Trapped by a Fake Husband

Part 1:

The panorama of the moonlight tonight looks incredibly beautiful. Its color is so enchanting, a perfect sight to enjoy with the naked eye. Even the darkness of the roadside near the forest couldn't dim the beauty of its glow.

However, despite the beauty of the night, it pales in comparison to the distressing sight of a young girl running barefoot along the deserted asphalt road.

A young girl with flowing brown hair was running as fast as she could, paying no mind to her injured feet. She kept running until the sound of an approaching vehicle reached her.

HONK!!!

The blaring horn was followed by the glaring headlights of a truck, shining directly into the girl's eyes.

CRASH!

The truck hit the young girl, sending her flying several meters from where she stood.

In the Emergency Room, chaos ensued. The girl was brought in as the victim of the severe accident. Her condition was critical-her head covered in blood, face bruised, and legs broken.

"She's still alive!" shouted a male doctor as he checked the girl's pulse.

"Does she have any identification?" asked a nurse.

"Nothing was found at the scene," replied another nurse.

---

Three days passed...

The young, nameless girl awoke from a three-day coma. She looked around the room. Everything was white. She tried to sit up but felt a sharp pain in her head, now wrapped in bandages. She also noticed an IV attached to her arm.

A nurse entered and was shocked to see the girl awake. She quickly ran out to call a doctor.

Moments later, a middle-aged doctor entered the room with the nurse.

"What's your name, Miss?" asked the doctor, whose name tag read Dr. Sullivan.

"Name?" The girl looked confused.

"...what is my name, Doctor?" she asked again, utterly baffled.

Dr. Sullivan and the nurse exchanged puzzled glances.

"Do you have any family?" the doctor asked.

"Family?" The girl grew more bewildered by the question.

The nurse chimed in, "Since she's been admitted, no one has come to visit her, Doctor. Even the police couldn't identify her or how the accident happened."

Dr. Sullivan nodded in understanding. "Nurse, take her to the lab for further tests," he ordered.

"Yes, Doctor," the nurse responded.

The girl was still visibly confused. "What happened, Nurse?" she asked as the nurse helped her into a wheelchair.

"You'll undergo some tests by Dr. Sullivan first," the nurse replied.

Dr. Sullivan soon completed a brain scan and found something unusual. "You're suffering from amnesia," he informed her.

She was shocked and panicked. "What does that mean, Doctor? Has my family come to visit?"

"I'm sorry, Miss. No one has come, and we've struggled to find your identity," Dr. Sullivan explained.

If she had amnesia, how would she return home? Did she have no family? Why had no one come looking for her? And how would she pay the hospital bills?

The girl ran her hands through her hair, hoping it might help bring back her memories. She was also confused about how she ended up in the accident. What had actually happened?

"Please don't do that, Miss," the nurse said, panicking.

"Who am I?!" the girl screamed, hysterical.

"Please rest for now. The police are investigating your case," the nurse reassured her.

Suddenly, a man appeared before them. He was a handsome man, dressed in a suit, tall and imposing.

"Sweetheart..." His words immediately startled the young woman, who appeared to be around 22 years old.

She looked at him in panic, "Who are you?"

"I'm your husband," the strange man's reply shocked her even more. The nurse, too, was taken aback.

"What is your name, Sir?" the nurse asked.

"My name is Bryan Dominic, and this is my wife, Vallerie Watson ," he answered.

"Alright, Mr. Dominic. I must inform you that your wife is suffering from amnesia due to the accident a few days ago," the nurse explained.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Doctor. Thank you for taking good care of my wife," Bryan replied.

"It's our duty, Sir. I'll leave you two alone now," the nurse excused herself and left the room.

The woman, whom Bryan called Vallerie, had been staring at him non-stop, wide-eyed.

Bryan noticed the numerous injuries on his wife's head and face.

"Who are you really?" Vallerie asked once again. She couldn't just believe him without any proof.

"Let me introduce myself properly-I'm Bryan Dominic," Bryan said, smiling warmly. Vallerie returned a faint smile.

