My childhood friend and I got into a car accident. When I woke up, the love of my life, my best friend since we were kids, had amnesia. I was physically unharmed, but my body was now home to a second soul: my grandmother, who had passed away years ago. “That little rascal!” Her voice boomed in my head. “Using that amnesia excuse to trick my sweet girl again. If I were still walking this earth, I’d break his legs!” My eyes widened in shock. My grandmother’s voice continued its tirade in my mind. “In my past life, that little heartbreaker Primo Sinclair caused my darling so much pain. She spent years with him, suffering, until she had a heart attack that nearly killed her. And where was he? Celebrating a birthday with Victoria Cole! Makes my blood boil!” “Sweetheart, this time, when your grandfather asks you to choose a husband, you absolutely cannot choose Primo. You have to choose Christoph Hurley. That boy is reliable!” As if on cue, my grandfather walked into the hospital room with several other family elders. They laid out photos of the heirs to the four great families, telling me to pick a husband. Without a moment’s hesitation, I chose my sworn enemy, Christoph Hurley. I was always my grandma’s girl. If she said Primo didn’t love me, then I didn’t want him anymore. 1 My grandfather looked at me, his expression hesitant. “Serena, you and that little troublemaker have always been at each other’s throats. Are you sure you want him as your husband? Think carefully. Once the engagement is set, there’s no going back.” My grandfather was a titan in the world of archaeology. He had decreed that whichever heir of the four great families married me would secure a partnership with our family business. Primo’s mother was also stunned and quickly tried to persuade me. “Serena, sweetheart, I know Primo has amnesia and has forgotten you, but you’ve always loved him so much. Why aren’t you willing to wait for him? Maybe once you’re married, his memory will return.” Grandma let out a sharp scoff in my mind. “What nonsense! In the last life, that Victoria girl broke my darling’s jewelry. My sweet girl barely said a word, and Primo threw her out of the house. My poor Serena, in nothing but her pajamas, stood in the pouring rain for hours. She almost froze to death.” “It was Christoph who came and held an umbrella over her, took her to a hotel to rest. His mouth is sharp, yes, but his heart is in the right place.” Hearing this, a sharp pain lanced through my heart. I didn’t understand why my grandmother kept talking about a “past life,” about things that seemed to have never happened. But her words felt so real, as if I had lived them myself. They left me feeling suffocated, my chest filled with a thousand pounds of wet cotton. Besides, Victoria really was Primo’s first love. They had a deep history. I was just the one who came after. “Grandpa, I’ve made my choice. I want Christoph Hurley.” My grandfather gathered the photos and ruffled my hair. “Alright, my dear. Grandpa respects your choice. In two days, I will publicly announce your engagement to Christoph Hurley.” Grandma let out a long sigh of relief. “That’s right. This time, my little darling won’t be tangled up in the miseries of the past. She’ll finally be happy.” While my grandfather discussed matters with the elders, I changed my clothes and decided to take a walk outside the hospital. To my surprise, three tall, handsome men were standing right outside my door. They were all my childhood friends, all potential candidates for my hand. Primo was there. Only Christoph was absent. Caleb grinned and sauntered over, his curiosity piqued. “Serena, I hear your grandfather is picking a fiancé for you from the four of us. Who did you choose?” Owen chimed in playfully. “Do you even have to ask? It’s obviously Primo. Everyone in our circle knows Serena is head over heels for him. Treats him like a precious treasure.” Primo shot me a cool, detached glance. “I don’t remember anything from the past three years. I only remember that Victoria is my girlfriend.” He paused. “But I know we were together during those three years I’ve lost. Even though I don’t love you now, I can’t defy my father’s wishes. Since the engagement is set, I will marry you.” Grandma sneered. “In his dreams! In the last life, Primo used this same amnesia act to openly flirt with Victoria while draining my sweet girl dry, stealing our family’s fortune, and driving my darling to depression and a fatal illness. That rotten scoundrel can go to hell!” I looked at Primo’s indifferent expression. Without my grandmother’s warning, I