Chapter Three: A Stranger in His Eyes
779 Words
The first thing Lorenzo heard was the steady beeping of a heart monitor.
His eyelids felt heavy, and every inch of his body ached. A dull pain throbbed through his head as he slowly opened his eyes.
Bright white lights greeted him.
He frowned.
"Where... am I?"
The doctor standing nearby smiled with relief.
"Mr. De Luca, you're in the hospital. You've been unconscious for four days."
Four days?
Lorenzo tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his skull.
"Easy," the doctor warned. "You've suffered a serious head injury."
The door burst open.
Marco rushed inside, followed by several members of the De Luca family.
"Boss!" Marco exclaimed, unable to hide his happiness. "You're awake."
Lorenzo studied the familiar faces around him.
He recognized every one of them.
Marco.
His uncle Vittorio.
His trusted bodyguards.
Even the elderly family lawyer standing quietly in the corner.
"I remember you all," Lorenzo said hoarsely.
The room filled with relieved smiles.
Outside the door, Isabella heard his voice.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
She had waited four endless days for this moment.
Every night she had refused to leave the hospital.
Every morning she prayed he would wake up.
Now he finally had.
She quickly wiped her tears and stepped inside the room, clutching a small bouquet of white lilies.
"Lorenzo..."
The smile on her face was gentle, hopeful.
"I'm so glad you're awake."
Lorenzo turned toward her.
His gray eyes narrowed.
Silence filled the room.
"Who are you?"
The flowers slipped from Isabella's trembling hands.
They scattered across the floor.
She stared at him, unable to breathe.
"W-what?"
"I asked who you are."
His voice remained calm but distant.
"I don't know you."
The room fell silent.
Marco's smile disappeared instantly.
The doctor exchanged worried glances with the nurses.
"Lorenzo," Marco said carefully, "this is Isabella."
Lorenzo waited.
"And?"
Marco swallowed hard.
"She's... your wife."
Lorenzo laughed once.
A cold, humorless laugh.
"My wife?"
He looked back at Isabella as if she were a complete stranger.
"I've never seen this woman before."
The words struck Isabella harder than any bullet ever could.
She slowly approached his bed.
"Lorenzo... it's me."
Her voice shook.
"We got married."
She lifted her left hand, showing him the wedding ring.
"You put this on my finger."
He stared at the ring without emotion.
"I'm sorry."
His eyes were empty.
"I don't remember you."
Tears rolled down Isabella's cheeks.
She reached for his hand.
Before she could touch him, Lorenzo pulled away.
"Please don't."
Her heart shattered.
The doctor stepped forward.
"This is a common symptom after traumatic brain injuries. His memories appear intact except for a specific period."
"How long?" Marco asked.
"We're still evaluating, but it seems he has lost nearly two years of memories."
Two years.
Exactly the years that included meeting Isabella... falling in love with her... and marrying her.
Everything they had shared was gone.
Completely gone.
The doctor suggested everyone leave so Lorenzo could rest.
Everyone obeyed except Isabella.
She stood frozen beside the door.
"Lorenzo..."
He looked at her politely.
"I'm sorry if I've hurt you."
His apology sounded sincere.
But it carried no love.
No warmth.
Only kindness toward someone he believed was a stranger.
She forced a small smile despite the pain crushing her chest.
"It's... okay."
It wasn't.
Not even close.
She quietly left the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, she collapsed onto a nearby chair in the hallway.
A sob escaped her lips.
She covered her face with both hands as tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.
The love of her life was alive.
But the man who had once looked at her with quiet affection no longer existed.
Inside the hospital room, Lorenzo stared at the closed door.
For reasons he couldn't explain, his chest felt strangely heavy.
He didn't know the woman who had just left.
He was certain of it.
Yet something about the pain in her eyes unsettled him.
A faint image flashed through his mind.
A woman dressed in white...
A warm smile...
A whispered promise...
Then it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Lorenzo pressed a hand against his aching temple.
"What is happening to me?"
Outside, Isabella wiped away her tears and looked through the small glass window into his room.
She made a silent promise.
Even if Lorenzo no longer remembered her...
Even if the whole world turned against her...
She would stay.
She would fight for their marriage.
She would make her husband remember the love they had once shared.
Little did she know, someone lurking in the shadows was determined to ensure Lorenzo never remembered her at all.
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