Chapter 2 Because I Loved You

When Rosie graduated from college, Nathan told me he would be right back. In the end, he missed our fifth wedding anniversary.

Another time, she was frightened in the middle of the night.

He made me the same promise, saying he would return soon. Then, he left me alone in a hospital room only hours after I had lost our baby.

So, when he told me again that he would be right back, I just nodded and said, "Okay."

Relief appeared on his face almost immediately, as though he had finally been forgiven.

What Nathan did not know was that I had not forgotten anything. I remembered every detail, and I remembered them far too clearly.

…

That night, as a nurse was changing my wound dressing, my phone buzzed three times.

The first message was from Rosie.

'Joslyn, having fun pretending you lost your memory?'

A second message followed almost immediately.

'He saved me because he loves me.'

Then came the third message, this time with a photo attached.

Nathan sat beside Rosie's hospital bed, leaning down to fasten the cuff of her gown as she rested against his shoulder, a faint smile on her lips.

I stared at the picture for a long time before deleting all three messages.

The nurse must have mistaken my silence for pain, judging by the concern on her face. "Do you want me to call your husband back?"

I closed my eyes and answered quietly, "No."

…

The next morning, Nathan came back with a copy of our marriage certificate and an old photograph. He placed both of them in front of me. "This was the day we got married. Look at you. You were so happy."

I was really smiling in the photo.

At twenty-four, I stood outside city hall in a white dress, clutching our marriage certificate close to my chest as though it were my most precious treasure. Nathan stood next to me in a sharp suit, appearing youthful, handsome, and utterly untouchable.

The way he looked at me was so tender that anyone would have believed he would love me forever.

Apparently, I had believed it too.

I studied the photograph for a while before looking up at him. "Why did I marry you?"

Nathan froze, and for a long moment, he did not answer. Then, he replied quietly, "Because I loved you."

I almost laughed.

Before I could respond, a knock sounded at the door, and Nathan's mother, Livia Rice, stepped into the room carrying a thermos.

The moment she saw me awake, her eyes reddened with relief. "Joslyn, thank God you're okay. Nathan hasn't slept properly in two days. He's barely left your side. Just look at him—he's worn himself down."

I said nothing.

Livia placed the thermos on the table and sighed. "You shouldn't be too hard on him. Rosie lost her parents when she was young, and she practically grew up with our family. Nathan has always treated her like a real sister."

She paused before adding, "He panicked in that situation. People don't always make the right choices when they're terrified."

"The right choice?" I repeated.

She was at a loss for words, and Nathan immediately cut in, "Mom, enough."

But Livia did not stop. "A marriage won't last if you keep holding on to every mistake. You're awake now, and Rosie only sprained her ankle. She's always been sensitive, so something like this affects her more emotionally."

I lowered my gaze to my right leg, where a heavy cast stretched from below my knee to my ankle. The doctor had already warned me that if rehabilitation did not go well, I might walk with a limp for the rest of my life.

Livia glanced where I was looking, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face before she quickly looked away.

"Women who take everything too seriously only end up hurting themselves," she said.

I looked back at her. "Was I always like that?"

She blinked in surprise.

Nathan reached for my hand. "You were always easygoing."

For some reason, that word hurt more than it should have.

I pulled my hand away and looked at him. "So, I'm not easygoing anymore?"

Nathan's expression darkened. "Joslyn, that's not what I meant."

Before he could say anything else, Rosie's aide appeared at the door. "Mr. Riley, Ms. Cooper says the medicine tastes awful. She refuses to take it."

Nathan frowned. "Then, handle it."

The aide hesitated. "She says she'll only take it if you're there."

Livia immediately waved him toward the door. "Go check on her. You know Rosie has always hated taking medicine. I'll stay with Joslyn."

Nathan looked at me, but he did not move right away.

For one ridiculous second, I actually thought he might stay.