Chapter 3

After I was discharged, I was brought back to the home he shared with my sister, just as Ellis had said.

Every corner of the house showed traces of their life together—the matching slippers by the front door, the dress draped over the couch, and the pairs of glasses on the dining table all silently announced how close they were.

My guest room was right next to the master bedroom, and the walls were paper-thin. Late into the night, suggestive sounds drifted through on and off, mixed with Alyssa's soft, coaxing voice and Ellis' low, ragged breathing.

"Behave. Your sister's right next door."

Alyssa laughed even more coyly. "Isn't that exactly the kind of thrill you love most? Otherwise, why would you have brought her back here?"

The sounds paused for a moment, then started up again, more insistent than before.

"Ellis, you... Okay, I'm sorry. Be gentle."

I lay frozen in bed, clutching the edge of the blanket.

I did not know how much time had passed before the intercom by my bed suddenly rang. It was Alyssa, her voice still lazy and hoarse. "Lena, could you get the door and grab a package for me? I can't really come down right now."

I went downstairs and took the paper bag. It had not been sealed properly, and I caught a glimpse of a familiar brand label inside. It was from the adult store Ellis used to reorder from all the time.

A wave of nausea surged up my throat.

Ellis had actually made me deliver something like this to them with my own hands.

I carried the bag over, and as I handed it to him, I suddenly spoke. "Ellis, if I get all my memories back one day, will you regret any of this?"

His expression froze, and his pupils shrank. Panic flashed through his eyes.

Within two seconds, though, he had regained his usual composure and let out a scoff. "What are you talking about? Even if you'd never lost your memory, the one I love has always been your sister."

He said that, but his eyes stayed locked on my face, studying me without so much as a blink, as if he were afraid of finding some sign he could not accept.

What exactly was Ellis so afraid of?

I lowered my eyes. "I guess I really was too immature before. Don't worry. I won't get in the way of my sister and my brother-in-law anymore."

He let out a barely noticeable breath of relief. I did not look at him again and went back to my room.

The next morning, Alyssa came downstairs for breakfast.

A flash of soft green at her wrist stung my eyes. It was the antique crystal bangle Grandma had passed down to me.

Grandma had been the only person in the world who ever truly loved me.

I had handed the bangle to Ellis for safekeeping myself. He had stroked my hair and promised that on our wedding day, he would slip it onto my wrist himself, and it would become our family heirloom.

"Why do you have that bracelet?" My voice came out hoarse.

Alyssa raised her wrist and turned it this way and that, smiling sweetly. "Ellis gave it to me. He said it was passed down in the family, so it would bring me good luck."

Ellis came out of the kitchen and gave me a cool glance. "It's just a thing, and it looks good on Alyssa. Besides, didn't you forget? It's no use to you anyway."

"I didn't forget." I looked up sharply. "I'll let everything else go, but give me back Grandma's bracelet!"

He scoffed, closed the distance in a few strides, and grabbed my chin hard. "You didn't forget? Take a good look, Lena. If you hadn't forgotten, you'd know how much I mean to you.

"It's a worthless old bracelet. Is it really worth throwing a fit?"

I reached for it without caring about anything else. In the struggle, my nails raked across his neck and left a bright red scratch.

"How dare you hurt him?!" Alyssa exploded. She yanked the bangle off her wrist and hurled it to the floor.

It shattered with a sharp crack, breaking into three or four pieces.

"It's just a stupid bracelet! Who even cares?" she shrieked, her eyes full of vicious triumph. "You treasured it for so long, and look, it's gone just like that."

I stood frozen, staring at the broken pieces on the floor. It felt as if a piece had been carved right out of my heart.

The housekeeper wisely slipped out of the room.

Alyssa leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with a victor's mockery. "Lena, you got your memory back a long time ago, didn't you?"