Love is the Sunshine novel Chapter 189

The photo frame was dusty, indicating that it had not been touched for a long time.

After inspecting the photo, Carla threw it at Terence and asked, "What is that?"

Terence was astonished as he was still filled with lust. He picked up the frame and looked at the picture. His eyebrows immediately furrowed.

"I don't know this woman," he answered resolutely.

Carla didn't believe him. She pointed at the photo frame again and accused him, "Why did you have a picture with her if you don't even know her? You even hid it in such a concealed place!"

In the picture, Terence could be seen with a girl.

He looked much younger, and the girl with him looked like she was of the same age. They looked like they were really happy as evidenced by their wide smiles. They were really close with each other. Terence even had his arms around her. Anyone who saw the picture would undoubtedly have the idea that they looked like a young couple.

His bookshelf occupied the whole of the wall. The photo frame, on the other hand, was the same size as a book. Therefore, nobody found it amidst the numerous books.

Terence brushed his hair fretfully and stared at the photo frame. If someone saw him, they would think he was looking at a test paper. He started to frown, trying really hard to recognize the girl. 'Who is this woman?' Terence kept repeating in his head.

After a while, he just gave up. He really could not recognize the girl no matter how hard he tried.

"Carla, I really can't figure out who she was. She might be one of my friends but I'm not sure. After all, it was a long time ago. Basing from this picture, I'd say it was taken before I joined the army. But I don't have a single clue about it—the location, the time and most especially the girl!"

Terence looked into her eyes and explained as genuinely as he could.

Thankfully, his serious and sincere expression finally convinced Carla. She put the frame down on the table and decided to let the matter go. It was natural for her to get mad at Terence at that moment because this intimate picture appeared when they were having sex.

But everyone had a past, even her.

She had seen pictures of him with other girls before. However, what was really bothering her...

"Are you sure I'm your first one? You didn't lie to me, right?" Carla suddenly asked.

She wanted to know his answer. She didn't mind his ex-girlfriends who had already separated with him.

She only cared about whether he lied to her or not.

She could forgive everything as long as he was honest with her.

"It's true. I didn't lie to you about this fact," Terence immediately and calmly answered. He pressed his forehead against hers and threw the photo frame to the trash can. Then, he carried her across the bedroom.

Terence had to start from the very beginning really slowly. He laid her down on the bed as carefully as he could. He then hovered on top of Carla, looking straight into her face. He took his time in admiring her beauty and placed a soft kiss on her lips. When he parted his lips with hers, he saw that Carla had a peaceful smile on her lips. He smiled at her back. It was already midnight when they had finally finished. They laid together with their bodies entangled with each other; breathing in sync and just satisfied being near each other.

As expected, it was still raining

the next morning.

Terence carried Carla up from bed to have breakfast since she was too exhausted and sore from last night's activities. All morning, he assisted her with everything. He was always just a few meters away from her, tending to her every need. While Carla was in the shower, he checked if her flight was delayed or not. Seeing that it wasn't, he drove her to the airport after Carla was finished getting ready.

"Take this suitcase. There are books inside," Terence told her as they bid goodbye in the airport. He watched her leave until she was at the security check. Then, he drove home.

Meanwhile, on the plane, Carla was already on board and was about to turn off her cellphone when it suddenly beeped.

It was a notification from the bank that she got a money transfer.

"One, two, three, four, five..." she counted the zeroes in shock and sighed before she turned off her cellphone. Then, she leaned back on the comfortable first-class seat and just stared blankly outside the window.

It was only a business trip. Why did Terence give her so much money like she was going to an asylum? Carla felt amused.

Terence arrived home soon after.

The first thing he did after returning home was to call on Nathan and Rainer.

"Do you know who the girl in the picture is?" he didn't waste any time and asked them.

Terence sat on the chair and threw the photo frame on the table.

Rainer took a look at the frame and then smiled, "Mr. Terence, you're the one in this picture. So you should know who is this girl with you. Why are you asking us?"

Terence glanced at him and sullenly uttered, "The problem is I don't know her. But this picture doesn't look like it's fake. If it's real, why can't I remember anything about her?"

Even though he told Carla that he couldn't remember this girl because it had been too long, he knew that it was not true. He had a good memory. If the girl really had existed in his life, he would surely know her.

It was quite weird that he didn't remember anything about her.

"Nathan, why aren't you saying anything?"

Terence turned to Nathan. The two brothers grew up with him since childhood. Even though they had been staying with his grandfather mostly, they had also been his good playmates. He asked them because he thought they knew a lot of things about him and his life.

Nathan came forward silently and turned over the frame, hiding the picture from his sight.

"Mr. Terence, you really can't remember anything?" Nathan asked him.

Terence looked at the back of the frame and saw some faded characters written on the back.

They were written by pen and he could tell that it was his handwriting.

When Terence looked closely, he saw in his own handwriting a name that he didn't recognize, 'Erica.'

"What does it mean? Who is Erica?" Terence asked, frowning at Nathan.

Nathan lowered his head and remained silent. After a while, he explained, "Mr. Terence, you've known her really well. You met her before you joined the army when you were 18.

After you joined the army, your head was once accidentally injured during a jungle survival training. You were treated in the hospital for a month, but you couldn't remember Erica anymore after you recovered. Mr. Nicholas also knew about it, and he warned us not to mention Erica in front of you.

The trauma didn't cause any other damage to you, except a part of your memory that year. They were not going to influence your life so we didn't mention her anymore."

Nathan had thought that they could keep this secret forever until today. This photo frame must have been taken by some housekeepers by accident. Nobody would expect it to appear one day.

Terence rubbed his temples to relieve the headache which was starting to form. He still couldn't remember anything about this girl. He continued asking Nathan, "What else do you know? For example, was I intimate with her?"

Nathan hesitated.

"We don't know actually. But I only know you went camping with her in a mountain once, alone. As for what you did there... W-we don't know," Nathan stammered.

Bang! Terence pounded on the table. "What did you say?"

Nathan replied in the sincerest voice he could muster, "Mr. Terence, you are our boss! We couldn't tell you what to do or not. You liked Erica just like how you like Miss Carla right now.

Mr. Nicholas adored you so much that he didn't intervene in your love affair with Erica even though she was the daughter of a servant. As for us, we didn't dare to say anything since Mr. Nicolas allowed your relationship with her."

Terence asked in a trembling voice, "What? The daughter of a servant?"

Rainer didn't know anything about this old story because he had been in abroad for training at that time. The story also surprised him and he teased, "Mr. Terence, it seems that you have a preference for Cinderella girls.

But it has been a decade from now. Does it matter if you don't remember? She could be-"

Terence gave him a warning glare and he stopped talking immediately.

To take Terence's attention away from Rainer, Nathan started to explain, "Yes, Mr. Terence. She was the daughter of a servant. She was a year younger than you, and you were in a relationship with her for one year. You completely forgot her after you were injured. Mr. Nicholas sent her away and she disappeared since then."

Terence couldn't believe such an absurd story. He continued to rub his temples and looked at the beautiful girl in the picture.

"Rainer, Nathan, you have to keep this secret for me. Don't tell anyone a word about it, especially to Carla, is that clear?" Terence said as he addressed Rainer and Nathan simultaneously.

Nathan and Rainer nodded, "Yes, Mr. Terence!"