#FIVE

Madison’s POV

“What are you talking about, Dexter?” I asked in confusion, my brows furrowed. “Cedric would never try to kill me. That, I am very sure of. He’s my best friend—”

“Your best friend is gone.” He cut me off, making me flinch. “Listen to me, I'm the only one you can trust, do you understand? You can’t trust those men.”

“I don’t… understand.” I whispered with a pout and he gently ruffled my hair. “How did they try to kill me?”

“I can’t tell you everything, darling, at least for now so that you won’t hurt yourself trying to remember. But I can tell who you were before you lost your memory.” He replied as he took my hand and I slowly nodded.

I had no reason not to trust him, after all, he was by my side all through the time I was at the hospital.

“Tell me.”

“You’re not nineteen years old, let’s start from there.” He muttered and I looked at him in confusion. 

“Is that what the retrograde thing is?” I asked softly and he nodded. “So how old am I?”

“Look at yourself in the camera and tell me what you think.” He replied as he took out his phone and placed it in front of me.

I gently caressed my face, realizing that I indeed did not look the way I remembered before I showed up here. I looked more mature, like Cedric too and it creeped me out.

“I still look beautiful, though.” I whispered and he chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. “Maybe I'm thirty?”

“Close, but not quite. You’re ten years older than you think you are now.” He muttered and when I did the maths with my fingers, my eyes widened.

So I was twenty-nine years old?

“What happened to my memory? Why do I not remember anything?” My bottom lip trembled as I spoke, unable to understand what was happening. 

“Who do you think you have to blame?”

Did he really mean Cedric and that dude who called me his wife?

“But I don't understand why…”

“Rest for now. Don’t overthink anything.” He finally said as he ruffled my hair gently but before he could move, I grabbed his hand.

“I don’t want to be alone.” I confessed and his smile literally brightened as he took a seat beside me again.

“You know I have to go, right?” He whispered and I noticed how close our faces were.

My heart flipped in my chest as I stared at him, then my gaze dropped to his lips, making me shudder.

I didn’t understand what I felt for him. In fact, I didn't understand what I felt for anyone but I knew I had a crush on him. I would call it teenage love but I wasn't a teenager anymore…

Was that why Mom and Dad didn't come to see me?

“What were we, before I woke up here?” I whispered, noticing that he moved even closer to me so that our lips were inches from each other.

I was so nervous that I felt like I could fly. Butterflies flapped around my stomach and I had to force myself to stay calm.

I was supposed to be an adult. I could handle this.

“We were more than friends.” He whispered, earning a soft gasp from me. “Friends with benefits, you could call it.”

FWBs!?

What kind of life did I live before this?

He suddenly placed a soft kiss on the side of my lips and then got up, making his way out of the room.

My face felt hot because of that little gesture and I couldn't help but hide my face in my hands.

“Don’t forget, darling. I’m the only one you can trust.” He reminded me as he finally pulled the door open and walked out of the room

What just happened? 

I was still so flustered about the kiss that I wanted to jump around. But then, I wasn't a kid anymore so I couldn't do that.

First of all, I must have had a phone. I needed to find it so that I could at least understand who I truly was.

Next, I had to find what brought me to the hospital and kept me in a coma for three months. What if someone tried to kill me and I had no idea? 

Also… I had to figure out what Dexter meant. I had to find out the truth if I'd end up losing my mind in no time.

If only I could just remember…

I let out a loud sigh as I relaxed on the bed again and just then, the door opened.

I sat up immediately when I saw that Cedric was the one who came in, and despite Dexter’s words, I extended my hand to him.

“Hey, Maddie. How are you feeling?” He asked as he took a seat beside me and I finally noticed the bag in his hands.

“I found out… that I lost my memory of what happened ten years ago.” I whispered, ignoring his question and he stiffened against me. “Tell me the truth, Cedric, what happened?”

“Why don’t you just forget about it? Maybe this is for the best, don’t you think?” He whispered and my heart sank. “I brought you your favorite food.”

I trusted him so much… but I was beginning to believe Dexter’s words. Why would he tell me to forget it if he didn't try to hurt me?

“Did you really try to kill me?” I questioned in a very small voice as I played with my hands and he paused.

“What? Who told you that?” He asked, a look of disbelief crossing his face and I frowned. “Why would I try to kill you?”

“But… why won’t you tell me the truth then?” I huffed in frustration as I crossed my arms over my chest and he chuckled softly.

Then he ruffled my hair the way he used to, making me pout in feigned annoyance.

“Because it’s not necessary. Don’t you think your brain wants what’s good for you?” He pointed out but I shook my head immediately. 

“But I feel awkward. You all remember me but I don't remember you at all!” I complained, letting out a puff of air. “And that man keeps calling himself my husband. It’s confusing me…”

“Listen, you just recovered, alright?” He replied, softly as he brushed my hair from my face gently. “Forget about Klaus; how about I tell you a little bit about yourself every day? This way, you won’t hurt yourself and fall back into a coma.”

“But—”

“Please… I can't lose you again.” He whispered, his voice so soft that I found myself nodding immediately.

“Okay. I'll be patient. As long as you tell me the truth.”

“Don’t think about anything, alright? You’ll always be my baby so it doesn’t matter if you’re nineteen.”

“But I'm no longer a baby! I can kiss you now to prove it!” I countered as I grabbed his face, about to kiss him.

The door suddenly opened and we both froze.