The Stranger In Me

Chapter 10: The Empty Space Beside Him

Marie's Point of View

•••

The moment the tall man stepped into the hospital room, Mia's face lit up like morning sunshine after days of rain.

"Daddy!"

Though no sound escaped her lips, the excitement in her eyes spoke louder than words.

She jumped down from Marie's hospital bed immediately and ran toward him with open arms.

Sir Kelvin bent slightly and caught her against his chest instinctively.

For a brief moment, Marie saw something she hadn't expected from him.Warmth,real warmth.

"My daughter," he murmured softly while brushing Mia's hair gently away from her face.

Marie stared quietly at them.The way Mia clung to him...,the way his eyes softened for her...the familiarity between them,something in Marie's chest twisted strangely.

Then realization struck her.Of course,Mia was his daughter and if Mia was hers too then,her gaze slowly returned to Sir Kelvin.

"My husband..." she whispered absentmindedly.The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.

Sir Kelvin's body stiffened.The warmth vanished from his face so quickly it frightened her.

"What did you just say?" he asked coldly.

Marie blinked in confusion.

"Aren't... aren't you my husband?" she asked carefully. "Mia is our daughter, isn't she?"

The silence that followed felt deadly.Then suddenly,Kelvin laughed.But there was no humor in it,a dark, bitter laugh.

"You're mistaken," he said sharply.

Marie frowned."But-"

"You are nothing more than Mia's nanny," he cut in harshly. "And the sooner you recover your memory, the better for everyone."

The words struck Marie painfully.Her fingers tightened around the hospital blanket.

She looked toward Mia instinctively.The little girl's face had fallen immediately.

"Kelvin!" Nanny Ann snapped softly. "Watch your words in front of the child."

But Sir Kelvin ignored her completely.is cold eyes remained fixed on Marie.

"You may have confused yourself because of your condition," he continued icily,but don't misunderstand your place in my life."

Marie swallowed painfully.

Something inside her chest ached strangely even though she barely remembered him.

"You can never be my wife."

The finality in his voice made the room feel colder.

Mia quickly grabbed her notepad with trembling fingers.She scribbled hurriedly before raising it.

"Why are you angry with Mum?"

The moment Sir Kelvin read the words,something dangerous flashed across his face.

Disbelief,anger,fear.His jaw tightened visibly.For several seconds, nobody spoke,then abruptly,he stepped backward.

"I need air," he muttered stiffly before storming out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind him.Marie stared after him in complete shock.

Then slowly, she turned toward Nanny Ann.

"Is..." she hesitated softly, "is my husband always that aggressive?"

Nanny Ann sighed deeply.A tired, emotional sigh.

"No, dear," she said gently while sitting beside the bed. "Kelvin wasn't always like this."

Marie listened quietly.

"When he was younger," Nanny Ann continued fondly, "he used to be the sweetest little boy. Very stubborn-but sweet."

A faint smile touched her lips at the memory.

"I practically raised him myself after his parents died."

Marie blinked softly."He lost his way after his wife died," Nanny Ann whispered sadly. "Grief changes people."

Marie lowered her gaze slowly.

Somehow...Hearing that made her chest hurt more.

•••

Sir Kelvin's Point of View

•••

The moment he stepped outside the hospital room, Alberto Kelvin exhaled sharply like a man escaping suffocation.His chest burned violently.

Wife?

The word echoed repeatedly inside his head.He hated how naturally she had said it,hated how Mia looked so happy hearing it.

Hated the dangerous warmth that almost settled inside him before reality slapped him awake.

No.

There was only one woman who had ever occupied that place in his life.Maya,and no one else would ever replace her.No one.

As Kelvin walked through the hospital corridor, he loosened his tie irritably,but then he stopped abruptly.

A doctor approached him with polite surprise.

"Mr. Alberto Kelvin?"

Kelvin frowned slightly.

The doctor extended his hand respectfully.

"It's an honor meeting you in person, sir. I'm Dr. Rafael Torres."

Recognition didn't come immediately.That was unusual.Kelvin knew almost every senior doctor in this hospital personally.

After all, this hospital had practically become part of his life during Maya's cancer treatment years ago.

"The former attending physician was transferred recently," the doctor explained quickly, noticing his confusion. "I took over Miss Marie's case."

Kelvin shook his hand briefly.

"I see."

The doctor smiled professionally.

"I've spoken with you several times over the phone regarding her condition."

Kelvin nodded absentmindedly.

"To what do I owe this interruption, Doctor? I'm in a hurry."

Dr. Rafael hesitated briefly before speaking carefully.

"I overheard part of your conversation inside."

Kelvin's expression darkened slightly.

"And?"

The doctor adjusted his glasses calmly.

"Mr. Kelvin, your cooperation is extremely important for Marie's recovery."

Kelvin scoffed quietly.

"I don't think you understand the situation."

"With all due respect, sir, memory distortion cases linked to emotional trauma require emotional stability."

Kelvin's patience thinned immediately.

"Doctor," he interrupted coldly, "Marie is not my wife."

The hallway suddenly felt heavier.

"My wife died in this hospital four years ago," he continued flatly. "That woman inside is merely my daughter's nanny."

Dr. Rafael remained calm despite the sharpness in his tone.

"I understand your emotional position, sir, but-"

"No," Kelvin snapped. "You don't."

The doctor sighed softly.

"If you continue rejecting her current reality too aggressively, her condition may worsen."

Kelvin's jaw tightened."She needs truth, not fantasies."

"She needs stability," the doctor corrected firmly. "At least until her memory begins reconnecting naturally."

Kelvin folded his arms coldly."And if I refuse?"

The doctor's expression became serious.

"Then her psychological condition could deteriorate severely."

A pause.

Then,"She could become mentally unstable..."

Kelvin's breathing slowed slightly.

"...or," the doctor finished carefully, "her body may completely give up under the emotional strain."

Silence.

The words settled heavily between them.For the first time in days,real fear crawled into Kelvin's chest,but before he could respond,the hospital room door suddenly burst open behind them.

"Doctor!"

A nurse rushed forward breathlessly.Panic filled her face.

"She's bleeding again!"