The house loomed in the dim evening light, its towering gates opening as the car pulled into the driveway. I stepped out, exhausted, my heart still heavy from the cruel reality at the hospital.
"Welcome home, Miss Cienna," the butler greeted with a slight bow, but before he could say another word, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around me.
"How's my brother? Is he dead?" Leo’s voice was sharp, his smirk twisted in something between amusement and bitterness. "Serves him right. Now I can marry you."
I forced a small smile, trying to ignore the aching emptiness in my chest. I placed a hand on his head, gently ruffling his dark hair. "Samuel is fine."
Leo’s expression darkened, his sharp eyes trailing past me. I followed his gaze, and there she was—Sierra, holding onto Samuel’s arm as if she had never left. My stomach twisted as she whispered something into his ear, her voice sickeningly sweet. Samuel barely spared me a glance, but acknowledged Leo and the butler with a slight nod—proof that he remembered them, just not me.
Leo’s fingers curled into fists. "So he remembers the butler, me, everything else… except you?" His voice was eerily calm, but his eyes burned with barely restrained fury.
I swallowed hard, unable to answer.
Sierra took a step toward the entrance, but before she could enter, I blocked her path.
"You forced your way into the hospital because of his memory loss, but I won’t let you into our home," I said, my voice low and firm. My body trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming pain in my heart.
Sierra let out a soft gasp, feigning innocence as she turned to Samuel. "Samuel…" she whimpered, gripping his sleeve. "She’s scaring me."
Samuel’s eyes were like ice as he stared at me. "Move, Cienna."
I refused. "This house is ours, filled with memories you can’t recall, and you want to bring her in like none of it mattered? I won’t allow it."
Leo stepped forward, his voice laced with malice. "Are you really this blind brother? You forgot Cienna, but you still remember the woman who left you? The woman who abandoned you?"
Samuel’s grip on Sierra tightened. "Watch your mouth, Leo."
"Or what?" Leo laughed darkly. "You’ll hit me? Do it. You’re pathetic, fighting for someone who threw you away while pushing away the one person who stayed beside you when you almost died."
Samuel’s jaw clenched, his entire body tensing. He stepped forward, his fists trembling with suppressed rage. For a moment, I thought he might actually strike his own brother. I couldn't let that happen.
I placed a hand on Samuel’s chest, stopping him before he could do something he’d regret. "Enough!" My voice cracked, but I stood my ground. "Samuel, I’m still your wife. Have some respect—for our vows, for our home, for what we had. You may not remember it, but I do."
Samuel’s expression twisted in irritation. "If you don’t want her here, then we’ll leave. We’ll stay somewhere else."
I sucked in a shaky breath. "You just got out of the hospital. This is the safest place for you."
Silence.
He didn’t argue, but he didn’t agree either.
"Fine," I muttered. "Let them in."
---
Dinner was unbearable.
I sat at the long dining table, my appetite completely gone as Sierra giggled beside Samuel, her hands constantly reaching for him, touching him. He didn’t push her away. He let her. My fingers dug into the table, my heart breaking a little more with every passing second.
Leo’s grip on his fork tightened. I saw it coming before anyone else did. In a blur of motion, he grabbed the knife beside his plate and hurled it across the table.
Samuel caught it effortlessly, his glare locked onto Leo. "Are you out of your mind?!"
Leo leaned back, a twisted smirk on his lips. "You're a fool, Samuel. You've lost your memories, fine. But treating Cienna like this? Spitting on the love you swore to protect? You're lower than trash."
Samuel’s voice was eerily calm. "Your allowance is gone."
Leo scoffed. "Take it. I don’t need your money. I never thought I’d see the day you’d betray the woman you love most." His gaze flickered to me, filled with silent fury. "You disgust me."
He grabbed my wrist, his touch protective yet forceful. "We’re leaving."
I pulled back, shaking my head. "No. I need to talk to Samuel."
Leo hesitated before scoffing and storming out of the room.
The office was silent when Samuel and I entered. The weight of our shattered love pressed down on me as I stood before him, searching for something—anything—in his eyes.
But there was nothing.
Samuel leaned against the desk, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "I was going to bring this up sooner," he said, voice devoid of emotion. "I don’t know how we got married. I don’t know how you tricked my past self during those three years. But it needs to stop. Let’s get a divorce."
My world crumbled.
A sharp, unbearable pain tore through my chest, making it hard to breathe. I opened my mouth, but no words came.
This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.
Samuel loved me. He fought for me. He once told me he’d burn the world down for me.
But now, he was willing to throw it all away.
He had forgotten me—but worse, he had abandoned me.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back, swallowing the unbearable lump in my throat.
"Samuel…" My voice broke. "Please…"
But he didn’t waver.
And at that moment, I knew—
The man I loved was gone.
