Thinking that it was just one of her usual jokes, Maxwell gave her his signature lop-sided smile before speaking to her in his characteristic deep, baritone and magnetic voice. "It's me, your one and only H.B. Ah, that reminds me, you never told me what 'H.B' stands for. But we'll get to that later. Now tell me, how are you feeling? How's your head? Do you feel any pain? Are you alright? Do you want something? You've been surviving on fluids for weeks so you must be hungry! What do you want to eat? What is she supposed to eat, doc? She's okay now, right? Why don't you give me a list of foods safe for her to take? Ethan had gone to get some supplies so I can just call and ask him to get it right away."All the while Maxwell was talking, Angelina was just staring at him with a bewildered expression on her face. She couldn't fathom why a total stranger was acting so caring, compassionate, chummy and familiar with her. She might be a very friendly, bubbly and cheerful person but not t
Angelina was utterly and completely dumbstruck. She just remained sitting there, with both her mouth and eyes wide open in utter shock. It took a long while before she could get control of her vocal cords and stutter incredulously, "M--my h--hus— what? I--am married?!"Nick nodded in confirmation. "Yes Jolie. You're married. And from what I've heard, it has been a year now since the two of you got married. You had even come here to Croatia on a celebratory anniversary trip only to end up getting into an accident."With her eyes as wide as saucers, Angelina turned to look at the frozen-still Maxwell with shock, disbelief, horror and many other emotions evident in her eyes. Then all of a sudden, she started shaking her head vigorously while repeatedly chanting, "No, no, no, this can't be happening. It cannot be! It's only a dream. Only a bad, bad dream!"As she said that, her body began trembling and as Nick put his arms around her while gently consoling her, just like mag
Jeremy was the one who first found his voice among all three of them. "So what happens now, doctor? Is there some sort of treatment? Does she have to undergo some form of therapy or is it drugs that would be used to cure her? Surely the memory loss is temporary and curable, right?"Dr. Nicholas Reed stifled his fingers together and placed his elbows on the desk in front of him before puffing out air from his mouth. "Unfortunately, Jolie's ailment is neither medically nor therapeutically curable. No form of therapy or drugs can magically bring her lost memories back. But the good thing is that all hope is not lost yet. There's a possibility that she might regain her lost memories, but note the keyword here— 'might'. There's no hundred percent assurance that she would because studies have shown a significant percentage of patients with the same form of amnesia that never regained their lost memories. However, another significant percentage did recover theirs, sometimes through tr
Maxwell clamped his eyes tightly shut in great emotional pain that surpassed every physical pain he has ever suffered from. Even the multiple communited fractures he sustained after the unfortunate motorbike accident is nothing compared to the emotional pain he's going through at the moment.Angelina, his legally married wife, his beloved angel, his one and only angelic dove looking at him like that, shouting and calling him a total, complete stranger? Not just that, she's saying that to none other than the man she once had feelings for, while clinging on to him so tightly as if she had seen a ghost or a monster and he's her only lifeline?!Seeing the distraught and terrified expression on the broken man's face, both Alicia's and Jeremy's hearts went out to him. Jeremy walked up to him and standing right beside the wheelchair, he placed a comforting hand on the forlorn man's shoulder and gently patted him twice in a manly comforting gesture. At that, Maxwell took in a much-needed deep
It has been a week since Angelina regained her consciousness. And even though Dr. Nicholas Reed had deemed her fit enough to be discharged after a thorough check up and review of her medical tests, Maxwell insisted that she remain in the hospital for the time being.Even he himself had long since been given the green light by his own doctor but after careful consideration, he decided that staying at the hospital is his best option. That's mainly because of the way Angelina adamantly refused to follow him and the tantrums she throws whenever she sees him. Knowing that if she was to be discharged, she'd definitely insist on following the blasted Cage guy and that's not something he can endure or tolerate. That's why he made up his mind for both of them to remain in the hospital where she'd still be within his line of sight. After all, in the hospital he can be able to keep an eye on the two childhood friends and also, it would be hardly likely for them to cross that friendship zone in t
As soon as he stepped into the room, the heads of both of the two occupants instantly whipped towards him. And it was only when he saw Angelina looking at him with wide, rounded eyes that he realized what he just did. He had been blinded by his jealousy and stormed into the room without thinking of the consequences and repercussions! He abruptly halted in his tracks and started fidgeting. What is he supposed to do now? What is he supposed to say? Although he has succeeded in stopping Angelina from feeding Nick the slice of pizza, he had unintentionally brought himself right before her! He has broken the promise he made to himself about staying away from her sight! So what now? What should he do in order to prevent her from overreacting? "Wow! What a beauty! Is that yours, Sir? Does it have a name? Can I please hold it for a second? Pretty please?"Angelina's sweet and melodic voice broke into his thoughts, making him look up sharply at her. Was she talking to him?! She seemed to
