The days after Ethan's promotion to S-rank felt heavy and slow. He kept busy at the orphanage, helping with lessons and training, but his mind always drifted back to that moment in the square.

  The way Emberlyn had looked right through him, like he wasn't even there.

  Grey noticed something was wrong but didn't say anything. He understood that some hurts needed time to heal. The children could tell something had changed about Uncle Ethan too, though they couldn't figure out what.

  Then one day, while Ethan was buying supplies in the market, he walked past Belle's Candy Shop. The colorful sweets in the window made him stop.

  Suddenly, he remembered something that made him smile for the first time in days.

  Emberlyn loved sweets.

  Even without her memories, some things about her had to stay the same, right?

  She still fought like a master swordsman. She still moved with that same grace. Maybe she still loved Belle's chocolate truffles and caramel bonbons too.

  The plan that came to him was simple, maybe even crazy. But it came from love and desperate hope, the same forces that had helped him do impossible things before.

  If he couldn't approach her directly, if she couldn't remember their past, then he would use everything he knew about her to make her come to him instead. He knew her habits, what she liked, what made her curious. And he would use all of that to draw her to him.

  The next morning, Ethan got to Belle's Candy Shop before dawn. He bought all her favorite sweets, leaving the shelves completely empty.

  Later that day, Emberlyn walked into Belle's Candy Shop with a bright smile, not knowing what was waiting for her.

  "Hi, Belle! I'll take five chocolate truffles, please!" she said cheerfully.

  The shop owner, a kind old woman, let out a tired sigh. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry. The chocolate truffles are all gone."

  Emberlyn's smile faded. "Gone? What about the caramel bonbons?"

  "Those are sold out too."

  She looked around at the nearly empty shelves, her heart sinking. All her favorite sweets were gone. "Belle, you didn't save any for me?"

  The shopkeeper shook her head sadly. "Sorry, dear. You know how it is, first come, first served."

  Emberlyn left the shop feeling disappointed. Her daily treat had become a daily letdown.

  The next day, she came back, hoping things would be different. But again, all her favorites were gone.

  "Who's buying all of these?" she asked, getting frustrated.

  "You know I can't tell you that, honey. Customer privacy."

  The third day, Emberlyn showed up even earlier, sure she'd be first in line. But the shelves were still empty. Three days without her favorite sweets felt like torture.

  On the fourth day, she arrived before dawn, determined to be the very first customer. When Belle opened the shop, Emberlyn rushed in, only to find the shelves still bare.

  "What's going on?" she cried out. "I'm literally the first person here today!"

  Belle just gave her a helpless look, and Emberlyn left, angry and confused.

  On the fifth day, Emberlyn decided she'd had enough. She hid near the shop, watching carefully. That's when she saw him, a man slipping out the back door with a large bag.

  What is he doing with my sweets? she wondered, and quietly followed him.

  The man walked quickly toward the forest. Emberlyn's mind raced with questions. Is he feeding my sweets to some monster? The thought made her even angrier. Those were her favorite sweets being wasted!

  She followed him deeper into the woods until they reached a clearing she'd never seen before.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  It was beautiful, a peaceful place with a huge tree in the center, surrounded by colorful flowers. She couldn't believe such a lovely place existed so deep in the forest.

  In the middle of the clearing stood a small house with a wooden sign: "Rivermoor Orphanage." The home was surrounded by flowers in full bloom, just like the sign promised.

  Children came running out, their faces lighting up when they saw the man with the bag.

  Emberlyn felt tears fill her eyes as she realized the truth. These orphans were getting her favorite sweets. How could someone be so kind?

  She was so lost in her emotions that she didn't notice a small child creeping up behind her. A gentle touch on her arm made her jump. She turned to see a little girl looking up at her with wide, curious eyes.

  "Who are you?" the girl asked, her voice sweet but careful.

  Suddenly, Emberlyn found herself surrounded by children, all staring at her with wonder. The little girl, her name tag said "Grace", noticed Emberlyn's tears. Gently, Grace reached up and wiped them away with her tiny hand.

