Amnesia Husband Chose His Ex"

Where's the baby? My ex-husband slammed a hospital file down on the table.

His eyes were bloodshot. We had a baby. His breath shook on every word.

I leaned back in my chair and nodded, calm. Yes. We had a baby.

I loved that man for ten years.

A month ago, a car accident wiped his memory. His brain deleted me. His wife. Erased. But it held on tight to her the one that got away, freshly divorced.

I filed the papers. He signed without a second thought.

Now he was staring at my flat stomach, his voice raw. "Where is it?"

I laughed. Right in his face. "You didn't even want me. Why would I want the baby? The afternoon we signed the divorce, I took care of it."

Later, red-eyed, he would ask me: "Is there any chance we get back together?"

I gave him one word.

"No."

Chapter 1

My husband got in a car accident on his way to celebrate another woman's divorce.

His body was fine. Just his head.

When he woke up, he'd lost his memory. He remembered everyone. Everyone except me.

The other woman was sobbing beside his bed, and he was murmuring soft things to calm her down.

I stood off to the side, skimming the fat off his chicken soup so it wouldn't be too greasy when he drank it.

It took two days for the last visitor to leave.

I watched him press a hand to his forehead. "The doctor said the dizziness and nausea will come and go for a few days," I said gently. "You should lie down."

Aaron opened his eyes and looked at me. For a long moment he said nothing.

Just when I thought he wasn't going to speak, he asked, "Did I marry you because I loved you? Why are you the only one I forgot?"

I blinked. I hadn't expected that.

"No. We met in college. After graduation, your family was pushing you to settle down, and I happened to like you. So we got married."

That threw him. "You liked me?"

I walked over and straightened the loose collar of his pajamas. "Mm. Back then, sure. You were good-looking, top of the class, played the violin. Who wouldn't?"

I watched the confusion cloud his eyes, and the corner of my mouth lifted.

"Go lie down. Before it hits you again."

Watching him walk back to the bedroom, I made up my mind for good.

This man. I was done with him. No matter how much I'd once loved him done.

I shut the door to the master bedroom and went to the study.

Aaron had a whole wall of books. Whatever he planned to read next, he'd pull out ahead of time and set on the middle shelf, far right.

I took down a thick notebook and opened it.

October 16, 2014.

Okay, the guy playing violin at freshman orientation is way too good-looking. His name's Aaron. I think I have a crush.

Every crush I'd ever had on him was in there. On one page, I'd tucked a sonogram.

January 19, 2023.

Aaron and I are having a baby. I want to tell him the good news.

January 20, 2023.

Aaron didn't come home last night. I wanted to text him about the pregnancy, but I feel like telling him in person is better. He'll be so happy. He's always wanted a kid.

January 21, 2023.

Aaron says he's away on a work trip and forgot to tell me. Fine. I'll tell him when he's back.

January 22, 2023.

I saw Serena's post today maybe she set it so only I could see it. Aaron's with her. They went on a trip together. So. Not a work trip.

January 23, 2023.

Serena called me. Said she's getting divorced, and I should give Aaron back to her. But she's the one who insisted on moving abroad and dumped him years ago. Give him back? He was never mine to steal. How do I give back something like that? She upset me so badly my stomach started cramping. I went to the hospital. The doctor told me not to get worked up. It's annoying.

Chapter 2

February 24, 2023.

Serena says she's divorced now, and Aaron's going over to celebrate. My stomach hurts. A little nausea too. I drank a bowl of the medicine to keep the pregnancy. So bitter.

February 26, 2023.

Aaron told me the company's having a get-together, so he won't be home tonight. It's Serena. I know. Hey, little one you might not have a dad. Mommy can't win against your daddy's first love.

February 27, 2023.

Aaron crashed his car late last night. He woke up today. He remembers everyone. Everyone but me. Well. That settles it.

I set the notebook on the middle shelf of the bookcase, far right.

