He crashed his car and lost his memory the day he chased after the woman he’d always loved. That same day, his mother and I made a deal. She offered a billion dollars. I’d take care of him, marry him, and give him heirs. For five years, we built a happy life. So happy that I forgot it began as a transaction. I let myself believe we were truly, madly in love. Then he saw a photograph of her. And he remembered everything. The day I got the positive pregnancy test, I watched him pull that woman into his arms and kiss her with deep affection. Jade POV It was my fifth year as Julian Hayes’s wife. The moment I confirmed his memory had returned, I called my employer. “Your divorce from Julian will be finalized within a month. I’ll send you the visa paperwork along with it.” My grip tightened on the phone. “Understood, Mrs. Hayes. Thank you.” A slight hesitation from the other end. “Are you certain? You truly want to divorce him?” My eyes closed, long lashes brushing against my skin. “Our agreement was clear. I may leave once I’m carrying his child.” “Very well. Once the child is born abroad, our arrangement will be concluded in full.” Not long after the call ended, my phone buzzed with a transfer notification. A billion dollars. And it wasn’t even the final payment. It was enough for lifetimes. Suddenly, a deep voice came from behind me. “Who was that?” My heart clenched. I turned. Julian stood in the doorway of our bedroom, having entered without a sound. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, tall and handsome, exuding an air of effortless sophistication and raw power. I managed a smooth, practiced smile. “Just a friend.” His gaze dropped to my hand.. “What’s that?” “Our five-year anniversary itinerary.” I folded the positive pregnancy test I’d been clutching and held it out to him. “Want to see it?” Julian didn’t move. His eyes, fixed on mine, were a turbulent, unreadable storm. “Cancel the anniversary plans. I don’t have the time.” But just half a month ago, he’d cleared his entire schedule for it. Ten days ago, we were still sweetly planning how we’d celebrate. His phone suddenly rang. Julian saw the caller ID, and his usually sharp eyes softened, a tenderness I hadn’t seen in days blooming within them. “I have to go out for something. Don’t wait for me for dinner tonight.” With that, he answered his phone and strode out, leaving me behind. Watching his retreating back, my heart felt like it was being pricked by countless tiny needles, a suffocating, unbearable pain. Julian and I had been inseparable, a loving couple for five years. Until five days ago, when everything changed. I don’t know where he got Isabella Stone’s photo, but upon seeing her face, he recovered from his five years of amnesia, remembering his first love. I’d vaguely heard that he and Isabella were once a perfect match. But five years ago, Isabella’s family went camping with Julian’s father. They were accidentally kidnapped by an anti-social, wealth-hating extremist. To save their own lives, Isabella’s family betrayed Mr. Hayes’s identity as Emerald City’s wealthiest man, leading to him being brutally murdered and dismembered by the extremist. The Hayes family was furious, unleashing their full power to ensure the perpetrators suffered a fate ten times worse. Isabella’s parents also quietly died in prison. Only Isabella was protected by Julian. And the day Isabella was forcibly sent abroad by Mrs. Hayes, Julian frantically chased after her, ending up in a car crash. When he woke up, he’d forgotten everything. That’s when Mrs. Hayes found me, and they made their deal. At the time, I didn’t know the inside story and even laughed, thinking Mrs. Hayes was desperate for grandchildren. Mrs. Hayes had said, “You don’t understand how deeply Isabella is ingrained in Julian’s heart. Any woman can marry into the Hayes family and bear a Hayes child, except her.” Over the years, to prevent Julian from ever getting involved with Isabella again, Mrs. Hayes had acted with ruthless efficiency, not only erasing all traces of Isabella’s existence but also making it clear in their social circles. Anyone in Emerald City who dared to mention Isabella again would be crossing the Hayes family. But after five years of peace, Julian still recovered his memory. After remembering everything, he almost immediately flew abroad. Just yesterday, I found out I was pregnant and heard he was returning. I eagerly rushed to the airport to meet him, only to see him walking out of the VIP lounge hand-in-hand with a woman. I drove after them, only to discover Julian hadn’t just brought Isabella back from abroad, but had settled her in a secluded villa he owned. Seeing him carefully hide Isabella away, my heart plummeted to my stomach. Right then, I knew it was time for me to leave.
