Chapter 2

In an instant, Philip shoved me out of the way and deftly scooped her up.

I slammed straight into the doorframe, seeing stars as my headache pounded even harder.

Tracy fell into his arms, her face turning bright red.

"Philip, good thing you were here—otherwise, I'd have face-planted."

Philip gave her a doting smile, then remembered I was still around. His expression changed in a flash, and he let go of her awkwardly.

"Debora, Tracy's frail; she couldn't take a tumble like that. It was just reflex to catch her first—please don't be mad at me."

I'd already braced myself against the doorframe, massaging my sore arm, and said nonchalantly, "No worries, I understand."

Tracy cozied up to him intimately, whining playfully. "Philip, is the divorce not done yet? I've been waiting forever."

Catching my quiet stare, Philip glanced at me guiltily but didn't push away the arm she'd looped around his waist.

"It's all taken care of. Now we can zero in on our wedding plans."

Tracy's gaze flicked to me, brimming with smug satisfaction.

"Debora, your brother and I are ending our three-year fling to officially tie the knot. Don't be late for the wedding in three days."

I smiled and nodded. "I'd never miss my brother's big day—I'll be there on the dot."

Tracy smirked slyly. "You're the only one in the village with a camera, so mind taking a bunch of wedding pics for us...?"

"Tracy."

Philip interrupted her with a stern look. When he glanced my way and saw no trace of jealousy or sadness in my eyes, a weird irritation gnawed at him. "She doesn't need to show up at our wedding."

Tracy huffed at how he kept obsessing over me. She whimpered softly, pressing a hand weakly to her forehead.

"Philip, I'm so dizzy... I feel awful."

Philip eyed her anxiously. "Is it acting up again? Hang in there—I'll rush you to the hospital."

He lifted her up bridal-style and shot me a brief look.

"Debora, you know where home is, right? Need me to have someone escort you?"

I answered calmly, "No need, I've got it covered."

Philip watched me warily, thinking back to what the herbalist had told him: the Nepenthe Leaf only wiped memories of the person's deepest love, leaving everything else intact.

Knowing he was that love for me, Philip breathed a subtle sigh of relief.

"Fine, then—head back yourself. I'm getting Tracy to the hospital."

With that, he placed her in the passenger seat. As he straightened up, she latched onto him.

"Philip, even if I only get to have you for real for a single second, I could die happy."

Philip patted her head gently. "Don't talk like that—you'll pull through."

Tracy squeezed his neck tighter and planted a kiss by his ear.

As I saw them wrapped up in each other like that, my heart sank to rock bottom, a torrent of sharp pain ripping through me.

It was the sting of betrayal.

The moment they revved the engine and pulled away, a mail carrier showed up with an urgent delivery for me.

[Dear Debora, Department of Integrative Medicine at Bridgewater University has everything set and eagerly awaits our meeting in three days.]

I stuffed the letter into my pocket and rushed back home.

The moment I walked in, I saw the place had been gutted—like it'd been robbed blind, with nothing left but empty space.

I remembered how Philip and I had set it all up together. On our first official night there, he'd rubbed my shoulders and whispered that he wanted us to grow old in that very house.

But now, every trace of our shared memories was erased. The dressing table he'd crafted for me with his own hands, the pottery pieces we'd made side by side—anything linked to him was gone.

He must've been terrified I'd get my memories back, because even the rosebush he'd planted for me in the yard had been yanked out by the roots and dumped somewhere.

Staring at the faded spots on the wall, I let out a self-mocking chuckle.

All this elaborate plotting—was he really just worried I'd remember and end up heartbroken, or was he scared I'd recall everything and wreck the flawless wedding he'd orchestrated for Tracy?

Out of nowhere, I found myself dying to see his face in three days, when he'd finally realize there was no antidote at all and that I'd forget him for good.

I slid off the bracelet he'd given me on our wedding day, tucked it into its box, and penned a letter to him, slipping it underneath.

I'd barely finished when someone knocked at the door.