I pushed it down a little, low enough that he'd be sure to find it within two months.

The desk beside it the third drawer is where I keep my things.

I put the medical records inside and locked the drawer.

All the ugly things were about to be over. I was getting away from every ugly person in my life. Serena. Aaron. And Aaron's parents all talk, looking down on everyone.

Trash doesn't turn good. I wasn't holding my breath for a change of heart.

I just didn't plan to make their lives too comfortable after I left.

March 1, 2023. I set breakfast on the table.

Aaron came out just as he got up.

I smiled at him. He didn't look at me. He just sat down.

I shrugged. Didn't matter. He'd been like this ever since Serena announced the divorce.

Which is exactly why I didn't believe he'd lost his memory.

I tested it for two days. The result: Aaron was faking. He wanted the cold shoulder plus the amnesia to wear me down until I was the one who asked for the divorce.

Which explains how he could ask me something as sickening as whether he'd married me for love.

Breakfast was silent. I was peeling an egg, taking my time, when his phone lit up. He glanced at the name and his whole face broke into a smile.

"Hey yeah, I'm up. Head's still a little dizzy, nothing serious. Bundle up. I'm home. Come by whenever."

My hands went still on the egg. Maybe I should clear out. Give the two of them room to work with.

If I had to watch them play house in front of me one more time, I really was going to throw up.

After breakfast I tidied the apartment and told Aaron I was heading out.

"Sure. Serena's coming over to take care of me in a bit. Don't worry about it."

I nodded, smiling. "Perfect. Then I won't. I'll have something to tell you tonight wait for me for dinner."

He seemed to be searching my eyes for something. I think I disappointed him. There was nothing there. Just calm.

"Okay," he said.

I walked out and went straight to my oldest friend's law office.

I'd be back in time for dinner. With a little gift for him.

Chapter 3

"So you're divorcing him?" Zoe stared at me. "You two were the perfect couple. How did it get to this?"

I took a sip of coffee. "He cheated. His college sweetheart got divorced, and now he wants to ride off into the sunset with her."

"His parents are okay with it?"

I rolled my eyes. "His parents are social climbers. They've been holding Serena up against me for years. Better family, makes real money overseas, oh-so-kind. They've always thought she was the better catch. This time? The old couple's probably throwing a party."

Zoe snatched the coffee out of my hand. "Aren't you pregnant? Should you be drinking this?"

I tilted my head. "Who said I'm keeping it? The second those two started their cozy little getaway, I was done keeping it. Aaron's filthy now. I don't want anything of mine tied to him. Not even a baby. Especially not one with his blood in it."

I grabbed the coffee back and took another sip. "I just don't have time right now. Draft me a divorce agreement, fast as you can. I want to lock in the most I can get while I can. Ideally he walks away with nothing."

"If you've really made up your mind, I won't try to talk you out of it. A cheater's not worth saving. I'll start now. Come with me."

I spent the whole day at the firm. Zoe and two other lawyers and I hammered the agreement out.

At nine that night, I went home with it.

I opened the door to a table full of leftovers.

Aaron and Serena both looked up.

"You missed dinner. Why didn't you call?" Aaron demanded.

Please. I forgot, obviously.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled. "You didn't call to ask about me either."

Serena jumped in, smoothing things over with a smile. "Come on, you two are married, nothing you can't talk through. I'll leave you to it. Aaron, the food was amazing. Bye now."

"You cook?"

I walked to the table and looked at the wreckage. Four dishes and a soup. Not bad at all.

Aaron nodded. "I've always cooked? Have I really never made you anything? That can't be right. I love cooking. I used to make things for Reni all the time."

I laughed. So all these years of marriage, the not-cooking was an act too.

"Fine. I get it. You don't love me. You love your Reni."

I sat down on the couch and slid the agreement across to him.

