I was going to file for divorce from my husband, Caleb. But he was away on a business trip, with his personal assistant in tow. Then, Caleb got into a car accident. He lost his memory, and his mind reverted to when he was eighteen. He stared at the divorce papers in front of him and yelled. “You cheated on me?! *Me*?!” I just rolled my eyes, rubbing my temples. Seriously, *he* was the one who betrayed our relationship, wasn’t he? When I arrived at the hospital, Caleb was sitting on the bed, looking completely dazed. His head was wrapped in bandages, his cheek bruised. He looked oddly pathetic. His personal assistant, Brianna, stood by his side, her eyes brimming with tears, showering him with concern. She looked more invested than me, his actual wife. Brianna’s face was etched with sorrow. “It’s all my fault,” she sobbed. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt protecting me.” I frowned slightly. They were acting like a smitten couple. What was I even doing here? “Rounds!” The doctor’s call made Caleb notice me standing at the door. Perhaps it was my imagination, but I felt like a sudden light flickered in his eyes. “What are you doing just standing there? Come here!” I was utterly bewildered. Was he talking to *me*? I cautiously walked closer, a growing suspicion that my husband was acting really weird. Just a step away, Caleb suddenly yanked me toward him, wrapped an arm around my waist, and wailed loudly. “Hazel, I’m so hurt! What took you so long to get here?” “Quick, blow on it for me! Am I going to have a scar? I won’t be handsome with a scar!” “Hazel, I was so scared I wouldn’t see you again!” “Hazel, I missed you so much!” Me: … Brianna: … Doctor: … Caleb? Was he possessed? Who was this goofy guy?
After the doctor’s examination, it was confirmed: the car accident had affected his head, causing Caleb to lose part of his memory. His memory was stuck at 18. Eighteen. That was when we were deeply in love, when our romance had just begun. “Family signature.” I instinctively took the form from the doctor. Caleb, beside me, grumbled under his breath. “You’re quite proactive, aren’t you? So eager to be my family.” I shot him a glare. Seriously, we’d been married for seven years! But a shy flush spread across Caleb’s face, his eyes sparkling with happiness. It had been so long since I’d seen him look at me with such singular devotion. I took Caleb home, determined to talk to him about our current situation. But as soon as he stepped through the door, he started bouncing around like a hyped-up husky, exploring every corner. “This is our home! It’s exactly how I always imagined it!” “We actually got married!” “I’m so incredibly lucky!” “Hazel, I’m so happy!” He wandered around the house, then came right up to me. “Wife, where are our wedding photos? Why aren’t they displayed?” “Wife, how long have we been married? Do we have kids?” “Wife, wife…” I looked at the overly excited Caleb and let out a long sigh. I pulled him down onto the couch. “We’ve been married for seven years,” I said calmly. “No kids.” “And, we’re getting a divorce.”
A scream erupted in the room—”Impossible!” “How could I divorce you? I love you the most, Hazel!” “Did something go wrong with our relationship?” “My fault?” Caleb shook his head resolutely. “No way, I would never fall for someone else!” “难道是……” Caleb looked at me, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. Seeing my perpetually cold expression, panic finally dawned on his face. “Hazel, did *you*… betray me?” “Who is he? Who’s that guy? I’ll destroy him!” Caleb’s emotions were running high. But he’d just been discharged from the hospital. Such intense emotional swings made him clutch his head, wincing in pain. I quickly took out his medication and helped him take it, gently soothing him until he calmed down a little. Caleb, looking utterly miserable and pitiful, tugged at my sleeve, his voice a pathetic whimper. “Hazel, please don’t divorce me, okay? Forget about that guy, please?” I was speechless. What was he even imagining? “There’s no other man, no betrayal. We’re having an amicable separation.” “Impossible! I…” Caleb’s brow furrowed slightly, and I could tell his headache was starting again. I patted his shoulder. “Just focus on recovering for now. We can talk about everything else later.” “Okay…” But his face showed a familiar anxiety, one I hadn’t seen in years. This was the insecurity of 18-year-old Caleb. 30-year-old Caleb was composed and stoic, rarely showing his emotions. I didn’t understand him anymore…
After an exhausting day, I was just about to get some rest when a large, bandaged head peeked around my bedroom door. He was hugging a pillow, leaning on the doorframe, cautiously. “Hazel, I heard we’re married.” “Mm-hmm.” “So, I’m still your husband, right?” “Mm-hmm.” “Then… can I come in?!” “Huh?” Caleb quickly explained, “I just want to come in! No other intentions!” I looked at Caleb’s hopeful eyes and spoke bluntly. “We’ve been living separately for six months, and sleeping in separate rooms for almost a year!” Caleb’s face was a picture of shock. “Why are we living separately? Why separate rooms? Is there something wrong with me?” My silence made him interpret it as an admission. He visibly crumpled, squatting in the corner, muttering to himself. “I can’t believe I have issues at thirty! I’m only thirty, just thirty…” He sulked in the corner, looking like he was literally drawing circles of misery on the floor, while peeking at me with sad puppy-dog eyes. “I finally understand why you’re so determined to divorce me…” Me: … I don’t think you understand at all. “But Hazel, can you give me another chance?” Me: ? “Medical technology is very advanced these days.” Me: So? “I think I can still be saved…” Me: … “I’m sorry, Hazel. I’m the one holding back our happiness.” Me: … My silence was deafening, but he just kept rambling. “Hazel, I honestly didn’t realize you cared about that so much. I…” “Just shut up already!” I finally exploded, unable to hold it in any longer! What kind of nonsense was rattling around in this guy’s head? I patted the empty space beside me on the bed. “Be quiet, come sleep!” “Okay, wife, I’m coming!”
