n

n

nCassidy feels like her mind blew at that very second.

nThunderstruck from head to toe, she just looked at the doctor as if he grew two heads, eyes as wide as saucers. Only then did everything sink in her - the unfamiliar faces, this thick bandage wrapped around her forehead, and the fact that she clearly received more than a beating.

nAfter all, Cassidy has always been proud of her impressive fighting prowess. She has a reputation as the most dreaded contender in any gang fight in their town, and she always wins in every face-to-face match.

nThat's why she couldn't possibly receive so severe of an injury that she'd end up in a hospital. Furthermore, she doesn't even recall getting in that fight to begin with. She only remembers that she was challenged.

n

"I... lost my memories...?

" Cassidy breathed out in evident disbelief, her face turning pale.

n

"Yes... I believe this is what we call retrograde amnesia. You received a traumatic injury on your head that caused death-dealing damages on various regions of your brain. Consequently, you lost the memories you formed before the onset of the amnesia - specifically, those memories you had past the age of eighteen,

" Gilmore explained as thoroughly as he could.

nBut then, she isn't over processing the fact that she lost her memories yet, which is why she didn't understand a single thing that he said. In short, he just wasted his breath.

n

"I lost my memories?!

" Cassidy then bolted out again, looking utterly provoked as she grabbed his collar and threatened to punch him all of the sudden.

n

"I just said you did. Are you deaf or something?

" Gilmore retorted nonchalantly, mustering the same matter-of-factly response she gave to Charles earlier.

n

"What the heck...?! H-How...?! Wait, or maybe... you're just lying?!

"

n

"Why would I go through such trouble? I wouldn't even get a single penny by doing so-

"

n

"Indeed, indeed, you wouldn't...

" she contemplated out loud while nodding until she suddenly thought of something dumb again.

n

"Unless you actually kidnapped me to take my kidney and sell it online! Maybe you'd even take all of my other organs while you're at it! You'd get more than a penny by doing so!

"

nEighteen-year-old Cassidy sure has quite the imagination.

nDespite his rioting and unsettling emotions at the moment, Adrian finally decided to step in, no longer able to bear seeing how his wife dives deeper in insanity. Though he heard the doctor's explanation about her having amnesia and what kind it is - concise and clear even, he still finds it hard to believe that this is still Cassidy nonetheless.

nNot even a single trace of that refined woman can be found in this unpredictable girl anymore. Rather than losing her memories, it's almost as if a different soul is possessing his wife's body.

n

"Doctor, I think you've done enough here. This one now is something that a family has to handle,

" Adrian chimed in, trying to ignore the lingering pain on his face as much as he could.

n

"Oh, yes, Mr. Millicent...

" Gilmore trailed off before backing away and stepping aside.

n

"I'll give you the test results later today, President. For now, though, it'll be best to let Mrs. Millicent have more rest. Please take your time explaining and do things slowly.

"

n

"Wait, gramps...!

" Cassidy then called out of nowhere, taking both of them aback.

n

"Who is this person, by the way?

"

nNot only did she just call a world-renowned and widely acclaimed doctor that way, but she's also shooting her mouth off quite impudently to an influential and powerful figure who just happened to be her most beloved husband either. With this thought in mind, the other spectators inside the room only look at her with surprise and incredulity.

n

"I really thought that he's this gangster at school who skated over my hotdog sandwich that fell on the floor the other day, and I was just planning to eat it even then,

" Cassidy continued with her arms crossed and a brow arched in suspicion, spouting out another random memory and dumbfounding everyone again.

n

"W-Well, ummm... To start it off, Ma'am, he is no gangster. Does he look like one to begin with?

" Gilmore started again as calm as he could to which she just tilted her head quizzically.

n

"Hmmm... Now that you said it, he looks... too neat and tidy to be one, I think? He's also super handsome, but not really my type.

"

nThen, silence.

nOut of all the things she said today, this one really took the whole cake.

nCassidy, who is known to be so head-over-heels in love with her husband that she might as well be worshipping him like a god, just declared that Adrian isn't her type after all. Charles couldn't help but gawk and shudder in astonishment at just the thought alone, thinking that this isn't his boss' sickeningly sweet partner at all.

n

"I'm... not your type?

" Adrian absentmindedly blurted out as if realizing something mind-bloggling, taking everyone aback even more.

n

"Yeah, you're not... Why? Do you need to be?

" Cassidy really had to retort for no good reason - it's as if her husband was still not immensely shell-shocked at this point.

n

"U-Ummmm, please excuse me, Ma'am Cassidy...

" Charles chimed in, finally deciding to join the heating exchange.

n

"But this man, Mr. Adrian Millicent, is your husband.

"

nThen, she paused.

nFor a few seconds, Cassidy only blinks at them in nonplus, letting the revelation register in her head. That's until she bursts in a fit of laughter out of nowhere, catching them off guard.

n

"Pfffftttt...! You gotta be kidding me...!

" she exclaimed mirthfully, flipping over from laughing too much.

n

"Okay, okay... Let's just say that I indeed lost my memories, but that doesn't mean I also don't know myself anymore. I mean, I'm sure that I could never marry this... kind of man.

"

nYet again, she just dropped another bomb.

nAlready miffed by how she kept running her mouth like this - spouting out the unthinkable and playing around despite how serious the situation is, Adrian can't help but scrunch his brows together and heave a sigh. He feels like Cassidy is really pushing his buttons at this point.

nHe feels angry for some reason.

n

"I'll show you the marriage certificate or whatever if you want,

" he started again with a hooded expression on his face, voice tyrannical and steely.

n

"Huh?

"

n

"If you're still dubious about every single thing, I'll show you evidences, so stop acting like this situation is something so light that you can just say everything you please. You already made enough trouble for getting in that plane crash.

"

n

"Wait, what? Why do you sound like I made a transgression-

"

n

"Since you don't remember, I'll just remind you now - you're already twenty six years old for goodness sake. You have to stop acting this childish whether you like it or not. Stop being such a headache already.

"

nHearing such cold words from the man who claimed himself to be her lover, Cassidy finds herself freezing on her spot, feeling like a blizzard just passed through.

nIt's a reaction that's against her will, though. She shouldn't be fearing anyone this much. But for some reason, it's almost as if this is already out of reflex.

nCassidy feels like her body has already gotten used to this kinds of reactions - almost as if this man has quite a huge influence on her.

n