Chapter 20: Memory loss

Alissia's Pov.

His voice echoed in my head multiple times. It was so loud that every other sound became silent.

“Alissia?” I whispered, barely audibly, trying to recall who he was referring to.

I am not Alissia, nor did I know who that was. I am… “Oh no,” I gasped, realizing that I didn’t even remember my name.

“I—“ I stammered, trying to speak as I rubbed my forehead.

He stopped pacing around and stood directly before me, a frown visible on his face. “You what?” He asked, his voice laced with rising anger.

“I don’t remember my name,” I continued, dropping the bomb.

His eyes widened in surprise as he stared at me like I was some peculiar rock from space.

I looked directly into them, hoping to get a glimpse of what he was thinking. I became disappointed as they were void of emotions—just blank.

“I can’t believe this,” he sighed, taking away his gaze from me. He moved over to my side and sat down, putting his hands over his face.

“You don’t remember anything, do you?” He asked again, staring at me for a second time.

“I don’t, I don’t,” I cried.

Being in this situation made me feel terrible. Not knowing who I was or where I came from. Sitting beside a stranger who claims he’s my husband gave me the most concern

I shut my eyes, trying to recall what happened to me before I woke up inside that car. All I saw were blurred images, more like shadows moving about aimlessly in my head.

An idea popped into my mind, and I opened my eyes. Looking towards my side, where he sat. He looked stressed and lost in thought.

Although I didn’t remember him, I felt a pang in my chest. Anyone in his situation would feel worse.

“Tell me who I am,” I said, startling him a little.

Since he knew all about me and claimed he was my husband, he should be able to tell me about myself.

He stood up and began to walk away, which was quite surprising. I began to regret my decision to ask him about myself.

“Did I do something wrong? Is he offended by my request?” “Was he avoiding me now? After making me curious?” I wondered as various thoughts ran through my mind, making me even more confused.

He opened the door and left the room, leaving me alone. A minute passed, then another, yet there was no sign of him.

I was getting bored of just sitting alone in the room. I needed answers, and staying here would not provide any. So I stood up and walked to the door.

I stretched my hands out and proceeded to open the door when it opened, and he came in, holding a piece of paper.

“Where do you think you are going?” He asked, his gaze shooting daggers at me.

“I got tired of waiting, so I wanted to go outside to search for you,” I stammered, the words forcing their way out of my mouth.

“You shouldn’t have left in the first place!” He yelled.

“What was I supposed to do?” I fired back, angry at his words. “I don’t even know you, and I don’t know myself or who I am. It’s all confusing and disturbing; all I want are answers.

His eyes swept over my body, and I could feel my blood rush within me.

What he was thinking in his mind, I wasn’t sure. But my words were taking effect on him as he sighed, handing me the paper in his hand.

“What is this? How does it have anything to do with me?” I asked, staring at the paper with a confused look.

“Your name is Jenna, and you are not my wife,” he declared, dropping the bomb.

“This shocking revelation was something I didn’t expect; what then was the drama out there all about?

He became calm—the calmest I have seen him since I saw him at the hospital. A hint of sadness was visible on his face as we both walked towards the bed and sat down.

“Alissia, my fiancée, was the woman I was supposed to get married to; this was her house,” he began. “Three days before our wedding, she had a little accident, and she died. Her family is wealthy, and I wanted her properties for myself, so I hired you to act like her for the next year, after which we would get a divorce, and I’ll claim everything that is hers.”

As I listened to his words, a bell rang in my head, and a blurred image of a woman appeared before me but disappeared as soon as it came.

“The paper in your hand is the contract you signed,” he said, jolting me out of my thoughts.

I looked at the paper in my hand and saw two signatures with a little note written above them. “I guess that explains the mask, I whispered, remembering that he peeled it off my face earlier.

“Yes, that was why you were wearing a mask,” he confirmed.

Knowing who I was should have put my mind at ease, but it didn’t. Everything still felt odd, like there was something he wasn’t telling me.

“How did Alissia die?” I asked, surprised by my question.

His eyes met mine, and I noticed him flinch. “It’s none of your business,” he snapped at me. “What matters now is getting your memories back so that everything can go back as planned.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?” I demanded, eager to remember who I was, hoping he had a solution.

“I do not know, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out,” he assured. “I have to go now; the doctor insists you get a lot of rest, so do not go anywhere, especially without your mask.” He spoke before walking out of the door.

I lay down on the bed, my mind reeling back everything that happened. Here I was, living the life of another person, when I didn’t even remember my past or who I was.

I closed my eyes to sleep, but I couldn’t. My mind was preoccupied with different unanswered questions; it felt like my head would explode.

“You have thirty days more, Alissia.” A voice came from behind me just as I was drifting off to sleep, and I scrambled out of bed, startled. I was the only one in the room, so who spoke?