Caleb immediately wrapped himself around me, arms and legs everywhere, like an octopus. “What are you doing?” He said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “Sleeping with my wife, of course!” Enveloped by his warm body, I felt a strange awkwardness. It had been so long since we’d had this kind of intimate skin-to-skin contact. 30-year-old Caleb only cared about work. 18-year-old Caleb only cared about me, and… talking endlessly. “Hazel, this is amazing.” “Yesterday, I had my first kiss with you on the school track, and today I get to sleep with you!” “Do you remember that time?” Caleb looked at me expectantly, his eyes full of starlight. That slightly awkward first kiss was still vivid in my memory. Caleb was the kind of golden boy every parent wished they had, a campus heartthrob from the moment he stepped into school. Excellent grades, handsome, athletic—he was the dream guy for countless girls. And I was one of those girls who had a huge crush on him back then. He’d slam-dunked on the basketball court, leading his team to victory again and again, achieving brilliant results. An opposing player, annoyed by the loss, angrily threw the ball into the stands after the game. It was headed straight for me, an innocent bystander… Caleb sprinted over, dashing right in front of me to block it! Completely unaware of the rivalry between the two teams, I quickly pulled him toward the school clinic for a check-up. “Tilt your head back a little, you’re bleeding from your nose.” “Does your head hurt badly?” “Come on, the school clinic is right there.” I thought I’d take a shortcut through a tree-lined path, but Caleb suddenly pulled me to a stop. Despite the blood dripping from his nose, he looked incredibly handsome in the dappled light beneath the trees. “Hazel, I like you.” “Hazel, will you be my girlfriend?” I stared blankly at the boy in front of me. To love and be loved simultaneously—could anything be more beautiful? Caleb lowered his head and kissed me, in that naive, budding summer, in that forest laden with memories. I still remember that first kiss, tinged with the metallic scent of blood, and how hard I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach him. Love swept in with the breeze, and even after it died down, the lingering feelings refused to settle. Caleb saw me lost in tender memories and carefully leaned in to kiss me. A soft, fleeting kiss. I was a little lost in thought, this unfamiliar yet familiar intimacy. Caleb’s husky voice whispered in my ear. “Hazel, I think… I can still be saved!” Caleb was visibly excited. “No, you’re not, you haven’t, go to sleep!” “I…” “Shut up and sleep!” “Okay…” This naughty boy, did he have to look so wronged?
Only when I heard his steady breathing did I finally relax. He was finally asleep… I stared at Caleb, who was still holding my hand even in his sleep, my mind a complex swirl of thoughts, too troubled to sleep. We met in high school, dated in college, and married after graduation. Everything was unbelievably smooth. We were the perfect couple in everyone’s eyes, a match made in heaven. Even we thought we’d walk through life hand in hand… Unfortunately, no matter how strong the feelings, they couldn’t withstand the wear and tear of time. One misunderstanding after another, one test after another, one confrontation after another, until eventually, we had nothing left to say to each other. I reached out, tracing Caleb’s handsome features. How did we end up like this? A night of worry resulted in a splitting headache when I woke up. Caleb, on the other hand, was full of energy, striking poses in front of the mirror in a crisp suit. “Hazel, you’re awake!” He enthusiastically leaned in and gave my sleepy face a kiss. A good morning kiss. It had been… a long time. “I made breakfast! Even your favorite fried eggs!” “I can’t believe I’m thirty in the blink of an eye! Skipped all the college entrance exams, university, and job hunting, and became a powerful CEO directly!” “Hazel, what kind of CEO am I?” “Am I the kind who can take down competitors with a snap of his fingers, a big shot who makes millions in minutes?” He adopted a cool, aloof posture. “It’s getting chilly. Time to bankrupt Evergreen Enterprises.” Me: … What to do? My head hurt even more. The current Caleb wasn’t the savvy Mr. Sterling who knew the ins and outs of the company, was skilled at managing people, and acted decisively. He was an 18-year-old goofball who could only strike poses and babble. If this Caleb went back to the company, it wouldn’t be “Time for Evergreen to fall,” it would be “Time for Sterling Corp to crash and burn in minutes.” I hastily finished the breakfast Caleb had meticulously prepared, deciding to accompany him to work. Even with the mindset of an 18-year-old, 30-year-old Caleb certainly looked impressive. Dressed in a sharp suit, composed and serious, he appeared to be a business elite… That is, as long as he didn’t speak. Caleb held my hand, subtly surveying his company, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. But the other employees were whispering. “How come Ms. Hayes is here?” “Aren’t they getting a divorce?” “Keep your voice down, Mr. Sterling is still holding her hand!”
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