The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife

Elena Carter stood across the crowded hotel lobby, staring at the man she had spent three years trying to forget. Alexander Blackwood. Her husband. Or at least, he had once been. Three years ago, Alexander had slipped a simple silver ring onto her finger in a tiny chapel far away from the city. There had been no photographers, no family, no expensive wedding. Just the two of them. He had held her hands and promised, “No matter what happens, Elena, you'll always be my wife.” She had believed him. She had loved him enough to believe every word. Then he disappeared. No goodbye. No explanation. Not even a message. For three years, Elena had wondered whether he was dead, whether something terrible had happened to him, or whether he had simply decided that their marriage wasn't worth remembering. She finally had her answer. He wasn't dead. He was standing twenty feet away from her. Alive. Rich. Powerful. And completely unaware that she existed. Alexander stood surrounded by businessmen and reporters, dressed in an expensive black suit that made him look even more intimidating than she remembered. His dark hair was neatly styled, his expression cold and unreadable. The man on the magazine covers. The ruthless billionaire CEO of Blackwood Enterprises. The man women across the city dreamed about. Elena almost laughed. They had no idea who he really was. Or who he had once been to her. Her fingers tightened around the small silver ring hidden beneath her sleeve. She had come to the Blackwood Hotel for a job interview. She hadn't known he would be there. She hadn't known that seeing him again would make three years of carefully buried emotions explode inside her chest. “Miss Carter?” Elena turned. A woman wearing a navy-blue dress stood beside her. “The interview room is upstairs. Mr. Blackwood will be joining the final interviews today.” Elena's heart stopped. “Mr. Blackwood?” “Yes.” The woman smiled politely. “Is something wrong?” “No.” Elena forced a smile. “Nothing at all.” She followed the woman upstairs, trying desperately to calm herself. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she should leave. But she needed the job. After losing almost everything three years ago, Elena had built her life from nothing. She couldn't afford to let one man—especially a man who had already abandoned her once—destroy her future. She entered the interview room. Five minutes later, the door opened. Alexander walked in. Elena forgot how to breathe. His eyes swept across the room before stopping on her. For one brief second, she saw something flicker in his expression. Confusion. Then it disappeared. He sat across from her. “Your name?” Elena stared at him. He really didn't recognize her. “E-Elena Carter.” Alexander glanced at her résumé. “Age?” “Twenty-four.” “Previous experience?” She answered every question calmly, even though her heart was breaking with every second. Finally, Alexander put the résumé down. “You have good qualifications.” Elena nodded. “Thank you.” He studied her face. There was something strange about the way he looked at her. Almost as if he was trying to remember something that refused to come. “Have we met before?” he suddenly asked. Elena's heart slammed against her ribs. She looked directly into his eyes. “Yes.” Alexander frowned. “When?” Elena swallowed. “Three years ago.” Silence filled the room. He continued staring at her. “I don't remember you.” The words cut deeper than Elena expected. She looked down at her hands. “I know.” Alexander leaned back in his chair. “How would you know that?” Because you forgot your own wife. Because you disappeared from my life. Because I spent three years wondering what I had done wrong. Because I waited for you. Elena wanted to scream all of it. Instead, she simply said, “Because I remember you.” Alexander's expression hardened. “Miss Carter, I'm not interested in games.” “Neither am I.” Their eyes locked. Something about her answer seemed to irritate him. “Then explain.” Elena slowly pulled the silver ring from beneath her sleeve. Alexander's eyes immediately dropped to it. His face changed. For the first time since entering the room, the billionaire looked genuinely shaken. Elena placed the ring on the table between them. His eyes remained fixed on it. “Do you remember this?” Alexander didn't answer. His fingers slowly curled into a fist. “I've never seen that before.” Elena's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. “You gave it to me.” Alexander stood abruptly. “That's impossible.” “You married me.” The room went completely silent. Alexander stared at her as if she had just told him the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. Then he laughed once. It wasn't a happy laugh. It was cold and disbelieving. “I have never been married.” Elena felt something inside her break. She picked up the ring. “You were.” Alexander stepped closer. “Who are you?” Elena looked up at him. “The woman you promised you'd never forget.” For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Alexander's phone rang. He answered it without taking his eyes off Elena. “Hello?” His assistant's voice came through the phone. “Sir, there's an urgent problem. You need to come to the private office immediately.” Alexander ended the call. He looked at Elena one last time. “Don't leave the building.” She frowned. “Why?” “Because I'm going to find out who you are.” He walked toward the door. Then suddenly stopped. His hand went to his temple. A sharp pain shot through his head. Images flashed through his mind. A small chapel. Rain against a window. A woman's laughter. A silver ring. And a voice whispering his name. Alexander. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Sir?” His assistant rushed toward him. Alexander opened his eyes. The images were gone. But one thing remained. A single word. Elena. He turned around slowly. She was still standing beside the table. Watching him. For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes. “How do I know your name?” he whispered. Elena's heart stopped. She didn't answer. Because she suddenly realized something. Alexander might not remember their marriage. But somewhere deep inside him... he remembered her.