Chapter 1Erasing You

Arthur has always been a devoted husband.

But the day his high school sweetheart was diagnosed with cancer, he handed me a pill designed to induce amnesia.

"Mia, Claire is going to die soon. Give me three days. I just want to fulfill her dream of having a wedding."

"I don't want to break your heart. This pill causes temporary amnesia. In three days, after her wedding is over, you can take the antidote. You’ll fall right back in love with me, and we'll get remarried."

Looking at his determined face, I took the pill and swallowed it without a second of hesitation.

What Arthur didn't know was that I was the one who invented this amnesia drug. There was no antidote.

In three days, I would forget him completely. Forever.

* * *

Stepping out of the courthouse after finalizing our divorce, Arthur checked his watch.

"The pill will kick in in exactly two minutes. Over the next three days, you'll forget every single memory of loving me. When you take the antidote, you won't remember anything that happened during these three days. You won't have to suffer at all."

"This divorce is just temporary. Once everything is over, we'll get remarried. Don't worry, my one and only true wife will always be you."

I stared at him in silence. There won't be a remarriage.

As the developer of this drug, I knew exactly how it worked.

It didn't erase memories instantly. It eroded them slowly, piece by piece, until you completely forgot the person you loved.

And the antidote? I had never finished developing it.

But Arthur obviously didn't know that.

I asked him softly, "Are you absolutely sure you won't regret this?"

He smiled, affectionately ruffling my hair.

"Claire has loved me for years. Her only dying wish is to have a wedding with me. I can't refuse her. Since I've made my choice, I won't regret it."

"Mia, I know you've always been understanding and empathetic. There's no need to hold a grudge against a dying woman. Once this is all over, we'll go right back to our happy life together."

I forced a bitter, self-deprecating smile. I let the overwhelming, sour pain in my chest spread through my entire body, but I didn't say a word.

During the peak of our love, I drank myself into the hospital with a bleeding ulcer just to secure a crucial business deal for him. He, in turn, stayed up for days, his heart rate dangerously erratic, just to reclaim my stolen research data.

Later, I joked with him, asking what he would do if we got old and I forgot who he was.

His eyes immediately turned red. He kissed me fiercely.

"Mia, I love you. Please, never forget me. I would lose my mind."

And now? The moment he found out his precious 'white moonlight' had cancer, he proactively divorced me. He demanded I take an experimental drug to forget our entire history.

I guess he wanted to give her three perfect days of love. A love without flaws. Without the awkward presence of a 'superfluous' wife. His complete, undivided love.

If he was bold enough to change his heart so openly and feed me this drug... why even bother with the charade of remarrying me later?

I laughed aloud, a sharp, bitter sound.

Suddenly, a blinding, needle-like pain shot through my head. I swayed, my body pitching forward.

Arthur caught me with lightning speed. His deep eyes were filled with endless concern.

"Are you feeling sick? If you're really that scared... if you're worried I won't come back to you... you can keep the divorce decree and all the paperwork."

I forced myself to stand up straight, looking at Arthur in confusion.

"What divorce decree?"

Arthur froze. Then, he cautiously tested the waters.

"Mia, we just got divorced. Do you remember?"

"Divorce?"

Seeing the blank look on my face, a barely perceptible flash of joy crossed his eyes.

I looked down and saw the divorce papers clutched tightly in my hand. Suddenly, it all made sense.

The drug was kicking in. The very first thing it erased was the memory of our divorce.

Arthur quickly snatched the papers from my hand, terrified I would read his name on them. His voice softened dramatically.

"Mia, I'm your brother. You've been very sick and lost some of your memories. I'm going to hold onto these important documents for you."

I looked up, meeting his evasive gaze, but I didn't expose his lie.

Fine. If he wanted to play a role, I would play along.

Just then, a sickeningly sweet voice cut through the air.

"Arthur, there you are!"

I turned and saw Claire jogging toward us. Suddenly, she tripped over a crack in the pavement and stumbled forward.

Without thinking, Arthur shoved me aside and reached out to catch her.

Thrown off balance, I crashed hard into the brick wall. My head, already throbbing with agonizing pain, hit the stone with a sickening thud.

Claire fell into Arthur's arms, blushing coyly.

"Thank you for catching me, Arthur."

Realizing what he had just done, Arthur's face paled. He immediately turned to me.

"Mia, did you get hurt? Claire is sick. If she falls and starts bleeding, it might not stop. That's why I caught her first. I'm sorry."

I had already steadied myself. Suppressing the pain, I brushed the dust off my clothes. "I'm fine."

Claire clung to Arthur's arm, pouting softly.

"Arthur, it was just a quick divorce, why did it take so long? I was waiting for you forever."

Seeing me staring directly at them, Arthur coughed awkwardly. He looked at me guiltily, but he didn't push her hand away.

"It's done now. We can focus on the wedding."

Claire beamed with joy, shooting me a triumphant, gloating look. "Mia, Arthur and I have been dating for five years, and we're finally getting married! The wedding is in three days. You absolutely have to come."

I smiled politely. "Of course I'll come to my brother's wedding."

The smile on Claire's face widened. "Then you have to be our official videographer! Make sure you record the exact moment Arthur and I kiss at the altar..."

"Claire." Arthur's face darkened suddenly, silencing her. He stared at me intently, desperately searching my eyes for even a hint of sorrow. Finding none, a strange, suffocating discomfort settled in his chest. "She doesn't need to attend the wedding."

My expression remained perfectly blank.

Seeing Arthur take my side, Claire immediately frowned and collapsed weakly against his chest.

"Arthur, my heart suddenly hurts so much. I can't breathe."

Arthur's eyes filled with panic. He wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"Is it acting up again? Just hold on, I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

He looked up at me, asking in a low voice, "Mia, do you still remember how to get home? Do you need me to have someone drive you?"

I shook my head.

"No, I remember."

Arthur fell silent. The lab technicians had told him the drug only erased memories of the person the subject loved most; it wouldn't damage any other cognitive functions.

Knowing that he was the person I loved most, Arthur's expression finally relaxed.

"Okay, head home then. I need to get Claire to the hospital."

With that, he scooped Claire up into his arms and carried her to his car.

Nestled against his chest, Claire spoke weakly, "Arthur, being able to be openly held by you like this... even if I die right now, it would all be worth it."

Arthur scolded her gently, "Stop talking nonsense."

Through the car window, I watched as Arthur leaned over to buckle her seatbelt. Claire suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a soft kiss to his earlobe.

Witnessing this incredibly intimate moment, a freezing chill and a sharp, stabbing pain pierced my heart.

The agonizing sting of betrayal.

As his car sped away, my phone rang.

"Dr. Sterling? The Paris Research Institute has prepared your welcome reception. We look forward to your arrival in three days."