Jade POV I packed up everything Julian had given me over the past five years. Except for the designer bags and sparkling jewelry, I told Maria to throw everything else away. Maria picked up a glass jar filled with paper stars and asked, “Ms. Miller, are these to be thrown away too?” Those colorful paper stars were ones I’d taught Julian to fold when he was hospitalized after his car crash. I remembered him then, newly amnesiac, with a volatile and erratic temper, no one could get close to him. The moment I pushed open his hospital room door, he’ threw a cup at me, hitting my forehead and breaking the skin, telling me to get out. Blood streamed down my forehead, but I wasn’t angry or upset. Instead, my gaze was soft as I asked if he’d hurt his hand. With the most gentle patience, I taught him to fold paper stars, accompanied him during his physical therapy, massaged his head when he had headaches, told him stories when he couldn’t sleep, and personally cooked him nutritious meals, ensuring no two were the same for a week straight. I attended to every little detail, never once complaining, finally earning his acceptance and affection. I still remember the day he was discharged. Julian knelt before me, holding a jar full of paper stars. “I told myself I’d fold one star for every bit more I loved you. Once the jar was full, I’d propose.” “Now it’s full, Jade. Will you marry me?” His words were sincere and profound, his eyes overflowing with a tender devotion that felt boundless. Our five years of marriage had been wonderfully happy, like a dream. But now, it was time for the dream to end. I softly told Maria, “Just throw them all away.” “Alright.” The call came just as I’d settled in for the night. It was Mr. Peterson, the butler. “Mrs. Hayes’s having Mr. Hayes disciplined. Severely. Please come and intervene!” I dressed and rushed back to the Hayes estate. From Mr. Peterson, I learned that Julian had tried to sneak Isabella back, but had failed to keep it from Mrs. Hayes. She had Isabella seized. Julian had raced home to plead for her. Mrs. Hayes was furious. “How dare you bring that woman back? Do you have no respect for your father’s memory?” “It was Isabella’s parents who harmed Dad. They’ve already paid the price. Isabella is innocent.” “Innocent? The daughter of the people who killed your father? She bears some of the blame too! Protecting her like this, you’re not only disrespecting your father but also Jade, who has stood by you all these years!” Julian frowned for a moment, his expression complicated, but his words were entirely in defense of Isabella. “Isabella has suffered enough these past few years abroad. I can’t abandon her.” Mrs. Hayes’s voice was sharp, her eyes blazing. “Are you saying you intend to protect her no matter what?” “If you still refuse to let Isabella go, then let me atone for her. I’m willing to accept any punishment, I only ask that you release her and don’t trouble her further.” I never imagined he would go this far for Isabella. His words stunned me, and Mrs. Hayes nearly fainted from rage. “Don’t you know, Jade… she…” “Mom!” Just as Mrs. Hayes was about to blurt out the fact of my pregnancy, my face changed dramatically, and I quickly interrupted her. I walked over, forcing a strained smile to soothe her. “We can talk this over. Please don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health.” If Julian were to find out I was pregnant, the memory-recovered Julian probably wouldn’t let this child be born. Mrs. Hayes must have realized this too. She swallowed her words and angrily demanded of Julian, “Are you truly willing to accept punishment for Isabella?” Julian’s answer was swift and unyielding. “Yes.” “Fine then, I’ll grant your wish!” The Hayes family’s punishments were severe. He endured it in near-silence, teeth gritted, breath a ragged hiss, until the blood loss dragged him into unconsciousness. Throughout the ordeal, he gritted his teeth, not uttering a single sound, until he was barely clinging to life, losing consciousness from blood loss. After, they rushed the unconscious Julian to the hospital. Despite my pregnancy, I stayed by his bedside day and night, taking care of him. The peace shattered the next afternoon. The door to his room flew open without warning. The moment I turned, a sharp, unexpected slap landed across my face. Isabella stood there, fury incarnate. “You! You’re his wife! You were there! How could you just stand there and watch? How could you let them beat him within an inch of his life without saying a word? What kind of monster are you?!”
