Chapter 6

The meal ended abruptly. As they prepared to leave, Violet walked straight to the driver’s seat. “Louis had some alcohol; it’s not safe for him to drive,” she said, glancing pointedly at Cersei. “I’m familiar with his car by now. Let me drive this time.” Louis saw nothing inappropriate and simply handed over the keys.

In the past, such casual intimacy between them would have hurt Cersei. But now… she realized her heart felt nothing at all. Perhaps she had truly let Louis go.

Wordlessly, she got into the car. She could hear Violet’s voice, Louis’s responses, while ignoring Violet’s smug glances in the rearview mirror as she closed her eyes to rest.

Perhaps distracted by their conversation, Violet drove through an intersection without checking the traffic light. At that moment, a large truck suddenly appeared from the side. The blaring horn and rapidly closing distance left Violet’s mind blank—she could only scream, incapable of any other reaction.

Just as the vehicles were about to collide, Louis lunged forward. He grabbed the steering wheel and turned it hard toward Cersei’s side.

“CRASH—”

With the violent impact, Cersei’s body slammed against the car door, pain instantly engulfing her entire body. In the last second before losing consciousness, she hazily saw—Louis’s first instinct had been to protectively shield Violet in the driver’s seat.

Seven Years of Obsession: Now I Don’t Even Remember Your Name

Chapter 6

Cersei awoke in a haze of pain. The pain throughout her body forced an involuntary groan from her lips. At her bedside sat Louis, overjoyed to see her awake. The dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn’t slept all night. Seeing her awake, he took her hand, pressing it against his cheek, muttering apologies nonstop.

“Cersei, I’m so sorry. I was so focused on protecting Violet and forgot about… Thank goodness you’re alright. I would have regretted it for the rest of my life…”

His rough stubble scratched her palm. As Cersei observed his guilt and exhaustion, her heart remained unmoved—she even felt the urge to laugh. He hadn’t forgotten her; he just treated Violet’s safety as more important than hers. Just like during the kidnapping. Just like now again.

Seeing her silent, Louis panicked. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, trembling as he pressed it into her hand. “Cersei, I’m using a forgiveness card… Please don’t be angry, okay?”

Looking at the card, a quiet laugh escaped her lips. “Alright,” she whispered softly.

Louis Harris, one hundred forgiveness cards, ninety-nine now used. Only one remained.

Cersei spent several days recovering in the hospital, with Louis keeping vigil beside her. Yet each time, he would barely sit down before receiving a phone call, after which he would look at her with guilt.

“I’m sorry, Cersei. There’s an urgent matter at the office. Rest well, and I’ll be back tomorrow to keep you company.”

He was lying to her. There was no office emergency—just an excuse to be with Violet. Shortly after each departure, Cersei would see his image on Violet’s Instagram. Sometimes at 53NYC, smiling as he cut Violet’s steak. Sometimes at SoHo, carrying bags of luxury goods, following behind Violet. Once at an Luna park, accompanying Violet on a carousel—in the photo, he gazed up at Violet with a tenderness that seemed almost unreal. Those eyes—once only for her.

Though his lies crumbled at the slightest touch, Cersei kept pretending she didn’t know. She never confronted him.

Cersei turned off her phone and stared out the window. She had stopped feeling sad long ago.