"Where did we meet? Do I have a family?" Vallerie asked, her curiosity growing.

"We met at a café after I finished work as a professor," Bryan began.

"So, you're a professor?"

"Yes, and at that time, you were applying for a job at the café," Bryan explained, and Vallerie listened intently.

Then Bryan said something that made Vallerie sad. "But I'm sorry... you told me back then that your parents had died when you were a child. You've been living on your own ever since."

Vallerie burst into tears, imagining a life spent in solitude. Bryan quickly embraced her, comforting her in his warm arms.

"I'm here now, and I will always take care of you, sweetheart," Bryan whispered, kissing her.

"...we'll get through this together. I promise I'll make you happy," Bryan added.

"What did the police say about my accident, Bryan?" Vallerie asked as she stared at their wedding photo.

"They lost the trail," Bryan cupped her face in his hands. "But don't worry, everything will be alright. I guarantee they won't come back."

"Really?" Vallerie asked, full of hope as she looked into his deep black eyes.

"Of course," Bryan reassured her.

"Bryan, why did I have an accident?"

"I'm not sure, sweetheart. That night, I was in an important meeting with other professors when I got the call saying you were in the hospital in this condition," Bryan explained, glancing at Vallerie's broken leg.

Bryan's answer didn't fully satisfy Vallerie, but in her current state-severely injured and suffering from amnesia-she could only remain silent.

---

Two weeks later...

Vallerie was finally allowed to go home. Her physical condition had gradually improved, and the bandages around her head were removed. Her beautiful face, once covered in bruises, had healed, revealing her natural beauty once again.

She was on her way home with her husband, Bryan.

Bryan hadn't stopped admiring the divine masterpiece before him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Vallerie felt self-conscious under Bryan's intense gaze. A

"I'm just so grateful to be married to such a beautiful woman," Bryan complimented her, driving casually.

Her face immediately shifted into a pout. "What? Did I say something wrong?" Bryan asked, confused.

"So, you married me because I'm beautiful? Does that mean you'll leave me for another woman when I grow old and wrinkled?" Vallerie teased, sounding a bit sulky.

Bryan chuckled at his wife's playful remark. "Of course not. It wasn't just your beauty that made me choose you. It was your determination, intelligence, kindness, and everything good and bad about you," Bryan said, gently holding her hand and kissing it.

His words left Vallerie speechless, touched by his sincerity. She fell silent for a few minutes.

"Okay, sweetheart, we're home," Bryan said, breaking her train of thought.

Bryan carried her bridal style as they gazed at the grand house before them-a two-story home with a vast garden filled with flowers and a lake nearby.

Vallerie couldn't stop admiring the house. "Whose house is this, Bryan?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his muscular neck.

"Of course, it's our home, sweetheart," Bryan replied with a warm smile as he carried her inside.

With great patience, Bryan gave Vallerie a tour of the house while still carrying her.

"I can walk by myself, Bryan. I'm heavy, you know..." Vallerie protested, feeling guilty.

"It's no problem. As long as it's you, I can handle anything," Bryan responded, making Vallerie giggle.

"You're such a sweet-talker!" Vallerie teased.

"I'm serious," Bryan said as he entered a room. Inside, there was a canopy bed decorated with beautiful flowers, and the bed itself was covered in rose petals.

Vallerie couldn't stop smiling. She never imagined she could marry a man as romantic as Bryan.

Bryan gently placed her on the bed. She reached out to touch the fragrant flowers around her.

Suddenly, Bryan caressed her face and kissed her. Within seconds, Vallerie was swept away by the kiss, though she felt something was missing. Bryan then lowered himself onto the bed and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Vallerie immediately pushed him away. Bryan, confused, sat up.

"What's wrong?" Bryan asked.

TO BE CONTINUED...

"Why?" Bryan asked.

"I'm sorry, Bryan. I can't do all this..." Vallerie said, deeply saddened.

"It's okay, dear. I understand your condition; this must all be very new to you," Bryan said as he hugged Vallerie tightly.

