Chapter 1
Amelia Teller
The silence of my sprawling house felt oppressive as I lay back on the plush cushions in the big extravagant house I got when my billionaire husband divorced me. Today was one of those rare days off, and I had taken a long, hot shower, hoping the warmth would wash away some of the lingering tension. Now, I was resting on the couch, mindlessly scrolling through Netflix, searching for a distraction that never really came.
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of lavender from a candle burning on the nearby table. I took a slow sip, letting the warmth seep into me as I tried to savor the rare quiet. My mind wandered, touching on fragments of my past, laughter-filled dinners, late-night conversations, the warmth of his embrace and the incredible sex…god. But the peaceful rhythm of my day was abruptly shattered by the shrill ring of my phone.
I glanced at the screen, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Lydia’s name, Nicholas’s mother. Four years had passed since we last spoke, since the divorce had severed not just my marriage but also the tenuous ties with her. I hesitated before answering, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the unease bubbling inside me. “Hello, Lydia.”
“Oh, Amy! Thank God you answered!” Lydia’s voice was frantic, a chaotic mix of hysteria and desperation. Her words tumbled out in a rush, each one more urgent than the last. “Nicholas ... He got into a horrible accident last month! It was so bad, Amy! I didn’t want to involve you, really I didn’t. I know you never want to see his face ever again.” she sobbed, her voice cracking with raw emotion. “But I don’t know who else to call. We brought him home, but he’s still in critical condition. He was in a coma for a month, and now he’s awake, but he doesn’t remember anything. I can’t believe I’m calling you after all these years, but I need your help, Amy. Please.”
Her sobs were barely contained, each word laden with fear and urgency. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of old emotions resurfacing and new fears taking root. I took a deep breath, trying to anchor myself amidst the storm of feelings. “Lydia, don’t worry. I’ll be there in half an hour. Please, try to stay calm. I’ll be there soon.”
As the call ended, I let the phone slip from my grasp, tears welling up in my eyes. Memories of Nicholas surged forward—his infectious laughter, the love that had once filled every corner of my heart. He had left me without a word, abandoning the life we had built together. It wasn’t that he had cheated on me, but his sudden departure left me grappling with unanswered questions. A year later, whispers of his reckless lifestyle reached my ears,rumors of numerous flings and a scandalous romance with a 24-year-old bombshell who seemed to embody everything I wasn’t.
The pain of his leaving was a wound that never fully healed, but now, hearing that he was in critical condition stirred a tumult of emotions. I had worked hard to rebuild my life, to fill the void he left, but the love I had for him was something I could ever forget. The thought of him dying made my heartache.
I hastily dressed, pulling on the first presentable outfit I could find, and grabbed my keys. The drive to my old house was a blur of memories and sadness. As I approached the grand doors, a wave of nostalgia hit me, the sight of the familiar facade stirring emotions I thought I had buried. I hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open, the sound of it creaking echoing in the empty hallway.
“Oh, Amy, you’re here!” Lydia’s voice broke the silence as she rushed towards me, her arms outstretched. She enveloped me in a tight hug, her sobs muffled against my shoulder. The desperation in her embrace was profound, her need for support clear despite the years of silence between us.
I returned her hug, feeling the raw emotion in her body. “I’m here, Lydia. Tell me what’s going on.”
She pulled back slightly, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen. “Nicholas ... he’s awake and a lot better, but he doesn’t remember anything. We thought it would help if you came to see him, if you could...” Her voice faltered, a hesitation that made me wary like she was hiding something.
“You want me to meet him?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Lydia nodded, gesturing towards a room down the hall. “Follow me, please.”
As we walked through the familiar corridors, a flood of memories washed over me, all of it felt so close, yet painfully distant. When we entered the guest bedroom that had been converted into a hospital room, my breath caught in my throat.
The room was equipped with medical monitors, IV stands, and the clinical sterility of a hospital, but Nicholas wasn’t in the bed. Instead, he was standing by the window, staring out at the ocean beyond.
As Nicholas turned and caught sight of me, his face lit up with a mixture of relief and joy. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, he was even more handsome than I remembered. Tall, with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline, his hair thick and dark, tousled just enough to add to his rugged appeal. And those eyes, those captivating gray eyes, sparkled with recognition, as if the last four years had never happened.
He moved toward me with a confidence that made my breath hitch, pulling me into an embrace that was both familiar and achingly new. The moment his arms wrapped around me, a shiver ran down my spine. His strong, muscular frame pressed against mine, and I was instantly reminded of the nights I spent tangled in those very arms, his body against mine, his scent, a mix of something masculine and something uniquely Nicholas, filling my senses.