probably would have fallen for his lies. I really did love him. And I used to believe he loved me too. Like three years ago, when he lit up the entire city with fireworks just for me. His eyes were so full of devotion, his words so sweet. “Serena, I want to marry you. I want to make you the happiest woman in the world.” I had wept with joy and started a relationship with him. For three years, we were the picture of a happy, loving couple. I never imagined that he had never forgotten Victoria. He just didn't want to offend my family, so he put on a show of loving me. Now, tired of the act, he was faking amnesia to openly declare his love for Victoria, all while condescending to marry me to secure the partnership with my family. Life doesn’t work that way. I wanted to retort, but seeing his smug, self-assured expression, I swallowed my words. Let him be smug for a couple more days. I was curious to see his reaction when he heard the truth from my grandfather’s own lips. Seeing my silence, Caleb nudged my shoulder. “So, Serena, did you choose Primo?” I replied calmly, “You’ll all know in two days.” With that, I turned to leave. Behind me, Owen clicked his tongue. “Primo, it’s definitely you. You don’t remember, but let me tell you. When you were seriously ill, Serena searched the entire world for medicine for you. She heard the temple on North Mountain was miraculous, so she knelt and climbed nine thousand, nine hundred steps just to pray for your recovery. She’s completely smitten with you.” “Is that so?” Primo chuckled, his voice lazy. “I had no idea she loved me that much.” A sharp pain twisted in my chest. My vision blurred with tears, but I held them back. My love for Primo was an open secret in our social circle. Everyone laughed at me for being a doormat, but I didn’t care. I lost my parents when I was young, and my grandparents were always away on archaeological digs. I was an easy target for bullies. Only Primo protected me. I had loved him since we were children. When he confessed his feelings, I cried with joy and swore to be the best girlfriend he could ever have. But all his kindness had an ulterior motive. He didn’t deserve my sincere love. “Serena, wait.” Someone called my name. I turned to see Primo. He strolled over, one hand in his pocket. “I know you chose me. I’ll marry you, but my heart belongs to Victoria. I hope you can respect that and not interfere.” I stared at him. “You have amnesia. Why are you so certain I would choose you?” Primo frowned. “Everyone says you love me. Who else would you choose?” I gave a bitter smile. So he knew. He knew how much I loved him. And he chose to trample on my feelings anyway. “Don’t worry. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll grant you your wish.” I thought to myself, he’ll probably be thrilled when he finds out I chose Christoph. Hearing my quick agreement, Primo froze for a second. As I continued toward the exit, he subconsciously reached for me. Suddenly, a scooter swerved recklessly toward me. The wheel slammed into my leg, and I crumpled to the ground, my hands scraping against the rough pavement. Pain shot through me. Victoria’s face went pale. She scrambled off her scooter, crying as she tried to help me up. “Serena, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you! Please don’t be mad at me.” Before I could say a word, my grandmother’s furious voice erupted in my head. “This girl is pure trouble! Just like last time, always playing the victim or turning the tables to bully my sweet girl. She’s got Primo wrapped around her little finger. Those two are a matched set of bad news!” Seeing Victoria’s tear-streaked face, Primo’s heart melted. “It’s alright, Victoria. It’s a small thing. No one will blame you while I’m here.” He helped her up, then shot me a warning look. “She just bumped into you. You’re not going to make a big deal out of it, are you?” My arm was scraped raw. I gritted my teeth against the pain and pushed myself to my feet. Victoria looked at me pitifully. “Serena, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking. I’ll slap myself to make it up to you.” She raised her hand as if to strike her own face. Primo grabbed her wrist, then rounded on me. “Serena, it was an accident! Can you stop being such a bully all the time?” Grandma was even angrier. “That thick-skulled idiot! My sweet girl hasn’t said a single word, and that girl is crying her eyes out on her own. How dare he say my baby is bullying her! I’m so mad! Sweetheart, stand up for yourself! Slap the nonsense out of them!” Heeding her words, I raised my hand and