After Amnesia, I Became Forever Out of His Reach

After a week in a coma caused by a car accident, Grace Miller's boyfriend, Leonard Stone, suddenly regained his memory.

During those seven endless days and nights, Grace had stayed by Leonard's bedside, barely eating or drinking.

Yet the first words Leonard spoke upon waking were not of gratitude, but a cold question.

"Why are you here? Where's Sylvia?"

He stared at Grace, whose face was pale and bruised from exhaustion, and said, "Everything that happened while I lost my memory wasn't what I truly wanted. From this moment on, you and I are done. Whatever we had-it doesn't count."

Grace trembled as though struck by lightning.

At that moment, friends who had heard about Leonard's recovery rushed into the ward, arms full of flowers that quickly crowded the room.

"Leonard, you're finally awake! Man, I thought you were a goner this time."

The one speaking was his childhood buddy, Julian Blake.

"Oh, stop it, you're such a pain." Sylvia Moore scolded in a sweet, coquettish tone, "Leonard finally woke up, and you're still making stupid jokes? Don't jinx it, seriously!"

She hurried over, dropping into a half squat before him.

Leonard reached out and gently touched her forehead. "I must have scared you. Sylvia, these past two years, I've made you angry so many times."

Sylvia's lips quivered, and her eyes brimmed with tears.

"Forget it, forget it. You've already been through a crash and ended up in the hospital-how could I still be mad? Just promise me you'll stay healthy, no more speeding, no more crazy stunts, and I'll thank my lucky stars."

Leonard gave her a faint, weary smile.

The atmosphere in the ward shifted instantly, like a glacier finally thawing-warm, light, and full of relief.

"Leonard, you don't even know-this hospital stay nearly scared Sylvia to death."

"Judging by the way you look, your memory's back, isn't it?"

"And Grace-"

The voice cut off abruptly.

By the time her name was spoken, Grace had already slipped quietly out of the ward.

During Leonard's coma, Grace had imagined countless possibilities. The only thing she had never considered was that the moment he opened his eyes, he would cast aside the two years they had shared-completely, as if they had never existed.

Just then, Grace heard someone speaking inside the ward.

"These past few days, Grace has worked herself to the bone-barely eating, barely sleeping, caring for you. She wiped your body, massaged your muscles. Without her, you wouldn't have recovered this fast. You owe her that much."

Grace's heart skipped a beat.

"Before the accident, you had even prepared for Grace-"

"That's enough. Don't say another word."

The voices in the ward were cut short.

Leonard's tone carried a trace of impatience. "I know I owe my recovery to Grace. From now on, I'll treat her well. As if she were my sister."

Grace felt as though her heart had been yanked high into the air, only to come crashing down.

Just a week ago, he had introduced her proudly, "This is Grace Miller, my fiancée."

And now, she had been reduced to nothing more than a "sister."

Grace forced a crooked, foolish smile.

She laughed at her own sorrow, and at her own naivety.

All this time, she had believed that two years of devotion could win his heart, only to realize that deep down, he still carried the woman who had once abandoned him.

Leonard and Sylvia had been childhood sweethearts, growing up side by side. Their marriage had seemed like a certainty, a future already written.

But then Sylvia fell for another man, insisted on breaking things off, and left the country to chase the one she loved.

On the day Sylvia left, Leonard sped recklessly toward the airport and crashed his car. When he opened his eyes again, Sylvia had been wiped clean from his memory.

And just like that, Grace finally had the chance to be alone with him.

At that time, Leonard was unbearably frail, his legs too damaged from the crash to support him.

After leaving the hospital, he unleashed his fury on Grace, even threatening to end his life.

Grace absorbed every wave of his darkness, carefully massaging him, helping him through the grueling rounds of rehabilitation.

Six months later, Leonard could stand. A few months after that, he could walk again.

The very first thing he did was scoop Grace into his arms and spin her round and round.

"Grace, thank you for always being by my side. You're the most important person in my life. I love you."

Tears of joy streamed down her face.

Even now, those sweet words still echoed in her ears.

Grace once believed Leonard would marry her, would make her his wife.

He had even promised her the grandest, most beautiful wedding she could ever dream of.

Laughter suddenly burst from the ward, dragging Grace out of her memories and back into reality.

