Cameron didn’t believe it at first, but as Carter was repeatedly pushed into examination rooms, disturbed by medical equipment, and the same data and conclusions were reached again and again, Cameron had to accept the truth. Carter really had amnesia.
I could see that Cameron was a bit flustered, but soon he relaxed. His expression remained calm, and after listening to the doctor’s detailed explanation, he secretly held my hand under the table and whispered in my ear, “Forget about that day. Not a single word is allowed to be mentioned again, do you understand?”
Cameron’s explanation to our parents was similar to what he told Carter that day. The doctor misdiagnosed, I wasn’t actually pregnant, I felt upset, then took a long-distance bus to clear my mind. However, he made a slight change-saying that he and Carter together brought me back midway, we stopped for a break, and Carter accidentally fell, leading to the current situation.
After hearing this, Dad didn’t have an extreme reaction. He stood in front of Carter’s bed with an indifferent expression for a while and then left, as if the person lying in the hospital bed wasn’t his son.
Their attitude towards me was even more distant than before, even though they never treated me like a daughter. Now they were colder. Stella scolded me loudly in the hospital corridor for failing to give birth to a child for The Lynch Family and for neglecting my husband, which led to his fall.
Stella’s harsh words were difficult to bear. “Who do you think you are? Just a foster daughter in The Lynch Family!” she scolded. “Even if The Lynch Family raised a dog, after fifteen years, it would know how to protect its master!”
I endured her verbal onslaught in silence.
Fifteen years had passed, yet I never knew that this noble and dignified foster mother could also have such a sharp and ruthless side.
I only realized that her previous kindness towards me was just an illusion. It was merely a way of treating a dog-feeding it well and keeping it comfortable, but when the critical moment came, the dog had to step forward and sacrifice itself for its owners.
Once I saw through this, although I felt a chill in my heart, I also found some relief. People have their destinies, and this seemed to be mine.
Carter’s amnesia, however, turned out to be a good thing for me.
Now he wouldn’t cause trouble anymore; instead, he treated me as the most trusted person. He needed my care, and that meant he had to obey my commands.
Carter became easier to control than before.
But every time I saw the dependence in his eyes and the trusting smile he gave me, my heart felt like it was being roasted over a fire.
I couldn’t forget the day he fell down the stairs-the accusations, the anger, the despair in his eyes-all full of reproach toward me.
I was determined to spend the rest of my life making amends for this mistake. I resolved to be a good wife, to take care of him wholeheartedly, to compensate him, and to accompany him until the end of our lives.
I thought that after this incident, I could finally break free from Cameron’s control. Yet, I was wrong. Cameron was a destined calamity in my life, and there was no way to escape…
During those days, I practically lived in the hospital. Although I could have hired a caregiver, with a mindset of redemption, I wanted to personally take care of everything.
Carter saw everything. When I pushed him out for a walk in the sun, he would gently place his hand on my back and slowly lean in, whispering softly, “Laura, It’s my luck to having a wife like you.”
Really?
If he remembers what happened that day, will he still think I’m good?
The doctor said that Carter’s amnesia is a form of selective memory loss. Through the medication during this period, he could recall some things from the past, including his parents, remembering me and Cameron, but he specifically forgot everything that happened the day he fell down the stairs.
This type of selective amnesia is, in fact, a form of self-protection for the patient after a stimulus. Medically speaking, it’s a defense mechanism that the brain deploys to protect itself.
The doctor mentioned that this kind of amnesia is rare. The stimulus must have been immense to trigger the desire to escape and result in the loss of memory for that specific period.
I felt sad and guilty, but during that time, I also sensed that something was not quite right. I could feel Carter’s dependence and warmth, but I also noticed something indiscernible brewing in the depths of his eyes-a dark and ominous chill. The moment I encountered this gaze, it sent shivers down my spine.
It must be an illusion. I consoled myself, telling myself it had to be an illusion. How many illusions have I created?
I didn’t take it seriously and continued fulfilling my duties of taking care of him. Carter was going to be discharged in three days.
One night, just as he fell asleep, I thought of going to the bathroom to wash my face. However, as I stepped out of the ward and turned the corner, a force grabbed my arm.
Before I could scream, my mouth was covered.
The person dragged me into the elevator area, a dark little corner. In the shadow, I couldn’t see his face clearly, only a silhouette. However, the dangerous aura emanating from him was familiar to me.
I whispered, “Cameron.”
He remained silent, but his breathing was uneven.
“Why are you here?” I lifted my head, feeling a surge of anger, “Say something!”
“Cameron, what do you want to do? Haven’t you caused enough trouble? Do you think it’s not miserable enough for me? Cameron… I’m begging you, stop bothering me! Even if you don’t care about me, think about your brother! I am his wife, your sister-in-law!”
“He has amnesia now… Don’t you feel any guilt in your heart?” I pointed my finger fiercely at his chest, “From now on, don’t come looking for me!”
I tried to rush out, but he grabbed me back. This time, he wasn’t gentle. He gripped me firmly, lifted me off the ground, and placed me on his shoulder.
I screamed, and he slapped my buttocks.
“Don’t scream!” His voice echoed in the elevator area. “If you want to wake my brother up and let him see this scene, go ahead and scream!”
“But if you don’t want to stimulate him again, shut up and listen to me.”
I was stunned, my heart pounding in my throat.
He carried me like this, his heavy footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.
He stuffed me into the car and sped away into the night.
I shouted at him, “Cameron, where are you taking me? Carter is still in the hospital, and he needs to change his dressing tonight!”
But my near-hysterical outburst only earned me a disdainful glance from him.
Regardless of what I said, he responded with silence. I grew tired, leaning weakly against the car seat, my throat was burning, and my head was spinning.
…
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying on the large bed in that apartment.
This was the bedroom he arranged for me, with furniture predominantly in off-white. However, for some reason, the curtains were a tender pink, adorned with lace embroidery and sequins, making it look like a little girl’s room.
I sat up, feeling a slight ache in my head.
The clothes on me had been changed, carrying a faint scent of lavender. I walked barefoot to the window, staring at the pink curtains in a daze.
The first rays of morning sunlight were somewhat dazzling, triggering something in me. It suddenly hit me–Carter was still alone in the hospital!
I slept here last night!
Was there someone to take care of him? When it was time to change his dressing, who helped him call the nurse?
Anxiety swept over me, but as soon as I turned around, everything went black. I collided with a solid chest.
“Why are you running?” Cameron lightly smirked, casually tossing a towel over my face. “Go take a shower.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, “What happened to me last night? How did I fall asleep… Did you drug me?”
“Laura!” He raised an eyebrow, “You really have a vivid imagination!”
“What’s going on?” I grabbed him, these days of high tension had made me lose the rationality to speak calmly.
“You were too tired, and I wanted you to get some rest, just that simple!”
Cameron gave me a disdainful look, “Laura, do you want to exhaust yourself taking care of my brother in the hospital? I’ve told you, it’s not that easy to die! I want to keep this miserable life of yours and torment you well!”
He approached me, lifting my chin with one hand and placing the other on my waist. It was annoying, but for some reason, I felt my heart racing.