Chapter 1

1

After the car accident, I decided to play a little prank on my husband and son. I pretended to have amnesia.

...

“Who are you?” I asked, feigning confusion.

A flicker of mischief crossed my son, Alex’s, face. He led the woman standing outside the hospital room to my bedside.

“Mom, these are just some people from church, here to see how you’re doing,” he said, the little stinker.

My husband, Mark, stood silently by, not correcting him. Not a peep.

“We’re so sorry to hear about your accident, ma’am,” the woman, Sarah, said, her voice soft and gentle. I could tell she felt a little awkward.

Alex stood protectively in front of her, like a little knight guarding his princess. If I really had lost my memory, I might actually believe they were a happy little family.

Alex tugged on Mark's hand and whispered, “Dad, now that Mom's lost her memory, can you and Sarah finally get married?”

He whispered, but loud enough for me to hear. He was punishing me for snapping at him yesterday, embarrassing him in front of our housekeeper. This was his payback. Alex had a flair for the dramatic, and I was usually game. But not this time.

I decided to commit to the bit. No husband. No son.

“I’m sorry… who are you?” I repeated, a little more convincingly this time.

A flash of panic crossed Alex's face. “You really don’t remember me? You can't forget me! I’m your favorite… kid.”

Mark frowned, his eyes cold. “Nicole, stop it. The doctor said it's just a mild concussion. You're not getting out of the divorce this easily.”

“Yeah, Mom! You love us too much to forget us!” Alex chimed in, his little face mirroring his father’s stern expression.

My head throbbed. Before I could reply, a nurse knocked. “The patient needs rest. Visitors, please step outside.”

Mark and Alex, along with Sarah, filed out without a word.

The nurse turned to me. “Your husband just went to get you some soup.”

“My husband?” I was completely lost. Hadn't she just kicked him out?

The nurse winked. “Yeah. I was in the maternity ward four years ago. I remember you guys. You were such a gorgeous couple! Hard to forget.”

I had given birth at this hospital, but Mark hadn hadn’t been there for a single appointment.

“Your husband was so sweet,” the nurse continued. “He didn't even look at his phone the whole time. Just paced and waited. Tall, handsome, and attentive… he made us all believe in love again! Who were those other two, by the way? Cute, but they looked like they were about to collect a debt.”

I chuckled. Daniel, my younger brother, had been with me for every single one of those fourteen prenatal appointments. He was only eighteen at the time.

I didn’t bother explaining my relationship with Mark and Alex. It wouldn’t matter soon.