I didn’t return to my place for dinner with Ryan and my family that night. Instead, I stayed with Atlas. After what he told me, I couldn’t leave him alone in his vast mansion on New Year’s Eve.

He told me a lot about his happy times with his parents before he turned ten. However, he didn't mention his life after losing them, and I didn't dare to ask. I believed those were the scars he didn't want to reopen.

No wonder he loved being home so much, and he was so patient with Ava. I guessed he was emulating his dad.

While listening to his stories, I had a strange feeling that I had lost many happy memories. I only remembered things from my senior year of high school but had no memories of what happened before.

I couldn’t recall much of my childhood or how my parents treated me. It was as if I had no friends. I even envied Atlas for speaking of his past happiness and sorrow. Still, I wondered if I had chosen to forget certain things.

I wanted to ask him about Annalise, but my words wou