The Price Of Broken Vows

Chapter Four

"Home sweet home," Marcus said as I wheeled him into our penthouse the next day. Our penthouse, the one I'd moved out of weeks ago, now I was back, pretending everything was normal.

Patricia had sent movers to get my things from my downtown apartment while I stayed at the hospital. She'd even had them arrange everything exactly as it had been before I left, down to my favorite mug in the kitchen and my photos on the mantle.

"Careful," I said as Marcus stood up from the wheelchair. "The doctors said no sudden movements."

"I'm fine," he insisted, but he let me guide him to the couch. "Just happy to be home with my wife."

“I have something to tell you, Marcus”

He pulled me down beside him, his face suddenly lit up. Nervous.

“Promise me you don't want to tell me that you're leaving me” he admitted almost tearing up.

“Hell, no. It's a good news, Marcus. I'm carrying your baby”

His hand immediately going to my belly.

“Oh my goodness, you are? Congratulations to us love. How do you want me to celebrate this for you? Tell me anything, I mean anything you want.” He said as he pulled me close and gave me a warm hug.

“All I want is you. To be by your side, now and always”

I'd finally stopped hiding the bump, and Marcus couldn't keep his hands off it.

"I can't believe we're having a baby," he said for the hundredth time. "When did you find out?"

"Last week," I lied smoothly. I'd gotten good at lying over the past three days.

"Why didn't you tell me right away?"

"I wanted to make it special. I was planning a dinner..."

"And then I ruined it by getting into an accident," he finished, looking guilty. "I'm so sorry, Sophie. I don't even remember why I was driving that early."

"It doesn't matter," I said. "You're okay now."

He kissed me softly. "I love you. The both of you."

My phone buzzed. Another text from an unknown number: "You can't hide him forever. I want what's mine. – N"

I deleted it quickly, but Marcus noticed my tension.

"Everything okay?"

"Just work stuff," I said. "Dad's been having some issues with the merger."

Marcus frowned. "What kind of issues? The merger should be finalized by now."

"There have been... complications."

"I should call James, to see what's going on"

"No!" I said too quickly. "I mean, the doctor said no work for at least two weeks. You need to focus on recovering."

"But your father's company…"

"Will be fine," I finished. "I'm handling it."

He studied my face. "You seem different, Sophie. Stronger somehow. More... independent."

"People change," I said carefully.

"I like it," he said, pulling me closer. "Though I feel like I'm missing something. These gaps in my memory... it's like there's a puzzle with pieces missing."

The doorbell rang, saving me from responding.

"I'll get it," I said, but Marcus was already standing.

"I'm not an invalid," he said, walking to the door.

I heard him open it, then silence. Then: "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

My blood went cold. I rushed to the door to find Natalie standing there, looking perfect in a red dress that left nothing to the imagination.

"Marcus," she purred. "It's me. Natalie."

He looked at her blankly, then at me. "Sophie, do we know this woman?"

"I'm Natalie Cross," she said, pushing past him into our home. "We were together in college? We've been... reconnecting recently?"

"College," Marcus repeated slowly. "Natalie from Harvard?"

"Yes!" she said eagerly. "You remember!"

"I remember you left me for Richard Blackwood," he said coldly. "What are you doing in my home?"

"Marcus, we've been together for the past three months," she said desperately. "You asked Sophie for a divorce so we could be together."

Marcus laughed. Actually laughed. "That's ridiculous. Sophie's pregnant with my baby. Why would I divorce her?"

"She's lying to you!" Natalie turned on me. "Tell him the truth!"

"I think you should leave," I said quietly.

"Marcus, please," Natalie grabbed his arm. "Try to remember. You love me. You said I was the one who got away."

Marcus pulled his arm free. "The only thing I remember about you is that you broke my heart and chose money over love. Which, from what I hear about Blackwood's current situation, didn't work out well for you."

Natalie's face went red. "How dare you"

"Get out," Marcus said simply. "And don't come back."

"This isn't over," she hissed at me as she passed. "When he remembers…"

Marcus shut the door in her face.

"What a strange woman," he said, rubbing his temple. "Though... something about her being here feels familiar. Like déjà vu."

"You have a headache," I said, recognizing the signs. The doctors had warned that trying to force memories could cause pain and potentially dangerous pressure in his brain.

"A little."

"Let's get you lying down."

I helped him to our bedroom, another surreal experience. I'd been sleeping in the guest room for weeks before I moved out, but now I was back in our king-size bed, playing the role of devoted wife.

As Marcus rested, I sat beside him, my hand in his. He was almost asleep when he spoke.

"Sophie?"

"Yes?"

"I know something's wrong. I can feel it. These gaps... they're not just random, are they? Something happened during those missing months."

I stayed quiet.

"Just... promise me something," he continued. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. You and me and our baby. We're a family."

"We're a family," I repeated, though the words tasted bitter.

After he fell asleep, I went to the kitchen and called Emma.

"How's Marcus?" she asked.

"Confused. Natalie showed up."

"That witch! What happened?"

"He threw her out. He doesn't remember her, doesn't remember asking for divorce."

"Sophie, you can't keep this up forever."

"I know," I said, watching the sunset over Manhattan through our floor-to-ceiling windows. "But what choice do I have? The doctors said forcing him to remember could cause permanent damage. Maybe even kill him."

"And when he remembers on his own?"

"Then I deal with it then."

"What about Natalie?"

"She's not giving up," I admitted. "She keeps texting, threatening to go public with everything."

"Let her. Who's going to believe her over the devoted wife taking care of her injured husband?"

After we hung up, I checked on Marcus again. He was sleeping peacefully, looking younger without the stress l

ines that had marked his face recently. This was the Marcus I'd fallen in love with, before Natalie, before the coldness, before everything went wrong.