When Memory Fades, Love and Regret Return

Cielle Beckett, the cherished daughter of Arethusa City’s wealthiest man, had long been regarded as the epitome of happiness.

Surrounded by luxury, she had an older brother who showered her affectionately and a childhood friend who adored her beyond measure.

But everything changed when her long-lost biological sister returned. Her world, once a place of comfort and security, crumbled around her. It was then that Cielle discovered the painful truth: she had been nothing more than a living blood bank for her sister.

Heartbroken and betrayed, she walked away from the Beckett Family, leaving behind the life she once knew.

But soon after, her doting older brother lost the sister he cherished more than anything and her childhood friend, who had loved her with a devotion deeper than life itself, succumbed to his despair and ended it all.

***

The staff at the memory loss clinic exchanged uncertain glances as they observed the girl before them. Drenched and filthy, yet dressed in a luxurious gown, she stared back with unwavering resolve. One of the staff members gently asked, "Miss, are you certain you want to go through with electroshock therapy to erase your memories?"

Without a moment's hesitation, the girl nodded, her exhaustion clear in her gaze.

Handing her the agreement, the staff spoke softly, "While electroshock therapy is the quickest and most effective method to erase memories, it comes with irreversible effects on the body. You might forget everyone you’ve ever known. We strongly recommend you consider alternative treatments."

Unexpectedly, the girl shook her head, her voice unwavering as she responded, "Yes, I want to forget everyone."

"Very well. Please return in a week for your treatment. But are you certain about teaching in that small town after your memory loss?"

"Yes, I’m sure."

With a firm hand, she signed the bottom-right corner of the agreement, Cielle Beckett.

The staff member's gaze faltered as she read the name. Her eyes widened in shock, her thoughts racing.

The favored daughter of heaven? How could she possibly end up in such a wretched state?

She called after Cielle, her voice tinged with confusion, "Miss, is there truly something you want to forget despite living such a happy life?"

Cielle paused, a bitter smile tugging at her lips, but she didn’t turn around.

Her happiness had always been an illusion.

The world believed Cielle, the daughter of Arethusa City's wealthiest man, had it all: wealth, status, a doting older brother, Magnus Beckett and a childhood friend, Laurent Verlice, who loved her with a devotion beyond measure.

She had lived in what seemed like paradise for more than twenty years.

At ten, when she stumbled and scraped her knee in the garden, her family gasped in shock, their faces pale as they rushed to stop the bleeding. Their eyes brimmed with worry as they hovered over her. Before long, the soft grass of the garden was replaced by plush, high-end cushions.

At fifteen, when she winced in pain from a stomach ache, her family didn’t hesitate. They called her personal doctor, who was studying abroad and he flew back at once. He stayed by her side all night, sleepless, until the next day, when they brought in a renowned overseas specialist to ensure her well-being.

At eighteen, when recurring nightmares and fevers plagued her, but no doctor could decipher the cause, her parents spared no expense. They hired the most famous physicians, while her older brother and childhood friend made a pilgrimage to the grandest church, climbing the thousand-step staircase, kneeling every three steps, praying for her safety and happiness.

Everyone admired Cielle, calling her the most blessed of all, wishing they could be her sister in their next life.

Cielle had always believed her happiness was a certainty until her twentieth birthday when everything came crashing down.

That day, she donned a dazzling evening dress, her excitement bubbling as she eagerly awaited her family’s presents at the planned hotel.

But as the minutes ticked by and no one showed up, a sense of unease crept over her. She rushed back home, her heart pounding.

What awaited her was beyond belief.

Outside the family villa, she found her parents tightly embracing a girl seated on the bed, their faces streaked with tears. Her older brother, Magnus and her childhood friend, Laurent, stood nearby, their eyes filled with tears of joy.