waking up married

Chapter 6 Reunion of "Friends"

Caroline had just finished her grocery shopping and was heading up the stairs when she noticed a woman descending with her head down.

The woman's hair was dyed golden brown, but her red roots were starting to show. Something about her features seemed familiar.

"Sarah?" Caroline blurted out.

The woman instinctively looked up - it truly was Sarah!

Back in high school, Sarah was Caroline's closest confidante.

The two had made a pact to attend the same university, a plan they were both elated to realize they'd succeeded in when they received their acceptance letters from the same institution.

Now, however, Sarah behaved like she was dodging a monster whenever she saw Caroline. “Wait! Sarah, where are you going?” Caroline was utterly perplexed and immediately hurried after her.

In the midst of their somewhat strained interaction, Sarah stumbled but fortunately managed to grab the stair railing in time, saving herself from a tumble down the steps.

Yet, at that moment, her medical records were scattered across the floor.

Caroline quickly crouched down to help gather the papers. As Sarah saw her pick up the records, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Caroline, you've been waiting for this day, haven't you? The moment to shame me has arrived. Well, go ahead, revel in it!"

Caroline, taken aback, replied in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

She glanced down at the medical papers in her hand, and her eyes landed on an ultrasound image, making her freeze. Looking up at Sarah, she exclaimed, "You're pregnant?"

Expecting a barrage of shaming, Sarah instead heard Caroline sincerely say, "Congratulations!"

Sarah's expression turned complex. She listened as Caroline continued, "I should tell you, I was in a car accident and suffered amnesia. So many details are just... gone. When I woke up, I found out that I'd gotten married and now, to hear you're married and expecting, too! Is the father someone I know?"

After a long pause, Sarah asked uncertainly, "You really don't remember anything?"

Just like the old days, Caroline warmly took her hand. "I truly don't. Fill me in, would you? What's happened since we graduated from high school?"

Lowering her gaze to Caroline's hand, Sarah realized the truth in her words; Caroline had forgotten everything.

It was true, it seemed. Otherwise, how could Caroline still seem so friendly to her if she remembered the things she had done?

"So, your husband is Eric now?" Sarah probed cautiously.

Caroline's eyes lit up. "Yes! Do you know him too?"

It seemed that she and Eric's relationship wasn't so bad; after all, why else would she have introduced Eric to her best friend, Sarah?

Memories of Eric beseeching Sarah to keep her distance from Caroline crept into Sarah's mind.

She much preferred the thought that she didn't know the man at all!

Sarah's expression became slightly awkward. "Of course, you two were an item back in our college days!"

Realization dawned on Caroline.

It looked like Eric hadn't lied to her; they really had been involved before, but for some reason, she had chosen to marry him under a contract.

She didn't understand why her past self would make such a decision.

"By the way, Eric is also at the hospital. How about you come with me to see him?" Caroline suddenly remembered that there was serious business to attend to.

At the mention of meeting Eric, Sarah's face turned a shade paler, and she quickly shook her head. "No, I... I have other things to take care of... so..."

She glanced around, looking for a way out. "Let's exchange phone numbers instead!"

"I don't have a cell phone at the moment. Give me your number," said Caroline.

Sarah pulled out a pen, scribbled her number on the corner of the medical chart, tore it off, handed it to Caroline, and said, "Caroline, it's probably for the best if Eric doesn't find out that you've been in touch with me and have my contact information."

"Why not?" Caroline was puzzled.

Sarah hesitated, her words almost failing to form. After a thoughtful pause, she sighed, "Your husband comes from a prestigious family and looks down on ordinary people like us. If he knew you were in contact with me, he wouldn't be pleased."

After finishing her words, Sarah bowed her head and descended the staircase without looking back, her footsteps steady as she walked away.

Caroline found Sarah's expression and words odd, though she couldn't pinpoint what exactly felt so strange about the interaction.

Tucking the note Sarah had left behind into her pocket, Caroline carried her burger and continued her ascent up the stairs.

As she approached the ward, a girl with a striking figure emerged from Eric's room, brushing past Caroline with a polite smile.

Caroline stood there, momentarily dumbfounded, not expecting Eric to have visitors so soon, letting alone such a beautiful one.

A strange feeling crept into her heart.

Eric's gaze softened considerably when he caught sight of Caroline at the door. "Back already?"

Noticing a hesitance in Caroline's demeanor, Eric remembered the subordinate who had just left. His darling seemed to have misunderstood something.

"Just saw a pretty girl leaving your room," Caroline said casually as she handed Eric his food.

Eric smirked, "That was Mia, my subordinate. She just came by to give me a work update."

Caroline didn't expect her thoughts to be so obvious. Her face flushed as she cleared her throat, trying to sound indifferent. "Oh, really?"

Eric let out a low chuckle. It seemed that gunshot wound was worth it.

After they had eaten, Eric suddenly frowned, "Darling, my mouth hurts terribly."

"What's wrong? Did you burn your mouth?" Caroline asked worriedly, leaning in to inspect his well-defined lips, only to find herself caught by surprise as he swiftly grasped her chin and planted a firm kiss on her lips.

"Just kidding," Eric said, a victorious grin spreading across his face.

"You..." Caroline's cheeks flushed red. Although she had come to accept the fact that they were husband and wife, she could never quite brace herself for his sudden displays of affection, especially since she was barely familiar with him.

Her husband Eric knew all too well how to entice a woman; how could she possibly hold a grudge against such a man?

Perhaps it was her mother's death that had caused her to distrust love, wasn't it?

"Eric, when you were shot and told me that my mother's death wasn't an accident, was that really why I entered into a contractual marriage with you?" Caroline finally made up her mind and asked the question that had been on her mind.

What was the real reason behind their arranged marriage?