Ethan drove out to see his brother, Nathan, to drop off some of the fresh farm produce he often used to spoil him.
Nathan was a doctor at the local hospital and spent most of his waking hours at work. Ethan, on the other hand, lived out in the country, running a small farm. He was happy—or at least as happy as a man could be after being deserted with two one-year-old twin boys.
He had finished his delivery rounds to the local shops and swung by his brother's place to stock up his fridge. Chloe, Nathan's wife, and their little daughter, Mia, greeted Ethan warmly. They managed to talk him into staying for at least half an hour for a cup of coffee, especially since Nathan was expected home any minute.
Sure enough, Nathan arrived shortly after, and the whole family gathered around the table.
"Who's watching the boys?" Chloe asked Ethan.
"Mrs. Gable, my neighbor. she helps me out whenever I have to head into town."
"I see. Still no word from Sarah?" Chloe shook her head. "I can't imagine how someone could just walk away from their own children. How long has it been now?"
"Three months. But let's not talk about that," Ethan said, turning to his brother. "How's everything at the hospital?"
"Same as always," Nathan said, pouring more coffee. Then he suddenly smiled. "Actually, no, not quite. We admitted a woman a while back with multiple bruises. Nothing life-threatening—she's physically recovered now—but she has total amnesia. She can't remember anyone or anything. She's even forgotten her own name. We put out a few notices, but no one has come forward. It's time to discharge her, but she obviously can't live at the hospital."
"That's incredible," Chloe said, leaning in. "How old is she?"
"Roughly our age. Give or take a year or two."
"How did she end up there?"
"Found on the side of the highway in the middle of the night. An elderly couple was driving home and saw her lying on the shoulder. I have a feeling she was pushed out of a moving car."
"Those poor folks were brave to stop," Chloe remarked. "Not everyone would these days, especially in a situation like that. Well, I'll leave you two to talk. Mia and I are going out to the yard to play."
Once they were alone, Nathan grew quiet for a moment before looking at his brother.
"Listen, why don't you take her in? Let her recover out in the fresh air. She could help you with the boys, too."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Why? I'm not asking you to marry her. Though, honestly, she's exactly my type. If it weren't for Chloe, I'd be first in line to ask her out."
"Drop it, Nathan. That's ridiculous."
"Come on, Ethan! What's ridiculous about it? Take her in; you won't regret it. Tell you what, let's go down there right now and you can meet her. Come on, let's go. You can give me a lift back to the ward anyway."
"If she doesn't remember her name, what do you call her?"
"Victoria. We tried an experiment—calling out different names to see if any rang a bell. 'Victoria' seemed to get a reaction. So, that's what we went with," Nathan explained as they drove toward the hospital.
"You know, if I were you, I'd have a little compassion," Nathan continued, pressing on his brother's well-known soft spot for people in trouble. "This poor woman might end up in another mess if she's left on her own. With you, she'll be safe. You're a big guy; you can look out for her. Just think about it. I'm not forcing you, it's your call."
As they walked down the hospital path, they saw a woman—not very tall, a bit curvy, but very striking. Nathan called out immediately.
"Victoria! Good afternoon! Look who I brought to see you. This is your husband, Ethan."
Ethan nearly choked. "Are you insane?" he hissed at his brother. "What kind of joke is this?"
But Victoria had already walked up to him, searching his eyes with an intense, hopeful gaze.
"Is it true?" she whispered. There was so much longing and anxiety in her eyes that Ethan found himself slowly nodding. She leaned her head against his shoulder and pleaded, "Please, take me home. I want to go home."
"Well, that settles it," Nathan chimed in. "Off you go. Besides, the kids are waiting for you."
"Kids? I have children?" Her eyes widened in astonishment.
"Yes, two boys. Alex and Ben. Twins." Nathan began nudging Victoria and Ethan toward the truck. "Go on now. I'll bring all the paperwork by your place tomorrow myself."
"Don't you dare show your face!" Ethan hissed again, horrified by the lie they were now both living. "I'll kill you!"
Nathan just laughed. "No, you won't! God bless you both. Now, get moving!"
***
Several times during the drive, Ethan wanted to confess the truth to Victoria. But she was so genuinely happy to have a home again, and she asked about the boys with such warmth, that he couldn't bring himself to do it. He stayed silent, worrying only about what would happen when the truth finally came out.
Victoria, meanwhile, was thinking about how she would have to get used to everything again. She hoped that seeing familiar walls would bring her memory back.
She truly remembered nothing. Not that she came from a wealthy family, nor that three years ago she had married a successful businessman named Victor. She didn't remember that her husband was the reason for her accident.
Victoria—and that really was her name—had desperately wanted children but had struggled to conceive for a long time. Finally, she had succeeded. She had been overjoyed and couldn't wait for Victor to come home so she could tell him. He did come home, but only to announce he was leaving her.
"I love someone else. She's pregnant with my son. Honestly, my parents pressured me into marrying you. I've always loved her. The divorce will be quick. We don't have kids, and—"
"We do," she had interrupted. "We're going to have a baby! I'm pregnant! You're a monster! A monster!" she screamed. "And your mistress is just as bad!"