"I'm sorry..." Vallerie said again.

"No, no. It's actually me who should apologize; you just recovered from your illness. I shouldn't have been like that," Bryan said, gazing into her beautiful light brown eyes. They then embraced each other.

"Thank you for being patient with me," Vallerie said, which was met with a smile from Bryan.

❤️❤️❤️

Bryan took Vallerie for a walk through the small parks in their neighborhood, with Vallerie sitting in a wheelchair, pushed by Bryan from behind.

"It's beautiful," Vallerie praised, looking at the various types and colors of roses.

"Of course, just like you," Bryan complimented Vallerie in return. The woman's cheeks instantly flushed bright red.

"Bryan, isn't this house too big for just the two of us? Plus, it's so far from everyone else," Vallerie said.

"Why?"

"I'm a little scared to live in a house this large."

"Don't worry. I'm here to accompany you," Bryan replied.

They now walked towards the edge of a small lake. The atmosphere there was so quiet and peaceful. But somehow, Vallerie felt something was off. Why did she feel no emotional connection to this house as they passed by it?

"Excuse me, Sir and Madam," said a man who was a servant in the house.

"What is it, John?" Bryan asked.

"I'm sorry, Sir. There's something important you need to attend to right now," replied the man named John, who was older than Bryan, around his 40s.

Vallerie was curious about what was happening. "Wait a minute, dear. I'll be right back. If you need anything, just call the servants in this house," Bryan said, giving Vallerie a kiss on the forehead before leaving.

"Alright," Vallerie replied.

She was curious about what important matter Bryan had to attend to. She also wondered what kind of job Bryan had that allowed him to own such a large house with dozens of servants like this.

"It's impossible for a lecturer's salary to be like this," Vallerie murmured.

Suddenly, she felt a pain in her head. "What's wrong, Ma'am?" asked a female servant.

Vallerie was startled, "Since when have you been here?"

"I'm sorry for startling you. I've been here for a while, but you were too busy talking with Mr. Bryan," the servant named Karen lamented.

Finally, Karen accompanied Vallerie to tour the views around the area.

"Karen, how old are you?" Vallerie asked.

"I'm 18 years old, Ma'am," she replied. Vallerie had guessed that from the start.

"May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What does Bryan do besides being a lecturer?"

"Mr. Dominic is the sole heir of the Dominic group, Ma'am. Being a lecturer is just a pastime for him," Karen answered as they arrived at the lake's edge.

"Oh, where did we get married?" Vallerie asked again.

"Of course, in this house and-"

"Karen, come here!" a deep voice called the servant.

Karen fell silent as John said something to her, "Karen, don't talk too much with Ma'am Vallerie. She just recovered from her condition," John said firmly.

"Okay, Sir," Karen replied, bowing obediently.

"I'm not-" Vallerie's words were cut off by John.

"It's best for you to return to the house, Ma'am. The weather doesn't seem supportive for a walk right now," John explained and walked away.

"Let's go back to the house, Ma'am," Karen replied as she pushed Vallerie's wheelchair.

"Does he always act so stern?" Vallerie asked about John.

"Of course, Sir. Besides, he is my father..." Karen's response shocked Vallerie and made her feel awkward.

After a few minutes, they arrived home. It began to rain heavily.

"What John said is true," Vallerie thought as she gazed at the heavy rain from her bedroom balcony.

Her heart felt so empty. She wondered how long her amnesia would last. A hug around her neck startled her.

"Bryan, don't scare me like that!"

"Are you scared?"

"Who's scared? When did you come back?"

"Just now. Let's go inside; the rain is pouring. Look, even the balcony floor is wet." Bryan quickly pulled Vallerie's wheelchair away from there.

Bryan then carried his wife to sit on the soft bed while turning on the TV. He kept holding Vallerie's hand and occasionally kissing it.

They were watching a soap opera on a local TV channel.

"Are you not watching?" Vallerie asked.

"Of course, I'm watching," Bryan replied, increasingly focused on Vallerie's face.