Jade POV I barely hesitated, raising my hand and slapping her back. “If it weren’t for you, would he have been punished? What right do you have to question me for not pleading for him?” Unexpectedly, Isabella was stunned that I’d hit her back, then became even angrier. “Jade, Julian has been so good to you these past few years. Is this how you repay him?” “What do you want me to do?” I wanted to plead for him, but he willingly accepted the punishment for the daughter of the woman who killed his own father. How could I possibly utter a single word of appeal? Isabella accused me furiously. “I never realized you were so cold-blooded. You don’t deserve to be with him!” I sneered. “I don’t deserve to be with him, but you, the daughter of his enemy, do?” “Enough!” Julian had woken up at some point. Isabella’s eyes immediately welled up, and she burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms. “Julian, you’re finally awake! Do you know how much you scared me?” Julian gently patted her back, his voice soft and low. “Did my mom bother you again?” Isabella shook her head, still crying. “After you accepted the punishment, Mrs. Hayes had her people release me.” Julian let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.” Mrs. Hayes must have released Isabella because she didn’t want to completely alienate her only son and heir for her sake. Julian allowed Isabella to cling to his battered body. The scene looked like a loving couple, while I felt like an outsider, out of place and unwelcome. A heavy, suffocating feeling settled in my chest, and I felt a piercing, burning pain from the Datura tattoo on my ankle. So I quietly turned and left the hospital room. Julian stayed in the hospital for several days, and Isabella remained by his side for all of them. I knew better than to intrude on them at the hospital. I hired a nurse and had Maria deliver his meals three times a day. Maria also updated me on his recovery. One day, while I was engrossed in my sketches, Mrs. Hayes called. Mrs. Hayes asked about the baby. “The doctor said everything’s fine, no issues.” “You need to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition. Let me know immediately if anything changes.” “Okay.” Mrs. Hayes was silent for a moment. “Julian is being discharged today. Aren’t you going to pick him up?” My gaze fell, and the tattoo on my ankle seemed to throb faintly again. I pressed my lips together. “With Isabella there, I’d just be in the way. Besides, we’re getting divorced soon.” Mrs. Hayes sighed. “Jade, I’ve seen your and Julian’s feelings for each other over these years. If you’re willing to stay by his side, I can assure you, no one will be able to touch your position as Mrs. Hayes.” But no one could guarantee that Julian’s heart wouldn’t belong to Isabella. “Mrs. Hayes, our original agreement was simply for me to bear his child, take the money, and leave. That’s all.” To the world, I called her “Mom.” In private, I maintained a wall of polite distance-she remained “Mrs. Hayes.” I used the formality as a mantra, a reminder: This began as a transaction. Don’t get lost in the role. But after five years, I had gotten lost. Profoundly so. I had begun to imagine a real life, a real future with him. No one knew that my agreement with Mrs. Hayes wasn’t just about the money. I had actually met Julian when I was very young. Many years ago, he’d taken up residence in my heart. But as it turned out, what wasn’t mine would never truly be mine. After hanging up with Mrs. Hayes, I put down my pen and drove out of the villa. I found a tattoo parlor on the side of the road. The owner looked at the tattoo on my ankle. “This flower is beautifully and carefully done. Are you sure you want to remove it?” I said flatly, “Remove it.” “Alright. It’s going to hurt a bit, so bear with it.” I looked at the tattoo on my ankle. Julian had learned the art for me, etching a black datura onto my skin himself during our first married year. He’d asked what I wanted. I’d said a black datura. Julian had looked puzzled. “Why this flower? Does it mean something to you?” I’d smiled. “No. I just like it.” He never knew its meaning: a wandering love, a desperate passion that sees its own end clearly. Just like my love for him. Now the dream was over. My love for him was fading, wilting like the datura blossom vanishing from my skin. I left the tattoo parlor, the ghost of the needle’s sting still on my arm. I hadn’t even reached my car when a Bentley glided to the curb. The door opened, and Julian stepped out. He looked quite surprised. “Jade? What are you doing here?”
