Chapter 57 Chapter 57
Chapter Fifty Seven
Ariana held her phone tightly against her ear, pacing slowly across the small sitting room. She had been on this same call for almost thirty minutes, asking the same questions, hoping the doctor would suddenly give a different answer. But every sentence he said only made her heart sink even more.
“Ms. Ariana,” the doctor repeated patiently, “I’ve told you several times. Celine’s memory loss didn’t come from mild trauma. She survived something extremely severe… something most people don’t even wake up from.”
Ariana swallowed, her throat dry. “But you said there was a chance. You said maybe—”
“Yes, I said there is a possibility,” the doctor replied. “But it’s one out of ten. And even that depends on if she comes across something from her past. A person. A place. An object that hits those damaged areas the right way. Even so, it would take time. Maybe months. Maybe years. Or maybe not at all.”
Ariana closed her eyes. “So you mean she’s nev—”
“It’s not impossible,” he cut in. “I’m not saying she’ll never remember. I’m saying it will be very hard. Her brain is still recovering. She lost a large amount of blood that day. Some tissues were affected. And she’s living with a shock her mind hasn’t processed yet.”
Ariana pressed her hand to her forehead. “Doctor, please tell me the truth. Should I prepare for her to never gain her memory back?”
There was a long pause on the line.
Then the doctor said quietly, “Ariana, I’m sorry. But it’s better you prepare yourself. Don’t pressure her. Don’t remind her of anything you think she should remember. Let her heal in her own way.”
Ariana’s breath trembled. “Okay.”
“And please,” the doctor added, “make sure she takes her drugs. Her migraines will get worse if she skips them.”
“I understand.”
Just as she said that, she suddenly heard a loud sound a bag hitting the tiled floor.
Her heart stopped.
She turned immediately.
Celine was standing behind her, eyes wide, her breathing unsteady.
Ariana froze. She didn’t know how long Celine had been standing there.
The doctor was still talking, but Ariana quickly hung up. She forced a small smile and wiped her face as if nothing happened.
“You’re back early,” she said, her voice shaking just a little, but she tried to hide it.
Celine blinked slowly. “Yeah… I wasn’t feeling so strong. Mr. Castellan asked me to go home earlier. He didn’t want me to stay long at the office.”
Ariana nodded, trying to compose herself. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Just tired,” Celine replied as she bent down to pick her bag. “My head was spinning earlier. I didn’t want to faint at work again.”
Ariana stepped closer, checking her forehead like a mother would. “You should rest. Did you eat anything since morning?”
“Only breakfast,” Celine said. “Work piled up fast today.”
“Yes, because you never rest,” Ariana said softly. “Celine, you need to slow down. Why didn’t you call me when you felt dizzy?”
Celine sat on the nearest couch. “I didn’t want to bother you. And it wasn’t that serious.”
Ariana sighed deeply. “Everything with your health is serious. Don’t forget what the doctor said last month.”
Celine gave a small smile. “I remember.”
Ariana nodded again. She didn’t know what else to say. She was still thinking about the phone call… and the possibility that Celine heard everything.
But Celine continued talking like she didn’t hear anything.
“We had a lot of work today. HR kept sending files. And I had to go downstairs so many times,” she said, rubbing her forehead.
“I told you to take your drugs this morning,” Ariana said, her voice soft but worried. “You don’t listen.”
Celine managed a small smile. “I forgot. I was rushing.”
“You’re always rushing,” Ariana murmured.
Celine rubbed her forehead gently. “I’ll rest when I get to my room. I just need a minute here.”
Ariana sat beside her. “Do you want water?”
Celine shook her head. “Not now.”
There was silence between them for a short moment. A calm one. Celine leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes as if the quiet eased her headache.
Ariana watched her closely, her heart heavy with fear. What if she really never remembered anything?
Celine opened her eyes slowly. “Ariana?”
“Yes?”
“You looked stressed when I came in. Did something happen?”
Ariana’s breath caught. She forced herself to look relaxed. “Nothing happened. I was just making some calls. You know how bills are.”
Celine stared at her for a few seconds. Then nodded. “Okay.”
She tried to stand, but her legs wobbled a little.
“Easy,” Ariana said quickly, holding her arm. “You shouldn’t push yourself. Go and lie down.”
Celine gave her a tired smile. “I will. Goodnight, Ariana.”
“Goodnight, my dear.”
Celine walked slowly to her room, opening the door q
uietly. She didn’t look back. She didn’t ask about the phone call again.
But once the door closed behind her, Ariana pressed both hands against her face and exhaled shakily.