After his emotional breakdown, it took a long while before Maxwell became able to get a hold of himself. He just remained sitting on the cold marble floor, deep in his depressing thoughts while gently stroking the colorful parrot's feathers.Eventually, Honey succumbed to the gentle lulling ministrations and dozed off in Maxwell's arms. So he ever so gently and carefully placed it down on the comfy cushion that Angelina had long since put inside the birdcage.Thereafter, instead of staying put in one place, Maxwell felt himself being drawn towards his beloved wife's room once again. Truth be told, he wanted to do as she wished but try as hard as he might, he just couldn't stay away from her. It's as if he's an addict and she's his drug. He just can't help himself.Just as he expected, the sight that greeted his eyes when he stopped at his usual spot broke his heart into more pieces yet again. Angelina and Nick were seated close to each other on the two-seater couch, having crazy fun t
"Oh no son, you can't do that! You can't just leave her with him like that! Can't you see? That's exactly what he wants! It was his plan all along. I'm sure he's just manipulating everything and using it to his own advantage. If not, why would he insist on not telling her who you really are to her? Shine your eyes well, son. This is just a ploy to steal her away from you! Don't you see the way he looks at her? He just wants her for himself! And remember, he was her teenage crush. What do you think would happen then if you leave her in his care, and they spend days and nights together all alone, while all along Angelina thinks she's single and free to mingle? Without her knowing that she has a legally married husband who's thousands of miles away? I'm not trying to insinuate anything son, but please, I want you to just calm down and think deeply and wisely about it first." "Don't make your decision in haste and without rational thought. I know you are doing this for Angie but ple
Six months later… In the just concluded bakery section of the state of the art buildings of Isabella Gallagher Memorial Foundation, a heavily pregnant Angelina waddled around, inspecting the ultramodern baking equipments. Even though Lucy had volunteered to be the caretaker of the London-based foundation center, from time to time, Angelina goes there to inspect things, especially when a new project has been completed or when some newly- bought equipments have arrived. That's not because she didn't trust Lucy's capability of handling things superbly. No, far from it. She knows she's quite capable and just goes there to make sure things are running smoothly. After all, the foundation is her pet project and her lifelong dream and she loves it just like her own baby! So far, apart from the basic infrastructures that had already been established in both the American and London-based foundation centers, a culinary school, sewing and knitting center, sports arena, arts school for painting
Over the moon with joy, Maxwell hastily slipped the ring unto her finger and as he got up to seal it with a kiss, Angelina's hand suddenly appeared in front of his lips and pushed them away from hers. "Not so fast, lover boy! We have a score to settle first."Maxwell's eyes instantly widened in trepidation. What score do they have to settle? He thought they have already crossed that bridge earlier. He thought she had already forgiven him! But before he could voice out his fears, Angelina's melodic voice reached his ears. "You came here, wowed me with your mind-blowing confession, went ahead to steal my breath away by telling me I'm the one for you, your peace of mind, your bane of existence, your home, your soulmate and so many other mind-blowing things before going down on one knee and proposing to me. You did all that, without even giving me any chance to state my own feelings. Oh I forgot, I don't suppose to have any feelings. After all, 'you know I don't share your feel
Maxwell couldn't believe what he was seeing and hearing. And he knows for sure that he isn't dreaming so could this mean…He looked towards Ethan who was standing behind Angelina for confirmation and just as he nodded his head to confirm that indeed she has regained her memories, Angelina's voice rent the air once again. "Pfft! Can you believe this, bro? I thought that your friend would be a little more excited about seeing me but it seems…"Angelina never got to finish saying what she intended to as she suddenly felt her body engulfed in a very tight hug against a warm, tall, hard and familiar body. In a flash, her own hands automatically wrapped themselves around the tall, imposing figure. At the same time, her eyes fluttered close on their own accord. Their joined bodies reverberated as in unison, both she and Maxwell released very huge, deeply felt sighs of relief. Home, at last! At long, long last they are finally where they rightfully belonged; in the most blissful home ev
