Chapter 2

Luke was pissed. As I kept denying everything that happened between us and treating him like he was something to be ashamed of, he glared at me like he wanted to devour me alive.

"Alright, fine. If we really were married, let's just go get a divorce now. It's not a big deal. The city hall is open for at least another two hours," I said.

I waved my hand, acting like I couldn't care less.

"It's Saturday!" Luke snapped.

In the end, we didn't get the divorce.

Oscar dumped me on Luke and left on his own.

I wanted to see if I could remember what I'd forgotten, so I went back with Luke.

*****

The moment I stepped into Sullivan Manor, a wave of discomfort washed over me. Every fiber of my being wanted to get out of there.

I took a step back. "I think I'll just stay at a hotel. This place seriously gives me the creeps."

Luke turned around and shot me a glare. "I told you, don't test my patience..."

Before he could finish, I was already yards away.

He strode over and grabbed my wrist, his face twisting with frustration. "Do you not understand what I say?"

I got pissed too, yanking my hand away and letting out a cold laugh. "If this is my home, why does this place creep me out and make me want to run?

"Are you really my husband? Or are you and Oscar just lying to me? What are you two plotting?"

I was starting to doubt Oscar's motives.

Oscar never liked me anyway. He could've sold me to Luke. But I couldn't figure out what they were after.

Luke fell silent.

I became certain of my suspicions, so I aimed a vicious kick right at his thigh.

As he cried out in pain, I bolted.

Once I made it out of the villa district, I called Amara Reynolds, my best friend.

The moment she heard I was awake, she caught the next flight out and rushed over to see me that very night.

*****

At midnight, I sat by a trash can, hungry and dead tired. When Amara finally showed up, we clung to each other and bawled our eyes out.

By the end, my stomach was rumbling like crazy.

We grabbed a hotel room for the night.

While I stuffed my face and ranted about my heartless family and the so-called husband of mine, Amara just sat there, staring at me like I'd grown a second head.

I looked at her, confused. "Why are you so shocked? Is Luke really my husband?"

Amara nodded like crazy. "You chased after him for over ten years, practically worshipping the ground he walked on. Don't you remember?"

I had a faint memory of that. "But didn't I end up with Ethan? I'm not the kind of person who cheats. Even if I used to like Luke, I never would've betrayed Ethan to be with Luke."

Amara's mouth fell open, her eyes red with tears. "Looks like you've forgotten a lot."

She hugged me tightly. "You're lucky you even woke up. A year ago, you and Lydia were kidnapped and poisoned. Luke's crazy—he knew Lydia might've staged the whole thing herself, but he still gave her the only antidote, and you ended up in a coma.

"Honestly, you must have been incredibly blessed to wake up from the coma."

She tried to crack a joke, but couldn't even force a smile. Tears just kept streaming down her face, her voice hoarse. "Some things are better left forgotten. Honestly, it's for your own good."

I nodded. "I've already decided to divorce Luke."

Amara patted my head. "Hurry up and leave him while you still can't remember. That kind of guy isn't worth your time at all."

She was terrified that if I got my memories back, I'd just end up clinging to Luke all over again.

"Even if I do remember, there's no way I'm getting back together with Luke. Lydia got pregnant with his kid while I was in a coma. What a pair of shameless jerks," I said, my voice dripping with disgust.

Hearing the loathing in my tone, Amara couldn't help but sigh. "If I'd known amnesia could change your whole personality, I would've hired capable hypnotists to wipe Luke from your memory ages ago."

"Did I... really love him that much?" I wondered out loud.

Amara gave a bitter smile. "That wasn't love. It was just an obsession."

She didn't want to bring up those painful memories, afraid it might trigger something and make me remember everything.

*****

The next afternoon, even before I opened my eyes, I could hear Amara's furious voice.

She yelled, "Have you got no shame? You homewrecker, stealing your own sister's husband and getting pregnant—you're disgusting.

"Oh, quit faking it. There are security cameras here. I never even laid a finger on you. Don't try to pin this on me. Who even knows if that baby in your belly is really Luke's..."

Amara's shouts got louder and louder.

I jumped out of bed to see what was happening, and there was Lydia standing in the doorway in a white dress, with Oscar beside her. When Amara went too far, Oscar wrapped his hand around her throat.

Seeing that, I didn't hesitate for a second. I rushed over and punched Oscar right in the eye.

Oscar cried out in pain, instantly letting go of Amara and covering his injured eye with both hands.

Freed, Amara gasped for breath, coughing hard.

I shielded Amara behind me and snapped at Oscar, "What are you doing here? Planning to kill someone? Get out. Now."

Lydia dropped to her knees dramatically, crying her eyes out. "Why is everyone blaming me? Luke has always loved me, right from the start. While I was overseas, you pulled some trick to make him marry you.

"And last year, you used the kidnapping to get yourself hurt to avoid divorcing him. You're the real villain here..."

Before Lydia could finish, a crisp slap rang out in the hallway.

Then came two more loud smacks in quick succession, leaving Lydia totally stunned.

My palm burned from slapping Lydia thrice, so much that I hissed in pain. "Wow. You're really shameless. Your hide is so thick it hurts my hand to hit you."