The Stranger In Me

Chapter 16: The Call that Changed Everything

Marie's Point of View

•••

"Miss Marie... you're finally cleared."

For a moment, I thought I misheard the doctor.I sat upright on the hospital bed, my fingers tightening slightly around the edge of the white sheets.

"Cleared?" I repeated softly.

Dr. Rafael smiled gently, flipping through my file one last time before closing it.

"Yes. Your physical condition has stabilized, and your neurological responses are much better than before. You'll continue your recovery at home."

Home.The word echoed strangely in my head.Which home? the one I couldn't remember?Or the mansion where I now existed like a stranger trying to fit into a life that didn't fully belong to me?

Nanny Ann, who had been standing beside me, sighed in relief.

"Thank God," she murmured, placing a hand on her chest. "Three months in this place... it's about time."

Three months,it still felt unreal.The last thing I clearly remembered was waking up here.Confused,lost and now I was leaving.Still confused,still lost Just... stronger.

"I'll give you a list of medications and precautions," Dr. Rafael continued. "Avoid emotional stress as much as possible. Your memory is still fragile, and sudden triggers may either help... or worsen your condition."

Emotional stress.

I almost laughed.That was impossible,not in the life I was returning to.

"Thank you, doctor," I said politely.

He nodded.

"And Miss Marie... if anything feels overwhelming, don't hesitate to reach out."

I gave a small nod, though deep down, I wasn't sure what "overwhelming" even meant anymore.

Everything already felt overwhelming.

---

The drive back to the mansion was quiet,too quiet.

I sat in the back seat of the car, staring out the window as Manila passed by in blurred motion-busy streets, unfamiliar faces, buildings that felt like they should mean something... but didn't.

Nothing sparked recognitionothing felt like home.

Nanny Ann sat beside me, occasionally glancing at me with concern.

"You'll be fine," she said softly, as if reading my thoughts.

I forced a small smile."I hope so."

When we finally arrived at the mansion, something inside my chest tightened.

It was grand,beautiful,Intimidating,yet strangely empty.

As I stepped out of the car, the domestic staff gathered near the entrance.Doris rushed forward first.

"Marie!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up. "You're back!"

Before I could react, she pulled me into a warm hug.For a second,just a second,something inside me stirred.

A faint sense of familiarity but it vanished just as quickly.

"I missed you," she added, pulling back.

I smiled politely.

"Thank you... Doris."

Her expression softened slightly.She noticed,they all noticed I didn't remember them.

One by one, the others greeted me warmly, but I could see it in their eyes.They weren't just welcoming me back,they were hoping I would remember them and I didn't know how to give them that.

"Where's Mia?" I asked suddenly.

The absence of her presence felt louder than anything else.

"She resumed school last week," Nanny Ann replied. "She'll be back later."

I nodded slowly.For some reason, that disappointed me,I wanted to see her,to feel that strange comfort again.

---

Later that evening, I sat alone in my room.The same room I had apparently lived in before,everything was neatly arranged.

Familiar to everyone else,strange to me.I picked up a small framed photo from the bedside table.

It was me,holding Mia,both of us smiling.My fingers trembled slightly.Was that really me?I didn't feel like that person.

Suddenly,My phone rang.The sound startled me.I glanced at the screen,unknown NumberI hesitated,then answered.

"Hello?"

There was silence for a brief moment then,

"Marie?"

The voice was female.Older,shaky.My brows furrowed.

"Yes... who is this?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from the other end.

"Marie, it's me... your mother."

My heart skipped.Mother?

"I..." I hesitated. "I'm sorry, I don't-"

"Oh, so now you don't remember?" the voice snapped suddenly.

I froze.

"I'm not lying-"

"After everything we did for you?" she continued bitterly. "You left us and ran off to marry a billionaire, and now you pretend you don't know us?"

My chest tightened painfully.

"No! I didn't-"

"Do you know how people talk about us here in Makati?" she added, her voice breaking. "They say you abandoned your family for money!"

Tears gathered in my eyes.

"I don't remember anything!" I cried softly. "Please, I'm not pretending-"

There was silence,then a broken whisper.

"You've changed..."The call ended,just like that.

My hand slowly dropped,my breathing became uneven.

Family? Makati? Abandoned? None of it made sense,yet it hurt.It hurt deeply.

Like something inside me was being pulled apart.My chest tightened further,tears slipped down my face uncontrollably.

"I don't understand..." I whispered.

The room began to spin slightly.My head throbbed,voices,fragments,pain.I clutched my head weakly.

"Stop... please..."

Downstairs, I vaguely heard hurried footsteps.Voices,concern and then,darkness.

---

Sir Kelvin's Point of View

•••

I adjusted my cufflinks carefully, my eyes fixed on the schedule displayed on my office tablet.

Meetings,contracts,board discussions.Everything was perfectly aligned,controlled,organized.Exactly how I preferred it,unlike my personal life.I exhaled slowly.

Marie was being discharged today,whichhich meant one thing.Chaos,emotional confusion,questions and complications I had no interest in dealing with.

I needed to avoid that at least for now.

"Reschedule the evening meeting," I instructed my assistant over the intercom. "Push it to tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir."

"And clear my schedule after 5 PM."

There was a brief pause.

"Sir... that's unusual."

"I'm aware."

I ended the call.

If I returned home late, I could avoid unnecessary interactions.Avoid her,avoid the tension,avoid whatever strange emotional pull she seemed to have on everyone.Including me,especially me.

I leaned back slightly in my chair.Three months.Three months, and nothing felt the same anymore.The mansion,the children,even myself.

Everything had shifted and I didn't like it Just as I reached for another file,my phone rang.

Hospital.

My expression hardened immediately.I answered.

"What is it?"

"Mr. Kelvin," the doctor's voice came through urgently. "We need you to come immediately."

My grip tightened on the phone.

"Why?"

There was a pause then,

"It's about Marie."

My jaw clenched.

"What happened?"

"She had an emotional breakdown after receiving a call. Her condition is unstable again."

For a brief second everything inside me stilled.Damn it! I stood up abruptly, grabbing my coat.

"I'll be there."

As I ended the call, one thought echoed sharply in my mind;

What now?