Chapter 43: Chapter 43

“Hart, is that really you?”

Her eyes widened with terror as she came close to the stranger whom she believed to be who she was waiting for so long. Please, she begged, let this be true. Let this stranger be Hart. She didn’t know what to expect, after having lost three years of memories.

She just needed answers. And Hart was the one who held the key to her finding out what she needed to know.

The stranger continued flicking on the lighter but to no avail as the cigarette wasn’t lighting up. She stopped just in front of him, trying to find out for herself if he was indeed the man she was waiting for.

Jake mentioned Hart had left her for three long years. In her memories, she and Hart had been intimate. He couldn’t have lied to her. Why would he? Even if he wanted her for himself, he wasn’t the person who would lie about Hart.

“Miss, are you mistaken?” The flame ignited, revealing the man’s face. Her heart sank when she realised he was right. He wasn’t Hart. In the darkness of the alley, she must have mistook him for Hart. But where was Hart?

She eventually walked away, feeling so lost that she failed to notice a group of unruly men approaching. Breaths that reeked of liquor, turning her off as she attempted to make her escape. But there were just too many of them, and whatever happened that made her stumble, she didn’t know.

She tried to scream for help, but they had her surrounded. It was dark. She had been so unlucky this time, first mistaking the man as her long-lost boyfriend, and now, a group of drunkards had her at their mercy. With what was going around in her head, she couldn’t focus at all. They weren’t going to kill her, were they?

“Stop it! What are you doing?” a voice intruded as she felt one man pressing a handkerchief over her mouth.

Everything had happened so quickly, that all of a sudden, like in the movies, everything went black.

…………………………………………………………………..

“Myra?”

A voice was calling to her, waking her from what she thought to be a very bad dream. She glanced about the small room she was in, trying to recall what had happened.

“It’s me, Teos.”

A wave of relief came over her as she recognised the man who she remembered as her sister Sierra’s boyfriend. At least, this was what she remembered to be three years ago. The man had thinned so much, but apart from that, nothing seemed to have changed. Sierra had once said that being with Teos wasn’t something she could consider long term because of their differences in social status.

Come to think about it, Sierra hadn’t contacted Myra either. She had no idea what was going on at all.

“Thank you for saving me, Teos.”

She got up slowly and faced him amiably.

“It’s been a long time, Myra. How have you been?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know how I should tell you this, Teos.” She stared around the room. “But I’m suffering from partial memory loss. I don’t remember what happened three years ago. I don’t know what happened between you and my sister, or where Hart disappeared to. I don’t even understand why I am here, married to him when I remember clearly that it was him who chose someone else.”

Teos stared back at her. She felt that surely there was something bugging him in his mind, that he was unsure to say.

“Please tell me if you know something, Teos. I hate this feeling of being kept in the dark from everything I need to know. It’s my right, Teos.”

Teos took a deep breath.

“Hart is my friend, but three years ago, he did something wrong. All I can tell you is that jealousy led him to turn astray, and do many things to hurt you and Jake. Because he wanted you. He collaborated with Yuna Kim. But in the end, he decided to let go, because he knew the person on your mind wasn’t him.”

“But what about him? It’s not fair for him,” she objected.

“He has a terminal illness. He only thought for what is best for you and to redeem his wrongdoings.

She appeared disappointed from what Teos had just opened up to her about.

“Teos, I need to see him. It’s not the end. We have to talk things through.”

“He left. He went back to Indonesia. No matter how hard you try to find him, you won’t be able to find him if he doesn’t want to see you, Myra. It’s just how obstinate he is.”

“Is he doing okay over there? Is he still badly sick?”

“I don’t know.”

Teos folded his hands over his chest, evidently comfortable with this young lady who was supposedly his sister-in-law, had Sierra not asked him to leave.

“And what about you? Since your ‘brother’ is gone, are you still going to stay?”

He didn’t answer. A sheepish look formed over his face.

“Is it about Sierra?”

She must have got the answer right, because he looked away, not knowing how to answer her. He stood in his corner in complete silence, probably going over the times he had with Sierra.

There was a lot he probably couldn’t tell her right now, between him and Sierra. The fact Sierra hadn’t even bothered to contact her, being her sister and closest friend, proved something wasn’t right.

“What happened? Please, Teos. Sierra is my sister, and since I woke up without three years of memories, she hasn’t been online or contacted me. She hasn’t even responded to my messages.”

“That’s because she changed her numbers.”

Teos looked hopefully back at her. “It’s all in the past now. She doesn’t want me or have anything to do with me. And I hope she can adjust to her new married life. That fool better treasure her.”

Married? Sierra was married now? But to whom? How could it be, that the sister who she trusted with her life, was avoiding her after her marriage?

“That’s all I can say, Myra. I can’t say too much. About Sierra and I, we’ve decided to put the past behind us. I think it’s time to go.”

She gave him a faint nod. It wasn’t right for her to stay with Teos in his place, being a married woman herself.

“I’ll give you a ride, Myra. Where do you want to go?”

She gave him the directions to Jake’s mansion. Her phone’s battery had died a few hours ago, and knowing Jake would be worried, she should just go home and isolate herself in her bedroom. Or maybe she should eventually find some time to talk to Jake about her concerns, once she was ready to. She didn’t know what was the best thing to do.

Teos halted the Hyundai in the drive of Jake’s mansion. It was already late at night, and muttering her thanks, she hastily alighted and took a few steps towards the entrance.

“Young Mistress.” The butler greeted her with a deep bow.

“Is Jake at home?”

She knew she was asking a very expected question. The butler answered her with the affirmative. She hastened her steps, heading towards their shared bedroom. Before she could knock, the door flew open. Jake, dressed in a pair of striped pink pyjamas, was standing before her.

“Where have you been?” His eyes, filled with desperation, wandered over her.

“Just to get some answers,” she mumbled. Jake was observing her unkempt look, and slightly torn dress. Darn! She had forgotten about that.

He didn’t question further. “Do you want to take a hot bath before getting into bed? I don’t think you remember how to operate the hot water settings. Let me help.”

“Thank you.”

Myra stared at him for a moment before turning away and undressing. Somehow, it felt awkward taking her clothes off before him. Even if she fathomed they were married, she didn’t have the memories of them getting married. She didn’t know when she would ever regain those lost memories.

She pulled on a bathrobe and waited for him to return to her with the information that her bath was ready. What was next for her in her married life? Sooner or later, she will have to do the deed with him, after all. Back then, she had buried her feelings for Jake deep inside her when she chose Hart. What was meant to be between them was no more than a political marriage.

But now, it seemed that their marriage and relationship had taken a different route with Hart’s retreat.

Even then, what was the point of a marriage when they weren’t able to have a child together? They were both so young, and she didn’t enjoy the idea of them growing old together alone.

For her, it was a fate worse than death.

He startled her with his deep masculine voice.

“My dear wife, the bath is ready.”

She decided to attempt something bold to find out if indeed, there were sparks in her marriage with Jake.

“Would you care to join me in the bath?”