Chapter 1

Ever since my diagnosis, I’d gotten into the habit of keeping a daily journal.

While the memories were still fresh, I’d write down everything I had to do the next day.

I flipped the journal open, scanning yesterday’s entry.

[Day seven of losing my memory. I feel like I’m forgetting more and more every single day.]

[1. Stop caring about Grace. Seriously. I’m done.]

[2. Mom and Dad aren't paying for college. Be at the coffee shop by 10 AM for the summer job shift. Need to save up for tuition. Address: xxx]

There were a few more lines scribbled below that, but the ink was smeared into faint blue blurs.

Tears, probably. I couldn't remember why I had been crying yesterday.

I didn't dwell on it.

Aside from me, nobody gave a damn anyway.

I definitely didn't dare tell anyone about the amnesia. Even though I was their biological son, my parents treated me like an outsider. If I said anything, they'd just sneer and complain about bringing a defective kid home.

I closed the journal, stowed it in my bag, and headed downstairs.

The moment my foot hit the bottom step, warm laughter echoed from the living room. Mom, Dad, my adopted brother Caleb Foster, and…

My brain stalled for a few seconds before the image clicked. The girl with the cold eyes was my fiancée, Grace Rhodes.

She looked at me like I was something gross she’d stepped in.

"Get over here and apologize to Caleb. Now.

"Your parents literally just transferred their stocks to him yesterday, and you go and pour boiling water all over his arm? How can you be so vicious, Evan?"

I stared at Caleb’s completely unblemished, pale skin. I had no memory of scalding him.

In fact, when I woke up this morning, the skin on my inner calf was blistered and raw, throbbing with excruciating pain.

Seeing me zone out, my mom stepped forward and shoved my shoulder hard.

"What are you standing there for? Say you're sorry! Stop playing dumb!"

I lost my balance and stumbled sideways.

My knee slammed directly into the sharp corner of the coffee table. Pain shot through my leg, sending a wave of cold sweat over me as I nearly collapsed.

Grace caught my arm, steadying me for a fraction of a second.

The moment I gained my footing, she yanked her hand back as if I were contagious. She pulled a disinfectant wipe from her bag, scrubbing her fingers clean while her voice cut through the room like ice.

"Apologize. Right now."

I could tell none of them wanted me here, but the truth of what actually happened was completely gone from my mind.

I couldn't defend myself.

I had no choice but to lower my head, offering Caleb a stiff nod and quiet apology.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spill it on you. I'll be more careful next time."

Caleb waved his hand with a smirk, oozing smug satisfaction. "Whatever, I'll let it slide this time. But if there's a next time..."

"If there's a next time, I'm kicking you out of this house and sending you straight back to the trailer park you came from!" my mom snapped, cutting him off.

She gestured toward the front door with a look of pure disgust.

"Now get out of my sight. Looking at your blank, stupid face just pisses me off."

A sharp sting hit the back of my eyes, but I swallowed the tears down.

I told myself that it was fine. Once I went off to college and put some distance between us, things would get better.

I took two steps toward the front door when Caleb's voice called out from behind me.

"Hold up, Evan. There's one more thing."