Jade POV As soon as he asked, Julian seemed to remember something, and his handsome face clouded over. “Are you following me?” I was about to say no. Isabella got out of the car. “I think it’s just a coincidence. Ms. Miller wouldn’t stoop to following us.” “It is a coincidence. I’ll be going now, you two carry on.” I turned to leave, but Isabella grabbed my arm. “We haven’t formally met. Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t you join us for a meal, Ms. Miller?” She turned to the tall, imposing man beside her. “Julian, you don’t mind if I invite Ms. Miller, do you?” Julian’s eyes flickered with a complex expression for a few seconds, but ultimately, he didn’t refuse her suggestion. I was led into the restaurant. After we ordered, Isabella smiled at me. “Ms. Miller, you might not know, but Julian and I started dating in college. Many of our friends envied our relationship.” “These past few years, even though I was far away abroad due to unavoidable circumstances, I’ve heard things about you and Julian.” “Ms. Miller, I’m very grateful that you took such good care of Julian these past few years.” Seeing her openly grasp Julian’s hand, I immediately understood. Isabella had invited me to this meal to stake her claim. I noticed Julian made no move to pull his hand away. I wasn’t surprised, yet my heart still ached as if tiny ants were gnawing at it. I didn’t reply, instead making an excuse to go to the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, I saw Julian, tall and imposing, leaning against the wall. His eyes were murky. “Jade, Isabella and I-” “You don’t need to explain. I understand.” I tried to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “I know this isn’t fair to you, but she suffered so much alone abroad these past few years. If I hadn’t brought her back, she wouldn’t have survived out there.” A bitter ache tightened in my chest, forcing my gaze up to his. “Do you truly believe the Hayes would ever accept her?” He knew the answer. The Hayes would never accept Isabella. His lips thinned. “You will remain my wife. I won’t divorce you over this. But my heart…” But his heart was no longer mine. I thought of the past five years, how he’d rejected all flirtatious advances from other women for me, openly declaring I was his one and only, both in public and private. He remembered my every preference, my annual birthday, and every single one of our anniversaries. Even things I’d forgotten myself, he would meticulously remember for me. Yet that profound, devoted love was no longer exclusively mine. I forced a smile. “Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.” “Jade…” “Just one more anniversary with me.” One last time. Because there would never be another. Let this be our final toast to what we once were. Julian was silent for a moment, then agreed. He released my hand, and I walked out of the restroom first, returning to our table. Julian and I leaving our seats one after the other had already displeased Isabella. Isabella watched me coldly. “What did you say to Julian?” I replied coolly, “None of your business.” “Jade, can’t you see by now? Julian loves me. I should be his wife! You’re just a thief who took advantage of his amnesia to steal five years of his affection for me!” Facing Isabella’s almost twisted fury, I sneered, “A thief is still better than the daughter of his enemy, isn’t she?” “Then I’ll make you see clearly whether it’s you, the thief, who matters more to him, or me, the daughter of his enemy!” Isabella exploded. She seized my wrists and slammed my palms down onto the red-hot stove burner. I didn’t even have time to react. A white-hot, violent agony shot up my arms and seared itself into my mind. Out of the corner of my watering eyes, I saw Julian rush over. Sensing him, Isabella instantly released me. With deliberate, chilling calm, she pressed her own hand onto the burner. A sharp, theatrical scream tore from her. “Isabella!” Julian was at her side in an instant. He saw her scalded hand, scooped her into his arms, and rushed out. “Julian-” I wanted to call out to him, but he was already gone. He never once looked back at me, even though my burns were far worse. Cold sweat drenched me. The pain ripped through every nerve, and soon, I fainted.
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