Chapter 045

~~~Aiden~~~ I sat frozen, my eyes glued to the footage unfolding before me. Disbelief washed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless. How could I not remember this encounter with Hailey? The question echoed in my mind, taunting me. As I watched, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. Shame and embarrassment wrestled with confusion and alarm. The video was undeniable proof of a night I'd forget. We were both clearly intoxicated, our actions a blur of poor judgment and reckless abandon. I checked the date, and my heart skipped a beat. Ten months ago – just before Hailey's accident, and around the time Sandra's infidelity had shattered my world. The timing sparked a faint memory, a hazy recollection of months spent in a daze, struggling to cope with the aftermath of Sandra's betrayal. A spark of realization ignited within me. This encounter with Hailey was a part of her memories, but what troubled me most was whether she'd had time to revisit this moment. If so, why hadn't she mentioned it to me? A pang of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me back to reality. Mom's name flashed on the screen. "Oh shoot," I muttered, a surge of guilt washing over me. I'd forgotten about her request to pick something up from the house. I grabbed the items and rushed together with the hard drive and my laptop to the car, my mind still reeling from the revelations. As I drove back to the hospital, my thoughts were a jumbled mess of questions and emotions. The encounter with Hailey, her memories, and the secrets she might be keeping – all swirled together in a vortex of uncertainty. I stormed into the hospital, determined to confront Hailey about the shocking revelation. But when I arrived at the private unit, I found her lying weakly in bed, surrounded by machines beeping softly. My mom stood beside her, a look of concern etched on her face. "What took you so long?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. I hesitated, unsure of how to reveal the truth. "Sorry, Mom, I got caught up with work," I lied, trying to sound convincing. My mom raised an eyebrow, her gaze falling on the laptop still clutched in my hand. "And you decided to bring that work to the hospital too?" she asked, her tone skeptical. I forced a smile, trying to deflect her suspicion. "Oh, this? I just wanted to wrap it up here since we'll be staying for a while." My mom's expression softened, but her voice remained firm. "Come on, son, you've been working non-stop. Take a break. Your wife needs you now more than ever." I felt a pang of guilt, knowing I was hiding the truth. "I know, Mom...but." My mom's firm tone cut me off. "No buts, Aiden. Go drop that laptop." I reluctantly agreed, feeling like a scolded child. "Yes, ma'am." As I turned to leave, my mom's voice stopped me. "What's the doctor saying about Hailey?" I turned back, my brow furrowed with concern. "I don't know, Mom. What's going on? Is she supposed to be like this?" My mom's expression turned grave. "They said she fell into some kind of trance after delivery. I wonder why that would happen." A shiver ran down my spine as I gazed at Hailey's frail form. "It seems like she's a very fragile girl," my mom added, her voice laced with worry. I nodded, feeling a surge of protectiveness toward Hailey. "Yes, Mom." I turned to leave, my mind racing with questions. "Mom, please give me a few minutes. Let me go see the doctor." With a nod, my mom stepped aside, allowing me to exit the room. As I walked away, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. I waited anxiously in the doctor's office, my mind racing with questions. When he finally arrived, I greeted him with a mixture of desperation and urgency. "Good day, doc," I said, my eyes locked onto his. The doctor's expression was sympathetic, but his words were laced with caution. "Good day, Mr. Brooklyn. I was just about to come see you when I was told you were already here." I leaned forward, my hands clasped together in a plea for answers. "Oh, is that so? I'm guessing that's because you already know I have a lot of questions right now." The doctor nodded, his eyes filled with empathy. "I can tell. I didn't tell your mom anything because I figured it would be best to wait and see you first." I felt a surge of gratitude toward the doctor for sparing my mom the worry. "Yes, doc, that was a wise choice," I replied, my voice laced with appreciation. The doctor's expression turned serious, and he paused before speaking. "Okay, so here's the deal. Your wife...is it okay if I call her that?" he asked, his voice hesitant. I nodded, feeling a pang of sadness. "Yeah, yeah, sure. It's fine." The doctor's words were like a punch to the gut. "Okay, so your wife fell into a trance right after birth because, after the baby came out, there was a rush of different hormones in her body, which she couldn't control. And considering her previous medical records, I think it's as a result of her memory