He Lost His Memory In A Crash, Then A Small-Town Woman’s Kindness Changed His Life
Chapter 4
Michael returned the next morning.
This time, he brought photographs and corporate records.
Alexander studied them.
His face appeared on magazine covers.
ALEXANDER REED — THE MAN WHO BUILT A BILLION-DOLLAR EMPIRE
Emma read the headline.
“Apparently you were important.”
Alexander frowned.
“Apparently.”
The more he saw, the stranger he felt.
Luxury apartments.
Business conferences.
Expensive cars.
Private clubs.
None of it felt like him.
Michael noticed.
“You worked sixteen-hour days.”
“For what?”
“The company.”
Alexander stared.
“Why?”
Michael smiled.
“Because you wanted to be the best.”
Alexander looked at Emma.
She was standing in the kitchen making pancakes.
Michael followed his gaze.
“She helped you?”
“She saved my life.”
Michael nodded.
“I’ve never seen you stay anywhere this long.”
Alexander looked at him.
“I don’t remember wanting to.”
Michael hesitated.
“There is someone else who should know you’re alive.”
“Who?”
“Your fiancée.”
Emma’s hand stopped.
Alexander looked confused.
“My what?”
Michael showed him a photograph.
A beautiful woman in a white dress stood beside him.
Her name was Sophia Bennett.
They were engaged.
Alexander stared.
“I don’t remember her.”
“You will.”
Maybe.
Or maybe he wouldn’t.
Michael left.
Alexander remained at the table.
Emma quietly continued making pancakes.
“Your fiancée seems beautiful.”
“She is.”
“Then you should go back.”
He looked at her.
“Do you want me to?”
Emma smiled.
“That’s not the question.”
“It is for me.”
“Why?”
“Because every time I think about returning, I feel like I’m leaving something behind.”
Emma looked away.
“What?”
He didn’t answer.
The next day, Sophia arrived.
She stepped out of a black luxury car.
She looked elegant.
Controlled.
Perfect.
When she saw Alexander, she ran to him.
She hugged him tightly.
“You’re alive.”
Alexander stood stiffly.
“I’m sorry.”
Sophia pulled back.
“What?”
“I don’t remember you.”
Her face changed.
“I know.”
She touched his face.
“The doctors said that could happen.”
Emma watched from the doorway.
Sophia noticed her.
“You must be Emma.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for taking care of him.”
Emma nodded.
Sophia turned toward Alexander.
“We need to go home.”
Alexander looked at Emma.
She smiled faintly.
“You should.”
He packed his bag.
Lily came downstairs.
She was nineteen and away at college, but she’d come home for the weekend.
“Are you leaving?”
Alexander nodded.
“I think so.”
Lily looked at him.
“You’ll come back?”
He smiled.
“I don’t know.”
She frowned.
“Dad always says people who matter shouldn’t disappear without saying goodbye.”
Alexander glanced at Emma.
“Your dad?”
“No.”
Lily smiled.
“Emma.”
Alexander laughed.
“You’re right.”
He turned toward Emma.
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
“For saving my life.”
“For helping me remember that being human doesn’t require remembering everything.”
Alexander left.
Emma stood on the porch long after the cars disappeared.
She told herself she was happy for him.
But that night, she realized something painful.
She had fallen in love with a man who didn’t remember loving her.
