Ultimately, I was found near a storage room door on the cruise ship's side. The rescue team searched throughout the night and discovered Oliver submerged in the sea, immediately rushing him to a nearby hospital.
"Ms. Ashton, your husband is currently still undergoing emergency treatment. Regarding your allegations against him, I'm afraid we'll have to verify them after he's out of life-threatening danger. However, rest assured, our colleagues will protect you throughout."
At the police station, I watched the news report on the accident and, after a long while, commented, "He knew he would die if he jumped, so why did he do it?"
The policewoman looked bewildered. "Perhaps because you're his wife?"
I neither confirmed nor denied it. "Regarding his treatment, don't come to me. He has a lover named Eleanor. You can contact her."
A day later, the policewoman came to see me.
"Ms. Ashton, we couldn't find any contact information for Miss Sinclair in Mr. Grant's phone. Could you provide it?"
I shook my head. "I don't have it."
Oliver had protected her so well that they didn't even have each other's contact information.
"But according to our knowledge, apart from you, Mr. Grant has no other family members."
I replied irritably, "How could that be? Go ask at his company, talk to his secretary, he'll tell you Eleanor's contact details."
"Ms. Ashton, you suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Your doctor informed us that you have stubbornly believed for a long time that Mr. Grant was having an affair with a woman named Eleanor. Furthermore, you've not only once assaulted someone over this. Unfortunately, she is a figment of your imagination, nonexistent."
I listened to her words with a blank expression, then suddenly laughed. "Oliver went to such lengths to protect her?"
The policewoman frowned, serious. "I'm not joking with you, Mr. Grant has no family. Whether he continues to receive emergency treatment depends on your decision."
"That's enough," I stood up, my emotions a bit stirred. "If you called me here today for this, then let me tell you, I want Oliver dead."
The policewoman sighed, handing me a phone. "Mr. Grant's belongings are temporarily in your custody. If you need anything further, you can contact me anytime."
Leaving the police station, rain was pouring outside. The air was cold and damp. I wrapped my scarf around myself and casually sat down on a bench on the street.
I dug out Oliver's phone.I tried to unlocked the screen. Surprisingly，When I placed my thumb on it, it unlocked. I couldn't remember when I'd left my fingerprint on his phone.
Oliver's phone didn't have many random apps, but there were hundreds of contacts.
I typed in Eleanor's name but found nothing. I tried various search methods but found nothing. I closed my eyes, unable to recall Eleanor's face.
Until I stumbled upon a secret album. A password prompt appeared on the interface. I instinctively entered my birthday. When the password was unlocked, my heart sank. What greeted me was video clip after video clip.
Blood rushed to my head, pounding against my eardrums. I opened the first one.
It was autumn 2015. The video played automatically, joyful sounds ringing out from the speakers.
"Happy third anniversary, Mr. Grant! Congratulations on my graduation and your successful company launch!"
I instantly recognized my voice. The one filming this video was me. But I didn't remember this part.
In the candlelight, a much younger-looking Oliver raised his eyes to the camera.
A giggle escaped from the lens. "Why are you looking at me?"
"Do you like the southern part or nothern part of the city?"
"What?"
"I'm buying a house. Pick a place you like, where we can settle down."
The me in the video screamed and jumped onto Oliver, hugging his neck and kissing him.
In the dim, unseen corner, Oliver's earlobes flushed quietly.
The second video was spring 2016. Oliver was drunk. I was excited, pushing the camera to his face. "Today, let's interview Mr. Grant. Who did you drink so late with?"
Oliver closed his eyes, grabbing my hand and pressing it to his chest. He muttered something.
"Hmm, what did you say?" I hadn't heard clearly and leaned in with the camera.
"Two hundred thousand... I earned two hundred thousand."
"Get Charlotte here. We should have her keep an eye on him, making sure that he will finalize the payment."
I found it interesting, poking his lips and eyelashes with a strand of hair. "Why do you ask Charlotte to do it? What benefits are you giving Charlotte?"
Oliver muttered, "I will transfer it to her account."
Afterward, the video spun. It fell to the ground, facing a trash can. Oliver's head was in the trash can, vomiting audibly. Outside the frame, I fumbled around, shouting, "Hold on, I'll take you to the hospital!"
Over a hundred videos bore witness to our past. From Oliver founding his company to its gradual growth, our filming locations shifted from cheap rental apartments to condos and large villas. Not once did any video mention Eleanor's name.
Night gradually fell, and neon lights illuminated the streets. Feeling a chill, I tightened my scarf and clicked on the next video.
It is 2018. This video featured both Oliver and me sitting in front of the camera. I smiled brightly, while Oliver wore a solemn face. Judging by our attire, we were significantly better off.
I nudged Oliver, laughing, "What's wrong? Smile!" Oliver lowered his eyes, gazing at me earnestly and stroking my head.
I looked back at the lens, my laughter turning teary. "I... was diagnosed with Alzheimer's today."
"Thought I have always been of poor memory, never thought it is Alzheimer. I can't believe that such an illness would happen to a young person like me."
"The doctor said, if it is controlled well, the progression will be slower."
"I wanted to break up, but Oliver wouldn't allow it."
Oliver clung to me, insisting, "We won't separate."
"You should know, I'll forget everything, including you."
"I will also scream and act irrationally."
