The words struck Zack like a blow, his smile faltering as confusion replaced the joy in his eyes. He stared at her, trying to process what she had just said. "What are you talking about?" he asked with a mix of disbelief and fear. "You... don’t know me?"
Bella’s expression shifted to one of unease, her chest tightening as a faint sense of panic began to creep in. She clearly didn’t recognize him. ’What is he acting like we know each other?’ she thought, restless.
Zack’s face crumpled, a mix of heartbreak and desperation flashing in his eyes. "It’s me." He leaned closer as he grasped her shoulders gently but firmly. "Zack. Don’t you remember me? How could you forget?"
She shook her head slowly. "I-I’m sorry," she stammered. "I don’t remember you."
Her confusion mirrored in her eyes, and she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that she should know him, but no memory surfaced.
As Zack mulled over the situation, a sudden realization sank in him. ’She lost her memory.’ This thought echoed in his mind. He took a slow breath, steadying his swirling emotions as he considered how to proceed.
"Can you...can you tell me your name?" he asked cautiously.
Bella’s face brightened momentarily, her tone filled with conviction. "Yes, of course! My name is..." Her voice faltered as her confident expression gave way to confusion. The words stuck on the tip of her tongue. "My name! What’s my name?" She looked up at him, anxiety palpable in her eyes. "Why can’t I remember my name?"
Zack’s heart clenched at the sight of her distress. For a moment, he was rendered speechless. ’She lost her memory,’ he thought. ’She doesn’t remember anything.’
But as the shock settled, a sly idea crept into his mind. He could use this in his favor and make her his.
"Don’t worry," he said, cupping her face. "Maybe it’s just temporary. You will eventually remember everything. And I’m here to help you."
Bella’s anxious gaze searched his, looking for answers, for something familiar in a world now shrouded in fog.
He sat down next to her. "Your name is Rose," he said, "and I am your fiancé."
"Fiance? We...we are engaged!" Bella stuttered, surprised and skeptical at the same time.
"Yes," he affirmed. "Let me show you something." He reached for the drawer, pulling out his wallet. Carefully, he removed an old photograph and held it out to her. "This was taken just before our engagement."
Bella’s fingers trembled as she accepted the photo. She stared at the image, her brows furrowing deeply. The woman in the photo was undeniably her. The same face, the same smile—yet it was like staring at a stranger. She couldn’t recall the moment, the setting, or the man beside her, looking so happy and in love.
Her gaze dropped instinctively to her left hand, where a delicate diamond ring caught the light. Her breath hitched. ’It means this man isn’t lying,’ she thought.
Noticing her fixation on the ring, Zack held up his own hand, displaying the ring that had never left his finger. "See this? We have been in love since college. After graduation, we couldn’t wait any longer, so we got engaged. You’ve always been the love of my life."
Bella’s lips parted, her confusion and skepticism battling with the tangible proof in front of her. She clung to the photo and studied it again, trying to stir a memory, but none came. Though her heart was hesitant, a small voice inside her whispered to trust him.
Zack watched her closely, his expression gentle but triumphant. This was his chance, and he would make sure she never questioned their story—or his devotion.
"Don’t pressure yourself," he said reassuringly. "I have a lot of proof of our relationship. You will remember everything slowly."
Bella nodded, the faintest glimmer of hope sparking in her weary eyes.
Zack offered her a gentle smile before rising from the bed. "You must be hungry. Let me make you something to eat." He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Left alone, Bella turned her attention back to the photograph in her hand. She studied it closely, her brows knitting together in deep thought. "Am I really engaged to him?" she whispered skeptically. The woman in the photo looked happy and content, but that image felt worlds apart from the confusion she was drowning in now.
Zack’s kindness and sincerity were undeniable, but trust didn’t come easily in the blank void of her mind. She had no memories, no context, not even a name to anchor herself. Her heart wavered, caught between the urge to believe his gentle words and the nagging doubt that cautioned her not to drop her guards.
She set the photo aside on the nightstand and pulled the blanket up to her chin. The world around her felt unfamiliar, which made her restless. Curling into a tight ball, she drew the blanket over her head as if it could shield her from the overwhelming unknown. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping that sleep might bring some clarity.
Once outside the room, Zack called Nathan. As soon as the call connected, he spoke hurriedly. "Nathan, there is a problem," he began. "She doesn’t remember anything—not even her name. I think she has lost her memory. Can you come right now?"
"I see..." Nathan paused, considering something. "Don’t panic, Zack. I’ll be there shortly. Just keep her calm until then."
The call ended with a click, leaving Zack in the stillness of the kitchen. He lowered his head, his hands gripping the edge of the counter. His thoughts churned in chaos, a storm of guilt and desire warring within him. "What am I doing?"
Regret flickered across his face for a brief moment as he thought about the lie he had just told Bella. The idea of manipulating her, taking advantage of her fragile state, gnawed at the remnants of his conscience. But the other part, which was selfish, told him that this was his chance to complete his failed love story.
This was his chance. The universe had handed him an opportunity to rewrite the story that had once ended in heartbreak. He had failed to protect Rose, but now he had Bella. She could be his Rose, his second chance at happiness. He couldn’t let this slip away.
But what if she remembered everything? Zack’s stomach twisted at the thought. If Bella regained her memory, she would see through the deception, hate him for his lies, and leave him for Theodore—the man she truly belonged to.
"No, I can’t lose her," he muttered, his determination hardening. "This time, I won’t let anyone come between us. Bella will stay with me as my Rose. If it means keeping her memory buried, then so be it." His gaze darkened, his decision made.
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