Through the glass, she saw Leonard struggling to sit up, Sylvia's head pressed against his chest.

"That's enough. From now on, nobody's allowed to bring up Grace again, got it? Leonard really had it rough these past two years-lost his memory, and any woman could just squeeze her way into his life."

Grace then heard someone agree, "Sylvia's right. Now that Leonard's memory is back, he's the CEO of a public company. His wife can't be some nobody with no background, someone who offers nothing to his career."

"Besides, her scholarship back then was sponsored by the Stone Corporation. And she did take care of Leonard for two years. He doesn't owe her anything."

Voices overlapped in casual chatter, as if no one even noticed there was one less person in the room.

Grace felt as though an invisible hand had gripped her heart, squeezing so tight she could hardly breathe.

Just a few months ago, Sylvia had been abandoned by her fiancé abroad, and she rushed back to Leonard's side.

But Leonard, who had erased her entirely from his memory, gave her only one cold word, "Fuck off."

Then he turned his head away, refusing to look at her, while gripping Grace's hand tightly in his own.

Sylvia's eyes burned red.

"Grace, do you even know what this is? You took advantage of his weakness and destroyed my happiness! To win Leonard, you stooped to such despicable tricks-you'll pay for it one day!"

Grace didn't know if she had truly taken advantage of his weakness.

But what she did know now was that Leonard had regained his memory-and that he truly regretted it.

Sylvia had come back.

And as for her, the so-called "sister," it was time to step aside.

Walking out of the hospital, Grace picked up her phone and called the lab.

"Professor, are there still slots left for the trial? I want in."

Silence lingered on the other end.

After a long pause, Professor Henry Collins, Grace's mentor replied.

"Grace, have you really thought this through? Once you take this drug, there may be no turning back. These memories of yours will be erased completely, and then-"

"Professor, don't try to talk me out of it. My mind's made up."

Grace's mentor, Henry, was a renowned pharmacologist, and she had once been his most promising student.

A few months earlier, his research team had developed a new drug.

Its purpose was to help patients crippled by depression and unbearable pain caused by certain memories.

Once taken, those memories would gradually fade-erased piece by piece within ten days.

Many people signed up for the trial, but in the end, only a handful had the courage to actually swallow the pill.

"When you graduated, I asked you to join my team. But no-you just had to run off with Leonard, that useless brat!"

Henry looked at Grace's hollow expression, torn between anger and pity.

Grace gave a bitter laugh. "It's fine. Doesn't Professor always keep a cure for regret around?"

Back in graduate school, she had worked on countless projects under Henry's guidance, only to throw away her bright future for Leonard.

At the time, she believed every sacrifice for love was worth it.

But now, if she could choose again, she knew she would take another path.

Grace lowered her head, ready to take the pill.

Just then, the sharp chime of a reminder cut through the silence.

She glanced down at her phone-the note read, "Date with Leonard."

Only then did she remember-Leonard had told her he had a surprise planned.

And tomorrow was the day of that surprise.

Grace stared blankly at the restaurant address he had sent her.

The untouched pill lay cold and solitary in her palm, as if mocking her last-minute hesitation.

The next day, almost against her own will, Grace found herself at the restaurant.

"Hello, are you Miss Miller?"

"Mr. Stone booked the whole place two weeks ago. He said he wanted to give you an unforgettable memory."

Grace was led into a private room.

As the door swung open, she froze in place.

Before her eyes stretched a sea of roses, blazing like fire.

From the ceiling hung clusters of pink balloons, each with a tiny note tied beneath it.

Then the restaurant manager wheeled out a large cake, with a delicate jewelry box placed beside it.

"Miss Grace, Mr. Stone had planned a surprise for you, but we couldn't reach him today. Luckily you arrived first. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

Grace picked up the jewelry box from the tray and slowly opened it.

Inside, a dazzling diamond ring caught her eye.

In that instant, she remembered-it was their two-year anniversary.

She also recalled how Leonard had been unusually busy for days. Teasing him, she had asked if he was hiding something from her.

Leonard had rubbed his head against hers with a playful grin.

"It's a surprise. You'll know when the time comes."

Grace had never imagined the surprise would reveal itself this way.

It was the proposal he had so carefully planned.

She stood there dazed, as if her soul had slipped away, before she finally managed to take a step forward.

