My Mother Faked Her Death To Protect My Husband’s Mistress Chapter 06
The Man I Forget
“It means, her brain erased the memories that hurt her most so she could survive.” the doctor says.
He lets out a quiet sigh.
“That includes you, Mr. Pierce. It may also include all the social relationships tied to those memories.”
After the doctor leaves, the room falls into a dead silence.
Elliot stands beside my bed with red eyes.
He looks at me like something inside him has been torn open.
When he speaks, he tries to make his voice gentle, like he is coaxing a frightened child.
“June, stop joking with me, okay?”
His lips tremble.
“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have gone to Linwood and left you alone.”
“You can be mad at me. You can punish me however you want.”
He reaches toward me.
“Just don’t torture me like this.”
His fingers move toward my face.
I flinch.
Then I grab the glass from the bedside table and point it at him with both hands.
“Don’t come near me.”
My voice shakes with real fear.
“I don’t know you.”
Elliot’s hand stops in midair.
His fingers tremble so hard he cannot hide it.
He stares at the look in my eyes, and the last bit of hope in his face breaks apart.
Finally, he understands.
I am not acting.
I have truly cut him out of my world.
Just then, the door opens.
Claire walks in with a fruit basket.
Her eyes are red, like she has been crying.
“Elliot, I heard June was in a car accident, so I came as soon as I could.”
She sets the fruit basket on the table.
Then she takes a careful step toward my bed.
“June, how are you feeling?”
I stare at the young woman in front of me.
She is pretty. Soft-looking.
A stranger.
I frown and turn to Elliot.
“Who is this?”
Claire freezes.
She looks at me in disbelief.
“June, you don’t know me? It’s Claire.”
I shake my head.
Claire turns to Elliot, as if she wants him to confirm whether I am pretending.
Elliot’s face is terrifyingly pale.
He does not answer her look.
He only turns to her and says, “Go outside.”
Claire bites her lip.
“Elliot, I can stay and help take care of…”
“Get out!”
Elliot’s voice cracks through the room.
It is the first time I have heard him speak to her like that.
Claire jumps.
Tears fill her eyes at once.
She looks at him, hurt and humiliated, then turns and runs out.
The room is quiet again.
Only Elliot and I are left.
He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
Then he pulls a chair over and sits about three feet away from my bed.
“Okay, June,” he says. “Let’s start over.”
His eyes are full of pain he is trying to hold back.
“My name is Elliot Pierce.”
He swallows.
“I’m your husband.”
I hug my knees to my chest and look at him with suspicion.
“Husband?”
I shake my head.
“That’s impossible.”
His breath catches.
I look straight into his eyes.
“Why would I marry a man who can’t even look at me?”
Elliot goes still, like lightning has struck him.
He lifts his head sharply and meets my clear eyes.
Even without my memories, my instincts are still here.
This man says he is my husband, but when he looks at me, all I see is guilt, exhaustion, and fear.
There is no love in his eyes.
I close my eyes.
“I’m tired,” I say, “Please leave.”