Chapter 1

Adrian Cole was a devoted man, but that day, he handed me a memory-erasing pill.

"Maya, Claire might not have much time left. Her only wish is to have a wedding with me."

"I won't let you get hurt. This pill only causes temporary memory loss."

"In three days, after her wedding with me is over, you can take the antidote. By then, we'll reapply for our marriage license."

Looking at his resolute expression, I took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

Adrian didn't know that I was one of the core developers of this experimental amnesic drug.

There was no antidote.

In three days, I would forget him completely.

The day our divorce decree took effect, we walked out of the law firm. Adrian raised his wrist to check his watch.

"Two minutes until the pill kicks in." He looked at me, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Over the next three days, you'll gradually forget every memory of loving me. Once you take the antidote, everything that happens during this time will be wiped clean too. You won't have to feel any pain."

"This divorce is just temporary. When this is all over, we'll reapply for our marriage license and have another wedding."

I looked at him in silence.

I was afraid we would never get the chance to start over.

As one of the core developers of this experimental amnesic drug, I knew exactly how it worked. It didn't cause instant amnesia. Instead, it slowly eroded memories over three days until the user completely forgot the person they loved the most.

And the reversal compound hadn't even been successfully developed yet. Adrian obviously had no idea.

"Are you sure you won't regret this?" I asked softly.

He smiled, his fingers pausing on the top of my head before gently ruffling my hair.

"Claire has loved me for years. Her final wish is to have a wedding with me. I can't refuse a dying woman."

"Maya, I know you've always been understanding. There's no need to hold a grudge against a sick patient. Once this is all over, we'll go right back to our lives."

I gave a self-deprecating smile and didn't say another word.

During the year we loved each other the most, I spent nights drinking with clients until I was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer, all to secure a crucial contract to keep his company afloat.

And he had stayed awake for days on end, working himself into the emergency room, just to help me recover my stolen research data.

Later, I jokingly asked him what he would do if I grew old one day and forgot who he was.

His eyes had turned red. He kissed me fiercely, almost desperately.

"Maya, I love you. Please never forget me. If you forgot me, I would go crazy."

Now, the moment he found out Claire had cancer, he initiated a divorce and asked me to erase our entire past.

I guessed he wanted to give her three days of flawless, untainted love.

Without me, the inconvenient wife, in the picture.

Since he had the nerve to choose another woman right in front of me, even feeding me the pill himself, what was the point of promising to remarry me afterward?

A short, mocking laugh escaped my lips.

The next second, a sudden, sharp pain pierced my head. My body swayed, and I pitched straight forward.

Adrian caught me just in time, his eyes filling with concern.

"Where does it hurt? If you're really that worried I won't come back to you, I can let you hold onto the divorce decree and the other papers."

I pushed myself up, standing straight, and looked at him in confusion.

"What divorce decree?"

Adrian froze. Then, he asked tentatively, "Maya, you're already divorced. Do you remember?"

"Divorced?"

Seeing the blank look on my face, a flicker of relief and joy crossed his eyes.

I looked down and saw the documents clutched tightly in my hand. I understood immediately.

The pill was taking effect.

The very first thing it erased was the memory of finalizing our divorce just moments ago.

Adrian swiftly pulled the papers from my grip, as if terrified I would read the names on them. He softened his voice into a gentle, coaxing tone.

"Maya, I'm your brother. You've been sick and lost some of your memories. I'll hold onto these important documents for you."

I met his evasive gaze and didn't expose his lie.

It didn't matter. If he wanted to play this game, I would play along.