I had been ready to end us... yet I wasn't ready to lose him.

SELENE

I sat in the cold surgical waiting room, my hands clenched tightly in my lap, staring at the sterile walls. Time felt cruel and slow, stretching endlessly. The sharp scent of disinfectant burned my nose, pressed down on my chest like a weight I couldn't lift.

I had never been this scared in my entire life.

My mind wouldn't stop replaying everything I had said to him, the anger, the hurt, the words I threw at him over the phone. I had lashed out when he couldn't even defend himself.

Little did I know... he had been fighting for his life.

My gaze dropped to my trembling hands, and a single tear slipped free, landing on my knuckles. I had told him I hated him. I had said I wanted him out of my life.

But I never meant this.

I never wanted to lose him like this.

Please, God... don't take him away from me.

As I sat there praying, lost in my thoughts, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Voices followed, urgent and anxious. I lifted my head and turned to see Sebastian's family rushing toward me.

I quickly stood as my mother-in-law approached, her face pale with fear.

"Where is he?" She asked, her eyes scanning my face desperately.

"He's still in the operating theatre." I replied softly.

Nora, Sebastian's sister, let out a sharp breath. "How could this even happen?" She cried, then her gaze snapped to me. "My brother is fighting for his life and you're dressed like you're going to a party."

Her words cut deep.

I hadn't even thought about my clothes. I had rushed out of the house the moment I got the call, still wearing the dress I had chosen for this day. I glanced down at the red lace fabric, suddenly feeling ashamed, but I said nothing.

"Do you even care about him?" She snapped again.

Before I could answer, Mr. Kingsley's firm voice cut through the tension. "That's enough, Nora."

He turned to me, gentler now. "How long has he been in there?"

"About an hour now." I answered. He sighed heavily and fell silent.

They took seats on the cold chairs while I remained standing beside Julian, Sebastian's stepbrother.

"Are you okay?" He whispered, concern etched on his face.

I nodded slowly. He and Mr. Kingsley were the only ones in this family I felt safe talking to.

Just then, the operating theatre doors swung open.

Sebastian was wheeled out by nurses.

We all rushed forward, but Nora shoved me aside, pushing me back.

"My son... Sebastian." Mrs. Kingsley cried. "How is he? Is he going to be alright?"

"Please step aside." One of the nurses said calmly as they pushed the stretcher forward, heading toward the ward.

I watched helplessly as he was taken away from us.

The doors to the operating theatre opened again, and the main doctor stepped out. Instantly, all eyes turned toward him. He approached my father-in-law and greeted him politely.

"How did the surgery go?" Mr. Kingsley asked, worried.

"The surgery went well." The doctor said calmly. "He had internal bleeding, but we were able to stop it in time. Right now, he's stable."

A collective breath left us all at once. Relief washed through the hallway like a wave.

But the doctor wasn't finished.

"However," he continued, "he lost a lot of blood and his body is still weak. We'll be monitoring him closely for the next twenty-four hours. This period is very important."

"When will he wake up?" Mrs. Kingsley asked, clasping her hands together.

"That depends on how his body responds." The doctor replied gently. "It could be a few hours, or it might take longer. For now, he needs complete rest."

His gaze shifted then, settling on me.

"You're his wife, right?"

My breath caught in my throat. "Ah... yes." I murmured, barely audible as everyone turned to look at me.

"You can see him briefly once he's settled." The doctor said. "Try to stay calm when you do. Patients heal better when surrounded by peace."

Peace.

The word echoed in my mind.

I wasn't his peace though.

"Excuse me." The doctor said, bowing slightly to my father-in-law before walking away.

I stood frozen, wondering how I could give him peace when I had never been anything but a burden in his life.

***

Hours passed. Finally, we were allowed into his ward. But I couldn't go anywhere near him. His mother and sister crowded around his bed, their hands holding his, their voices whispering prayers. My legs ached as I sank onto a nearby couch, watching.

Sebastian's chest rose and fell slowly. He was still unconscious. The doctor had assured us he would wake up soon, but the fear refused to leave my heart.

Morning crept in quietly. I shifted on the couch, my neck stiff and aching from the awkward position I'd slept in. I was about to stretch when I heard Mrs. Kingsley's trembling voice.

