Our home was large, a spacious open floor plan. The style was simple, yet it felt oddly empty.
I figured we must have been separated for quite some time—there were no signs of me anywhere. Not even a pair of slippers or a toothbrush that belonged to me.
Thinking about this, I became curious about what had caused the cold war between Camryn Stuart and me, but I was afraid to bring up the past, as it might make things awkward. So I asked instead, "Husband, what was I like before I lost my memory?"
Camryn had just finished a phone call and raised an eyebrow as he sat on the sofa, pretending to be serious. "Well, you were spoiled, selfish, wildly arrogant, and reckless. You had no sense."
I lunged at him. "Nonsense! You're terrible!"
He grabbed me, his eyes full of laughter. "I'm not lying. You used to get angry for no reason, and you never gave me a good face."
I was pulled into Camryn's embrace, and, taking a seat on his lap, I asked, "Is that true?"
My voice carried a hint of sadness. Camryn gently rubbed my back, a motion he seemed to have done countless times. "Yes, and you'd often hit me, yell at me."
That made me even sadder, and I lowered my eyes, pressing my lips together, but then I felt my ear grow warm.
Camryn tilted his head and, as though punishing me, gently bit my earlobe. "But I loved you all the same."
"Ashley."
His words were harsh, but his tone was filled with something more intimate, almost teasing.
The air grew heavier, and I found myself struggling to breathe as I gazed into his eyes filled with desire.
When I finally fell onto the bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, my body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Camryn Stuart hovered over me, taking control with a fiery intensity.
His body was filled with restrained sensuality. When it was all over, he exhaled deeply and, with his hands, adjusted the button of my collar. "Don't worry about me. I'll let you off today."
I was lying there breathless, feeling like I couldn't get enough air, but I reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt as he got up. "Where are you going?"
My reluctance was too evident in my eyes. Camryn smiled mischievously. "Don't look at me like that, I'm not leaving."
"Go shower first, I'll go open the door for the maid."
When I finished my shower, I found new pajamas and slippers laid out for me, and on the washstand, there was a new toothbrush, towel, and even the same brand of lingerie I had worn before.
I walked out of the bathroom and saw Camryn Stuart had finished his shower as well, his hair still damp, his usually sharp features softened. I swallowed hard.
He was so handsome.
What kind of life had I lived before?
Camryn Stuart glanced at me, and for some reason, a slight blush crossed his face. I walked up to help him dry his hair. We've been married for so long, why was he still shy?
We turned off the lights and lay in bed together. Yet, he acted distant, lying far from me.
I reached out and snuggled into his arms, inhaling the faint scent of him.
"Honey."
"…Mm."
In the darkness, I couldn't make out his expression, but I could sense that something was troubling him—he seemed torn and conflicted.
I nuzzled up to him and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Honey, I can't remember anything from before. I used to have a bad temper, and I was awful to you. I'm sorry. From now on, let's not fight anymore. Let's not be apart, okay?"
"I... I can't remember anything, and I'm really scared."
Camryn suddenly pulled me tight into his arms, kissing my forehead gently. "Don't be scared."
"As long as I have you, I'm not afraid," I said. "Although I've forgotten everything, Husband, whenever I see you, I just want to be close to you, want to hold you. The only thing I know for sure is that I still love you, and I don't want to live apart from you. I don't want a divorce."
In Camryn's warm embrace, the unease I'd felt over the past month gradually turned into a sense of security. I babbled on, shamelessly declaring my love for him.
Sleepiness started to overcome me, and my voice grew quieter.
Before I lost consciousness, I heard Camryn muttering softly to himself in the dark: "Ashley, since you lost your memory, it feels like this is a gift from heaven."
"Sleep now," he gently patted my back. "If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up."
