The "Late Husband" Is Back

“Ma’am, Mr. Blackwood is home!”

Martha, the housemaid, burst into the room with an excited grin. Sophia Lane shot to her feet, and the manicurist tending to her nails froze mid-brush.

“You… what did you just say?”

“Mr. Blackwood didn’t die—he’s back!” Martha repeated, her voice trembling with joy.

Sophia’s legs wobbled, and she stumbled, but a nearby maid steadied her just in time.

Oh no…

Ethan Blackwood was alive.

If he found out she’d gone behind his back to have their child and had been posing as his lover, living it up in his lavish mansion, he’d lose it—maybe even end her. Back then, she’d pulled some clever moves to slip into his bed, and after one steamy night, she’d ended up pregnant. At three months along, she’d tracked him down, hoping to snag a ticket into high society. But Ethan couldn’t have cared less about the baby. He’d mocked her, tossed a million-dollar check in her face, and told her to get rid of it. His warning still haunted her: if she dared keep the child, he’d make her life a living hell. That chilling, ruthless glare was etched in her memory.

Ethan, heir to the Blackwood Group, was a cold-hearted shark—ruthless, vengeful, and all business. She’d seen his icy, cutthroat side firsthand when she was his secretary at Blackwood. Now, not only had she kept the child he’d wanted aborted, but she’d also waltzed into his family’s estate, playing the part of his secret lover. Sweat beaded on Sophia’s forehead, her face draining of color.

How could a man presumed dead in a helicopter crash over the sea be back?

“Ma’am, you look so pale—are you feeling okay?” Martha asked, concern lacing her tone.

Snapping out of it, Sophia plastered on a thrilled expression in an instant. “No, I’m just overwhelmed—took me a second to process!”

“Martha, are you sure he’s really back?” she added, letting a few dramatic sniffles slip. “I’m terrified this might be a false hope.”

“Positive. Word came from the family estate—he was rescued,” Martha assured her.

A spark flickered in Sophia’s eyes. “If he was saved, why’s he only showing up now?”

“Was he badly hurt?”

Martha hesitated before replying, “They say he hit his head and lost his memory.”

“He’s forgotten the master and mistress… so, uh, maybe he doesn’t remember you either.”

She watched Sophia’s reaction closely, worried she might faint from grief again. At Ethan’s funeral, Sophia had sobbed her heart out while pregnant, nearly collapsing. Since then, everyone in the Blackwood household knew she was head over heels for him. Yet, as Sophia heard the news, her eyes lit up with barely contained excitement.

“He’s lost his memory?”

Martha blinked, surprised. “Ma’am, you seem… happy about this.”

Sophia’s racing heart settled a bit. “I am happy—because Ethan’s alive.”

“Even if he’s forgotten me, that’s okay as long as he’s breathing.”

She smoothed her dress and hair, ensuring her disheveled look still oozed charm.

“Get the car ready—I’m heading to the estate now.”

***

The Blackwood Family estate.

“Ethan, you’re finally back!”

A soft, tearful voice shattered the emotional hush in the living room. Sophia stood at the entrance, gazing with feigned adoration at the man who looked identical to Ethan. His short hair fell neatly, his deep eyes and sharp jawline softened by an unexpected warmth.

Warmth?

Was this the same Ethan—the Blackwood Group CEO with his slick, side-parted hair, piercing stare, and commanding presence?

In those few seconds of study, Sophia bought into the amnesia rumor completely.

Perfect! Even fate was on her side.

Ethan turned at the sound, his eyes landing on a stunning woman with creamy skin. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her long, wavy hair cascading messily down her back, her frail posture tugging at the heartstrings. Instinctively, he rose, hesitating. “Are you… my girlfriend?”

That’s what his newly reunited parents had told him—that his girlfriend, after his plane crash, had bravely borne his child.

Sophia dug her nails into her palm, the sharp sting coaxing tears to hover unshed in her eyes.

“Yeah, I’m your Sophia,” she choked out, her voice breaking with a lingering sob.

Without missing a beat, she darted into his arms. “Ethan!”

He stiffened, instinctively moving to push her away, but Sophia was quicker. With a deft twist, she pressed herself against his chest, locking him in place. Her trembling hands clung to his fingers.

“Everyone said you were gone, but I never believed it,” she whispered. “You loved me too much—you wouldn’t leave without seeing our baby.”

“I knew you’d come back.”

Tears streamed down her face, her slender shoulders quivering. Nearby, Ethan’s mother Victoria dabbed at her eyes, while his father Alexander’s gaze grew misty with a sigh.

Ethan’s tension eased, and he let his arms loosely encircle her.

“Sorry, I took a hit to the head—can’t recall much, so I didn’t recognize you,” he said quietly.

Sophia’s eyes widened as she leaned into his voice. “Ethan, you don’t remember me?”

She froze, tears welling up, spinning in her lashes until her nose flushed just right— a trick she’d perfected in the mirror a hundred times. She knew it would stir his protective instincts and guilt.

Sure enough, Ethan sighed softly. “Yeah, I’ve got amnesia.”

Sophia masked her pain with a brave smile. “It’s okay, as long as you’re alive.”

“Even if you’ve forgotten me and the baby, I believe you’ll remember someday.”

Ha—she’d rather he never did.

Ethan nodded, his response flat and emotionless. “Sure.”

With that, he gently eased her out of his embrace. Sensing the moment, Sophia stepped back, her gaze shifting to a stranger on the sofa.

“Who’s this?”

Victoria chimed in, “Sophia, this is Anna—Ethan’s savior.”

Anna lived up to her name—quiet and gentle, with an oval face and delicate features, though her skin was a bit tanned, likely from the sun. Dressed in a simple dress, she sat on the leather sofa, looking uneasy.

“Hi, I’m Anna.”

Before Sophia could reply, Ethan stepped in front of Anna.

“I barely survived, drifting at sea—Anna and her father John pulled me through,” he explained.

Sophia stifled a scoff at his protective stance.

Looks like her path to becoming the official Mrs. Blackwood just hit a bump.