Chapter 1

1 My husband and son lost their memories.

They forgot everyone.

The only person they remembered was my recently widowed sister-in-law.

Not only did they treat her like his wife, but my son even called her "Mom."

I desperately searched for a cure, but one day, I overheard my whole family talking.

"Mom, Dad, if this goes on, Clara will find out sooner or later. We need to find a way to get rid of her."

"That's easy. You two just get divorced, then you and Krystal can be together. We'll still be one big happy family."

Even my usually quiet son, Leo, sided with his grandmother.

"Dad, you said faking memory loss was how you could divorce Mom. You also promised me you'd let Aunt Krystal be my new mother."

My husband, Shane, patted Leo's head.

"Good boy, Leo. Daddy always keeps his promises. Only Aunt Krystal can be your mother."

I stood outside the door, tears streaming down my face.

So, the so-called amnesia was just a cruel lie, a charade put on by my entire family.

If that’s how it was, then fine. I’d leave.

...

Hearing Shane's answer, Leo jumped up and down in the study, ecstatic.

"Yay, yay! Daddy's the best! I'm going to have a new mom soon!"

My usually stern mother-in-law was overjoyed. "These past few years, I've grown to like Krystal more and more. Your older brother died too young, leaving her and her child alone. Clara is so clueless, so it's all up to you, Shane."

Shane comforted his mother, but his words sent a chill straight through my heart.

"Mom, I've wanted to divorce Clara for a long time. I just couldn't bring it up because of Leo. That whole incident when she was assaulted… it caused such a scandal. I’m embarrassed to even be seen with her now."

"I'll never forget how good Krystal has been to me. Don't worry. I'll make sure she has a smooth delivery and that my brother has someone to carry on his name."

My mother-in-law nodded, satisfied. "Shane, dear, our family is counting on you. The anniversary of your brother's passing is in a few days. Why don't we officially welcome Krystal into our home then? That way, he can rest in peace."

Shane agreed without a second thought.

He'd completely forgotten the vow he made to me at our wedding ― a lifetime with just one person, our forever.

I put away my phone, the one I'd used to record them, and collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

A week ago, Shane and Leo were in a car accident on the way to school.

When I rushed to the hospital, my mother-in-law was on her knees, tearfully begging the doctor to restore their memories.

But when I burst into their room, desperate, they treated me like a stranger and threw me out.

It took me a day to accept this new, horrifying reality.

I spent another day learning everything I could about their "condition."

Then I spent days and sleepless nights frantically searching for doctors and treatments.

I never imagined that Shane, who used to be so good to me, and Leo, my sweet, well-behaved son, would conspire to deceive me like this.

Even his claims that he didn't hold my past against me―all lies.

I never knew he was such a good actor.

But if I hadn't been trying to save him back then, I wouldn't have been assaulted. I wouldn't have had to endure all the taunts and sideways glances for all these years.

Those sweet vows we once shared now felt like a thousand cuts, slicing me open, leaving me raw and bleeding.

I couldn't take it anymore. I muffled my sobs and fled to my bedroom.

Thinking about Shane wanting a divorce, I suddenly remembered something. I rummaged through the closet and pulled out the divorce agreement he had printed out "just in case" around the time we got married.

Everything in it had been changed.

The most laughable, most gut-wrenching part? He used to say if we ever divorced, he'd leave with nothing.

Now, it said I would leave with nothing.

A wave of desolation washed over me.

I called my brother. "Bro, I want a divorce."

He heard me out and promised to come get me in three days.

In three days, I would never see Shane Carter again.

Once I'd composed myself, Leo knocked on my door.

"Can you bring the cake downstairs tomorrow? I invited some friends over."

Leo rarely asked me for anything.

Seeing the eager look in his eyes, I agreed.

But when I carried the cake downstairs the next day, I was stunned.

Everyone was dressed to the nines, a stark contrast to my plain, simple clothes.

"The cake's here!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and all eyes suddenly turned to me.

I walked down awkwardly, hearing the whispers.

"That can't be Mrs. Carter, can it? She's dressed so plainly. Were the rumors about her false?"

"I wouldn't look twice at someone like her. Mrs. Carter? More like the nanny!"

"She looks so... unkempt. If it were me, I'd be worried about her spreading germs around the house."

I ignored their malicious stares and watched Leo approach, holding hands with Shane and Krystal.

They looked like a perfect, happy family.

Ever since I married Shane, he never let me attend any parties, big or small.

He always claimed he didn't want other men seeing his beautiful wife, or people dredging up my past and upsetting me.

And Leo, after school, would refuse to hold my hand, always saying he was a big boy and could walk home by himself.

Every time they said things like that, my heart would swell with sweetness and relief. I thought I’d married the right man and raised a good son.

But now, seeing their hands clasped so tightly together, it was like a punch to the gut.

They were never trying to protect me.

On the contrary, their disdain for me was painfully obvious.

I had just been too blind, seeing only what I wanted to see.