THE MAN I DON'T REMEMBER LOVING

CHAPTER 6: 

The moment Kieran stepped into the room the air changed.

It wasn’t just that I felt nervous.

It was like the walls were closing in on me.

My fingers curled into the hospital sheet.

I didn’t know why I was scared.

I didn’t know him.

My body did.

That scared me more than anything.

“Amara " Kieran said.

His voice was low and calm.

There was something underneath it. Something sharp that made my chest feel tight.

I stared at him. I didn’t recognize him.

I felt blank.

“ I think you have the person " I said quietly.

The words felt strange in my mouth.

Ethan moved slightly beside my bed.

He was trying to protect me.

Kieran looked at him for a second.

Then he looked back at me.

Something dark passed through his eyes.

“ I don’t " he said. "I’m looking for Amara.”

My heart started beating

Ethan stood up.

He was trying to stay calm.

I could see that he was ready to defend me.

“ I think you should wait outside " Ethan said calmly.

Kieran laughed.

It wasn’t a happy laugh.

It was an insult.

“ Who are you supposed to be?" Kieran asked.

“ Her friend " he said.

The word friend felt strange.

It felt uncertain.

Ethan didn’t react.

“ She’s recovering " he said. "She needs rest, not stress.”

Kieran’s jaw tightened.

For a moment I thought he might get angry.

He didn’t.

Instead he looked back at me.

Something in his expression changed.

“ Amara " he said softer this time. "It’s me.”

I flinched.

Not because I remembered him.

Because my body reacted like it knew him.

My breathing became uneven.

“ I don’t know you " I whispered.

There was silence.

Heavy silence.

Ethan looked at me briefly.

He was trying to reassure me.

Kieran didn’t move.

He just stared at me like I had said something

“ You’re confused " he said finally. "You were in an accident.”

“ I was told that " I replied carefully. ". I still don’t know you.”

A flicker of something crossed his face.

It was frustration.

Then it was gone.

He stepped closer.

“ Stop," Ethan said immediately.

Kieran’s eyes snapped to him.

They were cold and sharp.

“ You’re standing in my way " he said quietly.

“ And you’re upsetting her " Ethan replied.

The silence that followed was suffocating.

I could hear my heartbeat.

It was fast and unsteady.

This was about me.

It felt like I was watching it from far away.

Like I was trapped inside my body.

“ I need to take her home " Kieran said finally.

The words made something inside me recoil.

Home shouldn’t feel scary.

It did.

“ I don’t want to go " I said quickly.

Both men turned to me at the time.

My voice shook slightly. I forced myself to continue.

“ I don’t know you " I said to Kieran. ". I don’t feel safe with you.”

The room went still.

Completely still.

Even the machines beside me seemed quieter.

Kieran’s expression changed.

Slowly.

Something tightened in his face.

“ You don’t feel safe?" he repeated.

I nodded.

A small movement.

Firm.

“ Yes " I said.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Something raw.

Then it vanished again.

“ You’re saying that because you’re scared and confused " he said.

“ I’m saying it because it’s how I feel " I replied quietly.

My voice surprised me.

It was steadier now.

Clearer.

Ethan glanced at me again.

Like he noticed the shift too.

Kieran exhaled slowly.

Controlled.

Measured.

Then he said something that made my stomach drop.

“ I’m your husband " he said.

The word hit differently this time.

Husband.

My chest tightened.

Not recognition.

Instinct.

Something inside me pulled away from it.

Hard.

“ No " I said immediately.

Kieran’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“ No?" he repeated.

“ I don’t remember you " I said. ". I don’t feel like you’re my husband.”

Silence again.

This time sharper.

More dangerous.

Ethan didn’t interrupt.

I could feel his attention shift. Alert now.

Ready.

Kieran stepped again.

This time Ethan didn’t move in front of me.

I saw his posture change.

Subtle.

Prepared.

“ Amara " Kieran said quietly. "Don’t let them manipulate you.”

My head hurt slightly from the intensity in the room.

“ Manipulate me?" I whispered.

“ Yes " he said firmly. "You’ve just woken up. You don’t know what’s real yet.”

My fingers tightened in the sheet again.

Something inside me pushed back.

Something small.

Real.

“ If you’re my husband " I said slowly "why do I feel afraid of you?”

The question landed like a blow.

Kieran went still.

For the time since he entered he didn’t have an immediate answer.

Ethan glanced at him briefly.

Then at me.

The silence stretched.

Uncomfortable.

Heavy.

Then Kieran said quietly

“ Because you were hurt " he said.

That answer didn’t feel like truth.

It felt like control.

I could feel it.

Without memory.

My throat tightened.

“ I don’t want to leave this hospital " I said firmly. "Not with you.”

Kieran stared at me for a moment.

Too long.

Like he was trying to decide something.

Then-

“ You don’t get to make that decision " he said.

My stomach dropped instantly.

Ethan stepped forward.

“ That’s not how this works " he said firmly.

Kieran finally looked at him fully.

Something in his expression shifted again.

Not rage.

Not panic.

Something colder.

More dangerous.

“ I’ve been patient " Kieran said quietly.

“ That’s not patience " Ethan replied. "That’s control.”

The air snapped tight between them.

I could feel it.

Something was about to break.

Kieran’s hand moved slightly.

Just a small motion.

Ethan saw it immediately.

Stepped fully in front of me now.

Blocking me completely.

The tension peaked.

Then-

The door behind Kieran opened again.

A nurse stepped in.

Then another staff member.

“ Sir " one of them said carefully noticing the atmosphere. "You need to step for a moment.”

Kieran didn’t move.

His eyes stayed on me.

Not Ethan.

Not the staff.

Just me.

The way he looked at me-

It didn’t feel like love.

It didn’t feel like care.

It felt like ownership slipping

Slowly.

Unacceptably.

“ I’ll be back " he said quietly.

To me.

Only me.

Then he turned.

Walked out.

The second he left my entire body released tension I didn’t even know I was holding.

My breath shook as I exhaled.

Ethan turned slightly.

“ You okay?" he asked softly.

I hesitated.

Then shook my head.

“ No " I whispered. ". I think I’m safer here than, with him.”

Ethan didn’t answer immediately.

He just nodded.

Like he agreed.

Before I could relax-

My phone rang.

On the bedside table.

Unknown number.

The screen lit up in the room.

Ethan looked at it first.

Then I did.

The message preview made my blood run cold.

“ You can run from me, Amara…. You will always come back.”

My fingers trembled.

Ethan noticed instantly.

“ What is it?" he asked.

I couldn’t speak.

Because inside me-

Something just whispered back.

He’s right.

I didn’t know why.