Just then, a burst of familiar, noisy voices came from outside.

"Are you nuts? Leonard hasn't even been discharged yet, and you're already wheeling him around."

"So what? We're just celebrating early."

"Exactly-celebrating his recovery, his memory, and being single again!"

The laughter died abruptly when they spotted Grace.

Leonard sat in a wheelchair, with Sylvia pushing him forward.

Grace's fingers trembled.

She walked forward slowly and pressed the delicate box into Leonard's hand.

"Since you're here, I'll give this back to its rightful owner."

Leonard nodded, his eyes as cold as if he were staring at a stranger.

"Fine."

"Oh, and Grace," he added softly, "I'll make it up to you someday. So... just forget it."

Grace froze where she stood.

"As for your things at the house, I'll have the maid clean up and pack them-"

"There's no need. I'll take care of it myself," Grace cut him off. "If we meet again, let's pretend... we never knew each other."

With her head lowered, she brushed past him.

As she stepped out of the restaurant, Grace pulled the pill from her bag and swallowed it whole.

Behind her came Sylvia's voice.

"Leonard, while I was gone, you were all lovey-dovey with her. I don't care-I want you to make it up to me."

"Tell me, what kind of compensation do you want?" Leonard asked.

"I want to be the only one in your heart for the rest of your life!"

"All right."

"And when you propose to me, it has to be way grander than this!"

"Fine."

Sylvia laughed playfully, and Leonard's tone was gentle beyond measure.

Then Leonard quickly called over the restaurant manager.

"Get rid of all these flowers and balloons-every last one of them."

Grace's eyes reddened instantly.

Back at Stone Manor, the first thing Grace saw was a suitcase sitting in the entryway.

Sylvia had moved in.

This villa had once been Leonard's "gift" to Grace.

From the purchase to the renovation, every detail had followed her tastes.

And now, the mistress of the house was about to be someone else.

Grace lowered her head, the corner of her lips curling into a bitter smile.

Had she really thought too highly of herself all along?

Grace hadn't left much behind in the villa.

She packed the few clothes and personal belongings she needed, then walked into the dressing room.

Inside, shelves were lined with rows of luxury handbags and watches.

Back then, Leonard had been generous to Grace.

If she showed the slightest interest in something-even just lingering for an extra glance-he would buy it and bring it home for her.

At the bottom of the trunk lay a scarf Leonard had given her.

Unlike all the other gifts, this one was hand-knitted by him, and it was Grace's most treasured possession.

In the drawer were stacks of cards he had written.

Every single one of them was about her.

"Grace's favorite cake now is strawberry."

"And the ring she wants is a Cartier design."

In that instant, Grace remembered the strawberry cake the manager had wheeled out at lunch, and the Cartier diamond ring nestled inside the velvet box.

Her heart felt as though it had been shattered to pieces, each fragment stabbing into her chest.

She placed each of the cards back into the drawer.

Since she was going to erase everything, it was better not to carry these memories with her.

When Grace finished packing her things and wheeled out the light suitcase, she ran into Sylvia, who had just stepped inside.

"Grace, wait a second."

Sylvia changed her shoes, then casually plucked Grace's keychain from the wall and tossed it into the trash.

Without another glance, she hurried upstairs.

"I need to see what's in your suitcase. How else would we know you're not taking things that aren't yours?"

Grace tightened her grip on the handle, her brows knitting together.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Sylvia sneered, blocking her path. "Everyone knows what kind of woman you are. Pathetic and shameless-you even went after the man I dumped. All because you want his money and this villa? You're nothing but a thief!"

Grace clenched her fists.

"Sylvia. I can walk away, but you don't get to humiliate me. Push me, and I won't hold back."

The sound of a key turning came from outside the door.

Grace stepped back, but Sylvia pressed forward, yanking hard on the suitcase.

In the struggle, Sylvia suddenly lurched backward and tumbled down the stairs.

Leonard entered just in time to see it happen. He flung himself out of the wheelchair, staggering forward, and shoved Grace aside as she rushed down to check.

His strength was brutal-Grace was slammed into the wall, breath knocked from her lungs.

"I said I'd make it up to you-so why are you still picking on Sylvia?"

He cradled Sylvia in his arms, and when his eyes met Grace's, they burned with a murderous glare.

"Grace, I never thought you could be this vicious."