Ethan and Robert had just finished having an early dinner together and were on their way to the airport when the former received a call. Upon checking the caller id on the screen, a frown materialized on his face. But that notwithstanding, he swiped and answered the call. "What's up Dr. I-know-it-all? Have you perhaps forgotten your stethoscope with me? Or is it your brain?"From the other end, Dr. Nick sighed. "Look, Mr. Marlowe, I haven't called you for another round of bickering. We need to talk. Urgently. Where are you now? Since you're answering your calls I can tell that you haven't boarded the plane yet, so where can I meet you?"It was Ethan's turn to frown as he instantly became alert. "What's the matter? What happened? How is Angie? Don't tell me anything happened to her! M.J would kill you if anything happens to even a single hair on her head!"Dr. Nick huffed. "Relax, dude. Jolie is perfectly fine. Well, I guess she'll be if only you keep quiet, listen t
Dr. Nick clamped his eyes shut as out of nowhere, sudden pain, sadness and gloom overcame him. How could he have been so blinded? How could he have let his feelings cloud his rational thinking? He had fallen for a woman who is way beyond his reach! He knew right from the onset that she belonged to someone else, that she was someone else's wife but he still let his guard down such that his hidden and long-suppressed feelings for her gradually resurfaced!And now, she is pregnant. What cruel game is this that fate is playing with them all? Here he is, deeply and passionately in love with his childhood buddy but he can neither express it nor even think of acting on it because she's carrying the baby of another man. Another man whom she has absolutely no memories of at all– the man she believes is nobody but a complete stranger to her! God! What kind of mess is this?!What is he supposed to do now? How is he going to break the news of her pregnancy to her when she doesn't even remember h
Angelina grinned widely at him. "Of course! You're my best friend so of course you can't just like me! And you know the feeling is mutual too, right? You're the bestest best friend in the whole wide world and so I love you too!"Once again, Dr. Nick gave her that strange, intense look and cleared his throat. "Erm…Jolie, I have something that I want to tell…"Just then, the shrill sound of his phone interrupted him and as he looked down at the caller id, his entire demeanor instantly changed. Without answering the call, he abruptly got up from his seat while saying to Angelina, "Shit! I completely forgot that I'm supposed to meet someone by two pm today and it's already a quarter to two now."Perplexed at his reaction to the call, Angelina, who had also seen the caller id before he silenced the phone, frowned up at him in confusion. "Who is this Mr. Blondie whose mere call has gotten you so worked up like this? You don't even behave this way when the hospital medical
Maxwell stood in front of the large painting of Angelina and himself in his exquisitely furnished living room, slowly tracing the outline of his wife's gorgeous face with misty eyes and a forlorn and wistful expression on his face.All of a sudden, he felt a hand on his shoulder and even before her gentle, soothing voice rent the air, he knew it was his mother. "You know that staring at her picture will not magically conjure her up, right? Why are you doing this to yourself, son? When will you stop punishing yourself? It's been almost two months now since we left Croatia. Since you left your wife with a complete stranger! All you do is keep sending money, stuffs and either Ethan or Robert to go check on her while you remain here torturing yourself with depressing thoughts. Just take a look at yourself. You haven't just lost a lot of weight but also look so haggard! Arnold told me that once I'm not here, you don't eat at all and hardly sleep at night. And now you're standing here
When Dr. Nick had given Angelina the two gadgets that Maxwell sent over for her, she had only accepted the laptop and refused to accept the phone, claiming that she had no use for it since she had no one to communicate with.Even though that's what she claimed, the real reason is because she doesn't want any reminder of her past life at the moment, the past life that she has no memories of as at present. She knows that once she has a phone, someone connected to her forgotten past might call her and that will inevitably push back those depressing thoughts which she had shoved away to the forefront and hence, make her sad and gloomy. And that's the last thing she wanted at the moment. All she wants is to pretend as if all is well, to live in the moment, to be happy and keep having great fun with her best friend. Therefore, she surely doesn't want a phone as of now! If her memories return in the future, then she'd surely require a phone. But as of now, she had no need for it!When Dr. Ni
Dr. Nick didn't get a chance to return to his office until much later in the evening when he had rounded up all he had to do for the meantime. And after having one look at his tired face, Angelina abruptly got up, took the lunch basket in her left hand before holding Dr. Nick's hand with the right one. "You're coming home with me right this second, Dr. Lifesaver!"However, instead of letting her to pull him along with her like she intended to, Dr. Nick stayed put in his place while shaking his head and saying, "No Jolie. I can't leave now. I just performed surgeries on two of my patients and I have to be there when they eventually come to. I need to assess them and…" "Oh no, Dr. Lifesaver, you have already done your part. There are other doctors who can do whatever needs to be done. Besides, you look so tired and dead on your feet and as far as I know, you can only save lives when you yourself are alive and well! So like I said earlier, you are coming home with me now