Chapter 2

So, I gritted my teeth, blinked back tears, and forced myself to hold on.

For four years, I hoped and waited every single day for Simon to wake up.

But now, he was finally awake. And he didn't even remember me. He treated me like I didn't matter and acted like everything I did was Hadley's achievement.

I refused to accept this.

Just as I was thinking about asking Nelson, the attending physician, to vouch for me, he happened to walk right up to me.

I clung to him like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline and dragged him into the room. "Dr. Hernandez, you're just in time. Please, tell everyone. I've been the one looking after Simon for the past four years."

Nelson gave me a puzzled look, his eyes unreadable. "Miss, what are you talking about?"

He pointed at Hadley, who had walked in behind us. "All these years, it's always been Ms. McBride working closely with us to take care of Mr. Ferguson. And you? Who are you again?"

I had been dealing with Nelson for years. We knew each other inside out.

So why was he saying something like that now?

"Dr. Hernandez, what are you talking about? It's me. I'm Simon's wife!" I blurted out.

"I was just in your office this morning, picking up Simon's test results," I added.

I stared at him, pleading with my eyes, silently begging him to remember.

"That's enough. You're making a scene," Simon snapped.

Simon glared at me, his face dark with rage.

Hadley shot me a smug look and sneered. "Estelle, give it a rest. Didn't Dr. Hernandez spell it out for you? Or are you calling him a liar now?"

Just then, Simon paused, like something was clicking in his mind. "Estelle? That name rings a bell. Weren't you the daughter of my father's assistant?"

My eyes lit up. "That's right. My dad used to work for Phil as his assistant. We met ages ago, and we—"

But before I could finish, Simon suddenly snapped, his tone icy and harsh. "Cut the crap. I heard your dad landed in jail for fraud. Are you trying to pull the same tricks as him?"

"Estelle, you're still twisting things and trying to set Hadley up? Get out, right now! Don't let me see you here again," Simon spat.

Twisting the truth? What a joke.

I shot Simon a look full of disappointment, then glanced at Hadley, who was standing off to the side, smirking like she had won.

Fine. If he wanted to believe I was the one twisting things, then all the love I poured into these four years might as well have fed it to the beasts.

"Simon, let's get a divorce," I said, my voice steady but cold.

Simon stood there, his expression unreadable as he stared at me, silent for what felt like forever.

Just when I thought he might remember something, he suddenly smirked coldly.

He said, "Are you insane? You're not even my wife. Divorce? You're really delusional."

I never thought that even when I was ready to step aside for them, Simon could still be so vicious.

"Simon, do you even have a conscience? All these years, I've worked myself to the bone day and night taking care of you. I'm the one who kept your company running," I shouted.

"And Hadley? She bailed on you when you were broke and ditched you when you needed her most. I was the one who stayed with you through it all," I added.

"Fine, if you don't remember any of that, whatever. You love Hadley so much, so go ahead, be with her. Just sign the divorce papers. Is that really so hard?" I said.

Hadley exploded, her voice shrill with anger. "Can't you understand plain English? Dr. Hernandez said Simon can't handle any stress. He just woke up, and you're still here spouting nonsense and stressing him out."

"Simon, relax. I'll call security and have her kicked out right now," Hadley said.

Simon gave Hadley a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said gently, "Let me take care of this."

"Estelle, I can't believe how twisted you are, flipping the truth like that. Dr. Hernandez, is this really how you run things here? You just let random people wander around your patients?" Simon snapped.

Nelson finally snapped out of it and said, "Miss, visiting hours are over. Please let the patient rest."