipping with the wind.


    Jackson said a little prayer, betting everything on what he was about to do. His heart bled, he needed her to remember, he needed her to have the memories of how much he loved her, how much he was willing to do anything for her, he wished she could feel it radiating off his skin, in the way he looked at her, the way the goosebumps rose on his skin when their skin came in contact.


    Her eyes, the way she looked at him now, scared but curious, he drew closer to her and she didn’t try to pull back, he took his hands to her face, caressing them softly and he pulled her closer to him.


    “Please remember this” he whispered and with that he kissed her.