Chapter 2

Elara’s POV

A dull throbbing pain spread slowly through my body, dragging me out of the darkness little by little.

My brows tightened as I tried to move, but sharp pain immediately shot through my ribs.

A soft gasp sounded nearby.

“Elara?”

My eyes fluttered open slowly.

Bright white lights blurred above me while the faint scent of antiseptic filled the air. The steady beeping of medical equipment echoed quietly around the room.

I was in the hospital. Confusion settled over me instantly.

A woman sat beside my bed gripping my hand tightly with both of hers. Her eyes were swollen and red as though she had been crying for hours.

The moment she saw me awake, relief flooded her face.

“Oh my God,” she whispered shakily. “You’re finally awake.”

I stared at her blankly.

She was beautiful in a soft, effortless way with long dark hair and worried eyes but I didn’t know her, not even a little.

My throat felt painfully dry when I finally spoke.

“Who are you?”

The relief on her face disappeared instantly.

“What?” Her voice sounded frightened now.

I frowned slightly. “I… don’t know you.”

She froze completely. “Elara, stop joking.”

“I’m not joking.”

Silence filled the room. The woman stared at me for several long seconds before quickly standing up.

“I’ll call the doctor.”

Panic flashed across her face as she rushed toward the door.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged doctor entered the room while the woman hovered anxiously behind him.

He asked me several questions calmly and I answered correctly. My name, except I got my age and today’s date wrong.

Then he asked softly, “Do you know who she is?”

I looked toward the woman again.

“I don’t,” I answered honestly.

The doctor nodded slowly before writing something down.

“And your husband? Do you remember him?” he asked carefully.

I frowned, “Husband? I don't recall getting married.”

The woman inhaled sharply behind him.

The doctor sighed quietly.

“You suffered severe trauma after the accident,” he explained gently. “It appears you’ve lost memories connected to recent years. Precisely you've lost three years of your memory.”

My brows pulled together. “Will I ever get my memories back?”

The doctor spoke gently again. “Don’t pressure yourself too much. Sometimes memories return gradually.”

I nodded quietly.

After he left, silence settled between the woman and me again. She sat back down slowly, staring at me with wet eyes.

“You really don’t remember me?”

I shook my head honestly. “I’m sorry.”

She let out a shaky breath before forcing a small smile.

“My name is Mira Quinn,” she said softly. “I’m your best friend.”

I nodded slowly. “Alright.”

The sadness in her eyes deepened. Then suddenly, a phone resting on the bedside table vibrated loudly.

Mira froze instantly.

I noticed the way her expression shifted the moment she looked at the screen. It was one of irritation.

“Who is it?” I asked quietly.

She hesitated before answering. “It’s your husband, Karl.”

Mira picked up the phone slowly.

“Hello?”

Even from where I sat, I could hear the deep cold male voice through the speaker.

“Is she done with her little stunt yet?”

My brows pulled together immediately.

Mira looked uncomfortable. “Karl, she was in an accident.”

“She does this every time she wants attention.” His tone sounded impatient rather than concerned. “Tell her to stop embarrassing herself and come home.”

Then the call ended.

I stared at the phone slowly. “Is that supposed to be my husband?”

Mira looked nervous now. “Yes but—”

“He sounds horrible.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “You’ve never said that before.”

“Well, I’m saying it now.”

A startled laugh escaped her before she quickly covered her mouth. Then her expression slowly fell again.

“You used to love him very much,” she said softly.

“Why?”

Mira stared at me helplessly for several seconds before finally speaking.

“Three years ago, you saved Chairman Varek’s life during an accident.”

I frowned slightly.

“The chairman insisted on repaying you. Karl refused at first, but his grandfather forced him to marry you.”

I stared at her quietly. “So my husband never wanted me.”

Mira looked away. “No.”

Strangely, hearing that didn’t hurt. It should have but it didn’t. It just felt distant like hearing a tragic story about someone else.

“Is he rich?” I asked suddenly.

Mira blinked at the question. “Karl Varek is one of the richest men in the country.”

I nodded slowly. “That explains the ego.”

Another startled laugh escaped her before she sighed tiredly.

“You really changed.”

I looked down at my hands quietly.

Mira suddenly went quiet beside me.

I looked up immediately and her eyes were filled with hesitation.

“There’s something else,” she whispered.

Something about her expression made my stomach tighten slightly.

“What is it?”

Mira lowered her gaze.

“The accident…” Her voice shook. “You were pregnant, Elara.”

Everything inside me went still. Pregnant?

“You lost the baby.”

I stared at her quietly while the words echoed in my head.

I was pregnant and now I've lost the baby but strangely I felt no grief or attachment because I couldn’t remember the child.

I couldn’t remember wanting the baby and I couldn’t remember loving the man who got me pregnant.

My fingers tightened slightly around the hospital blanket.

“What kind of woman was I?” I asked quietly.

Mira looked startled. “What?”

“The woman before the accident,” I continued softly. “What kind of woman was I before the accident?”