Chapter 2

I stared at Spencer, who was acting like he had nothing to hide. Everything he said sounded perfectly reasonable, which made it seem like I was being small-minded and standing in the way of my girlfriend's career.

His smile never wavered. Looking straight at me, he went on, "Andie's gone home to pack. We'll be leaving soon."

Everyone fell silent when they heard that. My heart ached with bitterness.

Was Andrea turning me down because of the man standing right in front of me? I knew this proposal wasn't going to happen now.

I looked at everyone around me and said, "You guys should head home. Thanks for sticking around for me all this time. Sorry for all the trouble. Dinner's on me some other day."

Everyone said it was fine, but naturally, a few people couldn't help grumbling as they left.

Tony was the only one who looked genuinely worried. When he got closer to me, he leaned in to whisper in my ear, "Vince, you'd better keep tabs on your girlfriend. That guy is obviously trying to make a statement."

I merely smiled instead of replying. Then I met his gaze, saying, "Apologize to Anya for me when you get back for making her wait with me. She even had to get an earful from Andrea on top of that."

Tony patted me on the shoulder and left. A moment later, I heard footsteps. Andrea came over to Spencer with a bag slung over her shoulder, excitedly saying, "Let's go!"

All she had eyes for was Spencer. And when she glanced back at me, all I saw was indifference.

After the taxi disappeared into the distance, I felt completely lost. That was because I'd just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Any day now, I could start losing my memories. Little by little, I'd forget everything.

When that day came, I wasn't sure if I'd still remember Andrea at all. The only treatment available was expensive medication that could slow the progression of the disease.

Andrea used to ask me all the time when I would propose to her and when she could finally marry me.

When I found out I had the disease, I knew I was no longer in any position to marry Andrea. After all, chances were, I couldn't give her a normal life.

I just wanted to make her wish come true and propose to her before I lost all my memories. But now, it seemed she didn't need it anymore.

By the time I pulled myself together and made it home, I was shocked to find Andrea had taken my bank card.

She knew the PIN, and that account held the money I desperately needed for treatment.

I called Andrea right away, but her phone was off.

Alarm bells went off in my head, and I immediately tried to freeze my card on my phone. But before I could, a notification came in saying someone had withdrawn all my money.

I kicked myself for not acting faster. If only I'd been quicker, I might've been able to buy myself a few more years to look after my grandma back in the countryside.

Grandma was the only person who'd stayed by my side throughout my entire life. She used to walk miles on foot just to buy the things I loved to eat.

When I was little, and we couldn't afford my tuition, she'd sling a basket on her back and go around borrowing potatoes. She'd then sell those potatoes so that I could afford to go to school. But what was I supposed to do now?

I was completely broke, with nowhere left to turn. And my memory was already starting to fail me.

I started forgetting work instructions almost immediately after receiving them. Even when a coworker asked me to buy them lunch, I'd walk out the door and suddenly forget what I was supposed to do.

I'd buy groceries, bring them home, leave them in the kitchen, then forget I'd bought them and head back out to buy them all over again.