Chapter 28: chapter[28]

CHAPTER 28

Noah.

The bombshell of news hit me like a freight train, so heavy that I felt as if I was being crushed under its weight. She’s losing her memory?! What does that even mean?! Could I really lose the only one I have ever dreamed of? The one I love so deeply? My heart raced as I grappled with the terrifying possibility that she might forget me, us, everything we had shared. The thought was unbearable, the kind of dread that gnawed at my insides, leaving me feeling hollow and terrified.

I found myself clutching my hair in frustration, pacing back and forth in the room like a caged animal, breathless with panic. I could feel the walls closing in around me, the air thick with unspoken fears. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me with those wide, expressive eyes that seemed to hold both fear and strength. What should I do now? What was the meaning of all my wealth and success if it couldn't save her? My heart was bleeding from the deep aches that had taken residence inside me. My mind screamed from the agony of uncertainty. Should I hug her now and comfort her? But did she even need comfort, or was I the one who needed it?

Actually, I was the one who felt shattered, lost, and utterly weak. I wanted to cry heavily, to let the tears flow like a river, but I was scared. Yes, scared! Scared of losing her! What if she woke up one day and had completely forgotten about me? About our love, our moments, our dreams? The thought of her not remembering our laughter, our shared glances, the quiet moments that had meant everything—it was too much to bear.

“Noahhhhhhhhhhh! Stop now. Don’t act childish,” she hollered suddenly, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts and freezing me in my tracks.

I gulped and turned my head slowly to face her, feeling the weight of my emotions pressing down on me. I felt like a child caught doing something wrong, unable to look directly into her eyes, the shame of my despair washing over me.

“Noah, I won’t forget your love. I’m sure that if I forget everything else, I won’t be able to forget your love. So all you need to do now is to love me hard. Could you do that? Make memories with me?” she exhaled deeply, inhaling loudly afterward. Her words were like a lifeline thrown into the tumultuous sea of my thoughts. She looked terrified, yet she was putting on a brave face, a mask of strength that made my heart ache even more.

Beating, beating, beating—that was the sound of my heart drumming like a thousand hammers striking one after another, a chaotic rhythm that echoed my tumultuous feelings. 'What happened to me? What did she do to me? I want to cry. I can’t breathe.'

I stepped closer to her, kneeling down to her legs, feeling the weight of my emotions pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. “I—I will do everything to make our memories stick in your brain forever,” I stuttered, shivering with the intensity of the moment. Then, I hugged her tightly around her waist, seeking solace in her warmth, the contact grounding me in the storm of my emotions.

She pressed my head to her chest, running her fingers through my hair, and began to sing to me sweetly, her voice soothing my frayed nerves like a balm. “If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I’ll go, but I know I’ll think of you every step of the way. And I will always love you. I will always love you. You, my darling, you. Hmm. Bittersweet memories, that is all I’m taking with me. So, goodbye. Please, don’t cry. We both know I’m not what you, you need.”

I hopped up off the floor, shuddering with emotion, and cleared my throat, gazing at her with desperate eyes filled with unshed tears. “What are you saying this for?! No, you are not going anywhere. Please,” I pleaded, my voice breaking, the rawness of my emotion spilling out.

She stood up and slowly rotated around me, her eyes piercing into mine like daggers. “Then be a man! The man I met. The ruthless one. Stay next to me and don’t cry. Live with me every day as if it’s my last day. Encourage me to stay alive,” she said firmly, her voice steady despite the underlying fear I could sense, a tremor that betrayed her strong facade.

I nodded, and for the first time in my life, tears fell freely down my cheeks. I sobbed like a child, overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation. “I will always be next to you. Like your shadow. For the last breath of mine,” I promised, my voice heavy with emotion, the sincerity of my vow echoing in the air between us.

She pulled her head back slightly, wiping my tears with her sweet palm, her touch gentle and tender. “Shush, don’t cry. I won’t die now. And stop squeezing me so tightly; you will break my bones this way,” she teased, trying to break the tension between us, and I chuckled in response, grateful for her attempt to lighten the moment.

