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CHAPTER FORTY – FIVE: AMNESIA? ETHAN'S POV Have I just gone insane or did my wife just ask who I am? Even though I just touched to pull her close and make us both forget this morning even occurred, I lightly touched her shoulder while attempting to avoid applying pressure. She flinches, and for the first time I can see the current of uncertainty in her eyes. They exhibit emotions that I have never seen before. "What are you doing to me? Who are you? " "Ethan is my name. Your husband," She gave her head a very little shake. She seemed to want to do it more, but the gentle neck brace prevented her. "I don't know you, and you're not my husband, for sure." I grip her shoulder more firmly so I can feel her warmth while I speak more clearly. "Rose, it's me." I maintain eye contact because I need this moment to feel connected to Rai. She might alter herself and collect her hair to become the woman the outside world expects her to be, but when I look intently into her eyes, I can see the flames that ignite with the longing for passion. She acts as though she knows nothing about me. She feels as if a stranger is touching her. "Let me go." "I am your husband, Rose." " Let me go," she yelled. "Doctor or nurse! Help me here." "I would never do you any harm." The nurse and the doctor storm inside but hang back near the door as I glare at them both. Zeth and Eya follow suit, their eyes glued to Rose. "Help me," yet I don't give her freedom to move. I am losing patience as I keep pleading for her to notice me. The doctor reprimands, "You can't talk to a patient like that." "Screw off. You have no right to say what and how I interact with my wife." Rose says, "H-help me," with tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please, please...." The rose that I know is not this. She would never beg for help or even let anyone see her sob. "Miss, do you need anything?" Zeth's uncertain look shifts from her to me and then back to her. She looks between us and then back at her guard as though he is her only chance to ask. "Who are all these people, Zeth?" She takes a long breath, as if about to have a meltdown, and then lets it out again. Her tone breaks into hysteria. "Leave them alone! Remove all of them! " The doctor slowly approaches her and says, "Miss, Calm down, you need to." He reaches out to touch her, but I grasp his wrist and twist it backward, inflicting agony on him as a result. Rose screams louder as a result of that. "Leave now! Get away! " The doctor stutters but he is wise enough not to challenge me, so I let him leave. I'll shatter his f*cking wrist if he tries anything funny. "It would be best if you left." 'No." "She could get a panic attack if you don't." "She's my wife, and I'm not leaving her side, so screw that." "Sir, continuing to stay here is not in her best interest." Her lips are excessively pale, and her shaking has gotten worse. She doesn't typically experience these intense visceral reactions, yet despite that, she seems to be about to lose it. I cannot be the cause of that. Even though I would give anything to hold onto her, I need to let her go for the time being. To release her, get up, and move away from her requires all of my strength. Even when I'm far from her bed, she keeps watching me, so I signal to Eya and Zeth to come with me. She shouts out, "Zeth! S-stay." "Yes, Miss." Why on earth does she call him but not me? Even Eya seems surprised, but she follows me outside. Rose continues to be next to the doctor and the nurse, who are comforting her. That calmed her down, based on the gentle rise and fall of her chest. I can't help but continue to observe from the doorway. She seems so delicate and sensitive, and all I want to do is take her hand and shield her. While the doctor exits the building, the nurse continues their conversation. I slammed him against the wall after grabbing him by the collar. "What the f*ck is wrong with my wife? " I can't speak if you don't let me go, sir. I gave him a shove to get away. 'Talk." He adjusts his collar while massaging the back of his neck. 'Mr. Pendleton. It appears that Amber has selective amnesia." "Because she slipped?" "Yes, we think the fall caused some swelling in her brain, which is why she has amnesia," the doctor replied. "Does the fact that you mentioned selective suggest she will soon regain her memories?" "No, selective means that some of her memories were gone."0 "What portion?" "She appears to have forgotten everything that happened during the previous ten years, based on our initial inquiries." 'What?" 'Mrs. Amber estimates her age to be eighteen. She is therefore unable to recall what transpired during the previous ten years. That also holds true for everyone she encountered at that time. Ten years ago, I had not yet met her. It makes sense why she assumed I was a stranger. "How is she going to reclaim her memories?" "Unfortunately, amnesia cannot be cured. Thankfully, it's not entirely irreversible." I don't miss the way he emphasized the bit about being supportive. "If she is surrounded by understanding family and friends, she might be able to remember things." "How much time will she need to remember? " "To that, there is no conclusive response. A few days or a few decades are also possible. She most likely won't ever recover those forgotten recollections." He adds, "One more thing." 'What?" "Everything has changed for her, and 10 years is a big gap for a woman her age, so she needs time and care to re-enter the outer world." I quickly nodded. "However, is she physically wounded?" "She had no major wounds other than a neck strain, which should recover in a few days." I ignored the doctor and proceeded to Rose's room. 'Sir? " 'What?" I come to a stop but don't go around. "It would be preferable if you avoided entering. She reacts strongly to you, and if she experiences a panic attack while being really disoriented, it could have detrimental effects on her health. Please minimize your interactions with her for the time being." I clench my fists on either side of me but don't go inside. I collapse into a chair in front of the doctor's room when she exits. However, I could never put her health in danger because there is no way in hell I would be able to fight her off. I continue to observe from the window. Standing next to her bed with both of his hands raised. He has been by her side for more than 10 years, which is why she is not rejecting him like she did with me Eya. He and Hades were constantly present, lurking in the shadows. I said, "Eya," without taking my eyes off Rose, "Get her anything she'll need for her stay in the hospital, including clothes." She makes no attempt to depart. "Would you like to return home to rest? It must hurt if you were injured, " she says. "I'll keep watch over here." I raise a hand and say, "I'm okay. Don't let any of the members know about her condition, but ask Uncle Raver to send more guards here until she is released. Rose would not want them to see her in such a vulnerable position." As she storms out of the hospital, she nods. If Rose doesn't see me right now, I don't care. I'm staying here until she leaves. The thing hammering in my chest has been scorching on the verge of eruption ever since I spotted her lying at the bottom of the steps. She is the only person who can put me on this. Rose.