The Wives He Forgot Novels & Stories

"The kind where you don't remember things." "Don't be smart with me," she snapped. "How much has he forgotten? Does he remember me? Us?" I pulled into the hotel's circular drive. "He remembers you. But he doesn't remember why you're here." That wasn't entirely true. He remembered her, but he seemed to remember her as ancient history, not as the woman he'd apparently been planning to replace his wife with. "This is insane," Sophia muttered as we got out of the car. "One little bump on the head and suddenly he's Ward Cleaver?"

I almost felt sorry for her teeth. Who could have done all this? I wondered, still scanning the room. Just then, a figure walked through the entrance. Blue top. Blue joggers. The colors stood out, bright and somehow welcoming. I lifted my head higher. Quinn. My husband. Truth settled over me like cold water. I had forgotten him. Completely. I had forgotten he existed, forgotten I was married at all. The past five weeks with Zachary had swept me away so thoroughly that the title of “married woman” had slipped from my mind like it belonged to someone else.

"I haven't forgotten..." "You're forgetting right now. Right here in this moment you're forgetting that I'm your wife. That I stayed when she left. That I chose you when you were broken and angry and barely capable of being kind to me. That I fought through your walls and your damage and your parents' disapproval to build something real with you." My voice cracked. "And now she shows up with a positive test and suddenly I'm back to being the replacement bride watching you consider whether the original model might be the better option after all." "Eve, that's not..."

I swayed on my seat as I looked at his face, at his strong jaw, at the long strand of hair falling over his forehead, at his intense and beautiful eyes that seemed to see too much, and said, “I want to forget.” “Forget what?” he asked. “Everything.” “That is a lot.” “Yeah.” I nodded. “That is why I need a stranger.” He was quiet for a long moment as he searched my face, and I did not look away. “You are married,” he said finally. I tried to laugh naturally but it came out bitter and broken. “Does it show?” I asked. He did not answer. He just watched me warmly but in a cautious way, like a man who had been burned before, and then finally said, “I don’t do drunk women.”

So it made a bet with me: if Jonathan ever changed his heart, I would gradually lose all memories related to him, my body would grow weaker and weaker, and I would die in the end. In truth, my memories had already begun to fade. I had just only realized it now. Jonathan lowered his gaze, pressed his forehead against mine, and looked at me intently. "Did you really forget? Or are you doing this on purpose to let me go hungry because I went to the hospital to take care of my sister-in-law a couple of days ago and didn't have time for you?" I shook my head. "I really forgot. Because the system—"

“The woman? She’s not on any employee records. Apparently, she rents a room upstairs and works part-time managing the register. Paid under the table.” He turned to her now. “Name?” Amanda hesitated. “I asked the shop owner. She said the woman goes by Lena Hart.” The name dropped like ice water down his spine. Dominic sat up straighter. “Say that again.” “Lena Hart,” Amanda repeated. “Why?” His mind went blank for a split second. No. It can’t be. “She was my wife,” he said flatly. Amanda’s jaw dropped. “Wait—that’s Lena Hart? The one from the contract marriage thing?”

Forget the monologue I’d prepared – this was my moment. “My husband is a real joker, you know, talking about how I’m the one who forgets about her responsibilities and obligations when he’s the one who got his mistress – my stepsister, his sister-in-law – pregnant! I’m done playing house with him. We may be married but we are not in love, and he’s a disgusting, filthy cheater!”

My finger trembled as I pointed at them. I know I shouldn't have reacted this way but my mind is blank and I can't think straight. I need to let these emotions go or else I’ll burst. “Because after he remembered…he forgot the recent memories he had.” Nick said. “W-What? I-I can’t understand? H-How?” My voice cracked. “He couldn’t remember the time he spent with you—after you got married. He doesn’t know that you were once married. He forgot.” Ally added quietly.

“If I told you Claudia actually said the words ‘we need you to pretend to be his wife again,’ would you buy me chocolate cake?” Theresia snorted. Jasmine nearly choked on her tea. “Excuse me, WHAT?” “You’re not joking, right?” “Unfortunately, no,” I said, grabbing the menu. “You… you have to play wife again?” Jasmine repeated, like she needed confirmation that I was actually living inside a soap opera plot and not real life. “Yup. Full package. Fancy house, missing memories, hot husband who forgot he used to be a bastard.” Theresia leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “Hold up. Wait. So he forgot literally everything, but the part that stuck was you… as his wife?”

It looks like Clyden was about to pass out at any moment, and I need to call a doctor before that happens. I roughly removed her grip away from my wrist and walked towards the door. “Let’s continue this later. Clyden needs help right now.” Jasmine scoffed. “Stop making excuses. You’re just a fucking coward that can’t admit to your amnesiac husband that your entire marriage is a lie!” I turned back in surprise and looked at her with wide eyes. I also glanced at Clyden and saw him looking at me in confusion.