ARIA’S POVAfter our conversation, Adam gently requests that I rest, reassuring me that they’ll all be back later today. His voice is calm, soothing, and I can tell he’s trying his best to keep me comfortable.“I’ll be staying with you tonight.”When I ask if he’s sure, because I’m starting to feel a little better, he simply nods and says he wants to be with me.“OK… Thanks.”There’s a warmth in his eyes, a tenderness that makes my heart swell. It’s so sweet of him to stay, and I feel a wave of gratitude wash over me.“We’ll also stay with you, so that Adam can go home.”Neal, Nathan, and Dad chime in, letting me know that they’ll take turns staying with me until I’m discharged. Their words are comforting, their presence even more so. I’m incredibly grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people, all of whom care so deeply for me. As they take their leave, I find myself sinking back into the bed, my eyes growing heavy. The exhaustion is overwhelming, and before I know it, I’m drif
ARIA’S POVDays turn into a blur of cautious routine, where the pain in my head diminishes but never fully disappears. It hovers at the edge of my consciousness, a constant reminder of what I cannot access. My brothers, Nathan and Neal, and my father take turns staying with me, their faces a mixture of concern and forced optimism. They are trying their best to keep my spirits up, but something feels off, like a puzzle missing its final piece.There’s an odd tension in the room whenever Adam is mentioned or when he comes by. They exchange glances, as if communicating something they don’t want me to pick up on. It’s subtle, but I notice. It’s in the way Nathan’s eyes dart away when I ask about Adam, or how Dad’s voice grows quieter when Adam enters the room. Even Neal, usually so straightforward, seems to be tiptoeing around something. It’s as if they’re hiding something from me—or perhaps from themselves.Then there’s Adam himself. I miss him deeply, especially at night. His absence be
ADAM’S POVThe situation with Aria has become more complex than any of us could have anticipated. Learning that she’s suffering from selective amnesia has turned everything upside down, and now, as I stand in the midst of it, I’m grappling with the weight of the lies we have to maintain to protect her.When Aria woke up, her first instinct was to call me to her side. That was unexpected—she bypassed Neal, Nathan, and even her father, Dave, to reach out to me. It was a small relief at first, thinking that maybe, just maybe, things could be easier. But then the truth hit hard; she has no memory of our divorce. In her mind, we’re still newlyweds, blissfully unaware of the harsh reality that lies behind us.It was agonizing to look into her trusting eyes and fabricate a story about a honeymoon accident. The words felt heavy on my tongue, each one a lie I never wanted to tell. But the doctor was clear—any attempt to force the truth upon her could be catastrophic. The blow to her head has d
ARIA’S POVThe doctor enters the room with a reassuring smile, but the weight of the situation is clear in his eyes. I can’t help but ask about my memory—why I can’t remember certain things, and why my head still feels heavy with confusion. The doctor listens patiently before explaining."Aria, you've experienced significant trauma to your head.” He explains to me that the impact caused a disruption in my brain's ability to access certain memories. This type of memory loss is often temporary, but it's a result of the brain protecting itself from further injury. In medical terms, this is known as selective amnesia.He pauses, letting the information sink in before continuing. He tells me that the brain is essentially blocking out memories that might cause me additional stress or harm right now. As I heal, those memories should gradually return. It's important, however, not to force anything—since my mind needs time to recover at its own pace.I nod, trying to absorb the explanation. I
ARIA’S POVI remember some fragments of the cause of our wedding. Now it makes sense why my family members aren't too keen on Adam and me being together, or why we didn’t have a proper grand wedding. The memories are blurry, but bits and pieces are starting to come back to me, like puzzle pieces slowly falling into place.Adam and I had been drugged, and we ended up sleeping together. I was a virgin, and I believe because of this, Adam decided to marry me. He’s always been honorable, someone who would do the right thing, but love? I’m not so sure. He says we were on our honeymoon when I had the accident, but there’s something in his eyes, a flicker of hesitation, that makes me think he’s hiding something very important from me.Yet, despite all this, I feel a strange sense of comfort and security with Adam. He’s always been the one to bring me solace, and I have always been in love with him, even if I didn’t know it back then. That night—whether it was out of duty or something more—br
ARIA’S POVWhen Adam comes to meet me, we sit down to have our meal together, a comforting routine that has begun to feel like the only normal part of my day. Despite everything that has happened, this simple act of sharing a meal brings a sense of calm to the storm of confusion in my mind.As we eat, we chat about small things—how the food tastes, what the doctor said earlier, and little updates about my family. But underneath it all, I can feel a tension building, something unspoken that I need to address.I glance at Adam, taking in the way his eyes seem to flicker between concern and something deeper, something that he’s trying to hide from me. I know he’s been under a lot of pressure, trying to keep everything together for my sake, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to his unease. Then, without fully realizing I’m going to say it, the words spill out.“Adam, I’m sorry for that night we were drugged. I know you felt compelled to marry me afterwards… That wasn’t what y
NEAL’S POVThe day has finally arrived—Aria is getting discharged from the hospital. The atmosphere at home has been fraught with tension and unease, as discussions have revolved around where she should stay once she’s released.On one hand, we feel the burden of the truth that needs to be revealed, but on the other, we are acutely aware of the doctor’s warning about Aria’s fragile condition. The doctor made it clear that any attempt to force her memory back could be catastrophic, potentially fatal. This delicate balance has left everyone on edge, especially Nathan.“This guy! This Adam! Why does he have to be in the picture?”Nathan's anger has been simmering just below the surface, his frustration evident in every movement and glance. He’s convinced that Adam will exploit Aria’s amnesia, and if it weren’t for the restraint imposed by his father and brother, Nathan might have already revealed the truth.The idea of watching Aria live in a false reality, one where she believes her lif
ARIA’S POVAfter my family members leave, I'm left alone in a separate bedroom. The room itself is comfortable, but the situation feels strange. It’s not what I expected, especially given that Adam and I are supposed to be newlyweds.The idea of being in separate bedrooms, even after just leaving the hospital, seems odd. My mind begins to churn—why would we sleep separately if we were on our honeymoon? Shouldn't we be closer, especially after everything we've been through?But then, I think back to the conversations with Adam and the way he's been treating me with such care and respect. It dawns on me that perhaps he thinks I’m still not ready for that level of intimacy, given my condition.While I appreciate his consideration, I can't help but feel a bit taken aback by the distance. It’s as if a subtle barrier exists between us, one that neither of us is sure how to cross just yet. Maybe he's giving me the space I need to heal, both physically and emotionally. Still, I’m left wonderi