"Sebastian."

She called his name again, louder this time.

Everyone rushed closer to his bed. My heart pounded as I stood and moved forward too. His eyelids fluttered... then slowly opened.

Relief crashed into me as I pressed a hand to my chest, breathing out shakily.

"You're finally awake." His mother cried, pulling him into a careful embrace.

He didn't respond.

"Call the doctor." Mr. Kingsley said quickly.

Julian rushed out of the room.

Mrs. Kingsley pulled back, her hands trembling as she cupped his face. "Thank you for coming back to me, my boy."

Sebastian's lips moved.

But no sound came out.

We all leaned in closer.

"What did you say?" His mother asked softly.

His voice finally came, low and confused.

"Who... are you?"

The smile on Mrs. Kingsley's face shattered instantly.

The door to the ward opened and the doctor walked in, Julian right behind him.

"Doctor..." Mrs. Kingsley rushed forward, her voice shaking. "He just asked who I am." Tears welled up in her eyes. "He doesn't recognize me. I'm his mother!"

The doctor lifted his hands gently, trying to calm her. "Please, don't panic." He said in a steady voice. "This can happen after a major surgery or head trauma. Sometimes patients wake up confused. It's not uncommon."

He turned his attention to Sebastian then, studying him carefully.

"Mr. Kingsley," the doctor called softly, "can you hear me?"

The room fell silent as everyone waited for his response.

"Yes." Sebastian answered.

The doctor nodded. "Good. Do you know where you are right now?"

Sebastian paused, his brows knitting together as if searching through a fog. After a moment, he spoke uncertainly. "A... hospital?"

"That's right." The doctor said encouragingly. Then he continued. "Do you recognize anyone in this room? Do any of these faces look familiar to you?"

My heart clenched. I instinctively took a step back, suddenly afraid of what he might say... or what he might not remember.

Sebastian's gaze slowly traveled around the room. First to his parents. Then to his sister. Then to Julian.

Finally, his eyes stopped on me.

They lingered.

Longer than I expected.

"My wife." He said quietly.

My breath hitched. That can't be...

"That's my wife." He repeated, his voice steadier now. "Selene."

The room went deathly silent.

And for the first time in three years...

Sebastian Kingsley looked at me like I mattered.

I had waited three years for him to look at me like this, and now that he was, I didn't know where to stand.

SELENE

Three years. Three long years of silence, cold shoulders, and feeling invisible. And now... he was looking at me. Speaking my name. Selene. It rolled off his lips like a spell, shattering the walls I had built around my heart.

But a question burned hotter than relief or joy: Does he remember everything... or just my face?

"How on earth does he remember her and not us?" Nora snapped, pointing at me.

Sebastian's eyes shifted from mine to his sister. "Who... are you?"

Nora scoffed, stepping back, her confidence faltering for the first time.

"Look at me, Sebastian." Mrs. Kingsley said gently, taking hold of his arms. "I'm your mother."

"My... mother?" He echoed, confusion clouding his features.

"Yes!" She exclaimed, a mix of hope and fear in her voice. "Don't you remember me?"

Sebastian furrowed his brows and shook his head slowly.

The doctor stepped forward. "Let's give him some time. He just woke up and needs rest. Why don't we all go to my office for now?"

We began to move toward the door, but then Sebastian's voice stopped me cold.

"Selene." He called again, slower this time, like he was tasting the name on his lips, memorizing it.

I pause, my heart hammering, stunned by the simple weight of my name from his mouth.

"She'll be back." Mr. Kingsley said gently, his hand resting on my shoulder. We followed the doctor out, but I couldn't take my eyes off Sebastian as he lay there, his gaze still searching for me.

When we reached the doctor's office, he gestured for us to sit and spread out a series of papers and charts on the desk.

"Here are the results of the tests we conducted on Mr. Kingsley." He began. "As you can see, he has suffered a form of memory loss called retrograde amnesia. He may not remember certain events leading up to the accident, or even people he knows intimately. This is not uncommon after severe head trauma."

Mrs. Kingsley's eyes flicked toward me, wide with concern. "But... how come he remembers her?" She asked, her voice trembling. I swallowed hard, feeling the same question churn in my chest. Why was it only me?