"Not me, but the TV," Vallerie narrowed her eyes at Bryan.

"You're more interesting than that TV," Bryan tucked a strand of hair behind Vallerie's ear.

Bryan's flirtatious words made Vallerie's heart race. Plus, the man was extremely handsome. Was she dreaming of having such a handsome, kind, caring, and wealthy husband like Bryan?

"Oh God, what good deed did I do to deserve a man like him? But why does my heart still doubt him?" Vallerie thought, feeling conflicted.

"Stop flirting, Bryan," Vallerie began to glare at him.

The man chuckled, "Who's flirting? I'm being serious."

"Whatever you say." Vallerie pouted.

"You are everything to me, Vallerie. I would do anything for you, even leave my world behind," Bryan said, their gazes meeting for a few seconds. She could see sincerity in his eyes. Finally, Vallerie turned away because she couldn't bear to look at Bryan for too long.

"Oh, by the way, why did you want to marry me? Especially since you said I'm just a café waitress. And do your parents agree to marry me?" Vallerie asked again.

"I'm sorry you have to hear this, but my parents have already passed away. Even before we met. If you're curious, you can check my family background directly in the Pradipa group."

"That's not what I meant..." Vallerie said as she noticed Bryan's face looking gloomy.

"I'll go to the kitchen to get us some food," Bryan replied and left.

"Did I say something wrong?" Vallerie thought, feeling uneasy.

Vallerie looked at some wedding photos of her and Bryan displayed in the room. There was even a photo of her during a vacation at a beach.

"Oh God, please help me trust my husband more. He has clearly shown all the evidence that I am his wife. Even our marriage certificate clearly states both our names." Vallerie prayed silently.

To be continued...

"Please, don't!!!"

Vallerie suddenly woke up from her sleep. Even Bryan woke up alongside her.

"What's wrong, darling?" Bryan asked, sounding worried.

"I had a nightmare," Vallerie replied.

Bryan immediately got out of bed and brought her a glass of water.

"Thank you, Bryan," Vallerie said, drinking the water until it was all gone.

"Do you feel better now?"

Vallerie only nodded. She lay back down on the bed, and Bryan wrapped his arms around her.

What did she just dream about?

She couldn't even remember. All she knew was that she was being chased by someone in that dream.

"Bryan..."

"Hmmm?"

"What about the investigation into my accident?" Vallerie asked.

"The police are still looking into it, darling. Just leave everything to them. You should focus on your health instead," Bryan said, tightening his embrace around his wife.

Vallerie returned his hug, making Bryan kiss her forehead repeatedly.

"Alright, let's go back to sleep. I'm still tired," Bryan murmured.

"Okay," Vallerie responded with a smile.

❤️❤️❤️

The next morning, Vallerie woke up abruptly. She was startled by the sounds of people chatting and bustling outside. She looked over, but Bryan wasn't by her side.

Her eyes suddenly fixed on a beautiful white wedding dress, elegantly displayed on a mannequin.

"Why is there a dress here?" Vallerie asked, confused.

But she couldn't deny how much she admired the design of the white gown.

A knock on her door startled her even more.

"Come in!" Vallerie called out loudly.

"Good morning, Madam," greeted Karen, who entered with a tray of fried rice, a cup of hot tea, and a slice of cake.

"Good morning to you too. Can you please stop calling me 'Madam'? Just call me 'Sis,'" Vallerie said, feeling a bit uneasy, as they were only four years apart in age.

"Sorry, I can't, Madam. It's a direct order from Mr. Dominic," Karen replied with a bow.

"Alright," Vallerie sighed.

Karen placed the tray beside Vallerie's bed.

"Oh, by the way, why is there a wedding dress in this room?"

"Mr. Dominic wants you to wear it, Madam. He's planning to redo your wedding ceremony today," Karen replied, as she began to remove the cast from Vallerie's leg. Vallerie only nodded, imagining herself wearing the beautiful gown. She hoped for a miracle once she put it on.

