Chapter One

The room in which she awakened was serene. From it walls covered in a tranquil blue down to the trinkets disbursed throughout, its elegance was apparent, and certainly a far cry from the white walls of the hospital. Emily inched upwards in the bed to fully view her unfamiliar surroundings. "Oh good, you're awake."

Emily squinted at the raven haired woman standing poised at the foot of her bed. She knew this woman was Victoria, her mother-in law, and though Victoria had only spoken kind words each time she had seen her, Emily couldn't discount the unsettling feeling she experienced in her presence. "Where am I?"

"We thought you'd be more comfortable recovering here. We've hired a private nurse, and of course, have our regular staff here as well." Victoria's wistfully forced smile spread across her porcelain face and Emily struggled for something to say. Anything.

"I don't want to be a burden." She finally replied, softly pursing her lips in attempt to mask the fact that she wanted to scream.

"Nonsense. We take care of our family." Victoria added another smooth smile for punctuation before turning on her high-heeled shoes and walking towards the large window on the opposite side of the room. "I'm going to open the curtains so that you don't feel like you're in a dungeon, but we do need to mindful of the press. When they hear of your release from the hospital, they'll be surrounding the place."

Emily felt like she was a caged bird on display. Of course, since awakening without her memory, she had been told of the Grayson's social status, and therefore, the public interest they drew. Nonetheless, it felt new to Emily, and therefore, made her quite uncomfortable.

"Where's Daniel?" Emily asked, grasping for some sense of normalcy. And as if on cue, she heard his voice from the doorway.

"I'm right here." He moved towards the bed, and Emily felt relieved to see him, and ultimately, to be rescued from Victoria's scrutinizing stare. "Mom, do you mind if I have a minute with Emily?"

"Of course not, darling. I'll leave you two alone." Victoria gracefully exited the room, sending chills down Emily's spine. What was it about her that was so troubling? Daniel took a seat on the edge of the bed, unsure of what he was going to say. Emily spoke before he even had a chance to think.

"Do we... live...with your parents?" Daniel couldn't help from emitting a small laugh at her question accompanied by the slightly disturbed expression on her face. It was the first time Emily had seen him smile, and she noted he had a beautiful one at that.

"No. No, you...well, we, own a house just down the beach."

"Did we buy it to be close to your parents?" Did she really like her in-laws in her former life, she wondered? Granted, she had not had much interaction with her father-in law, but Victoria's icy exterior was enough to make Emily hope for news that they were not fond of one another. How could she be close with someone like that?

"No, you bought it a couple of years ago."

Relieved again by his response, Emily began her petition, "Then I think I would much rather be recovering there with you and not here." Her entire being held a certain gentleness now that Daniel noticed had been missing from the version of her he had married. Why had she felt the need to withhold it? He averted his eyes, feeling uncomfortable. It was difficult for him to be cold when she was being so genuine. It was abundantly clear that Emily simply wanted to be with him. Wasn't that what he had always wanted?

"I think it's best...you stay here for a while. This house does offer much more privacy and protection. And we have a staff here who can attend to your every need while I'm at work."

Emily nodded, feeling trapped and defeated. "At Voulez?" Her pitch tipped at the end as she sought confirmation, recalling a conversation she'd had in the hospital with his sister, Charlotte.

"That's right." Daniel took in the natural beauty of her face for a moment. Being near her like this was almost suffocating. He was becoming increasingly overwhelmed with guilt, anger and the pure confusion of his own emotions towards her. Emily was sitting before him, completely ignorant of her transgressions and innocently seeking answers, and perhaps, even love from him. Daniel simply could not give either to her right now. "Listen, I need to...get to work. I want you to continue to rest."

"Okay," she breathed as he placed a kiss to her forehead. Emily closed her eyes at the sensation, wishing it would last longer. Though Daniel was still a stranger, she knew he was supposed to be the person in which she was the closest, and she wanted to experience the comfort of having him nearby for more than a few minutes. It was puzzling to her why he was continuing to place such a distance between them. Had she done something wrong? She needed answers. Charlotte interrupted her thoughts, and Emily smiled warmly, pleased to see the energized brunette.

