Chapter 1

𝐻𝐴𝑁𝑁𝐴𝐻 

"Mrs. Lancaster... your husband is finally awake," the nurse from the other end of the phone announced to me.

My heart thundered.

Jacob Lancaster was awake. After nearly six months in a coma, he was finally awake.

"Are you sure about what you're saying?" I placed my hand on my chest, as if it could stop my heart from beating further.

"Yes. He woke up a few minutes ago. His family will be here soon. As his wife, I figured you should know about this too."

"Thanks a lot. I'll be there soon." I whispered before hanging up.

Jacob was awake.

The husband who had spent three excruciating years treating me like a smudge of dirt beneath his shoe was back.

I wasn't unhappy that he had woken up from a coma. If anything, I was excited because the divorce would push through and I would no longer have to be bound to his family name.

Before the accident, Jacob had agreed to divorce me. He didn't even rebuke the idea when I brought it up. If anything, he was excited—finally, he was finally getting rid of me to be with my stepsister, who was his heartthrob.

"If you want a divorce, then I'm not going to stop you. Let's sign the divorce papers when I'm back from my business trip,"

That was Jacob's word to me six months ago.

I had waited for him to returned, so the divorce could push through, because I was already done loving the man who never hesitated to disrespect me.

But unfortunately, Jacob got into an accident that landed him straight in a coma.

Now that he was finally awake, I was going to give him the one thing he had always wanted—to be with my stepsister.

I freshened up and headed straight to St. Justin Hospital, where Jacob had been confined for the last six months.

When I arrived at his VIP ward, his parents hadn't arrived yet. Through the glass door, I saw him lying propped up against the pillows, staring hollowly out the window, as if he'd been dropped into an alien planet.

I stood by the door, watching him. Somehow, I was scared of going close to him.

For three years, I had walked on eggshells around him, terrified of his disdain. He was naturally cold, but whenever his gaze fell on me, it curdled into absolute freezer burn.

Despite all of that, I had loved him sincerely, hoping that one day he was going to love me—that he would look at me the way he looked at my stepsister.

But that wish was something that never came through until I decided to teach my heart to stop loving him and requested a divorce.

I no longer harbor any feelings for him.

Taking a deep breath, I summoned the courage and walked up to him. After all, we're getting divorced the second he walks out of this hospital.

He heard my footsteps and turned his head toward me. The way he looked at me was different—almost like he couldn't recognize me.

I cleared my throat and said, "I see you're finally awake."

He knitted his eyebrows, staring at me.

I wondered why he was looking at me like he didn't know me. Had he suddenly forgotten the woman he hated?

"A nurse called me to inform me you were awake. Your parents will be here soon. They've been waiting for you to wake up," I said without a single smile on my face.

After I made up my mind to stop loving him like a complete fool, I stopped smiling at him like I usually did.

I couldn't wait for him to sign the divorce papers so that this loveless marriage would be over.

But...

Jacob said nothing. He just kept staring, his pupils blown wide, drowning not in hatred, but in a thick, helpless haze of confusion.

"If you're not going to say anything, Jacob, I'm going to leave..."

"Jacob?" His voice was raspy, stripped of its usual razor-sharp authority. "Is... is that my name?"

Blood drained from my face. My own eyebrows shot up. What kind of sick trick was this? How could the almighty, indestructible Jacob Lancaster not know his own damn name?

Before I could answer, the door creaked open and his mother entered the ward.

"Jacob!" she shrieked, her voice echoing off the sterile walls. She launched herself forward, brutally shoving my shoulder aside as if I were nothing more than a piece of unwanted furniture.

Obviously, I never mattered—just like her son. Brenda had spent years treating me like a parasitic intruder.

I stumbled back, watching silently as she threw her arms around him, weeping hysterically. "I'm so happy you're awake! My God, son, you almost killed me!"

"Son?" Jacob muttered, his voice laced with a subtle, rising panic. He feebly pushed against her shoulders, prying her off him. "I'm... your son?"

Brenda froze, her sobs dying instantly in her throat.

I was just as shocked as Brenda was. Everyone knew how much Jacob loved his mother, and because of that, she used that love to poison his mind when it came to me.

So why was he asking such a question?

"What are you saying, Jacob?" Brenda whispered. "How can you not know who I am?"

Jacob swallowed hard, shrinking back against the headboard, his eyes wild. "I... I don't know you."

"No... no, this is impossible!" Panicking, Brenda whirled around and grabbed my arm, yanking me forward until I was standing right in his line of sight. "What about her? Do you remember this good-for-nothing wife of yours?"

Jacob's gaze flicked away from his mother and slammed directly into mine.

A heavy, suffocating beat passed.

"I... I have a wife?" he whispered softly, his throat bobbing as he searched my face, completely lost.

My heart slammed against my ribs. There was no cruel smirk. No bitter glare. 

He genuinely had no idea who I was.