I hadn’t felt a man’s touch since our divorce, and now every nerve ending in my body seemed to ignite at once, craving the warmth and intimacy I’d been denying myself for so long.
“Why did you take so long to come? It's been a week since I woke up. Mom said you were stuck in some country due to a visa issue. I wish you had at least called,” he said disappointed and hurt, his voice rich and warm, carrying that familiar hint of passion that used to send shivers through me.
I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes as I hugged him back, my emotions a whirlwind of confusion and desire. His scent, his touch, it was all too much, and yet not nearly enough. I glanced at Lydia from the corner of my eye, catching the guilt that flashed across her face. “I don’t know what to say. What do you mean ?”
“What matters is that she’s here,” Lydia cut in, her voice firm yet anxious. “Honey, you need to sit down. Amy, I’ll bring you some tea.” Without another word, she left the room in a hurry.
“What the hell is happening?” I finally whispered, my voice trembling as I looked up at Nicholas’s bandaged head, trying to make sense of the situation.
Before he could respond, the doctor entered, his expression serious but calm. “Oh, you must be the wife. Your husband is physically doing very well, but the MRI scan suggests there’s an issue with amnesia. The last five years of his life, he doesn’t remember them. It’s like they were wiped out of his head.”
My eyes widened as I looked at Nicholas, the truth crashing down on me like a tidal wave. Lydia hadn’t told him. No one had. He thought we were still together, still in love, still married.
Everything began to make sense, his eagerness, his embrace, the way he looked at me as if I was still the center of his world. I gasped inwardly as I felt Nicholas’s muscular arm wrap around my waist, pulling me even closer. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, and before I could react, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against my lips, a kiss that was meant to be reassuring, but instead ignited a deep, burning desire within me.
“I’ll recover in no time now that my wife is here,” he murmured against my lips, his charismatic smile melting every last bit of resistance I had.
The kiss, though brief, left me breathless. His lips were warm, familiar, yet so different after all these years. I could feel the strength in his arm, the way his bicep flexed against me, and it took everything in me not to melt into him completely. I missed this, I missed him. The scent of him, the feel of him, and the way his body fit perfectly against mine. Every inch of me screamed to close the gap, to let him hold me the way he used to, to lose myself in him again.
But reality slammed into me with the force of a train. He didn’t remember our divorce, didn’t remember leaving me, and didn’t remember anything about the life we’d lived apart. And as much as my body craved his touch, my heart couldn’t forget the pain of his absence, the nights I’d spent alone, yearning for the very thing I was now drowning in.
“Nicholas,” I breathed, my voice trembling with the weight of everything unsaid. I searched his eyes, hoping to find some trace of the man who had left me, but all I saw was the man who still loved me, the man who believed I was still his. “We need to talk.”
“No,” Lydia interjected nervously as she returned, handing me the tea with trembling hands. Her eyes darted between Nicholas and me, a desperate plea hidden in their depths. “Sit down, relax. Doctor, please explain the situation we’re facing with Nicholas.”
The doctor cleared his throat, his expression grave. “Yes, though he’s physically fit, Nicholas’s brain suffered significant trauma. Until he recovers, it’s crucial that he avoids any stress or worry, anything that could cause him to spiral. It could be fatal. You need to be extremely careful with him for the next few months, until his brain fully heals. That means no stressful news, whether it’s business losses or even a family death that might have affected him in past few years. His brain simply can’t take it.”
He turned to Nicholas, his tone serious. “Mr. Harrington, you also need to make a conscious effort not to strain your mind. Any excessive stress could be detrimental to your recovery. In the worst-case scenario, you might never recover fully, or—” The doctor hesitated, the gravity of his words hanging heavily in the air. “Or it could lead to fatal consequences like death. So please, be careful.”
Lydia’s hand tightened around mine, her grip almost desperate as her eyes tried to convey a message, “Amy, please. We have to protect him.”
My heart pounded in my chest as the reality of the situation sank in. Nicholas’s life was hanging by a thread, and the truth, our truth, could shatter him completely. The doctor’s warning echoed in my mind.
Nicholas’s gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes filled with a warmth and trust that only made the situation more agonizing. He didn’t remember leaving me, didn’t remember the years of pain and loneliness I had endured because of him.
To him, I was still his wife, the woman he loved, the woman he had never let go.
And now, I was expected to pretend that nothing had changed, to keep up the facade for the sake of his life. The thought of being close to him again, of feeling his touch, his scent, his presence, everything I had craved and missed, was almost unbearable. But knowing that the truth could kill him was a burden I wasn’t sure I could carry.
I forced a smile, though my heart was breaking. “Of course, Lydia. We will do whatever it takes to help him recover.”
