Chapter 1 · Gone with the Wind

After the SAT, I was diagnosed with a progressive memory disorder.

Bit by bit, I'd forget everyone—even myself.

When I got home, my parents laid out the share transfer papers that should've been mine, right in front of Emily, the fake heiress. Emily Grant

"Sophie, you're the older sister. You need to give in to Emily more. Stop picking on her—you're really getting on our nerves," my mom said.

I nodded and headed back to my room, crying the whole night.

But when I woke up the next morning, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember why my pillow was wet.

That afternoon, I met my fiancé, Lucas.

He was gently wiping Emily's tears, then shot me a look of pure disgust.

"Sophie, I was just being close to Emily. Did you really have to make such a scene about calling off the engagement a few days ago? You're acting like a lunatic," Lucas said.

His words hit me hard, and I couldn't hold back my tears.

But the next day at dinner, when Lucas glared at me coldly and barked at me, I just stared back, completely confused. "Who are you?"

My memory was slipping away faster and faster.

That evening, Lucas said he'd take me for a drive.

He pulled over on a deserted road. "Sophie, go get something from the trunk for me."

I obediently got out of the car.

Lucas hit the gas, laughing coldly. "That's what you get for causing trouble. Stay here and think about what you've done!"

The car sped off.

I stood by the roadside, my mind completely blank.

I wanted to go home, but I couldn't even remember the address.

By the time the Grant Family was in an uproar and Lucas had turned the whole city upside down looking for me, they finally realized.

I was really gone.

*****

Ever since I was diagnosed with progressive memory loss, I started keeping a daily journal.

While I still could, I'd write down what I needed to do tomorrow.

I flipped open my notebook, checking what I'd written yesterday.

[Day 7 of memory loss. It feels like I'm forgetting more and more.]

[1. I'm done falling for Lucas.]

[2. My parents won't pay for my college, so I have to work at the bubble tea shop at 10 AM to earn my tuition. Address: xxxx.]

There were a few more notes below, but the ink had run from water, making them impossible to read.

Maybe it was my tears.

But I couldn't even remember why I'd cried yesterday.

I didn't bother thinking about it.

After all, nobody really cared about me but myself.

I didn't even dare let anyone know I was sick.

Even though I was the real heiress, nobody liked me here. If I said anything, my parents would just say they brought home an idiot.

So I stuffed my journal away and got ready to head out for work and earn some money.

As soon as I got downstairs, I heard laughter and chatter coming from the living room.

My parents, the fake heiress Emily, and

I froze for a few seconds—it took me a moment to realize that the cold-faced man was my fiancé, Lucas.

He looked at me with pure disdain, like I was the last person he wanted to see.

"Get over here and apologize to Emily," my mom snapped.

"Mom and Dad just transferred the shares to Emily yesterday, and you went and splashed hot water on her arm. Sophie, how could you be so vicious?" Lucas said.

I glanced at Emily's fair arm, but I honestly had no memory of ever scalding her.

Instead, when I woke up this morning, there was a nasty burn on the inside of my calf, and it hurt like hell.

When I stood there in a daze, my mom lost her patience and gave me a shove.

"Idiot, hurry up and apologize! Stop playing dumb!" she snapped.

I lost my balance and stumbled a couple of steps.

My knee slammed into the edge of the coffee table, the pain so sharp I broke out in a cold sweat and nearly collapsed.

Thankfully, Lucas reached out and steadied me.

But the moment I was back on my feet, Lucas pulled his hand away.

He grabbed a tissue and wiped his hand with a look of disgust, then said coldly,

"Apologize. Now."

I could tell none of them liked me, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what really happened.

I couldn't even defend myself.

So all I could do was bow my head and apologize to Emily, just like they wanted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to splash you," I said.

"I'll be more careful next time."

Emily waved me off with a smug little gesture.

"Alright, I'll let it slide this time. But if it happens again"

"If it happens again, I'll send you straight back to that backwater town and you'll never set foot in the Grant Family again!" my mom cut in.

My mom jumped in to finish the sentence.

Then she waved me off impatiently, shooing me away.

"Alright, if you've got nothing else, just go. You look so dumb and clueless—it's annoying just to look at you!"

Her words made my nose sting, but I bit back the tears.

I thought, once I got to college and was far away from this family, things would finally get better.

But before I could take two steps. Emily's voice rang out behind me.

"Sophie, wait."