The doctor gave a small, reassuring smile. "Sometimes a patient only responds to one familiar presence." He explained. "For now, let that person interact with him. The others should step back to avoid causing confusion."

"We... we should step back?" Nora asked, incredulous.

The doctor nodded. "Yes. Too many people at once can overwhelm him. It's important he feels safe and calm."

Mr. Kingsley leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly. "So... what do we do to help him regain his memory?"

The doctor's eyes met ours, steady but grave. "Time, patience, and familiar routines. He needs consistency, not pressure. Memories will return gradually, if at all."

He leaned forward slightly. "One thing you must not do is try to force him to remember." He warned. "Pressure or frustration can make the confusion worse."

After a series of questions and explanations, we finally stepped out of the doctor's office, the hallway feeling suddenly quieter, almost too heavy with the weight of everything that had happened.

"I can't believe all this is happening." Mrs. Kingsley murmured, leaning against her husband for support.

Honestly... I could have said the same.

"Let's return home." Julian said, turning to his father.

"That's right." Mr. Kingsley nodded. "You heard the doctor. We need to step back and give him some alone time with his wife."

My eyes widened at the words alone time.

All of their gazes shifted toward me.

"I hate to say this," Nora said, folding her arms, her voice tinged with something between resignation and irritation, "but I'm trusting you to take care of my brother."

Julian smiled at me, reassuring yet expectant. "Of course she will. She's his wife, after all."

I forced a small, almost fake smile, feeling the tight knot of nerves in my stomach. Everything that had happened this morning-the accident, his confusion, the questions, the doctor's warnings-was strange and overwhelming. And now... being alone with Sebastian? I wasn't ready. Not yet.

"What are you still doing here?" Mrs. Kingsley said gently. "Go to your husband. He must be waiting for you."

"Ah... okay." I mumbled, forcing my feet to move toward Sebastian's ward.

Suddenly, everyone expected me to play the role of a devoted wife. If only they knew that just hours ago, I had been ready to ask for a divorce.

I stopped in front of his door, my hand hovering over the handle. Taking a deep breath, I finally pushed it open.

But Sebastian wasn't on the bed.

Instead, I found his secretary, Vincent, seated beside it. He immediately stood up and gave a polite bow.

"Where is he?" I asked, pointing at the empty bed.

"He's taking a shower." Vincent replied, adjusting his glasses.

"Is he even allowed to walk?" I muttered under my breath.

Vincent picked up his suitcase from the floor. "Since you're here, I'll take my leave."

"Wait." I said quickly. "Did he recognize you?"

Vincent shook his head. "No. He didn't even listen to anything I had to say. He kept asking about his wife."

"What?" The word slipped out before I could stop it.

He offered me a polite smile before slipping out of the room. I moved closer to the bed, smoothing out the wrinkled sheets with trembling fingers, trying to busy myself with something to calm my nerves.

The bathroom door creaked open.

I looked up just as Sebastian stepped out, shirtless, a thin veil of steam following him. His hair was still damp, dark strands falling over his forehead, droplets trailing down his temples and across his bare chest.

He stopped the moment his eyes met mine.

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

I swallowed hard.

I had never really seen him like this before, not like this, not when his gaze held mine so openly, so gently.

A small smile curved his lips.

"Oh... you're here."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I quickly looked away, suddenly very interested in the bedsheet beneath my hands.

"I... I was told to come." I muttered, twisting the fabric between my fingers.

Silence followed.

I frowned, wondering why he hadn't replied, and just as I was about to turn around-

Warm breath brushed against my ear.

I froze.

My heart skipped violently as his presence settled behind me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body.

"Are you always this shy, wife?"

His voice was low, teasing.

I sucked in a shaky breath.

When did he get this close?

SELENE

Even though my heart was pounding wildly, I turned slowly to face him. He stood so close that I could feel his warmth, and what unsettled me most wasn't just the distance between us, it was the way he was looking at me.

Softly. Tenderly.

So different from the cold, indifferent stares he used to give me.

This was not the Sebastian I knew.

This man, standing inches away, smiling like my presence actually mattered, calling me his wife as if the word carried weight felt like a stranger wearing my husband's face. And somehow, that hurt more than his cruelty ever did.

