Chapter 1

My husband lost his memory.

But instead of forgetting everything, he woke up believing he was his deceased older brother, Travis.

Not only did he treat me like his brother's widow, but he also took his former sister-in-law, Joy, as his own wife.

He even brought her into our marital home, shamelessly messing around in our bedroom.

Looking at the intimate toys scattered across the hardwood floor, I completely broke down.

Yet Tyler only looked at me with cold, detached eyes.

"Chloe, I know Travis is dead, and I know you're grieving," he said, his voice completely flat. "But you can't just pretend I'm your husband because you miss him."

"Stop bothering me. Joy won't like it if she sees you here."

To teach me a "lesson," he had even abandoned me in the middle of nowhere, miles away from the city.

I had to walk all the way back in the dark.

When I finally dragged my bruised, exhausted body back to the house, I overheard him laughing and talking with his friends in the lounge.

"So Chloe still hasn't given up?"

"Man, she has a high tolerance. You only married her to get Vance Enterprises' backing, but you couldn't bear to see Joy marry anyone else."

"So you faked amnesia after your brother's death just to take over his identity. Tyler, aren't you afraid of taking this game too far? What if Chloe leaves you for good?"

Tyler swirled the amber liquid in his glass, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Why should I be scared? She loves me too much. She'll never leave."

"Besides, Joy has been lonely for so many years. What's wrong with me comforting her for a little while longer?"

My heart turned to ash.

The so-called amnesia was nothing but a carefully orchestrated lie.

I wiped my tears, turned around, and dialed my parents' number.

"I've made up my mind," I said, my voice steady.

"Tyler is dead to me."

"I'm ready to come home and marry whoever you choose."

When I hung up the phone, Tyler's voice cut through the quiet hallway.

I turned around and realized he had been standing by the VIP lounge door for God knows how long.

His eyebrows were knit tight, his face twisted in annoyance.

"Chloe, why are you here again?!"

"I've told you a thousand times, I am not your husband! When are you going to stop stalking me?"

"If you're really that lonely, go find someone else. How am I supposed to explain this to Joy?"

Looking at this man, a wave of bitter disappointment washed over me.

For all these years, I had stood by his side, helping him build his empire from scratch.

When he was hospitalized, I was the one who stayed by his bedside, caring for him day and night until my own health deteriorated.

When his company was on the brink of bankruptcy, I begged my father for days, pledging my own inheritance just to secure the millions in funding that saved him.

Now, looking back, my devotion felt like a massive, pathetic joke.

My voice trembled, tears finally spilling over.

"Tyler! Do you have any idea how many miles I had to walk alone in the freezing cold just to get back here?"

"And when you were gravely ill, I flew in top specialists from all over the world to save your life!"

"How could you do this to me..."

Before I could finish, Tyler cut me off with an impatient wave of his hand.

"I didn't ask you to do any of that. None of it is my problem."

"And stop calling me Tyler."

"Believe it or not, I am Travis!"

My tears fell silently, the crushing pain in my chest making it hard to breathe.

Seeing my silence, Tyler's frown deepened, his tone growing even colder.

"Chloe, stop playing the victim. I don't need your sacrifices."

Just then, Joy rushed over, grabbing Tyler's sleeve before looking at me with a face full of grievance.

"Chloe, please stop forcing him!"

"It's all my fault. I couldn't control my own feelings! I craved his warmth. If you want to blame someone, blame me!"

"If my presence makes you unhappy, I'll leave! I'll step aside to make you happy! I'll go right now!"

She made a dramatic show of turning to leave, and Tyler instantly panicked.

"Joy, don't go! I won't let you!"

He pulled her back, glaring at me. "Chloe is the one who keeps harassing me. She's the one acting like a pathetic parasite! She's the one who should get lost!"

Joy shook her head gently, her eyes brimming with tears.

"But I don't want to be the reason Chloe is sad."

"Just... if I really do leave, you won't forget me, right?"

Tyler's face darkened instantly.

The look he shot me was filled with pure hatred.