Sun rays filtered into the hospital room through the window. Vivian sat on the edge of the bed, holding a plate of grapes. She wore a pale hospital gown.
She popped one grape into her mouth and chewed slowly as she watched the young lady in front of her who was staring at her cautiously.
Vivian lifted a brow lazily, swallowed, and said, "Are you just going to keep staring at me?"
The girl nodded, then shook her head. Vivian sighed, adjusted on her bed, and stared into her plate.
When she lifted her head to find the girl pointing an index finger at herself, a tentative smile played at the sides of her cheeks.
Several seconds passed, but the girl didn't speak, so Vivian asked, "What is it you want to ask?"
The girl's finger quickly moved to her bag, "Do you remember this bag?" She asked Vivian.
Vivian stared at her as if she had lost her senses and threw another grape in her mouth.
She tilted her head to the side and inhaled softly. Was Renee trying to test her or what?
"That's a Birkin," she stated plainly, but the girl's eyes told her she wanted more. "I got you that bag as a gift on our second-year anniversary." She frowned, "Ren, don't waste my time with stupid questions."
Renee didn't mind her cold tone. She leaped to her feet immediately, crossed the space between them, and flung her hand over Vivian's neck.
Vivian was startled. She had not expected such a reaction from Renee. She tried to free herself from the hug but couldn't.
"You truly remember me," Renee's voice broke mid-sentence, giving away the tears she was trying to hide.
Vivian tapped her hand twice, "Get off me."
She has never been a fan of physical touch, even from those who were close to her. There were only a few people she allowed to get this close to her.
"Oh, I'm sorry I got carried away," Renee said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"I thought you weren't going to remember me." She paused, accessed Vivian's face before she continued, "You heard what the doctor said."
Vivian rolled her eyes. Of course, she remembered; how could she forget the doctor's words?
Five days ago, Vivian was rushed into this hospital after slipping in front of a grocery shop. She had hit her head on a curb and lost consciousness.
She remained unconscious for three days and only regained consciousness two days ago.
Renee, her P.A., was called in as she was the second emergency contact on Vivian's phone after her husband.
The doctor had told them that the fall had aggravated the scar tissue from her previous brain tumor surgery, triggering a condition called retrograde amnesia.
The damage caused her to lose all memory of the past five years of her life.
Vivian did not allow that to bother her. She was never one to worry about things she couldn't fix.
Besides, the doctor had said she would slowly regain her memories if she was given the best treatment.
While Renee was basking in the fact that her boss didn't forget her, Vivian set the now-empty plate on the nightstand beside her bed and straightened.
Seeing this, Renee became alarmed. She knew that posture.
Vivian pushed some strands of hair off her face, tucked them neatly behind her ear, and passed her tongue over her lower lips to wet them.
Then, she shifted her eyes to Renee. "Now, the report."
Renee looked at her, confusion etched on her brows, "What report?"
A crease appeared between Vivian's brows, "Ren, how many times have I told you that work always comes first before jokes? I've been here for the past five days. I need reports, updates on projects. My company doesn't run itself." She lectured.
Pride dripped from her voice when she said the words, 'My Company.'
Vale Synergy Ltd. is her pride. It was a reflection of her sweat, blood, and sleepless nights.
Renee blinked twice, staring straight at Vivian as though she couldn't understand a word she said.
Vivian pressed her lips into a thin line, willing herself to stay calm and think of her health. "Ren, don't make me repeat myself."
"Ma'am… hmm…" Renee bit her lower lip, not sure what to say. Vivian has never asked for any report about her company for the past three years.
Did her amnesia suddenly make her take an interest in her company again?
"Speak!" Vivian snapped, interrupting Renee's thoughts.
"I didn't come with any report."
Vivian's eyes narrowed. She hired Renee because she was just like her, smart, hardworking, driven, and passionate. Did she slack off in just a few days?
"Why?" she questioned.
"I didn't think you'd ask for them?"
"Because I'm in the hospital? Do you think my head injury will prevent me from working on the projects we should be working on?"
Although she couldn't remember any project they were working on, she could guess that there were a lot as always.
Renee bit the inside of her mouth as she shook her head, "That's not the reason." She paused and averted her gaze, unable to hold Vivian's fierce gaze.
"It's just that you've never requested an update for over three years." She lowered her eyes and stared at her nails, "plus, there's currently no project. There hasn't been any for over three months now."
Vivian stared at her, waiting for her to say it's a joke, but she didn't.
"What do you mean?" She shifted out of the bed.
"You haven't been active in the company since you got married."
"Mar… what?" Vivian asked, staring at Renee as if she just stated the most ridiculous thing in the world.
Suddenly, she let out a humorless laugh. "If you're trying to pull my legs, you almost got me."
But Renee wasn't smiling. "I'm serious, ma'am. You are married. You have a husband." Renee said, her eyes moving to Vivian's finger where a ring settled on her left marriage finger.
"That's impossible." Vivian scoffed, her eyes bouncing back and forth between Renee's face and her finger. "You're taking this joke too far."
'If I have a husband, then he would be here with me in the hospital, right?' Vivian thought. Then concluded that Renee was lying to her.
Renee pulled out a phone from her purse. It's Vivian's phone she kept after her accident. She turned it on and handed it to her. "Here, check your phone."
When Vivian's eyes landed on the wallpaper of her phone, it almost slid off her hands.
On the screen was Vivian, her hand wrapped over the neck of a man pulling him down as he kissed her.
Her lips shook as she struggled to form the right word. Was she truly married? She couldn't wrap her head around this.
She was a driven woman who would never mortgage her independence to any man.
Just then the phone beeped. She tapped on the message icon that appeared on her phone.
It was a message from a number saved as 'My world.'
Something curled under her skin as she stared at the name. She would never save any man's number in such a ridiculous way, nor would she add three heart emojis.
Her eyes moved down to read the message.
My world: "Vivian, where are you? No matter how far you try to put it off, you have to sign the divorce papers."
The phone beeped, another message entered.
My world: "I have the divorce papers, come sign it right now in my office.'
Vivian read the message twice. Then she looked up at Renee.
"Who is this man?"