"Take a look. If there's nothing off, just sign it. I'll set your love story free. I've been a stay-at-home wife these past few years, no job, so no savings to speak of. See if you can manage walking away with nothing I'm clearing space for your Reni. The Renis are so rich, surely they won't want a scrap of what little we've got?"

Aaron didn't hesitate much. He read it through and signed.

"I'm really sorry. I genuinely can't remember you, and there's no way for us to live together after this, so I agree to all your terms."

I took the papers back, smiling. "We'll go to the courthouse tomorrow. This place is in your parents' name, so I won't be staying here tonight. I've got something on tomorrow afternoon. See you at the courthouse in the morning."

I gave a little wave and walked out. Years in that home, and I didn't look back.

"I won't take anything. Nothing here matters. Throw it out if you want."

Chapter 4

It wasn't until I was in the cab that I laughed.

That went far too smoothly.

The truth is, I'd had a side income for years, and investments too. I'd meant to tell Aaron once I could buy that penthouse he loved but before I'd saved enough, the marriage was already over.

Still. I wondered whether he'd stay this smooth once he found out the Renis had gone bankrupt long ago. What would happen to that face of his when his parents learned Serena had no job overseas, never even finished her degree, and only got to stay abroad because of that foreign husband of hers?

Because in their eyes, Serena was such an accomplished woman.

When really, she was worth nothing at all.

Honestly, I understood why she was so desperate. She needed to come home and find a wallet to lean on, and Aaron fit the bill.

That's why she wanted us divorced so badly.

Trash finds its own dumpster. Aaron the trash, hauled off by Serena good riddance.

I got to the courthouse early the next morning.

I thought I'd been eager. Turns out someone was more eager than me.

Aaron stood at the courthouse door. Serena stood to his left, hooked onto his arm.

When he saw me, he pulled his arm free of her.

I pushed my sunglasses up my nose. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you two were here to get married. Careful don't have the baby right here on the steps. Bad form."

Serena flared up. "What are you talking about? You've got a vicious tongue. You're a psycho."

I shrugged, indifferent. "Congratulations on the wedding. What's wrong with that?"

Aaron frowned, thrown, I think, by how sharp and mean I'd become.

The paperwork went fast. The clerk kept sneaking glances at the two of them.

I handled my forms at my leisure. The two of them sat like they were on hot coals.

"No rushing a wedding," the clerk said. "Take your time. There's a thirty-day waiting period. Once it's up, come back for the decree, and then you're free to remarry."

One line from her, and Aaron's face went red.

Serena shot her a glare and dragged him off.

I couldn't hold back a laugh.

"How'd you know those two were a couple?" the clerk asked.

"My brother went to school with them. Back when the girl ditched the guy and ran off overseas to get married, it was a whole scandal. My brother told it like a joke for years. I've even seen their photos. Never thought they'd end up married and him still trailing after her like a simp. Sister, you divorced the right man. I've never seen anyone grovel like that."

"Thanks."

I appreciated her helping stick it to those two.

I stepped out of the courthouse, checked the time. Enough time. I flagged a cab, fast, and headed for the hospital.

Chapter 5

After the procedure, I spent two weeks recovering in a place I'd rented.

I'd taken the rental the moment I heard Serena was getting divorced. The plan had been to let my husband finish celebrating her divorce, then go home and hand him mine.

I'd run it in my head a hundred times how to handle Aaron for the biggest possible payout.

I never counted on his so-called amnesia. It fast-forwarded everything.

My friend came to look after me while I healed.

She's a writer. Showed up at my place with her laptop already open.

"I seriously want to turn this into a story. You've given me so much material."

I sipped the tea she handed me. "Go ahead. The marriage is over. Might as well make a little money off him."

Iris grinned, sly. "Then I'm writing it. And I'm taking it to the level of art. But you're really just walking away like this? You're okay with that? Doesn't everyone want to get even?"

I shook my head. "He walked away with nothing. No need to make it uglier than it has to be."

She looked disappointed. I smiled at her sweet, harmless.

I lied