Charlotte had been only one to be openly kind and forthcoming thus far. They exchanged pleasantries as Charlotte sat down on the bed with an almost mischievous grin. Emily quickly surmised that if she hoped to gain any information, it would have to come from Charlotte for now. So she proceeded with the most pressing question on her mind. "Charlotte...were Daniel and I in love? I mean...was he in love with me?"

"Absolutely. Daniel has practically worshiped you from the first moment you met. Why?"

"He has been very distant, and I'm just trying to figure out why."

"This has been really traumatic. I'm sure he's just sorting through everything." Charlotte excused. It was plausible, but Emily knew there must be more to it.

"Maybe. I just wish I could remember..." she sighed, "anything."

"I know... which is why I brought some things for you," Charlotte said with a smile, retrieving the contents from the bag she had brought. The first was a cream colored box, and when Emily opened it, she found that it contained pictures from her wedding to Daniel.

Emily smiled. "Charlotte, this is great, thank you. How did you get them so fast? I know it hasn't been that long since the wedding."

"I have my ways," she proudly replied as Emily began looking through the stills.

"We look happy."

"You were. And you were a stunning bride."

"Thanks."

After a few minutes passed of viewing the captured moments, Charlotte handed Emily what looked to be a brown leather book. "Here. This is a scrapbook you started the summer you and Daniel met. I thought it might be helpful to see more pictures and to read some of the things you wrote."

Emily was touched. The little things now meant so much to her. She was desperate to have an inclination as to who she was in her past and the life she led, to have a sense of her identity. "Wow, thank you. This means more than you know."

"That picture was taken the first day you two met. You spilled your drink on Daniel's jacket," Charlotte explained with an amused smile when Emily turned to the first page.

Emily snickered, trying to imagine the moment. "Really? How embarrassing."

"Daniel told me he never had that jacket cleaned... That he wanted to remember that unpredictable moments can change your life, if you're ready. He proposed to you in that same suite, on that same yacht. It was so romantic."

"It sounds perfect."

Charlotte noted the hint of sadness in Emily's voice and frowned. "You're going to remember, Emily. I'm sure of it."

"I hope so." Emily sighed, forcing a slight smile. "Who wouldn't want to remember such a beautiful life?" Neither Emily nor Charlotte were aware how inaccurate a description that was.

When Daniel returned home that night and went to obligatorily check on Emily, he found her asleep on top of the covers, the room lit by lamplight. The scrapbook she had been reviewing had fallen to her side and caught his attention. Gingerly, he removed it from under her fingertips and began to look through it.

Emily had previously filled many of its pages with pictures taken over the course of their time together along with various poems that "reminded her of him". Daniel closed his eyes, his mind returning to the night she had given him the book as his birthday present.

"On the night of our first date, you recited an Oliver Wendell Holmes poem to me, do you remember?" Emily asked as they sat on the bench at the foot of her bed. Daniel looked up from admiring the first picture they had taken together.

"Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts." Her voice joined him in to finish the quote in unison, both wearing an adoring smile.

"Well, ever since that night, I've been collecting poems that remind me of you. I know it hasn't been very long, but...you already feel like home to me." Moved and at a loss for words, he lovingly kissed her. Emily immediately reciprocated, and they made love before their guests arrived for the evening to celebrate Daniel's birthday with a clambake on the beach.

Daniel released a silent, heavy breath, glancing at Emily's sleeping figure. He vividly recalled the love he had felt for her in that moment when she had uttered what he believed were heartfelt words. Had it really all been a lie? Surely, that moment of perfection between them had been as pure as it had felt at the time. He could at least hope.

"I saw your statement to the press. Very convincing. If didn't know better, I'd say you were quite a devoted husband," Victoria glibly complimented as she strode into the living room of Grayson Manor to join her son. Daniel was standing with a cup of cup of coffee in hand, taking in the the view of their palatial backyard, though not really appreciating what it had to offer. He sliced his eyes at his mother, disgusted by the smug expression lighting her face as she sipped her own coffee.