"There's something else!"

Chapter 1

After the SAT, I was diagnosed with a progressive memory disorder.

Bit by bit, I'd forget everyone—even myself.

When I got home, my parents laid out the share transfer papers that should've been mine, right in front of Emily, the fake heiress. Emily Grant

"Sophie, you're the older sister. You need to give in to Emily more. Stop picking on her—you're really getting on our nerves," my mom said.

I nodded and headed back to my room, crying the whole night.

But when I woke up the next morning, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember why my pillow was wet.

That afternoon, I met my fiancé, Lucas.

He was gently wiping Emily's tears, then shot me a look of pure disgust.

"Sophie, I was just being close to Emily. Did you really have to make such a scene about calling off the engagement a few days ago? You're acting like a lunatic," Lucas said.

His words hit me hard, and I couldn't hold back my tears.

But the next day at dinner, when Lucas glared at me coldly and barked at me, I just stared back, completely confused. "Who are you?"

My memory was slipping away faster and faster.

That evening, Lucas said he'd take me for a drive.

He pulled over on a deserted road. "Sophie, go get something from the trunk for me."

I obediently got out of the car.

Lucas hit the gas, laughing coldly. "That's what you get for causing trouble. Stay here and think about what you've done!"

The car sped off.

I stood by the roadside, my mind completely blank.

I wanted to go home, but I couldn't even remember the address.

By the time the Grant Family was in an uproar and Lucas had turned the whole city upside down looking for me, they finally realized.

I was really gone.

*****

Ever since I was diagnosed with progressive memory loss, I started keeping a daily journal.

While I still could, I'd write down what I needed to do tomorrow.

I flipped open my notebook, checking what I'd written yesterday.

[Day 7 of memory loss. It feels like I'm forgetting more and more.]

[1. I'm done falling for Lucas.]

[2. My parents won't pay for my college, so I have to work at the bubble tea shop at 10 AM to earn my tuition. Address: xxxx.]

There were a few more notes below, but the ink had run from water, making them impossible to read.

Maybe it was my tears.

But I couldn't even remember why I'd cried yesterday.

I didn't bother thinking about it.

After all, nobody really cared about me but myself.

I didn't even dare let anyone know I was sick.

Even though I was the real heiress, nobody liked me here. If I said anything, my parents would just say they brought home an idiot.

So I stuffed my journal away and got ready to head out for work and earn some money.

As soon as I got downstairs, I heard laughter and chatter coming from the living room.

My parents, the fake heiress Emily, and

I froze for a few seconds—it took me a moment to realize that the cold-faced man was my fiancé, Lucas.

He looked at me with pure disdain, like I was the last person he wanted to see.

"Get over here and apologize to Emily," my mom snapped.

"Mom and Dad just transferred the shares to Emily yesterday, and you went and splashed hot water on her arm. Sophie, how could you be so vicious?" Lucas said.

I glanced at Emily's fair arm, but I honestly had no memory of ever scalding her.

Instead, when I woke up this morning, there was a nasty burn on the inside of my calf, and it hurt like hell.

When I stood there in a daze, my mom lost her patience and gave me a shove.

"Idiot, hurry up and apologize! Stop playing dumb!" she snapped.

I lost my balance and stumbled a couple of steps.

My knee slammed into the edge of the coffee table, the pain so sharp I broke out in a cold sweat and nearly collapsed.

Thankfully, Lucas reached out and steadied me.

But the moment I was back on my feet, Lucas pulled his hand away.

He grabbed a tissue and wiped his hand with a look of disgust, then said coldly,

"Apologize. Now."

I could tell none of them liked me, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what really happened.

I couldn't even defend myself.

So all I could do was bow my head and apologize to Emily, just like they wanted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to splash you," I said.

"I'll be more careful next time."

Emily waved me off with a smug little gesture.

"Alright, I'll let it slide this time. But if it happens again"

"If it happens again, I'll send you straight back to that backwater town and you'll never set foot in the Grant Family again!" my mom cut in.

My mom jumped in to finish the sentence.

Then she waved me off impatiently, shooing me away.

"Alright, if you've got nothing else, just go. You look so dumb and clueless—it's annoying just to look at you!"

Her words made my nose sting, but I bit back the tears.

I thought, once I got to college and was far away from this family, things would finally get better.

But before I could take two steps. Emily's voice rang out behind me.

"Sophie, wait."

"There's something else!"