Bella stepped into the room, and an unexplainable warmth enveloped her. It was as if the space itself recognized her. Her fingers trailed along the edge of the bed.
"This is my room," she mumbled, her hope intensifying. She believed she would soon remember everything.
Her gaze drifted toward the table by the window, where everything was neatly arranged. The pen stand held an assortment of pens and pencils, lined up meticulously. A small stack of sketchbooks rested beside them. A vase of fresh flowers added a touch of life, their delicate fragrance filling the air.
Drawn by an invisible force, Bella reached for a sketchbook and flipped it open. The pages were filled with intricate designs—elegant dresses, detailed patterns, and bold strokes that spoke of creativity and passion.
"These designs..." she whispered, her heart pounding. She didn’t recall ever sketching them, yet a deep part of her knew they were hers.
A sudden urge gripped her. She needed to know if she could still do it. If the artist inside her was truly gone... or merely hidden beneath the veil of lost memories.
Pulling out the chair, she sat down and picked up a pencil. The blank page stared back at her, waiting. Her fingers hesitated, stiff and unfamiliar with the motion. Her mind felt empty, void of inspiration.
’What should I draw?’ she wondered, frustration creeping in.
Tapping the pencil against the paper, she closed her eyes. ’What is the most beautiful dress I would love to wear?’
At first, there was nothing. Just darkness. But then—faintly, slowly—a silhouette began forming in her mind. It was hazy, like a dream slipping through her grasp, yet she clung to it.
Her eyes snapped open, and the pencil began to move.
With each stroke, her fingers found their rhythm. Lines turned into curves, curves into patterns. Her brows knitted in concentration as she lost herself in the motion. The design took shape.
She stared at the sketch, her heart swelling with both relief and astonishment. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t as refined as the ones in the sketchbook. But it was proof — proof that a part of her still remembered.
"The memory loss hasn’t affected my skill," she mused aloud. But she needed to refine the design. She pulled out the drawer to find an eraser, but her movement paused when he eyes landed on a photograph inside.
Bella’s breath hitched as she stared at the photograph in her trembling hands. The image was undeniable—she was in it, smiling, radiating happiness. And the man beside her was the one who had claimed to be her husband.
He had his arms wrapped around her waist from behind, smiling at the camera.
"What on earth..." Her fingers clenched around the edges of the photo, her pulse quickening. "Was he telling the truth all along?"
A wave of confusion crashed over her, swallowing her in doubt. She needed answers. Now.
She shoved the drawer closed and bolted for the door, her heartbeat thudding in her ears.
"Mamma!" Bella called out, her voice unsteady as she rushed into the hall. Her footsteps were urgent, her mind spinning with questions.
Selena and Alan came out of their rooms, their expressions clouding with worry. "What happened?" Selena asked, panicking.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Alan asked.
Bella’s gaze moved between her father and mother, feeling overwhelmed as she saw the worry in their eyes. "I..." She looked down at the photo in her hand and then held it out. "I found this in my room. This man...can you tell me about him? Who is he? What is my relationship with him?"
Alan and Selena exchanged worried glances with each other. Their hesitation was palpable as they feared she might not be able to handle the truth. They had seen her passed out when they mentioned Zack and Rose. They didn’t want something like that to happen.
"He..." Selena started, her voice shaking a bit. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
"Please tell me the truth," Bella urged before Selena could form a sentence. "I want to know it, no matter how ugly it is."
"He is Theodore," Selena replied, "your husband."
"Husband?" Bella echoed, her gaze dropping to the photo, scanning his smiling face. "So, he wasn’t lying."
Her throat tightened. She had been so skeptical, so distant. She hadn’t believed him. She lifted her eyes to Alan, searching for confirmation.
He nodded firmly. "Theodore was the one who saved you," Alan reiterated with conviction. "Unlike Zack, he never deceived you. His feelings for you are real."
Bella glanced at him and then turned her attention to Selena as if asking for her opinion.
Selena smiled softly, her eyes full of warmth. "Yes, sweetheart. He loves you deeply. When I was sick, he helped us. He made sure I got the treatment I needed. He cleared our debts. He has done so much for this family—especially for you."
"Yes, darling," Alan joined. "You are lucky to have him, Bella. He is a good man."
Bella’s fingers trembled as she looked down at the photograph again. ’Theodore... my husband...’
A storm of emotions swirled inside her—disbelief, guilt, longing. She didn’t want to doubt her parents, but she couldn’t remember anything about her marriage. In this condition, she didn’t want to put her faith in him. What if he turned out to be just like Zack?
Before accepting him, she needed to find out if his love for her was true. The idea of meeting Theodore, of being in his presence after everything she had been told about him, stirred up both anxiety and a deep, unspoken need for clarity. She needed space, a quiet moment to gather her thoughts, to make sense of the fragments of her life she was just beginning to rediscover.
"If you want, we can invite him to dinner," Selena suggested. "Talk to him and see if you can remember something."
Bella felt a bit uneasy about the prospect of meeting him. "No need. I’ve just returned home. I want to be with myself for some time. And I found my design drawings. I want to work on them... see if I can still sketch."
"That’s great, sweetheart," Alan said delightfully. "You’ve got this. Limeart Fashion is waiting for you."
"Limeart fashion?" Bella repeated, her mind racing.
"This is the company your sister, Rose founded," Alan revealed. "But she died soon after she started the company. Now, it’s time for you to take it over. You are a talented designer, and I am sure you will make this company flourish with your unique designs."
Bella’s heart tightened at the mention of Rose, the sister she couldn’t remember. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips. "Dad, I’m not ready for such a huge responsibility. I don’t even know if I can work like I used to."
Before Alan could press further, Selena placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Don’t you think you are pushing her too hard? Let her take time to cope with the new situation. She needs rest now."
"Don’t worry, Selena," he assured her. "I know what I am doing. Bella’s work will help her recover her memory." He turned to Bella, closing the distance between them. "I have faith in you. You can do this. Besides, you are not alone. There are people you can rely on."
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