"Oliver, you're successful, your shouldn't have a wife like me in your bright future."
Oliver choked, "If one day you forget everything, the one in pain absolutely won't be you. Charlotte, no matter when you forget me, I won't abandon you. Let's marry, today."
I smiled brightly. "I hid the identification documents. If one day my illness can be cured, I'll tell you where it is, and we'll register."
"I can't wait." Oliver's eyes moistened, pleading, "How about today?"
I kissed his lips. "Behave, listen to me, when my illness isn't severe anymore, I'll marry you."
The following videos suddenly switched to Oliver filming. I became the subject in front of the lens. I wore an apron, proudly showing off my culinary skills in front of the oven.
"What flavor cake do you like?" I asked.
Oliver secretly turned off the gas stove I forgot to close.
"Lemon." I hummed a tune.
"Then we'll do lemon, oh, what were those lyrics again?"
Oliver hummed along, singing together with me.
In the dim room, I curled up on the sofa, tears silently streaming.
On TV, a movie had ended. Oliver laughed, "Why are you crying?"
I held tissues. "It is so touching. If it's in theaters, we must watch it again."
"Okay."
"Remember, it's the English version 'Ambiguous', not the Korean one..."
"Okay."
The scene changed, the kitchen countertop is in a mess.
I wore an apron, bewildered. "What flavor cake do you like?"
Oliver threw away the paint quietly. "Sorry, forgot to buy ingredients today. Let's eat out, okay?"
"But it's your birthday. Don't you like cake?"
He kissed me. "Cake makes me fat, you probably won't like a chubby Oliver."
I pondered, following him to dress. When we left the house, I mumbled, "Actually, a chubby Oliver is quite cute."
Afterward, videos became brief. Sometimes, I'd suddenly lose control in front of the camera. Mr. Grant would set down the camera and rush over to clean me up.
"Oliver, sorry..."
"Don't apologize, it's not your fault, nor trouble for me."
Gradually, I became moody. One second, talking to Oliver normally. The next, I'd throw things at him.
In one video, I cursed at a woman entering. She covered her head, panicking. "Charlotte, it's me, Ivy, your best friend. Please, don't do this."
I threw a small cake at her face.
"Oliver, take your mistress and scram!"
Minutes later, sobs echoed from the video.
"Oliver, please, let's break up, okay? I don't want to rage like a lunatic at you."
"It's alright... I don't mind, Charlotte, really, I don't."
"Next time, tell me I'm demented, sick. If I know that, I'll restrain myself."
"Okay." Later, videos became Oliver's monologues.
"Charlotte's hospitalized for the third time this year."
"She's starting to dislike me."
"She takes every female around me as Eleanor to attack and hate. Recently, she's temperamental, thinking she's pregnant. The doctor suggested sending her to a nursing home. But I can't bear it."
"I've told her countless times I love her, but she always forgets."
Oliver's eyes reddened, he lowered his head, composing himself. "Just... rest for a while and keep her company. Take it easy and she'll get better."
The next segment featured many people. I watched for a while, realizing this was Oliver's recent birthday party.
"Mr. Grant, when are you marrying Charlotte?" Oliver glanced at me, a bit dejected.
"No hurry, let's see."
"When she's healthier, we might have our wedding abroad." Later, the people began to play Truth or Dare.
The woman across the table held down the round table, staring at Oliver.
"Mr. Grant,this is a personal question, is the one you like here?"
The crowd egged him on.
"Mr. Grant, think carefully, Ivy's the best friend of Charlotte! Offending her will bring bad luck."
Oliver held my hand. "The one I love is only Charlotte."
Ivy's eyes moistened. "Good, I hope you keep your word."
My turn came. Ivy softly asked, "Charlotte, time for medicine, okay?"
I lowered my head, dazed, seemingly not hearing. Ivy forced a smile, switching tactics. "Charlotte, don't you like drinking? Let's drink, okay?"
Finally, I seem to listen to him, looking at her. Ivy seemed encouraged, taking a breath and picking up the herbal medicine.
"Drinking is fun, Charlotte, let's try..."
Panicked, I grabbed my bag. "I'm not playing, going home."
Everyone stared blankly. Ivy caught me, holding my face, gently coaxing. "Open your mouth wide, okay?"
I struggled fiercely, nearly knocking over the bowl several times. Hearing my cries, Oliver pursed his lips, veins bulging on his hand.
"Charlotte, listen to her and finish the medicine, then we'll marry."
Ivy took advantage, coaxing and tricking me into taking it. Scratch marks appeared on her hand.
"That's it for today, we'll think of something else tomorrow."
" Mr. Grant, is this really alright?"
Everyone asked worriedly.
Oliver smiled bitterly. "It's fine, anyway, she won't remember it when she wakes up tomorrow."
Raindrops tapped on the awning. I tilted my head, staring blankly at the sky.
I couldn't piece together Eleanor's image in my mind. In my phone, I found Ivy's name. Opening the chat history, the last chat was made a long time ago.
"Ivy, Oliver's birthday is coming, I want to give him a surprise."
"What are you planning?"
"Invite his friends for a gathering, you're the moodmaker, prepare some interesting questions."
"Hahaha, got it. Do you want to ask in front of everyone if Mr. Grant loves you, right? Don't worry, I got it."
By the end of 2022, I cried uncontrollably alone on A City's streets.
