RECLAIMING ME

Chapter 5

Amber POV

For a few seconds, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even force my lungs to work. I just stood there frozen, staring at the man who shared my last name, my home, who looked at me like I was a stranger off the street.

My lips parted but no sound came out. I was still reeling in shock.

“Who are you?” Lism repeated suddenly, sounding agitated.

“I’m.. Amber,” I finally managed, though my voice sounded like it belonged to someone else. “Your wife.”

“I don’t know you.”

“We—“ Those words barely left my lips, as Liam’s voice rose.

“Agatha?” His eyes softened, just a little, and the pieces of my heart scattered further.

I felt the room tilt.

Before I could respond, Agatha stepped forward. She placed a hand gently on his arm.

“I’m right here,” she said softly.

He exhaled in relief and leaned toward her touch.

My stomach twisted so sharply I thought I might be sick.

“Who’s that woman and why is she claiming to be my wife?” Liam asked. “And why am I in a hospital?”

Agatha fell quiet.

“Answer me Agatha,” he demanded.

“You were involved in a very terrible accident Liam and that room standing there is actually your wife.” Agatha replied.

“She can’t be. The only person I remember is you, my bride to be.”

Those words burned. I felt each one settle in my chest like ice.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to collapse to the floor and beg him to remember our life, our marriage, our promises.

But I did none of that.

I stood there, numb and silent, while Agatha rubbed his shoulder like she had every right to be at his bedside. And maybe right now… she did.

I tried to move closer, but Liam snapped.

“Stay back!” His voice was sharp. “Please. Don’t come near me.”

My heart cracked so loudly I swore I heard it.

The nurse rushed in. The machines beeped faster. Agatha’s arms wrapped around him, calming him like I never could. And then the doctor stepped in and gently guided me out of the room.

“I think it’s best to give him some space,” he said carefully. “For now.”

“Why doesn’t he recognize me?” My voice cracked. “He looked right at me like I’m a stranger.”

The doctor sighed. “Memory loss is common after brain injuries. His isn’t severe, but his brain may have reverted to an older set of memories. It should improve with time.”

“But why does he remember his ex-girlfriend,” I whispered. “And not me.”

He hesitated. “The mind doesn’t always follow a clear pattern. Be patient. Don’t pressure him unless he may act aggressively,”

Aggressively. Toward me. The person who had stayed. The person who loved him.

The doctor walked away leaving me with my thoughts and heavy beating heart.

The next day, when we brought Liam home in a wheelchair, Agatha was the one pushing him. I walked behind them, holding myself together by a thin thread. He looked around the house with curious eyes.

“Where’s Agatha’s pictures?” he asked.

Agatha improvised something, acting like they’d moved it away. Liam seem to buy and I stayed silent.

When they reached the bedroom, I stood at the door as she helped him inside.

“Agatha,” Liam said softly, “don’t go. Stay with me.”

She froze.

I did too.

She whispered something I couldn’t hear, then sat on the edge of his bed.

Liam lifted his hand… touched her cheek… and pulled her closer.

Then I watched him kiss her.

And in that moment, something inside me cracked so quietly it almost didn’t make a sound.

But I felt it, every piece of me shattering into pieces.

—

Two weeks had passed since Liam came home, and every single day felt like walking barefoot through fire. He hated the sight of me. He didn’t say it, but I could feel it. The way his eyes hardened. The way he looked past me like I was a ghost. The way he begged Agatha to stay close and asked me to leave the room.

I felt like a stranger in my own house.

By the end of the second week, I couldn’t take the silence anymore. Liam’s coldness kept pressing against my chest like a steady weight. So when Violet suggested a day out, I didn’t even think twice.

We drove with the windows half-open, and the wind brushed against my skin. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed air until that moment.

“I don’t think you should listen to the doctor,” Violet said suddenly. She had one hand on the wheel, the other tapping against her thigh. “You’re giving Liam too much space.”

I scoffed. “Space? He doesn’t want me near him. You didn’t see the way he reacted when I tried to make small talk with him yesterday.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “That’s still your husband.”

I stared out the window, watching the city pass. “He doesn’t feel like mine anymore.”

Violet sighed. “Amber… he’s confused. His brain is working overtime trying to figure out what’s real and what isn’t. You can’t take everything he says to heart.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But it still hurts.”

Violet reached over and squeezed my hand. “The pain shouldn’t hold you back. You still need to try to get him back. Try to remind him of what you shared.”

My mind went to how things were between us. Liam

Wasn’t happy, the child bearing issues had crushed his spirit maybe that’s why his brain suppressed that memory.

I looked back at violet. “I will try my best. But tonight I really want to forget about my problems and just breathe.”

Agatha nodded. “Of course.”

We ended up at a club—her choice, not mine. Music thumped through the walls as we walked in. The last time I was at a club was before I got married. It felt a bit nostalgic to be back at one again.

Anyways the moment we reached the bar, Violet lifted her hand. “Two martinis, please,” she said with a confidence I wished I had.

The bartender nodded and began mixing.

“Drink,” Violet said, nudging me gently. “Relax for once.”

I tried. I really did.

Halfway through the first martini, Violet leaned close. “Okay, don’t look now, but the guy at the end of the bar? He’s staring at you.”

I froze. “Violet—”

“Don’t look!” she hissed. “Just… act normal.”

I stared at my drink. “Is he weird looking?”

Violet smiled slowly. “Weird? No. He’s hot. Like… really hot.”

Of course she forced me to look. And she was right. He was tall, dressed in a fitted shirt that hugged his chest just right, with warm eyes that seemed to follow every move I made. Dangerous emerald eyes.

He walked over before I had the chance to tell Violet to stop staring.

“Hi,” he said with an easy smile. “I’m Cameron.”

As if his introduction was a disappearance spell. Violet grabbed her drinks from the table and whisked away.

I turned to the stranger, wishing I could just walk away too but I couldn’t. The weirdest part is that I didn’t want to. The way Cameron was staring at me, made me feel like I was a celebrity on a red carpet.

The last time I felt that way was during the earliest days of my marriage. It felt good to be desired after such a long time.

“I’m Amber.” I replied watching take a seat close to me.

“Pretty name,” he said. “Can I buy your next drink?”

Without thinking I nodded.