slapped Victoria hard across the face. Then, I turned to Primo. “See? That is what you call bullying.” Victoria was stunned. Primo was frozen, his eyes turning cold. “Serena, you’ve gone too far…” I swung my arm again and slapped him just as hard. “That is what you call going too far.” For years, I had only ever obeyed him, never fought back. The blow left him completely bewildered. He stared at me, his teeth clenched. “Fine. Just fine. But you’ll regret laying a hand on me.” He turned to Victoria. “Victoria, let’s go. I’ll get you checked out.” Grandma scoffed. “Instead of caring for his injured fiancée, he’s fussing over some other girl. You’d only regret being with a blockhead like him! Oh, my poor baby, you’re hurt. It must hurt so much.” I looked down at my wound. Crimson blood was already seeping through. The bitterness and hurt I had suppressed came bubbling to the surface. When we were younger, whenever I got hurt, Primo would be frantic, wishing he could bear the pain for me. Maybe his love was a lie, but the friendship back then had felt real. Now, he ignored my injuries, even scolded me, terrified I would cause trouble for his true love. What my grandmother said felt more and more real. Even if I married him, I would just be repeating the same tragic story. 2 I wiped away my tears and went to find a nurse to bandage my hand. I noticed a group of nurses staring in one direction, so I followed their gaze. Just a wall away, I saw Victoria and Primo locked in an embrace, their eyes full of a soft, intimate light. I heard her gentle voice. “Primo, if Serena finds out you faked amnesia just so you could be with me openly, she’ll throw a fit, won’t she?” Primo stroked her hair. “So what if she knows? Everyone knows Serena loves me. Even with amnesia, she’ll be begging me to marry her.” Grandma snorted. “In his wildest dreams! My sweet girl didn’t choose you this time. She won’t be begging you for anything. Hmph, let’s see how smug you are in two days when the truth about the engagement comes out.” I smiled, though my face was as pale as paper, and there was no mirth in it. I didn’t want to hear anymore. I turned to leave with my bandaged hand. Suddenly, for reasons I couldn’t see, the crowd started screaming. “They have knives! Everyone, run!” The words ignited a panic. I was swept along with the crowd, but one of the assailants—a disgruntled patient’s family member causing a scene—grabbed me and raised a knife. I knew some self-defense, but my strength was limited. Seeing Primo notice the commotion, I swallowed my pride and screamed, “Primo, help me!” He instinctively started toward me, but Victoria clung to his arm, refusing to let go. “Primo, I’m scared! Please don’t go!” Primo hesitated. In that split second of hesitation, a new gash was added to my already injured arm. I sucked in a sharp breath of pain. Grandma was frantic. “Oh dear, this hospital dispute was a nasty one back then. Why did my sweet girl have to run into it today? And that deadbeat Primo! Faking amnesia doesn’t mean he’s actually forgotten everything. My baby would have walked through fire for him, and he won’t even save her! It’s too much!” I was losing strength from the pain. I clenched my teeth and yelled, “Primo, I’m begging you, help me! I’m going to die!” The words had barely left my mouth when Victoria let out a piercing scream. One of the assailants had lunged toward them. In an instant, Primo shielded her with his body and pulled her away, running. My mind went blank. I watched him run, protecting his true love, and a wave of despair washed over me. Even if the love was gone, I had loved him for so many years. I had been so good to him. In a life-or-death situation, couldn’t he spare me even a shred of pity? Couldn’t he help me, just once? Suddenly, the pressure on me was gone. Christoph Hurley kicked the man off me, pulled me into his arms, and shielded me as he pushed through the chaotic scene. “Go!” The chaos was quickly contained by security guards who subdued the assailants. I was still in shock, my body trembling uncontrollably. Christoph handed me a cup of hot water, his expression complex as he looked at me. I didn't notice his mood, nor did I ask how he happened to be there. I just used my last bit of strength to thank him. News of the incident reached my grandfather, who was furious. He demanded an explanation from both the Sinclair and Cole families. The Coles quickly grounded Victoria and sent apology gifts. The Sinclairs were livid and forced Primo to come to my house to apologize.
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