Chapter 2

The ambulance came quickly. The Clarke family lifted me onto a stretcher and rushed me to the hospital.

On the way there, Grace held my hand tightly. Her tears kept falling. "Melody, don't be scared. I'm here. The doctor said it's just a mild concussion. You'll be okay."

Ellery stood nearby, his voice low but furious as he spoke to Zach. "You idiot. Look at what you've done. Melody just came home, and this is how you treat her, huh?"

Zach kept his head down. He didn't say a word. From the corner of my eye, I saw his clenched fists and the anger in his eyes.

Jeffrey followed along, still trying to defend himself. "It really was an accident..."

"An accident?" Ellery let out a cold laugh. "With the two of you there, you're telling me she just accidentally fell down the stairs, huh?"

His words hit hard, leaving Zach and Jeffrey silent.

I closed my eyes and listened in silence.

They were all such good actors.

If I hadn't heard the truth upstairs, I might have believed them. I might have been touched.

But there were no more "ifs."

*****

At the hospital, they ran a full set of tests. The results came back fast.

The doctor stood in front of my family, holding my brain scans. "There's no bleeding in the brain. She only has some bruising. There are no fractures. However—"

He paused, his tone growing more serious. "Her brain activity shows that the area responsible for memory has been affected. To put it simply, she has lost her memory again."

Grace nearly collapsed.

Ellery caught her, his face ashen.

Zach and Jeffrey stared in shock. But I saw it clearly. Beneath the fear, there was relief.

Of course, there was. If I didn't remember anything, then I wouldn't remember being pushed. They would be safe.

I stayed in a VIP room. My face was pale as I stared at the ceiling, my eyes empty.

"Melody?" Grace called gently.

I turned my head and looked at her as if she were a stranger.

"Who are you?" I murmured, my voice rough with the haze of just waking up.

Grace broke down again.

She sat by my bed and patiently explained everything. She told me she was my mother. Ellery was my father. Zach was my brother. Jeffrey had been my childhood friend.

She told me stories about when I was little, about how I went missing, and about how hard they had searched for me.

The stories were moving, but unfortunately, the person listening wasn't the one they were meant for.

"I don't remember anything," I said softly, playing my part.

"It's okay," Grace said, her voice full of warmth. "It doesn't matter. We're just glad you're back. We'll help you remember slowly."

She peeled an apple and held it up to my mouth.

It tasted sweet. But all I felt was a cold, bitter emptiness.

Over the next few days, the Clarke family played their roles perfectly. They treated me with a kind of patience and care I had never known before.

Ellery canceled unnecessary meetings to stay with me.

Grace never left my side and cooked every meal herself.

Even Zach showed up every day, forced by our parents. He told bad jokes, trying to make me laugh.

Jeffrey came often. He brought my favorite flowers.

But the more they tried, the more disgusted I felt.

This kind of love came too late. It was built on guilt. It felt cheap.

*****

One afternoon, I was resting with my eyes closed when someone knocked.

Two police officers walked in. "Are you Ms. Melody Clarke?"

I opened my eyes and nodded, pretending to be confused.

They sat down beside my bed and took out a notebook. "We received a report about your fall. Can you tell us what happened?"

The air in the room shifted instantly. All eyes in the room were fixed on me.

Zach and Jeffrey stiffened. Their breathing turned uneven.