Locked in Autumn’s Memories — Novel

About

In the wake of shattered trust and buried secrets, Dorian returns to a city that holds both memories and ghosts. Two years in prison, betrayed by the one he loved, have left him hardened, yet the sight of Vivienne at his sister's grave ignites a storm of emotions he thought were long extinguished. She claims to have searched for him, her eyes reflecting a complicated mix of hope and remorse. But can she truly grasp the weight of the past—or the depth of his pain?

As their lives collide once more, Vivienne’s attempts to reconnect are met with Dorian's icy detachment. The echoes of their shared history haunt every encounter—memories of laughter, love, and betrayal intertwining with the lingering presence of Dorian's sister, Selene. Each interaction is a delicate dance between rekindled feelings and unresolved grievances. Why does Vivienne cling to him now, after years of silence? And as he prepares to embrace a future without her, can he truly let go of the love that once defined him?

With autumn leaves swirling around them, the question remains: is it possible to find closure in a heart still locked in memories? As the past and present collide, both must confront what they’ve lost—and what they might still salvage.

Locked in Autumn’s MemoriesChapter 1

I was sent to prison by my wife for two years. After being released, I changed my name and left the country.

Seven years later, we met again in front of my sister’s grave.

When our eyes met, she stopped wiping the tombstone. In her eyes flashed a mix of emotions—shock, joy, guilt… all hard to describe.

“Dorian, I’ve been looking for you for so many years. I thought you… were gone too. Where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you contact me even once?”

Seeing that I didn’t respond, she quickly wiped the corner of her eyes.

“You’re avoiding me on purpose, aren’t you? You still hate what happened back then. I had my own difficulties.”

I didn’t know how she still had the face to say those things in front of my sister’s grave after killing her, stealing her husband and pushing me to the point where I almost couldn’t survive.

But love and hate were both luxuries. To me, she had already nothing.

——

Meeting again after so many years, my heart no longer stirred.

Vivienne turned around and left.

I bent down and gently placed the pure white chrysanthemum in my arms onto my sister’s tombstone.