After Losing My Memory Don Begins A Good Husband. Chapter 01
For my mother-in-law’s birthday, I booked the restaurant a week in advance and called everyone individually to confirm the time.
The day arrived, and my mother-in-law phoned.
“Elina, dear, don’t bother coming tonight. A few of us just grabbed a bite already—no need to make the trip.”
I froze for a few seconds, assuming she was being considerate about me hauling myself around with a big belly.
“It’s fine, Mom. I’m not tired. I’d be happy to celebrate your birthday.”
“Really, there’s no need. Just family having a simple dinner. You get some rest.”
I didn’t push it. I figured I’d take her out separately another day to make up for it.
At eleven that night, I was scrolling through my phone and saw my husband’s post.
A group photo of ten people. Warm golden lighting. A three-tier cake on the table.
My in-laws sat front and center. My sister-in-law Giada was nestled next to my mother-in-law; her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.
Next to my husband sat a woman with a ponytail.
She was turned toward him, laughing more naturally than anyone else in the frame.
In the comments, Giada had replied to someone:
“A family photo’s only complete when everyone’s together!”
The woman with the ponytail was my husband’s ex-wife, Valentina.
I counted the heads in the photo. Ten. Just enough to fill one table.
There really hadn’t been room for an extra seat.
With trembling hands, I opened the encrypted messaging app on my husband’s phone.
A group chat called “The Real Family” sat quietly in the second slot on the list.
The pinned conversation at the very top was a private thread with Valentina.
I tapped into the group. My mother-in-law’s most recent message read:
“Thank you all for tonight. Valentina came all the way back from out of town for this—nobody let it slip.”
Giada had replied with an OK gesture.
My husband had typed: “Don’t worry, she won’t find out.”
I checked the date the group was created.
Three years ago.
It had existed since the very first day I married into this family.
Three years. Every “last-minute cancellation” of a family dinner. Every holiday gathering I was “accidentally” not told about. Every tender “you’re too tired, don’t come.”
All of it had been about making room for the rightful owner of that seat.
I rested my hand on my belly. The baby kicked.
Suddenly, everything felt so pointless.
If there’s no room for you in the family portrait, there’s no point squeezing in.
“Here you go, sis—shrimp dumplings. Eat them while they’re hot.”
Giada pushed through the door and tossed a fancy takeout box onto the coffee table.
Ricardo trailed in behind her, changing his shoes.
My mother-in-law chattered away as she slipped off her coat.
“Elina, we didn’t want you going out because of the hassle. Ricardo stood in line specially to get these for you.”
I sat on the couch, staring at the box stamped with the logo of a Michelin-starred restaurant.
I didn’t rush to open it.
“I thought you all just grabbed a quick bite downstairs?”
The living room went silent for a beat.
Ricardo’s hand paused on his tie.
“Giada picked them up from somewhere else on the way back.”
I nodded and reached for the box.
Inside were three shrimp dumplings.
One of them had a large bite taken out of it.
I looked up at Giada.
Ricardo’s hand paused on his tie.
“Giada picked them up from somewhere else on the way back.”
I nodded and reached for the box.
Inside were three shrimp dumplings.
One of them had a large bite taken out of it.
I looked up at Giada.
“Your leftovers?”
Giada rolled her eyes, irritated.
“I took one bite and didn’t like it, so I put it back. Do you really have to be this petty?”
“Be grateful you’re getting anything at all. Valentina wouldn’t even touch something this greasy.”
The name slipped out before she could catch it.
Ricardo immediately shot her a glare.
My mother-in-law hurried over to smooth things over.
“Oh come on, Giada meant well. You’re pregnant—eat up, don’t nitpick.”
I looked at the three of them and their matter-of-fact expressions.
My chest felt like it had been torn open, cold wind howling through the gap.
“If Valentina doesn’t like greasy food, why did you order it?”
Ricardo’s face changed.
“Are you following me?”
Giada jumped up immediately.
“Seriously? My brother goes out for dinner and you’re checking up on him? That’s psychotic.”
I ignored her. I just stared at Ricardo.
“That post of yours—nice little group photo.”
Ricardo scrambled for his phone.
He clearly realized what had happened. His face cycled between white and green.
“Elina, let me explain.”
“Valentina just happened to be in town for work, and Mom thought we should take her out to eat.”
“We didn’t invite you because we didn’t want you overthinking it.”
My mother-in-law chimed in.
“That’s right. Valentina called me ‘Mom’ for three years. It wouldn’t be right not to show hospitality when she visits.”
“You’re pregnant right now—your emotions are sensitive. We were doing this for your own good.”
For my own good.
They’d used those four words countless times over three years.
“For my own good—so you created a group chat without me in it?”
I held up my phone screen for them to see.
That group called “The Real Family” burned into my eyes.
A flicker of panic crossed Ricardo’s face, quickly replaced by anger.
“You went through my phone? Elina, who taught you to violate someone’s privacy like that?”
Not a shred of guilt. He went on the offensive instead.
Giada let out a cold scoff.
“I told you she was paranoid, bro. Acting all sweet and understanding when it’s all just a front.”
“It’s just a dinner she missed. Valentina barely gets to visit—if she’d been there, it would’ve been awkward for everyone.”
My mother-in-law sighed, adopting a tone of patient wisdom.
“Elina, since you’ve already seen it, I’ll just say it plainly.”
“Valentina may be divorced from Ricardo, but in our hearts, she’ll always be half a daughter to us.”
“Since you married into this family, you ought to have the grace of a proper wife. Stop being so jealous all the time.”
I looked at the three faces before me and felt a wave of utter unfamiliarity.
So for three years, I’d been nothing but an outsider.
“If she’ll always be your daughter, then why did they get divorced in the first place?”
“Since you married into this family, you ought to have the grace of a proper wife. Stop being so jealous all the time.”
I looked at the three faces before me and felt a wave of utter unfamiliarity.
So for three years, I’d been nothing but an outsider.
“If she’ll always be your daughter, then why did they get divorced in the first place?”
Ricardo’s face turned ashen. He strode over and snatched my phone, shutting off the screen.
“Elina, that’s enough.”
“We’re married. You’re carrying our child. Do you really want to tear this family apart?”
I said nothing. I turned and walked back to the bedroom, locking the door behind me.
Through the door, I heard Giada’s complaints.
“Look at that temper, bro. She doesn’t have half of Valentina’s grace.”
Ricardo lowered his voice.
“Enough. She’s pregnant.”
That night, I sat in the guest room until dawn.
Ricardo never came to knock.
He was in the study, on the phone all night.
With my ear pressed to the wall, I could just make out his deliberately hushed voice.
“She’s just being hormonal. Don’t take it to heart.”
“I’ll take you to the hospital for your follow-up tomorrow. Be good—get some sleep.”