loss." I felt like I'd been knocked off balance, my mind reeling with the implications. I stared at the doctor, my mouth heavy with words, but I couldn't find the right thing to say. The doctor's words hung in the air like a challenge. "Now, two things are bound to happen here. It's either she wakes up, recovering every single bit of her memory back, or she takes a longer time in the trance, waking up forgetting the little she had remembered." I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to process the doctor's words. Why was this happening? Things had been going well for the past month. Why now? The doctor's voice was a gentle prompt, but I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. "Doc, are you saying she's in another coma?" I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper. The doctor's expression was sympathetic, but his words were brutal. "Well, it's not a coma. She's quite aware of her environment; she can hear the people around her, but she's just lost inside her own body." I felt a wave of despair wash over me, and I rubbed my nose, fighting back tears. Why was the universe treating her like this? Hadn't she been through enough already? The doctor's words were a harsh reality check. "Doc, are you trying to say she might not even remember me or remember having a child?" I asked, my voice cracking with emotion. The doctor's nod was almost imperceptible, but it felt like a blow to my gut. "I'm afraid, yes." I felt like I was losing my grip on reality. How was I supposed to handle this? The thought of Hailey forgetting me, forgetting our child, was a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. I thought, my mind racing with fears and doubts. Oh god, it was hard dealing with her memory loss when she was pregnant. How was I supposed to handle this now if it eventually happens? I might go crazy. I stepped out of the doctor's office, my heart heavy with the weight of his words. I made my way back to Hailey's ward, where I found my mom trying to soothe the crying baby in the inner room. A warm smile spread across my face as I watched my mom's eyes light up with joy while feeding the baby. In that moment, I understood why my parents had been so insistent on me getting married. Nothing could ever replace this feeling of love and connection. But my smile faltered as I approached Hailey's bedside. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I gazed at her frail form, battling for her life. I sat beside her, taking her hands in mine. "Hailey," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I know you can hear me. The doctor said you can." I paused, my throat constricting with emotion. "Hailey, you have to fight, alright? You have to fight to get your life back. Please." Memories of our time together flooded my mind. I remembered the way she'd told me she was born ready for anything, and how I'd known in that moment that she was a strong woman, a fighter. "Fight through this, Hailey. Please. I can't do this without you," I sobbed, my voice cracking with desperation. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "At first, I promised myself that I wouldn't develop any feelings for you. It was even stated in the contract." A bitter smile twisted my lips. "But Hailey, I think I've broken that part of it. I've fallen deeply in love with you." As I gazed at Hailey's fragile form, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. I thought about the journey we'd shared, the ups and downs, and the unexpected twists. "At the end of it all, you turned out to be the mother of my child, Hailey," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "Yes, that's right. The drive you had in your room contained the footage of our night together ten months ago, just before your accident." Memories of that night flooded my mind, memories I couldn't remember ten months ago, I felt a surge of guilt and regret. But I pushed on, needing Hailey to know the truth. "The footage proves I'm the biological father of your child, Hailey," I said, my words barely above a whisper. "So, you see, there's no need trying to remember who the father was, or what we're going to do if my dad finds out." A sense of relief washed over me as I revealed the truth. It was a weight I'd carried for far too long. "Because, Hailey, you've been with the biological father of your son this whole time," I said, my voice cracking with emotion. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I gazed at Hailey, willing her to wake up, to remember, and to forgive. My voice dropped to a whisper. "The thought of losing you again is terrifying. Please, please come out of this strong. Please." Just then, my mom walked in, wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug. "It's okay, son. Nothing's going to happen to her. I'm sure of it." I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that I couldn't share the whole truth with my mom. "If only you knew half of the story, Mom," a voice whispered in my head.