The doctor urged Fernandez to call for a nurse while he checked on her. Michael and his mother stood frozen, their thoughts consumed not by fear, but by the wealth they would gain once she signed the documents.

Two nurses rushed into the room to assist the doctor. Thankfully, they managed to stabilize her, and the machine finally stopped beeping as her heart rate returned to normal.

Moments later, her eyelids fluttered. They squinted briefly before finally opening, her gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling. Her head was wrapped in a bandage, stained with dried blood.

“She’s awake,” one of the nurses announced.

Fernandez hurried forward, leaning over his daughter, his voice trembling.

“Ms. Charlotte, can you hear me?” the doctor asked, waving a hand gently in front of her eyes.

She blinked, her gaze shifting from the doctor to the unfamiliar faces around her.

“Where… where is this place?” Her voice was weak, barely audible.

“You’re at the hospital,” the doctor replied calmly.

“No,” she whispered, frowning. “I mean… how did I get here?”

Before the doctor could answer, her father stepped in, his voice soft but strained.

“You collapsed, sweetheart. That’s why we’re here.”

She stared at his face, then slowly turned to the doctor.

“Who’s he?” she asked.

A cold silence fell over the room.

Fernandez’s jaw dropped. The worst had just happened. He was her father, yet she couldn’t recognize him.

How bad is the damage? He wondered, panic clawing at his chest.

“Nurses,” the doctor said firmly, “we need to run some tests; I’ll need everyone to step outside.”

They all filed out, including Fernandez. He didn’t even care whether Maria remained behind or not; his mind was entirely on his daughter. He paced the hallway restlessly, his hands clasped together as he prayed under his breath.

Please don’t let her lose her memory… please.

It had happened so suddenly. Too suddenly.

For the next thirty minutes, nurses moved in and out of the room. Every second felt like an hour. Just when he thought he could no longer take it, the door finally opened and the doctor stepped out, followed by a nurse.

Fernandez rushed forward and blocked his path.

“How is she?” he asked urgently. “Please don’t tell me she doesn’t remember me.”

The doctor sighed, giving his shoulder a brief, reassuring pat.

“She’ll be fine. It appears to be temporary; she’s still in shock. Just give her time.” Then his tone hardened slightly. “And you’ll need to resolve whatever differences exist between you and them. We don’t allow chaos in the hospital.”

Before Fernandez could respond, Michael stepped forward.

“Hello, doctor,” he said quickly. “I’m her husband, and this is my mother.” Michael introduced himself, even though the doctor is familiar with him.

The doctor glanced at her father, who had already covered part of her bills when she was admitted. If she had a husband, where was he when Fernandez was asked to make a part payment to the hospital?

“Nice to meet you. I didn’t know she was married into your family. But please, if you encounter any problems, you can sort them outside the hospital.”

“There’s no problem. He’s just mad because we didn’t show up until now.” he lied.

“Can you hear yourself? You’re the reason she’s in such a mess. You both ruined her life, and now you’re here acting innocent,” he retorted, tears rolling down his cheeks.

He had gone back to the mansion on the day they left the hospital. When he arrived, the security refused to let him in until he said he had come for his daughter. That was when he was told that Maria had thrown her out and that none of them were allowed to come near the house.

That was how he found out that Michael wasn’t the only one who had maltreated her; his mother had supported everything they did to her.

After searching for her, he went home, only for her to return later and collapse right in front of the house. If the taxi man hadn’t drawn his attention and rushed them to the hospital, he would probably have lost her.

“Mr. Fernandez, you need to calm down. I’ll see them in my office. You can stay with your daughter for the moment.”

The doctor gestured for them to follow him, while her father returned to the room and broke down in tears.

The nurse who was in the room helped him up from the floor and guided him to the couch.

“She’s trying to get some sleep. You can’t wake her up,” she cautioned quietly.

Fernandez nodded and made his way out of the room. He sat at the entrance, engulfed in his thoughts, when Michael and his mother returned, interrupting him.

“You’re here.” She diverted his attention.

He stood up, already striding toward her room.

“You don’t have to do that. We won’t be staying. We’re leaving, but we’ll be back the next day.”

“We both know you’re not welcome here. I would rather not see you anywhere near my daughter.”

Maria and her son burst out in laughter. Standing in front of them, he looks pathetic to them.

“Fernandez, you’re forgetting she’s still my wife. We’re both are legally married.”

“Then you must be forced to announce your divorce on the news, exclusively,” he retorted, hitting Michael’s weak point.

“You think anyone will believe you?” Maria scoffed, urging her son to come with her. And just like a mother’s boy, he willingly turned on his heels while she headed back to the car.

As soon as they settled into the car, Molly spoke up.

“How did it go?”

“Not so well. I don’t think we can get her back,” Michael responded.

“And why is that?” Maria inquired.

“Because she’s lost her memory of everyone. She doesn’t even recognize her father.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? What do we do now?”

Maria cast her son a condescending stare.

“Listen to me. You can’t mess this up. Now that she’s lost her memory, it’s the perfect time to strike. Her father can’t do anything, he has no evidence to prove himself.”

Both adults stared at her confused. If she had lost her memory, there was no way they would be able to get her to even sign the papers.

“You just follow my lead. We’ll be back during the day. You heard the doctor—it’s a huge amount of money to clear her bills, and he only paid a small part of it. He needs us more than we need his daughter.”

“Damn it, that’s why you’re my mother. I can’t believe you think this fast,” Molly praised her, finding what she had just said amusing. With her memory lost, it would work in their favor on both sides, leaving her at a complete loss.

