Chapter 4

The hospital discharged them the next day.

Shannon didn’t know whether that was fate or cruelty.

She stood just outside the building, her fingers gripping the thin discharge papers in her hand as the sunlight hit her face. Too bright. Like the world hadn’t just ended for her.

A few steps ahead Rowan stood with Evelyn and his mother.

The distance between them wasn’t much but it felt like another lifetime.

Shannon watched as a sleek black car pulled up in front of them. One of Rowan’s drivers stepped out immediately, opening the back door.

Evelyn smiled softly and slipped in first like she belonged there.

Rowan followed without hesitation, without looking back.

Shannon’s chest tightened.

She thought. Just once look at me.

But he didn’t.

The door shut and the car drove off.

Shannon was left standing there alone.

She swallowed hard, forcing her body to move.

“It’s okay,” she whispered to herself. “He doesn’t remember. That’s all. He doesn’t remember…”

The words sounded weak even to her own ears.

A taxi slowed in front of her. “Madam?”

She nodded and got in.

“Address?”

Shannon hesitated for a second then quietly said it.

.........................

The gate opened automatically as Shannon stepped out of the taxi. The soft mechanical hum felt familiar.

She paused just outside, her gaze falling on the small flower bed by the walkway.

The roses were still there, blooming. Neatly arranged in the same curved pattern.

Her chest tightened.

Rowan had built that. Not with his own hands but he had stood there the entire afternoon, arms folded, watching the workers redo it twice because the spacing wasn’t right.

“You said you wanted something simple,” he had told her that day, brushing dirt off her cheek with his thumb. “If it’s yours, it has to be perfect.”

Shannon had laughed back then, said he was overdoing it but he had only smiled. That quiet, stubborn smile that meant he wasn’t going to change his mind.

Her fingers curled slowly at her sides.

The roses swayed gently in the breeze, alive like nothing had changed. But everything had.

Her mind flashed, Rowan in the hospital, his cold eyes. The way he had looked at her like she was nothing more than an inconvenience.

A stranger.

As if the man who stood here that day, the man who built her a home from nothing had never existed.

Shannon swallowed hard. Her chest rose with a shaky breath. “No…” she whispered softly.

He had existed.

He still existed.

He was just lost and she would find him again.

Her fingers tightened into quiet fists.

Rowan had promised her a home, a family, a life that no one could take from them. She wasn’t going to let three missing months erase all of that.

Not like this.

Not without a fight.

Slowly she stepped forward, crossed the gate and walked back into the life that was still hers.

The house stood exactly the same, unchanged. As if it hadn’t noticed she was gone.

Shannon stepped inside slowly, closing the door behind her with care.

The air smelled the same, warm and familiar, like it still belonged to her.

Her gaze moved around the living room, the cream sofa, the low glass table, the soft grey rug beneath it.

She remembered arguing over that rug.

“It’s too plain,” she had said, arms crossed.

“It matches everything,” Rowan had replied, tugging her down beside him. “And it’s soft. Sit.”

She had resisted for exactly three seconds. Then he had pulled her into his lap anyway.

Her lips trembled faintly at the memory.

Her fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the table as she walked further in.

Everything here they had chosen it together piece by piece. 

This wasn’t just a house, it was their life built from nothing.

Her chest tightened suddenly. She inhaled slowly, steadying herself.

This place was real.

Their life was real.

He couldn’t just forget everything. Not forever.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

Three months, she reminded herself.

She wasn’t here to fall apart she was here to fight.

Quietly she turned toward the staircase. Each step felt heavier than the last.

Halfway up voices drifted down.

“…you should rest,” Evelyn’s voice floated gently.

Shannon froze. Her grip tightened on the railing.

“I’m fine,” Rowan replied.

His voice.

So close, so familiar and yet so far away.

Shannon swallowed hard then continued up the stairs step by step. Toward the room that had once been hers.

The bedroom door was slightly open. Her hand trembled as she pushed it and stepped inside.

Rowan stood near the window Evelyn beside him.

They both turned.

The moment Shannon entered the air changed.

Rowan’s expression darkened instantly. “Why are you here?” 

Shannon’s chest tightened. “This is my home,” she said quietly.

Evelyn let out a soft laugh. “Your home?” she echoed.

“She’s also your personal secretary, you allowed her to stay here before because she was useful. She handled your schedule, your meals, your daily life.”

