The Day I Lost My Way Back のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

The next morning, I woke up in pain. The grief and shock had triggered a severe stomach spasm. I curled into myself on the bed, shaking as cold sweat soaked through my pajamas. I struggled to reach for the phone on my nightstand, but I did not even have the strength to lift my hand. Just as my vision began to blur, the bedroom door opened. Eric entered with breakfast. When he saw me, his face changed, and he rushed to my side. "Aimee! What's wrong?" He called the family doctor immediately. After a long stretch of chaos, the pain finally eased. I lay weakly in bed with an IV in my arm while Eric sat beside me, dipping a cotton swab in water to moisten my cracked lips. His eyes were full of worry and guilt. "This is my fault," he murmured. "I should have noticed sooner that you weren't feeling well." Looking at his concern, I found it deeply ironic. 'If it isn't for you, Eric, how could I end up like this?' Then his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and the h

The front door closed, and I was left alone in the empty living room. I slid helplessly to the floor and covered my mouth to keep my sobs from spilling out. I did not know how much time had passed before I finally braced myself against the wall and slowly stood up. In my studio, a damaged antique painting was still spread across the table. It was my favorite piece, "Waiting at the Harbor." In the painting, a woman stood at the pier, looking into the distance as she waited for her family to come home. I once showed the painting to Eric and smiled as I asked, "Doesn't she look like me? Always waiting for my parents to come back." Back then, he stroked my hair and told me gently, "They will. I'll wait with you." Thinking about it now, the irony was almost unbearable. He had waited with me while personally cutting off every hope I had. I picked up my restoration tools and tried to lose myself in the work, but my hands trembled so badly that I could not focus. The dull

After Elliot left, I lay in the hospital bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. The love inside me had already been reduced to ruins, and now even the last ember had been drowned in cold water. I did not tell Eric I was in the hospital. I did not contact anyone either. Three days later, I discharged myself. I sold every valuable painting and tool in my studio and exchanged them for enough money to leave. Before I left the city for good, I still did one foolish thing. I could not stop myself from holding on to that last, pathetic thread of hope. I wanted to see my biological parents with my own eyes, the parents Eric had secretly sent out of the country. I did not know where he had sent them, but I knew Isabelle would. Using a new number, I pretended to be contacting her on Eric's behalf. I told her there were urgent documents the Harts needed to sign, and she gave me the address of the private care facility where they were staying. I bought a ticket for the earliest f

"I finally found you," Eric said hoarsely. He reached for my hand, but Elliot stepped forward and blocked him. "Sir," Elliot said politely, though his tone was distant, "can I help you?" Only then did Eric look at him. The moment he noticed how familiar we seemed with each other—and the bouquet Elliot had given me—his eyes darkened with jealousy. "Who are you?" Eric snapped. "Get out of my way." I stepped out from behind Elliot and looked at Eric calmly. "I don't know you." Those four simple words struck Eric like a knife. He stared at me in disbelief. "Aimee, what did you just say?" Then he forced a strained smile. "Don't joke with me. Come home with me, okay?" "Home?" I repeated, letting out a faint, mocking laugh. "Which home? The one where you locked me in a room and left me to die because another woman was scared of thunder?" His whole body trembled, as if those words had drained the strength from him. "I'm sorry, Aimee," he said quickly. "I know I was wron

Margaret stepped forward and moved in front of me, shielding me with quiet resolve. "Mr. Terrell," she told him, "the Hart family appreciates your efforts in helping us reunite with our daughter again." Then her expression grew cold. "The harm you caused her is unforgivable. From now on, do not show yourself to her again." Meanwhile, Richard moved beside her and placed a hand on Elliot's shoulder. His eyes shone with warmth and approval. "Elliot, Aimee is in your care now." Elliot nodded without hesitation. "Mr. and Mrs. Hart, you have my word. I'll love her and protect her for the rest of my life." Eric stood there, looking at the warmth around me and the way I leaned naturally toward Elliot. Only then did he seem to understand that he had lost me completely. He had wanted to make amends, but it was far too late. He no longer had the right to ask for forgiveness. He was the one who had pushed me away with his own hands, and in the end, he had pushed me into the arms of