  "Don't cry, okay?" Grace said with a warm smile that melted Emberlyn's heart.

  "Are you hurt?" Grace asked, real concern in her big eyes.

  "I'm fine!" Emberlyn said with a soft smile, though her chest felt tight with feelings she couldn't explain.

  There was something about Grace's sweet face that touched her deeply. "Can I give you a hug?" she asked suddenly.

  Grace looked confused for a moment but nodded. Emberlyn pulled her into a warm embrace, feeling a rush of comfort and love.

  From a distance, Ethan watched with a smile he couldn't hide. His wife's natural kindness was still there, still beautiful. The other children noticed his expression and shared knowing looks.

  Anna, standing nearby, saw the way Ethan was looking at Emberlyn and felt a stab of jealousy. She couldn't deny there was something special between Ethan and this mysterious woman.

  The curious children turned to Ethan with suspicious looks. "Uncle Ethan, who did you bring here?" they asked.

  They knew their home was protected by magic, strangers could only enter if someone who belonged there guided them.

  Ethan shrugged, trying to look casual. "Maybe she just... got lost?"

  Hearing Ethan's name made something stir in Emberlyn's mind, though she couldn't remember where she'd heard it before.

  The children, amazed by how beautiful Emberlyn was, gathered around her with honest compliments.

  "You're so pretty!" they said, their words sincere and touching.

  Emberlyn smiled softly, moved by their innocence. Their kindness felt like warm sunshine.

  Without warning, one of the children grabbed her hand, eager to show her around. Emberlyn followed, walking past Ethan. She glanced at him and thought, He's actually quite handsome.

  Suddenly, buried memories started coming back. She remembered a strange man who had claimed to be her husband two years ago. Could this be the same person?

  Her heart started racing as she looked at Ethan again. Her eyes showed curiosity and surprise. Could he really be the same man? Why was he here? The mystery was getting deeper, but she had a feeling answers would come soon.

  The children led her into the cozy house, where they happily shared the sweets Ethan had brought.

  Emberlyn smiled as she watched the joy in their eyes. She sat with them, enjoying their cheerful, innocent chatter.

  "What's your name, Miss?" a boy with bright eyes asked.

  "Emberlyn," she answered with a gentle smile.

  "What do you do for work?"

  "I'm a hunter."

  "A hunter? Just like Uncle Ethan?" asked a little girl sitting beside her, eyes wide with excitement.

  "Uncle Ethan's a hunter too?" Emberlyn whispered, glancing over at him.

  "Yeah! Uncle Ethan is super strong! He can beat huge monsters!"

  "Really?" Emberlyn looked doubtful. Is he really the same man from two years ago?

  They shared stories about life in the hidden forest while enjoying the sweets. Emberlyn felt like she'd discovered a whole new world full of joy and wonder.

  But during their happy conversation, the sound of heavy footsteps outside made them all freeze. They turned toward the door, tense and waiting.

  The door opened slowly, letting sunlight stream in. Standing there was an elderly man the children recognized as Garrick, the owner of their home.

  Everyone stared in surprise. Garrick looked at them calmly, his face showing a rare happiness.

  "Sorry to interrupt," Garrick said politely. "I see we have a guest today."

  "We sure do," Ethan said, stepping into the room with a smile.

  "Emberlyn?" Garrick whispered in amazement, his eyes locked on her in disbelief.

  Emberlyn raised an eyebrow, her curiosity growing. "You know me?"

  Garrick shook his head with a mysterious smile. "I'm not sure. But that name... it means something special to me."

  Ethan stepped forward as the children watched with interest. "Garrick takes care of our home," he explained to Emberlyn. "He knows almost everything about this forest."

  Emberlyn became even more curious. What connection did this old man have to her name?

  The conversation paused as Garrick sat down among the children, joining their circle. He began telling old stories about the forest, describing the wonders and dangers hidden within.

  Emberlyn listened with fascination, captivated by his tales. But she felt like something important was being kept from her.

  As they continued talking, she began to realize there were many more secrets in this forest than she had ever imagined. And maybe, finding the answers would lead her on an adventure greater than she had ever dreamed.