Looking at their pitying expressions, Isabella felt a wave of unease settle over her.
Just then, the butler entered and announced, "Dr. Olivia has arrived."
Isabella turned toward the doorway—and immediately let out a relieved breath.
Olivia!
Her best friend. A familiar face at last.
"Olivia! Why are you here?"
Isabella practically ran over, her expression brightening for the first time that morning. But as she got closer, her eyes fell on the medical kit Olivia was carrying. Her excitement faltered.
She lowered her voice, whispering, "Aren't you still a junior? You don't even have a medical license yet. Are you really allowed to treat people?"
Olivia, dressed crisply in a white coat, her hair tied up in a neat high ponytail, and round glasses perched on her nose, frowned in confusion.
"Isabella, what are you talking about?" She studied Isabella closely. "We graduated years ago. I'm already a resident physician at Crown City Hospital. And you've been working as a counselor at the Crown City Psychological Center."
A pause.
"Did you… lose your memory?"
Isabella's breath hitched. "What? No! I haven't lost my memory," she insisted, shaking her head frantically. "I remember everything. We're juniors in college this year!"
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Everyone was staring at her, their eyes wide with shock.
Even Ethan's sharp gaze held a faint sneer, as if he thought she was playing some ridiculous game.
"It's not 2017 anymore," Olivia finally said, pulling out her phone and holding it up. "It's December 31, 2020."
The world seemed to tilt beneath Isabella's feet.
No… This can't be real.
Olivia wouldn't lie to her. She was the one person Isabella could trust absolutely.
"But… they said I was only in a coma for three months," Isabella whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her gaze darted around the room, suddenly noticing things she hadn't before—Grandma Hannah's graying hair, Henry's more lined face.
Even Ethan looked different. More mature. More… arrogant.
Could it be… that she really had married Ethan?
Her stomach twisted violently. She might as well be dead.
Sensing her distress, Henry stepped forward and hugged her gently. His voice was warm, reassuring.
"Isabella, don't be afraid. We'll go to the hospital to get you checked out right away."
Ethan, on the other hand, remained completely unmoved.
Arms crossed, his expression cold and unyielding, he said, "Let's go to the Civil Affairs Bureau first and settle the divorce."
"Say 'divorce' one more time today," Grandma Hannah snapped, jabbing her cane into his side, "and I'll break your leg myself."
Henry immediately backed her up.
"Get up and drive us to the hospital, Ethan. Or do you expect me to carry Isabella out personally, Young Master?"
Ethan's jaw twitched.
He looked at his family incredulously. Was he really their biological son?
---
On the Way to the Hospital
In Olivia's car, Isabella sat stiffly, arms crossed, her entire body still buzzing with disbelief.
She had deliberately avoided riding with Ethan. The very thought of breathing the same air as him made her nauseous.
Olivia shot her a sideways glance.
"You really don't remember, do you?"
Isabella frowned. "What do you mean?"
Olivia sighed.
"You used to… cling to Ethan constantly."
Isabella's stomach dropped. "What?"
"No—'cling' isn't the right word," Olivia corrected herself. "You were obsessed with him. You pulled every possible trick to make him marry you.
All of Crown City knew about it."
Isabella's blood ran cold.
Her—the strong-willed, proud Isabella—being some pathetic lapdog for Ethan?
Impossible.
"Drive faster, Olivia!" she shouted in panic. "I need to see a doctor. Maybe my brain is broken… or possessed by some ghost!"
Frantically, she grabbed Olivia's phone and started searching for news about herself and Ethan.
What she found made her stomach churn.
Three years ago, she had—according to the articles—gone completely mad and insisted on marrying Ethan.
Under pressure from Grandma Hannah, Ethan had reluctantly agreed.
There was even a prenuptial agreement:
If Ethan did not fall in love with her within three years, they would divorce.
Isabella would also have to transfer the 10% shares of Anderson Corporation that Grandma Hannah had given her back to Ethan—and vanish from his life forever.
The articles were brutal.
She was the laughingstock of Crown City. A desperate woman clinging to a man who clearly despised her.
Worse yet, she had apparently pestered Ethan endlessly in a futile attempt to "save" their marriage.
Drugging. Begging. Forcing. Even… attempting suicide.
Two years ago, unable to tolerate her any longer, Ethan had moved out—and hadn't returned since.
Three months ago, when the deadline for their divorce agreement approached, they had one final argument…
She had fallen down the stairs.
Slipped into a coma.
"No, no, no!" Isabella groaned, clutching her head as if trying to push the thoughts out.
Olivia glanced at her in concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Isabella snapped, though her mind was spinning uncontrollably.
Then, a horrifying thought struck her.
"If Ethan hates me so much, why was he in my bed this morning?"
She shuddered at the memory—him lying over her, pulling at her nightgown…
Olivia hesitated.
"What?" Isabella demanded.
"Don't you remember our elective psychology class in college?" Olivia asked carefully.
"The teacher talked about a case where a strong emotional stimulus woke a coma patient. I may have… suggested to Ethan that he could try it on you."
Silence.
Isabella blinked.
Then—"WHAT?!"
"He tried that method to wake me up?!"
"It clearly worked," Olivia said, trying to sound optimistic.
"Worked?!"
Isabella leaned out the car window, pretending to vomit.
"I'd rather have stayed in a coma!"
---
At Crown City Hospital
A thorough series of examinations confirmed the diagnosis:
Retrograde amnesia.
Her memory had been "erased" back to three years ago—long before her obsessive behavior toward Ethan had started.
The doctor spoke kindly.
"I'll prescribe medication to help with recovery. Regular therapy sessions will also assist in triggering your lost memories."
"No need."
Isabella's voice was firm.
The last thing she wanted was to remember anything about throwing herself at Ethan Wilson like a complete fool.