Shannon’s head snapped toward her. “No.”

“She got too comfortable,” Evelyn continued, her tone almost bored. “And then she crossed a line. Tricked you into signing the marriage certificate.”

Rowan’s gaze shifted back to Shannon.

Questioning.

The same accusation again but this time Shannon didn’t panic. Instead she reached into her bag and pulled out a document. Holding it up.

“Our marriage certificate,” she said.

The room went quiet.

 

Rowan stepped forward slowly and took it. He read carefully. “This is legally registered,”

“Yes,” Shannon replied. “Three years ago. I went to the Court House from the hospital for a copy.”

Evelyn stepped forward quickly. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Stop.” Rowan’s voice cut her off. His gaze remained on the paper. “If I was really tricked, why didn’t I file for divorce?”

Silence.

Evelyn froze, then Shannon stepped forward. “You tell me,” she said softly.

Rowan looked up and met her eyes.

“You lived with me,” she continued. “For three years. If I forced you into it, why stay?”

He didn’t answer because he couldn’t.

The logic didn’t match the story he’d been given.

Shannon took another step. “You’re not weak. You don’t let people control your life. If you hated me you would’ve ended it.”

Rowan’s jaw tightened. “If I stayed, then there was a reason.”

“Yes.” Shannon nodded. “There was.”

Their eyes held.

“I don’t feel anything for you,” Rowan said.

“I know.”

“I don’t remember you.”

“I know.”

“Then what do you want?”

Shannon inhaled slowly. “I’m not asking you to love me, I’m asking you to give the truth a chance.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “How?”

“Three months. Live with me,” she said. “The way we used to. If after three months you still don’t remember anything…” Her voice trembled but she didn’t stop. “I’ll leave.”

Evelyn stepped forward instantly. “That’s ridiculous...”

“Enough.” Rowan didn’t raise his voice but it was final.

He turned slightly, thinking.

Three years.

A legal marriage.

No divorce.

Something didn’t add up and he hated not understanding things.

“Fine,” he said at last.

Shannon’s heart skipped.

“But don’t misunderstand, this is for answers. Not because I believe you.”

She nodded quickly. “I understand.”

“Three months,” he repeated. “After that you leave.”

“Okay.”

Evelyn’s nails dug into her palm.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Rowan said, “This arrangement doesn’t mean anything changes.”

Shannon’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

“I’m not taking you back and I’m definitely not acknowledging whatever relationship you claim we had.”

The words stung but she nodded anyway. “I understand.”

Rowan studied her for a moment, like he was testing whether she truly meant it. Then he turned away from her, walking toward the window before speaking again. “You will stay in the guest room, not this room.”

Shannon’s gaze flickered briefly to the bed.

Their bed.

Her chest tightened. “"It’s fine." she whispered, at least she has a chance.

“You will not enter my room without permission,” Rowan added. “Ever.”

“You will not interfere in my work, my schedule, or any decisions regarding the company.”

Shannon nodded again. “I won’t.”

“And you will conduct yourself properly in this house,” he continued, “No outbursts. No scenes like the one at the hospital.”

Her throat tightened. “I wasn’t trying to cause a scene,”

“I don’t care what you were trying to do,” Rowan replied flatly. “It won’t happen again.”

Silence, then..  “There’s one more thing.”

Shannon looked up.

Rowan turned back to face her fully now. His eyes were colder than before. “You will show respect, to my mother and to Evelyn.”

The words landed harder than all the others.

Shannon’s chest rose sharply.

Respect?

For the woman who had just rewritten her entire life?

For the woman standing in her place?

Her gaze flickered briefly to Evelyn.

Evelyn met it with a small knowing smile.

Shannon looked away first.  

“I understand,” she said, though the words tasted bitter.

Rowan held her gaze for a moment longer, as if making sure she meant it. Then he gave a small nod. “And learn your place.”

Shannon didn’t respond this time because she didn’t trust her voice.

Rowan turned away again, already dismissing her presence like she was no longer relevant.

“You can have the room at the end of the hall,” he said.

Shannon stood there for a moment longer, her body still, her thoughts loud and chaotic.

Three months. That was all she had.

Three months to prove a love that only she remembered.

Three months to live in a house that had already begun to erase her.

Three months…

To either get him back or lose him forever.

Slowly, she turned and walked out of the room.