CHAPTER NINE

"Wifey," his voice lowered with possessiveness. "I'm going to make love to you until you forget you were ever married to Declan.

And the only name that will remain in your memory is mine."

Tessa's breath caught as Richard's words settled over her like both a promise and a warning. His grip was firm and unyielding, yet his touch held that unusual tenderness he showed only to her.

Every kiss seemed like a declaration of ownership, every movement of his palm along her back reminding her that he wasn't asking for permission; he was claiming her.

Her robe lay scattered on the floor, forgotten, while his shirt was gone. Her hands moved over his bare chest, caressing him as their tongues moved against each other.

His lips travelled lower, slowly setting her veins ablaze. She leaned into him, her fingers tightening around his shoulders.

Richard didn't merely touch her; he stripped her down to the most  vulnerable part of her soul.

That moment l, there was no Declan.

No Sophia. No traces of the past lingering at the back of her mind.

Only Richard. Only the man who had seen her at her lowest and still called her HIS.

Meanwhile, in a hospital corridor in Los Angeles, Sophia had already made up her mind. No matter what Iris tried to do, she wasn't going to leave Declan's side.

After a few minutes, she decided to leave and return home. She couldn't fall asleep because she was all alone in the apartment.

At times, she would burst into tears because she was too young to handle everything by herself. Her shoulders were too weak to bear all the pressure and heartache. She needed her husband and her family, but there was nobody there for her.

"And Tessa will pay for that slap. I can't wait for Declan to recover. He'll be the one to teach her a lesson," she muttered, cleaning her face with the back of her hand.

But then, a question suddenly crossed her mind: who covered Declan's medical expenses? Was it Tessa, or someone she didn't know?

She let out a deep sigh, her eyelids growing heavy, and before she realized it, she slept off.

The following morning, she rushed to the hospital as early as possible, hoping to get there before Iris could visit Declan and fill his head with lies about her.

Although she was still puzzled by what Iris had meant when she told her to 'wait for updates'. She sighed, continuing to pace back and forth in front of the glass door to Declan's ward.

"Good morning, Mrs. Hudson," a nurse greeted her. Sophia paused before approaching the nurse.

"Good morning, nurse. Can I see him now?”

"Yes..." Sophia did not wait for the nurse to finish speaking. Her heels tapped quickly against the floor as she rushed inside. Her chest felt tight, and her fingers shook with every breath.

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Declan. He was awake.

For a moment, she wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Declan was sitting upright. His eyelashes fluttered against his pale skin, his chest rose and fell steadily, and one hand rested weakly on the blanket.

"Declan..." His name slipped from her lips in a trembling whisper.

Her knees almost buckled, and she staggered forward as tears streamed down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her shaking hands, trying to keep herself from sobbing too loudly.

Her Declan was awake. He was alive.

The nurse behind her stepped closer to the bed, speaking in a soft, gentle voice. "Mr. Hudson... you're awake. Your wife has been waiting for you."

Sophia reached for his hand and held it desperately. "Yes, Declan, it's me. It's Sophia. I'm your wife. I've been here all along. I thought I was going to lose you. I missed you, even though it was only for a day... I never left your side."

But Declan's eyes were clouded, looked and bewildered. He stared at her without recognition, confusion spreading across his face.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Sophia?"

He questioned in a feeble voice before pulling his hand away from hers.

"Declan, please, if this is one of your jokes, please stop it." She forced a tearful smile.

The nurse was equally confused.

Two of us  know you're not my wife, so why are you lying?" His voice sounded rough and feeble. He blinked at Sophia as though she were a complete stranger.

"What the hell are you doing here? Where is Tessa? Where is my wife?" He asked.

Sophia's smile slowly faded, her tears burning her eyes. She held his hand more tightly, shaking her head. "I am your wife, Declan. Have you forgotten? We got married.... it's me.

But he pulled back slightly, his forehead creasing. "Stop!" He shot her a glare. "Tessa is my wife—she's not you!"

The nurse quietly intervened, resting a hand on Sophia's shoulder as she spoke in a gentle voice. "Mr. Hudson, this is your wife. You were involved in an accident, and she brought you here."

But Declan just gave a faint shake of his head, his lips forming a desperate request. "Where is my mom? I want to see my mom. And... Tessa."

"Nurse, what's going on with him?" she asked unsteadily. "Why is he acting like this? Did you give him any medication you weren't supposed to give him?" She turned and face Declan again.

"Declan..." She reached out to touch him, but he turned his face away from her hand, leaving her stunned.

"Ma'am, I believe he's suffering from retrograde amnesia in this situation," the nurse replied sympathetically.

The words pierced straight through her chest.

A sob escaped Sophia before she could hold it back. She leaned closer, desperately hoping to make him recognize her and remember everything. "Please, Declan, it's me. Look at me! I've been by your side through everything. We had a child. She died in a plane crash three years ago, and I'm your wife!"you're my husband.

At that very moment, the door swung open. Iris hurried inside with the doctor beside her, her heels striking the sterile floor like a death knell.

Declan's dull eyes immediately lit up.

His face softened into an expression Sophia hadn't witnessed since before the accident—the affection that had disappeared the day Iris cut all ties with him.

"Mom," he croaked, weakly stretching his hand toward Iris.

Sophia stood frozen. Her heart hitched.

Iris embraced him warmly. It had been years since she held her son, and tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks.

"Mom, why did you leave me here?" he asked softly, pulling away from the embrace.

Iris sniffled, gently holding his face between her hands, her eyes shining with overwhelming happiness.

The doctor and nurse looked at each other. It was exactly what the doctor  feared that have  happen.

"I missed you, son," she cried, planting kisses on both his cheeks.

Declan chuckled weakly, though his head was aching, and Sophia's presence made him uneasy.

"Tessa will be upset with me if she finds her here pretending to be my wife. What is she trying to prove?" he wondered silently.

Then came the words that completely shattered Sophia's world.

"Where is Tessa? I want to see my wife, Tessa."

Sophia stepped forward once more.

"I'm your wife, Declan. She's not!" she shouted.

"You are not my wife. I married Tessa, not you!" Declan declared firmly.

Iris's lips slowly curled into a smile, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. This was the time she had been waiting for—Sophia erased from his memory and Tessa restored to her rightful place.

"Sometimes, patients become attached to memories of certain events or people from their past. Pressuring him too much could worsen his condition," the doctor told Sophia firmly.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heavy and suffocating. Sophia's tears clouded her vision, while her heart pounded so violently that she felt it might burst out of her chest.

Her lips parted, but not a single word came out.

She staggered two steps backward, her fingers trembling and her knees shaking uncontrollably.

He did not remember her but he recalled Tessa.