“I still don’t comprehend how this will help us,” Michael said, but he was ignored.

“Let’s go home. We’ll talk more later,” she said, relaxing back on the couch and smiling sheepishly.

Later in the day, Fernandez was going through Charlotte’s bag searching for her bank card, hoping he could find something to clear her bills. He couldn’t take another loan after paying for her hospital bills the first time she had an accident.

As he rummaged through it, he grew increasingly disappointed—until his eyes landed on her card. But when he checked the date, he realized it had expired; she hadn’t renewed it yet.

Charlotte’s marriage hadn’t been the best. If her card had expired and she hadn’t thought of renewing it, then there was nothing in her account. What he didn’t know was that Charlotte only received money when it was required—not because she needed it for her maintenance.

He felt even more disappointed, holding back tears so he wouldn’t break down in the hospital. His health was deteriorating, and he needed to stay strong to take care of his daughter. If anything happened to her, there was no way she would survive this—not with Michael still around.

He blamed himself for letting her go without him. If she had listened and come home when he asked, she wouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed, and he wouldn’t have to worry about how to settle her hospital bills.

Depressed and heartbroken, he picked up the bag when an envelope slipped to the ground. He reached for it, about to place it back in her bag, when he realized it was from a court.

He wondered if she had gotten herself into some kind of trouble she couldn’t bail herself out. Curiosity got the better of him, and he opened it.

Fernandez furrowed his brows, dropped the bag, and carefully unfolded the envelope. His eyes widened at the headline, confusion etched across his face.

He read through the document, his mouth in disbelief.

“What is this? wedding? And it took place just yesterday? What is going on?” he asked, speaking to no one in particular.

Fernandez couldn’t believe his eyes. His daughter had gotten married just yesterday—right after being discharged from the hospital. He had never known her to make such decisions without informing him, so he was skeptical that the letter was real, even as he saw the court stamp and those of both couples.

She didn’t just marry anyone, but the wealthiest tycoon in the country. Is this someone I know, or just some ordinary guy with the same name? Fernandez thought, inwardly shocked.

If confusion could take human form, Fernandez would have been that person. He didn’t even know what to do or how to uncover the truth. He replaced the paper in her bag and turned toward the doctor’s office.

Once at the door, he exhaled deeply, knocked, and pushed it open.

“Oh! There he comes!” the doctor said, gesturing toward him.

Fernandez was stunned but kept his expression neutral. He had just seen that his daughter had married the tycoon, and now that man was sitting right in front of him, alongside his grandmother.

“Hello, doctor! Is everything okay?” he asked as he took his seat.

“Yes, everything is fine. But I think you need to clear the air. We can’t allow further commotion in the hospital.”

“Commotion?” his grandmother asked.

“Yes. A few minutes ago, Mr. Michael and his mother were here claiming to be her family, and now you are here.”

Fernandez trembled, his breathing hitched. She had really married, the marriage had taken place yesterday, just before she came home.

“What do you mean? She married my son, and now someone is here claiming her as his? Didn’t you see the news about their divorce?” his grandmother interjected.

“There could be news, but if he hasn’t signed the papers yet, the marriage between them stands.” the doctor replied.

Xavier's grandmother looked steadily at him, outstretched her hands, and handed over some documents.

“These are their wedding papers. You can confirm it yourself.”

Xavier, got irritated, but he had to endure it because of her.

He sluggishly took the papers from her and went through them. They were the same papers from her bag, and their signatures were there.

“I’m sure your daughter has it, and it must still be with her. The mistake I made was allowing her to go home alone. If I had dropped her off, none of this would be happening.”

The doctor took the papers and read through them. He became even more perplexed than Fernandez himself. There had been news, everyone knew he had divorced her, but now someone was claiming her as his wife. He only realized they had a divorce a few weeks back, and she had been hospitalized over an accident.

The tycoon’s family would do nothing to ensure she ended up with them, since the wedding had just taken place.

But how does someone get a divorce and already end up with someone else? Does that mean the speculation about her cheating was correct? The doctor wondered inwardly.

“Doctor! I would like to see her. I want to know her condition,” Xavier said, speaking up since they arrived.

He had to follow his grandmother’s instructions. He would rather not get an earful when they get home. At first, he wasn’t bothered that she hadn’t come home, until his grandmother grew worried about the entire situation.

She made him order a search for her, only for them to realize she had been in the hospital. That wasn’t enough; she had to drag him away from his work and bring him to the hospital, following her instructions.

“Please come with me,” she said.

He followed. The doctor led the way out of the office, leaving her father behind, unaware that they had just left the room.

They marched into her room and found her sleeping.

“She’s asleep. I think you’ll have to visit her another time,” the doctor said, turning to make eye contact with Xavier. “But rest assured, she’ll be fine with proper medication.”

“I have to stay with her. I can’t leave her alone,” his grandmother responded, making both men look at her.

“Grandma! You can’t do that,” Xavier protested.

“Yes. Her father is here. He’s already looking after her, you have to go home,” the doctor added.

That was when Fernandez walked into the room. She shook her head vehemently, standing firm.

“She needs us. We are family. We can’t be apart from her.”

“You should think about your health. I’m sure she wouldn’t want you to do this for her,” Xavier pleaded, hoping she would listen.

She was an adamant person who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

“Your son is right. Besides, both families need to figure out a way out of this mess. The patient can’t identify who her husband is until she fully recovers.”

“What do you mean by that?” Xavier asked, his tone almost a whisper.

“What I mean is this patient has lost her memory and can’t identify who her real family is, not even her father.”

His grandmother’s breath seized momentarily, causing her to collapse.