"Hmm…" Doctor Eliza mumbled, holding my gaze. "Looks like you've put some thought into this. And in case he does show up, the sheriff and our favorite neighborhood cop will be there. So I suppose we can all protect you," she said. I nodded, appreciating her support. "You are going to need a suit," she added, trailing her eyes down my front.
"Great, we're close to the mall. Let's hope there's still a suit shop open at this time of the year," I suggested.
She nodded with a smile. "I know someone who might still be open for last-minute shopping," she said.
Some time later, I found myself smartly dressed in a blue-black fitted suit that looked like it was tailored specifically for me. When Doctor Eliza tried to pay for the suit, I counted the cash and paid the woman myself. I could see the surprise on Doctor Eliza's face, but she didn't say anything until we were back in her car.
"I'm sorry if this sounds intrusive, but how did you get the cash to pay for the suit?" she asked curiously.
"From my account," I replied simply.
She gave me a side glance. "Have you been able to regain more of your memories?"
"No, not yet. I saw someone use a thumbprint-enabled ATM machine at the hospital and figured I should give it a try."
"Oh! Why didn't we think of that earlier? Wow… so then you must know…" she trailed off, a smile forming on her face.
"I'm Mark Rutherford. I was right about my name," I confirmed.
"And about having a sister…" she said, her smile widening. I could sense the relief in her eyes.
"Yes," I replied, my own smile growing.
She let out a deep sigh. "Finding her should be easier now, especially if you're into social media. We just need to do a little healthy stalking," she said, her nervous laughter filling the car.
"Let's focus on getting through the party first," I suggested. While I was eager to find my sister, and possibly parents, the immense wealth in my bank account hinted at the possibility that they might not be a part of my life anymore, especially if I had been involved in criminal activities.
When Doctor Eliza drove into a secluded driveway that led to an enormous automated gate with security guards, I raised an eyebrow at her.
"I know you must be wondering what kind of shindig is going on," she said, making a comical grimace. I chuckled, signaling that it was okay.
"My dad is the mayor, and my mom is the chief judge," she explained.
That explained how she knew the value of my clothes when I was brought to the hospital, and Justin's statement about getting her parents to fund his project made sense now.
"That's um…" I started, unsure of how to react.
"I like to do things based on my own merits and not flaunt my parents' achievements…" she said, sounding a bit flustered.
"It's okay, Doc. You don't need to explain yourself," I reassured her, sensing her discomfort.
I took her hand as we climbed a few flights of stairs leading to her parents' home. I noticed how the staff smiled genuinely at her and wished her a happy new year as we walked by. Inside, we found ourselves in an expansive hall filled with elegantly dressed people of all ages. The room exuded a luxurious ambiance, with the sound of a piano softly playing, mingling with indistinct voices, and laughter. The air was filled with the aroma of rich food and perfume, and the lighting cast a warm and inviting glow, reflecting off a massive chandelier hanging from the high ceiling.
"Here," Doctor Eliza said, drawing my attention to her. She held two glass cups of bubbling drinks and handed one to me. "You can't have more than one glass since you're still on medication," she cautioned, before signaling to a staff member carrying a food tray. Without looking at my face, she took two plates of finger food, picked a cute hors d'oeuvre, and fed it to me. She continued feeding me as if I were a child, and at one point, I licked her fingers to get her attention. My pulse race. She froze, realizing what she had done, and looked at me with widened eyes. Holding her gaze, I beamed at her, causing her to swallow hard and grimace.
"Sorry, I just went into mama bear mode… I–" she began to apologize.
"I know it's because you're used to taking care of me," I said, noting how my voice had grown deeper from the act.
"This is cozy," a male voice interrupted, and I saw panic flash in Doctor Eliza's eyes before she turned around. It was Justin, of course.
"Good evening, Justin. I hope you remember to keep your distance from me?" Doctor Eliza said through gritted teeth, her voice laced with tension.
"Is this the guy who's making you treat me like garbage? Some stranger you barely know compared to me, someone who's been a part of your life since you were little!" Justin exclaimed, clearly agitated.
"Please, let's not create a scene," Doctor Eliza muttered, discreetly scanning the room with a forced smile.
"Back off, pal," I intervened, attempting to step between Justin and Doctor Eliza. To my surprise, he shoved me back, drawing even more attention to us.
Then, in a surprising turn of events, Justin got down on one knee. "Baby, I know you've been waiting for me to do this for years, and I'm sorry it took me a while to decide. Eliza, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he declared, looking up at Doctor Eliza with expectation.
"What?!" Doctor Eliza gasped, clearly shocked. I noticed the panic in her glances around the room, realizing that we had become the center of attention.
A woman who bore a striking resemblance to Doctor Eliza entered the room with a man, presumably her parents. Doctor Eliza's expression turned resigned, as if she had decided to play along, and something inside me rebelled against that.
"This is interesting," I said, stepping closer to Doctor Eliza and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She looked at me with a bewildered expression, and I gently cupped her chin. "Shall I tell him, or would you, love?" I asked, holding her gaze intently as she searched my eyes, her confusion evident. 'Ah, damn it. I suppose I must go big or go home, huh? To hell with it,' I thought to myself as I lowered my face and kissed her.
At first, she went still, but then she leaned into the kiss and began to respond.