A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I looked away.

I did not dare wish he would stay like this. Hope had already betrayed me once.

"Excuse me." I whispered and tried to step past him.

But he moved, blocking my path with his broad frame.

My eyes dropped before I could stop them to his bare chest, firm and defined, my gaze trailing down to his abs. Heat rushed to my cheeks and I quickly looked away, cursing myself.

I tried to move again.

And again, he blocked me.

Trapping me there.

He took another step toward me, and instinctively I moved back until the edge of the bed pressed against me, leaving me with nowhere else to retreat.

"You are.. my wife, right?" He asked softly, his voice dropping as though we were sharing a secret meant for only the two of us.

My eyes widened, my lips parted, but no words came out. I just stared at him, frozen between disbelief and fear.

He seemed to take my silence as permission. "Then..." he continued gently, "I should be able to hold you... to talk to you."

There was a brief hesitation, like he was afraid I would disappear if he moved too fast. Slowly, carefully, he lifted his hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. My body betrayed me and I almost flinched at his touch. The contact felt too unfamiliar, yet too intimate.

"But you keep trying to escape me." He murmured, a small, almost playful smile tugging at his lips. "Am I really that scary?"

I shook my head quickly, my gaze dropping to the floor. "No... you're not."

He reached out and gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Then stay." He said, his tone suddenly serious. "I like it when you're close."

Something inside me cracked.

I didn't know what made my eyes sting. Maybe it was the way he said it so sincerely, or maybe it was because those same lips had once told me to keep my distance. To stay away. To not mistake obligation for affection. And now, they were saying the opposite, like the past never existed.

His smile slowly faded as he studied my face. "Why do you look like you're about to cry?" He asked softly. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No... no." I hurried to say, wiping at my eyes before the tears could betray me. "I'm just..." My voice wavered. "I'm just happy you're back. Alive." I lied.

Sebastian watched me quietly for a moment, then sighed. "I'm sorry." He said suddenly.

I blinked. "For what?"

"For making you worry." He added, his voice softer. "They told me you've been here since last night. You must have been scared." His brows pulled together. "I don't like the thought of you crying because of me."

My heart stumbled at his words. This was the same man who once ignored my tears like they meant nothing.

"It's... it's fine." I whispered. "What matters is that you're okay."

He nodded, then closed the small distance between us. My breath hitched as he leaned down, his face only inches from mine. My heart slammed against my ribs. Is he about to-

I closed my eyes without meaning to, bracing myself.

But instead of his lips, I felt only air.

Confused, I opened my eyes to see him reaching past me, grabbing the shirt he'd left on the bed. My face burned as I turned away. How could I have thought he wanted to kiss me? I prayed he hadn't noticed me closing my eyes.

"Can you help me?" He asked instead. "My head still feels heavy."

"Oh." I hesitated, then stepped forward, helping him slide his arm into the sleeve. The closeness made my breathing uneven, my heart racing for reasons I couldn't explain.

I needed to get away from him, before I completely lost my senses.

He smiled like it was normal for us to be this close. "You always help me dress, don't you?" He said casually.

"Huh?" I blinked, quickly looking away. I never did. Not once. "Sebastian..."

"I remember," he continued, his voice thoughtful, almost dreamy. "You looked so beautiful in your wedding dress. And I was holding a ring box... smiling like I was genuinely happy."

A ring box?

Happy?

That memory didn't belong to us. Not to the truth I knew.

"We must have been so in love, right, Selene?" He asked softly.

I looked up at him, caught by the hope in his eyes. He was searching my face, waiting for me to confirm it, like he needed me to tell him he wasn't crazy, that what he felt wasn't just a broken memory playing tricks on him.

But he was wrong.

We were never a loving couple.

I should tell him.

I should be honest.

I should stop this before it goes any further-

Yet... my heart betrayed me.

After everything, after all the pain, a small part of me still clung to him. Maybe fate was giving me another chance. A chance I had prayed for in silence. A chance to finally be loved by him.

So I held onto it like a lifeline.

"Yes." I whispered, meeting his gaze. "We were so in love... and we still are."

The lie tasted bitter and sweet at the same time.