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Victor called an ambulance. A couple of days later, he was driving her home. They were silent until Victor mentioned he had already packed his bags. Victoria started crying again. A bitter argument broke out. She demanded he stop the car, but he wouldn't listen. She cracked the door open, thinking he would slow down. Instead, a gust of wind caught the door, flung it wide, and Victoria lost her balance and fell out of the moving vehicle.
At first, Victor didn't even realize what had happened. When he did, he slammed on the brakes and ran back to her. She was lying motionless, a small pool of blood forming near her head. Terrified, Victor panicked. He ran back to his car and sped away, certain she was dead.
He went home, threw his things into the car, and went on the run, hoping no one would link him to the scene. He lived in a different state for a while, waiting every day for the police to find him. But as time passed and everything remained quiet, he eventually calmed down and returned to his mistress, never knowing what had truly become of his wife.
***
In the meantime, she was living with Ethan and his sons. She was saddened that her memory hadn't returned, but within a couple of days, she had become so attached to the boys that she felt like their mother.
She and Ethan lived as dear friends. He helped her with everything and made sure she was comfortable; she did the same for him. Victoria was an excellent cook, and the work in the kitchen brought her great joy. She had fully recovered physically and felt wonderful.
Only one thing troubled her—her husband showed no romantic interest in her. They had lived together for months like a real family. One evening, after putting the toddlers to bed, Victoria walked up to Ethan and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Don't you miss me at all? Or have I done something to upset you?" She sat down beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Ethan gritted his teeth. He had been fighting his own feelings for a long time, but he couldn't bring himself to push the lie any further. He gently took her hands and said, "Listen, Victoria, I have to tell you something."
But she placed a finger over his lips, took his hand, and led him away. All the barriers Ethan had built collapsed in an instant, and Victoria seemed to have been waiting for exactly that, holding and kissing him.
From then on, they were a real couple, happy and in love. One day, while Victoria was playing with the boys in the garden, a woman appeared on the path leading from the gate. she walked up to Victoria, her head held high in a condescending manner.
"Who are you? And what are you doing with my sons? Alex, Ben, come here to Mommy!" But the boys shrank back behind Victoria.
Ethan heard the voice and stepped outside, freezing in his tracks. Standing there was his actual wife, Sarah.
"What are you doing here?" he began. "Who invited you? Get out!"
"In case you forgot, this is my house and these are my children. And you're still my husband. We never actually filed for divorce, remember?"
"Ethan? What is she talking about?" Victoria stood up and walked toward him. "And what about me? Have you been lying to me? This whole time?"
"Victoria, I can explain everything!"
"Explain it. Now." He walked over to Sarah, led her back out the gate, and locked it. Ignoring the woman's shouting, he walked back to the house.
"Victoria," he said, taking her hand. "Listen, I'll tell you everything. But you have to know that I love you. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone."
Ethan took a deep breath and told her the whole story. Victoria listened in silence. He continued, "Nathan said you were likely thrown from a car, and I thought—"
"What did you say? Say that again!"
"That you were likely thrown from a car," Ethan repeated, looking at her face with concern. Victoria's gaze began to wander. Everything came rushing back.
"Yes. It was my husband. Victor. The baby!" Victoria suddenly clutched her stomach. "I lost the baby!" She turned pale and slowly began to sink toward the ground.
***
Ethan, terrified, called for an ambulance. Soon, Victoria was back in a hospital bed. Ethan stood by her side with his head hanging low as Nathan walked into the room.
"What's happening to me?" she asked the doctor.
"Everything is fine. Victoria, you're pregnant."
"That can't be. I remember now... I remember losing the baby."
"Then it seems life has given you another chance. Take care of yourself. I'll leave you two alone now."
"You should go too," Victoria said, looking at Ethan. "I need to be alone for a while. Don't wait for me. Go home, the boys are waiting for you."
Ethan left. He was determined to earn her forgiveness eventually, but he knew she needed space. When he checked back that evening, Victoria was gone. She had checked herself out.
Ethan was alone again. What was worse was that the boys kept asking for their mother, and he didn't know what to tell them.
***
A month passed. One day, a car pulled up to Ethan's house and Victoria stepped out. Ethan wasn't home; he was out on his delivery rounds.
The twins were there with Mrs. Gable. Victoria sent the neighbor home and took over the household chores—she fed the boys, played with them, put them down for a nap, and started a load of laundry.
Ethan arrived a little while later. He walked up the path, his head bowed gloomily. He had spent the day tracking down Victoria's old house to beg for her forgiveness, but the neighbors told him the house had been sold and the owner had moved away. He was certain he had lost her forever.
Suddenly, the porch door swung open and Victoria—his Victoria—stepped out to meet him. He rushed to her, swept her up in his arms, babbling apologies and kissing her, while she laughed happily.
Later, she told him she had only gone back to her old life to sell the house and finalize a divorce. She had succeeded. Victor hadn't put up a fight because she had threatened him with a lawsuit for what he'd done. The house had always been in her name, so the sale was simple. She had come back to her real family, intending never to leave again.
Before long, Ethan and Victoria had a daughter, and the happy parents couldn't have been more proud of their children. They knew that from here on out, everything would be just fine.
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