"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" He flatly replied to which Victoria placed her coffee cup in its accompanying saucer with purpose and shifted her stance to face him.

"What I want is for you to remain protected and to not be punished for Emily's transgressions."

"The transgressions she has no recollection of committing."

"Which she could remember at any time along with the fact that you were her shooter. That is why it is of the utmost importance for you to appear an innocent bystander in this nightmare."

Daniel shook his head at the insanity of the situation. "I'm far from innocent."

"You're also far away from Emily. Don't think I haven't noticed that you've barely been spending any time with her."

"That's because I can hardly stand to be with her, Mom. All I can think about when I look at her is how she lied to me and how I nearly killed her. The guilt I feel is consuming me."

"You're going to need to put your emotions aside, Daniel. Your future depends on it." Victoria's cold determination never ceased to amaze him. Daniel shook his head again as she left the room. Unbelievable.

"Good morning," Charlotte greeted from behind causing Daniel to turn around.

"Charlotte, hi. What brings you by?"

"I came to check on Emily, of course. How is she today?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her."

"You haven't seen her? Daniel, it's nearly noon. What is going on with you?"

"Nothing. I've just been letting her rest," he lied rather unconvincingly. He set his cup on the coffee table and took a seat on the plush sofa. Charlotte joined him, ready to plead her case.

"Daniel, I've been spending a lot of time with Emily. She wants so badly to remember, and most of all, she wants to remember you. And... I can tell she wants to go home."

"It just makes more sense for her to recover here with the staff and all."

"Okay, I can understand that, but you can have the private nurse come to the beach house instead. I think Emily would have a much nicer recovery there and a stronger chance of remembering her past. You and I both know how claustrophobic this big house can feel." When Daniel didn't respond, Charlotte continued, " I just don't understand why you're not spending any time with her."

"It's complicated, okay?"

"So make it simple. Take her home. Take her to the beach house where you made good memories together. Love her, Daniel."

He began to shake his head fervently. "Charlotte, you don't know what she's done."

His words would not cause her to falter though. "It doesn't matter. Whatever it is... I know you two can work through it. The slate has been wiped clean. Daniel, you've been given the chance to fall in love with each other again. Do you have any idea what I would give to have another chance with Declan?" That struck a cord. Daniel looked into his sister's passionate filled eyes and his countenance began to soften.

"You really miss him, don't you?" Regretfully, he knew he had not supported her enough in her grief.

"Everyday." Charlotte appreciated the sympathy she found reflecting in Daniel's eyes despite it being belated. Perhaps, they had reached some form of an understanding. Deciding she had said her piece for the moment, she left him to his thoughts. She could visit Emily later. He sat completely still for quite some time, unable to move. Maybe Charlotte was right. Maybe he should take Emily back to the beach house. It might not be the wisest decision, but the thought of continuing to live life they way that had since the wedding was almost toxic.

Daniel crossed the living room and climbed the winding staircase to the hall which led to Emily's room. He found her wearing a long yellow dress as she sat on the bed, reading. She looked up from her book upon hearing his footsteps stop in the doorway.

"Daniel," she softly greeted, almost surprised to see him.

"Hi, Em."

"I saw you on the News this morning. Thank you for what you said." Daniel only nodded, unable to muster a response for her compliment of the lies he had told the press.

"My wife and I appreciate your concern, but she is now home recovering, and we ask for privacy during this difficult time. It is a miracle Emily has survived and I cannot express how grateful I am, but unfortunately, she has sustained significant memory loss as a result of her injuries and cannot speak to the events of that horrific night. I speak on her behalf today, and I will not rest until justice has been served for this vile crime..."

"Daniel?" Emily's voice drew him back to the present moment. "You seem a million miles away."

Daniel paused, looking at her inquisitive expression. He made a decision then. "Would you feel like going for a walk with me?"

A/N: Thank you so much for the comments on the Prologue. They are the reason I wrote this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and would love to read your thoughts. :)