"Finally, I'm free from that thing..." Vallerie said, now able to walk normally again. Karen was just as happy for her.

"So, the people downstairs..."

"Yes, they're the guests for your wedding with Mr. Bryan today," Karen answered while tidying the bed and moving the tray to a small table.

"Let's have breakfast first, Madam, and then you can wear the dress," Karen added.

ʕ⁠っ⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠ʔ⁠っ ʕ⁠っ⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠ʔ⁠っ

Bryan was chatting with some of his business colleagues in the backyard. The theme for today's wedding was outdoor. He had meticulously planned everything, and the decorations were extravagant.

His attention was drawn when the guests began murmuring. The person he had been waiting for finally appeared. Vallerie looked stunning in the white dress, with her long hair cascading beautifully and a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She walked slowly, accompanied by Karen. A sweet smile never left her face as she greeted the guests.

Bryan rushed over and immediately took her hand, kissing it gently. "You look absolutely beautiful," Bryan complimented her with a warm smile. Vallerie's heart nearly leaped out of her chest at the compliment.

"Do you like all of this?" Bryan asked, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Of course, but it feels so sudden."

"I just wanted to surprise you," Bryan replied, never taking his eyes off his wife.

Vallerie smiled as she took in the beautiful decorations of the wedding.

"Was our original wedding like this too, Bryan?"

"Of course," Bryan responded.

But Vallerie sensed something odd. Why didn't anyone here seem to know her? Why were the guests only chatting among themselves?

"Bryan..." Vallerie said.

"What is it, darling?" Bryan asked, kissing her hand again.

"Why-" she started, but was interrupted by someone.

"Mr. and Mrs., it's time to begin the ceremony. The officiant is here," John said.

"Come on, darling!" Bryan urged.

The two of them sat before an officiant who appeared to be in his fifties. Vallerie didn't recognize him either.

Her heart started to race as the officiant began to speak. She wanted to object to all of this, but she didn't know why.

"Think positive, Vallerie. Bryan is your husband, and you have to trust him," Vallerie thought, battling with herself.

She watched as Bryan held the officiant's hand.

After the wedding ceremony was over, they kissed each other. The loud applause from the guests made the wedding celebration even more festive.

Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind, a faint image of another man's face. But who was he?

Bryan turned to kiss her forehead, followed by kissing her hand again.

"Now, you have no more doubts, right?" Bryan asked.

Vallerie simply shook her head and smiled warmly.

They sat down together, enjoying the wedding reception. "Bryan, do I not have any friends?" Vallerie asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, none of the guests seem to know me," she said, her face showing sadness.

"Vallerie!" someone shouted from a distance.

A woman came running toward her. "Did you forget about me too?" she asked.

Vallerie looked confused, not recognizing the woman in front of her.

"I'm Emily. We were schoolmates," she said, pulling Vallerie into a tight hug.

"I'll leave you two to talk," Bryan said, giving Emily a look before walking away.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Vallerie," Emily said, tears in her eyes.

Vallerie smiled, relieved that someone knew her.

"Why didn't you visit me at the hospital?" Vallerie asked.

"I was out of the country at the time," Emily replied, still hugging Vallerie.

Vallerie felt a sense of comfort in Emily's embrace.

"How did you end up in that accident?" Emily asked, curious.

"I don't remember anything," Vallerie answered sadly.

"It's okay. Just forget the past and focus on your new life with Bryan," Emily suggested.

Vallerie nodded in understanding.

"But, something feels strange. Why do I feel so familiar with you?" Vallerie wondered.

"Because we've been friends for a long time, of course, you'd feel that way."

"But with Bryan?"

Emily glanced around nervously before answering Vallerie's question.

"Well..."

"Ahem..." Bryan cleared his throat, cutting Emily off.

"Darling, we need to greet the other guests. Some of my business associates from abroad are here," Bryan said, taking Vallerie's hand.

He gave Emily a sharp look before leading Vallerie away.

"God, please protect Vallerie," Emily whispered.

TO BE CONTINUED...