chapter 2
It took me a whole day to wrap my head around everything.
It seems I really did lose my memory.
I'm still me, and Richard is still Richard.
The only difference iswe're married, and we have a kid.
But that divorce agreement sitting on the bed speaks volumes: there's clearly a problem with our marriage.
The problem is... did I cheat?
No way, right? Why would I cheat on Richard? He's good-looking and smart.
I must've been crazy.
So, what went wrong? How can I get my memory back?
I scratched my head, completely frustrated.
"Mommy."
A tiny voice came from the door. I looked up to see a small face peeking through the slightly open door.
"Daddy said you need to disinfect your hand. Here's the iodine. He said you should do it yourself."
The little boy held a bottle tightly in his tiny hands.
I gestured for him to come closer. "Mommy's hand hurts. Can you bring it over for me?"
The boy hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and shuffled over to the bed, placing the iodine on the bedside table.
I pulled him onto my lap and studied his features. His eyes were big and round like mine, his nose straight like Richard's, and his face... a perfect combination of both of us.
This was our son.
I couldn't resist hugging him tight and planting a big kiss on his cheek. He smelled so sweet and innocentabsolutely irresistible.
When I looked up, his face was bright red.
He froze for a moment before wrapping his little arms around my neck and hugging me back tightly.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Mommy, you smell nice."
This little guy is the sweetest thing ever.
As I basked in the joy of my son's affection, the door opened again.
Richard entered, his familiar presence filling the room.
"Daddy!"
The little boy immediately ran to Richard and held his arms out, waiting for him to pick him up.
Richard had just showered, wearing casual loungewear, looking effortlessly sexy and relaxed.
His hair was still slightly damp, with droplets running down his neck and disappearing into his collar.
I swallowed. This man was dangerously attractive.
As he came closer, my heart started racing.
But then Richard's words shattered my moment of bliss.
"Nydia, don't you think it's a little late to start being a good mom to Jacob?"
"I... I didn't mean to..."
I tried to explain, but the look on Richard's face told me he wouldn't believe a word I said.
So, I stayed silent.
"Whatever. Do what you need to do. I'm heading out."
As I left the study, Jacob peeked out from Richard's neck and gave me a glance.
Watching the two of them so close, a wave of sadness washed over me.
What good are a husband and child if my husband doesn't love me? Even my son seems closer to him.
I started questioning everything. Why did we get married in the first place? Why did we have a child?
Outside, the full moon hung high in the sky. The night breeze blew through the balcony, scattering my emotions.
Nothing has changed.
Except for me.
The master bedroom had only one large bed.
The entire room was decorated in a minimalist black, white, and gray palette.
Apart from that, it was immaculately tidy, with a light scent of gardenias floating in the air.
I recognized it instantlyit was my favorite fragrance.
I headed to the walk-in closet, looking for my pajamas. But all I saw was a row of black clothes.
And they were all men's clothing.
I had no choice but to knock on the door of Richard's study.
"Richard... I mean, honey, sorry to bother you."
Richard looked up from his laptop, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. His whole demeanor was both tempting and distant.
"Do you know where my pajamas are? I looked through the closet in the master bedroom but couldn't find them."
Richard stared at me for a few seconds without saying a word.
Just as I was about to give up and leave, he suddenly stood up and walked toward me.
He towered over me, standing at six foot one while I barely reached five foot five. I felt like a child standing in front of him.
Richard smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"So, are you planning to carry on with this amnesia act?"
I gulped, unsure of what to say. The truth was, even if I told him the truth, he wouldn't believe me.
Thankfully, he didn't make things difficult this time. He walked past me, heading toward another part of the house.
I stood there, confused and not sure what to do next.
He glanced back at me from the corner of his eye.
"Well? Aren't you coming?"
I immediately followed him, keeping a safe distance.
"Thanks."
Two minutes later, I eagerly opened the closet door in the guest bedroom to grab my pajamas. But the moment I saw what was inside, I slammed the door shut, my face flushed with embarrassment.
Oh my God!
"This is"
I didn't even finish my sentence, but I knew Richard understood.
He stood by the door, arms crossed, silently watching me with a look that said, "Keep going, I'm just here to watch the show."
Taking a deep breath, I slowly reopened the closet door. Inside were outfits so revealing, they looked like they belonged on a nightclub dancer.
Tiny scraps of fabricthere was hardly anything to cover up with!
Was this how I dressed after graduation... I mean, after I got married? Had my style become this... provocative?
To make things worse, Richard didn't seem to have any intention of leaving.
I ignored his piercing gaze and continued searching through the clothes. But I couldn't find anything even remotely "normal."
I sighed inwardly and, for some reason, turned to Richard and asked, "Honey, which one do you like seeing me in?"
His eyes immediately darkened, and without a word, he turned and walked out of the room.
The door slammed shut behind him, and the sound made me jump.
Why did he get mad?
They say women are hard to understand, but men are even more of a mystery.
I grabbed some pajamas and headed to the bathroom. A wild thought crossed my mind: could our impending divorce have something to do with issues in the bedroom?
After my shower, I wrapped myself in a robe and headed to Jacob's room.
The nursery was cozy, and it was clear Richard had put a lot of thought into it. Everything was designed with care.
I tiptoed over to his bed. Jacob was fast asleep, clutching a little stuffed animal.
I gently tucked the blanket around him and wiped his thumb, which he had been sucking on. For the first time, I felt a real connection to being a mother.
But I still didn't know how old he was.
I looked over at our marriage certificate. It was dated four years ago.
That meant Jacob must be around three.
I ruffled his hair and quietly left the room. Just as I closed the door, I turned around and saw Richard standing right in front of me.
We were so close that if I looked up, I could bump into his chin.
My back pressed against the door, and Richard didn't seem to realizeor carethat he was invading my personal space.
My heart raced so fast, I thought it might leap out of my chest any second.
"Are you done?"
"Yeah."
The air was thick with awkwardness. I had no idea what to say next.
"So... are you going to bed now?"
Richard didn't respond or make a move.
I tightened the robe around me, making sure he couldn't see the revealing pajamas underneath.
"Okay, I'll go to sleep first, then."
I stepped aside and practically bolted to the master bedroom.
Without a second thought, I jumped into bed, pulled the covers over me, and lay still.
Moments later, the bedroom door opened, and Richard walked in.
He paused when he saw me lying in bed, seeming a little surprised. He stood there, just staring at me.
His gaze made my scalp tingle.
"Honey, which side do you usually sleep on?"
No answer.
Has Richard always been this strange? He's so quiet, always just staring coldly, without saying a word.
Frustrated, I got out of bed and stood by the side.
"You pick first."
Richard finally moved. He walked to the other side, lay down, and shut off the bedside lamp with a loud click.