PART 4-CHAPTER 163 JESS
The sky was painted with shades of pink and orange, and the ocean sparkled below like a million tiny stars. A
brisk breeze whipped my hair around as | ran, and for the first tin a long while, it felt good to be moving- not
running from something, but simply enjoying the freedom of it all.
A year ago, | was running because Aiden toldto, and sponsors promisedso many things if | just pushed a
little harder. | pushed it too far, and my love for running turned into resentment. It tookover a year to start
again after Aiden, but now? Now | loved running again.
| picked up my pace, the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement syncing perfectly with my country playlist. With
every breath, | felt lighter, like the world's weight was finally letting up. I'd landed a job | actually loved: working
with injured athletes to get them ready to train and play again.
Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration breaking the happy trance. | slowed down, just a bit curious
to see who was reaching out. It was probably work-related-things had quieted down a bit lately, but | kept my
eye on a few clients, primarily athletes nursing injuries.
| glanced at my screen and grinned. It was Mark.
"Hey, Jess! | know we have our appointment at noon, but any chance | could swing by earlier? My leg is killing
me!"
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JINIESH)
PART 4-CHAPTER 163
288 Vouchers
Mark was a football player I'd been working with since last season. He'd torn his hamstring during the finals, and
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtrecovery was a serious uphill battle.
"Absolutely! Cby at 10. I'm free until 2, so it'll work out perfectly."
| tucked my phone back into my pocket, slipping my one earbud back in.
As | turned around to head back, someone suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path. | skidded to a halt,
clutching my chest as my heart threatened to jump out of my skin. He was tall, wearing a baseball cap low over
his face, casting a shadow that made it hard to see who he was. "Jessica," the deep voice said, calm but
unnervingly familiar.
| dropped to my knees, gasping for breath as | tried to steady my pounding heart. "Shit. You scared the crap out
of me," | muttered, rubbing my palms over my knees as | stood back up, straightening myself to get a better
look at him. His eyes were locked on me, expectant, like he was waiting for something. Recognition, maybe? But
my mind was drawing a blank.
He kept staring, his arms now folded across his chest, and | could feel the tension radiating from him. | bit my lip
and offered a polite smile. "Uh... hi. Sorry, do | know
you?" | asked, feeling awkward as the words left my mouth. This had been happening more often than I'd like-
people from my past expectingto know them while | fumbled to piece together fragments of my old life.
The guy cocked his head to the side, his expression hardening with disbelief. "You don't know who I am?" His
voice was laced
JININS 5)
CHAPTER 161 298 Nowher
with something-was it frustration or amusement? His arms remained crossed like he was testingsomehow.
| shook my head, feeling the heat rising in my face from embarrassment. "No, sorry. There was... an accident a
while back. I hit my
head, and now sof my memories... they're just gone." | sighed, running a hand through my damp hair. "So,
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but | really don't know who you are."
For a split second, something flickered in his eyes, something sharp. And then, his lips curled into a smirk.
"That's funny," he said with a chuckle, but it wasn't really to me. More like he was speaking
to the universe like it was skind
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of cosmic joke. "Nice & Jes, What
1
are the ghpgeesot thd 7" He shook
hie head, still smirking, and | could
see the disbelief in his expression.
| narrowed my eyes. His familiarity
made my stomach twist. There was
something about him, but for the life
ups AR
of me, | couldn Here) I'Gh Sefibus.
t okriembes* My voi
| dont r er.” My voice was
firmer now, and | stood up straighter,
meeting his gaze head-on. He
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmstepped a little closer, his eyes
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searching my face like he didn't
li : n
believe a word | was saying. "You
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really don't remember me?" The
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the latest chapter there!
| swallowed hard, the frustration bubbling up inside me. "No. | don't."
He studiedfor a beat longer, and then something in his face shifted.
The smirk faded, replaced by
q [1 [
something unreadable. "Guess WH
ind youn: fe ©
have to remind you A
tferdd Sinost to himself, before
sticking out a hand between us.
11:34 The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
PART 4 CHAPTER 163
"I'm... Eric. The nis Eric." He smiled at me. | paused for a second before taking his hand. "Jessica, it's nice to
meet yo