We Hated Each Other, Amnesia Made Him Love Me

A loud clattering noise jolted me awake. It wasn't someone throwing things around. We didn't have any breakable items left in this house anyway. Fragile items had long since completely disappeared after the countless arguments Jasper Brooks and I had. I rubbed at my throbbing temple, irritation coiling hot under my skin, and walked out of the bedroom. What I found was total chaos spread out across the entryway. Jasper was dragging a bubblegum-pink suitcase in. Trailing right behind him was a woman in a plain white dress. I had never seen her before, but I knew exactly who she was the second I laid eyes on her. Clara Bennett. The one he had always kept closest to his heart. "Who let you in?" I snapped, my voice rough with sleep and annoyance. Jasper did not answer. He just shoved the suitcase another inch deeper into the living room. "I'm bringing Clara here to stay for a while," he said. "She's not in good health. I can't leave her alone." Clara's eyes glistened with tears, and she said in a thin, wobbly voice, "Jasper, it's okay. Don't put Ms. Reed in this position. I can just stay at a hotel..." I watched their little act, and a hot, heavy wave of nausea roiled in my stomach. I grabbed the handle of the pink suitcase and hurled it out the front door with all my strength. "Get out," I ordered. The suitcase slammed into the hallway wall, a dull thud echoing through the quiet house. Clara flinched, and tears instantly brimmed over her lash line. Jasper's face changed drastically. He grabbed my wrist hard and snarled right in my face, "Iris Reed! What the hell is wrong with you!" I let out a cold, sharp laugh and wrenched my arm out of his grip, then jabbed a finger straight at Clara. "Get your precious little darling out of my villa right now," I said. "Otherwise, when I go crazy, I don't know what I might do. What if I 'accidentally' shove her down the stairs? How would it be if she ended up a vegetable, huh?" Jasper stared daggers at me, his chest heaving so hard with rage I could see it rise and fall from where I stood. He could not stomach my threats another second. He reached out and shoved me hard. I never even had time to catch my balance. My whole body tipped backward before I could react. The back of my skull slammed hard against the floor. Black spots exploded across my vision, and warm blood trickled down my forehead. He looked stunned, like he never actually meant to make me fall. He froze completely, rooted to the spot. His hand shot out on instinct, like he was going to yank me up into his arms. Clara picked up on the tense shift in the air and spoke up suddenly, her voice thick with tears. "Jasper... maybe I should just go..." That jolted Jasper back to his senses. He pulled his outstretched hand back before it could touch me. He stared down at me from where he stood, his voice stiff and cold as he said, "Go bandage that up. You look disgusting." I swiped the blood off my forehead, and hot tears slowly blurred my vision. Back when Jasper and I had a good relationship, we were always arguing and clashing with each other. But I knew deep down he cared about me more than anyone else in the world. One time I worked overtime and got home way past midnight. A drunk creep stumbled up to me and started groping me right on the street. Jasper had come to pick me up, and when he saw what was happening, he shook with rage. He shoved me behind him to shield me, then slammed that creep to the ground and beat him until his face was gushing blood from his nose and mouth. After that, he picked me up and dropped me off at my office building rain or shine, without a single miss. But now he had laid his hands on me, all for another woman. I was beyond disappointed. Bracing my hands on the floor, I pushed myself up. No matter how much it hurt, I would never bow my head and admit defeat. "Fine, Jasper," I said. "You've got balls. But you better keep a close eye on your precious girl. Don't let me get an opening." With that, I walked into the bedroom without looking back, changed out of my pajamas, and grabbed my phone and car keys. Jasper's brows furrowed into a deep scowl. He lunged forward and clamped his hand tight around my wrist. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded. "Where the hell do you think you're going this late at night!" "None of your damn business!" I shouted, wrenching my arm out of his grip hard. Then I strode out of this vile, rotten house. This was not my home anymore. Not ever again.