“Now, I want a tattoo, seriously,” she blurted out, her tone suddenly lighthearted, as if she were trying to distract us both from the gravity of our conversation.

“But you hate the pain,” I furrowed my brows, concern etched on my face as I thought about her well-being.

“Idiot, it will be easier than what you did to me in the shower yesterday,” she mumbled, playfully raising and lowering her brows, teasing me with that sparkle in her eye that I loved so much.

I scratched the back of my neck, feeling the weight of her request and the implications behind it. “Yes, sorry. But explain to me. Please,” I urged, wanting to understand her better, to connect with her on a deeper level.

“Why are you turning into a dumbass?! Where’s my smart Noah?! I didn’t think that love would turn you into a stupid person,” she pouted, her playful expression making my heart swell with affection and warmth.

I scrunched my nose, trying to maintain my seriousness in the face of her teasing. “Seriously, don’t make fun of me. Tell me why you need a tattoo. Is it to write this line on your hand?” I asked her, my curiosity piqued, wanting to understand the significance of her request.

She nodded slowly, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. “Sort of. You will know later. Now I want to take a nap. But please bring someone tonight to do this tattoo for me. And I also want to ask you to hire more guards to be close to me,” she said, her tone shifting to one of seriousness.

I cleared my throat, determined to keep her safe and secure. “That’s for sure. I won’t leave you for a second either. I will always wrap my arms around you. I’ll be like glue,” I promised, my voice firm and resolute, the weight of my commitment hanging in the air.

“You can’t. You have your own business, and you just can’t take me wherever you go. Soon I will look like a balloon with a huge stomach, and I won’t be able to walk at all. So all we need is more guards, that’s all. Think wisely,” she said, moving her hands to my cheeks and kissing my lips softly, her affection grounding me.

“Okay, we will discuss it later. But until that day comes, I will be like your shadow. Your backbone. The blood that floods your body. We will make our own memories. Don’t be afraid, cry and scream, and I will always support you,” I whispered sweetly, reassuring her that she was never alone.

Then I gently carried her to the bed, kissing her forehead softly. “Now, sleep, honey. I will manage everything while you rest,” I said, my heart swelling with love for her, the weight of my promise settling in my chest.

She nodded and pulled my hand to her mouth, placing a soft kiss on it. “Thank you, Noah, for being in my life.” Then she fell asleep like an angel, her face peaceful and serene, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

I left the room but commanded the personal assistants I had hired for her to go inside and watch over her. I instructed some of the guards to remain outside the room, ensuring she was safe at all times, my protective instincts kicking into overdrive.

I stormed out of the villa and made my way to my office in the resort, which I owned, of course. I began to write down a program, but this time it was new. It wasn’t just for the vacation; it was for our lifetime together. There were too many things we needed to do together, and I wanted to do everything with her, to create a life filled with love and memories that we could cherish forever.

I remembered when we first started dating. She had been angry at that time, scolding me that being in a relationship meant we should share everything together—go shopping together, sleep together at the same time, eat together. I had decided to take things step by step, moment by moment, alongside her, savoring every little detail of our time together.

But first, I commanded the manager of the resort to find someone to do the tattoo for her. He managed to arrange that quickly, understanding the urgency and the importance of the task.

I called Steven back, and he answered on the first ring. “Steven, I want you to come over here. To France immediately,” I said, urgency palpable in my voice.

“Okay, but why? Did something happen to her?” he asked, his tone trembling with concern, the weight of my words sinking in.

I sighed, trying to keep my composure in the face of the swirling emotions. “No, but I’ve decided to bring all of her books to life. As novels and as movies. Don’t be late. This will be the biggest production ever,” I declared, determination fueling my words.

“Making her everywhere to find her way back to you again! That’s a fantastic idea. I will be there in the morning,” Steven praised my vision before hanging up, leaving me with a sense of anticipation and excitement.

In that moment, I put down all the things I wanted to do with her, dreaming of a future filled with love and memories. Just then, the manager arrived with the tattoo artist. I walked ahead, and he followed me to our villa, my heart racing with anticipation.

'I wonder what she will choose to draw?' I thought, excitement bubbling inside me as I envisioned the possibilities.