The days that followed were a blur of doctors, tests, and the constant, overwhelming presence of Rhydian Vance.
He was there every morning, bringing fresh flowers, expensive food, and an aura of authority that seemed to fill the entire room. The nurses treated him with deference, the doctors spoke to him as an equal. Everyone acted as if he owned the place, or more importantly, as if he owned me.
But to me, he was a stranger. A very handsome, very intimidating stranger who insisted he was my husband.
"You have to eat, Aureliana," he said one afternoon, setting a tray of food on the table beside the bed.
"I'm not hungry," I mumbled, turning my head away.
I had been stubborn. I refused to eat the food he brought, refused to let him help me walk, refused to call him anything but 'Sir' or just remain silent.
I was waiting. Waiting for the truth to come out. Waiting for Damian to burst through that door and tell this man that he was crazy, that I belonged to him. Waiting for my parents to arrive and hug me and say, "Oh darling, we were so worried! Who is this man?"
But they didn't come.
Instead, it was Rhydian who answered my questions, always with that same patient, infuriating calmness.
"My parents?" I had asked yesterday. "Where are they? Why haven't they visited?"
"They are abroad, Aureliana. They will come as soon as they can."
"Abroad? But they never go abroad without me!"
"Things change," was all he said. "Three years is a long time."
And Damian? Every time I asked about him, Rhydian's face would shut down.
"He is not part of your life anymore," he would say, his voice like ice. "Not anymore. Not for a long time."
It didn't make sense. None of it did. How could everyone just move on while I was sleeping?
Today, however, Rhydian had news.
"The doctor said you can be discharged tomorrow," he told me, checking the chart at the end of the bed.
"Tomorrow?" I sat up straighter. "Where am I supposed to go?"
"Home," he said simply. "To our house."
"No!" I shook my head vigorously. "I am not going anywhere with you. I want to go to my parents' house. I want to go to my own apartment!"
"You don't have an apartment anymore, Aureliana. You sold it when we got married. And your parents' house… you haven't lived there in years." He looked at me, his dark eyes softening just a fraction. "Please. Just come home. Let me take care of you. Let the children see you."
Children. Twins.
He kept mentioning them. Two little ones, a boy and a girl, who were waiting for their mother to wake up.
The thought made my chest ache. A strange, maternal tug that I couldn't explain. If they were really mine… if I really had children… how was that possible? I felt like I was twenty years old, not a mother!
But I was so scared. Scared of this life that had been built without my knowledge, scared of the man who claimed to love me, scared that I would wake up one day and realize that he was the lie, and Damian was the reality.
"I need time," I whispered. "I need to think."
"You have all the time in the world," Rhydian said softly. "But you can't stay here forever."
The next day arrived faster than I wanted.
I was dressed in simple clothes that Rhydian had brought—soft, comfortable fabrics that fit me perfectly. It felt strange wearing things chosen by a stranger.
When we walked out of the room, my legs were still wobbly. Rhydian immediately reached out to support me, his hand firm around my waist.
"I can walk," I muttered, trying to pull away.
"Just let me help you," he said, not letting go. "You're still weak."
We walked down the corridor towards the elevator. And then, as we approached the lobby area, I saw them.
Sitting on a bench near the entrance were two small children.
They looked to be about three or four years old. A little boy and a little girl, dressed identically in cute little outfits. They had the same dark hair and big, bright eyes.
And those eyes… they were exactly like Rhydian's.
As soon as they saw us, they scrambled off the bench.
"Mama!"
The little girl ran towards me first, her arms outstretched. The boy followed close behind, a little more hesitant but just as excited.
I froze. My mind went completely blank.
They stopped right in front of me, looking up with hopeful, loving faces.
"Mama, you're awake!" the little girl said, her voice sweet and lisping slightly. "We missed you! We waited so long!"
She hugged my legs, pressing her face against my jeans. The boy stood beside her, looking up at me shyly. "Mama."
I looked down at them. At their small hands, their trusting eyes.
And then I looked at Rhydian, standing beside me, watching the scene with a mixture of hope and fear in his eyes.
These were his children. They looked just like him.
But were they mine?
My heart was beating so hard I could hear it in my ears. I wanted to kneel down and hug them. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to hold them close and never let go.
But my mind… my mind was still stuck in the past. The past where I was Aureliana, the girlfriend, the daughter, not a mother, not a wife.
"I…" I stammered, my voice breaking. "Hello."
The little girl pulled back slightly, looking up at me with confusion. Her little brows furrowed.
"Mama?" she asked softly. "Why aren't you hugging us? Did you forget us?"
Tears welled up in my eyes again. I felt like the worst person in the world. Here were two innocent children who thought I was their mother, and I couldn't even bring myself to touch them.
Rhydian knelt down beside them, his expression gentle. "Mama is still sick, little ones. She needs time. Okay?"
He looked up at me then, and in his eyes, I saw a plea. Please, it said. Don't break their hearts.
I took a deep, shaky breath. Slowly, I lowered myself to my knees, ignoring the weakness in my legs.
I looked at the two little faces staring up at me. So beautiful. So familiar in a way I couldn't name.
"Hi," I whispered, reaching out a trembling hand. I touched the little girl's cheek. It was soft and warm. "I… I'm glad to see you."
Her face lit up instantly, and she threw her arms around my neck. "Mama!"
The boy joined in, wrapping his small arms around me as best as he could. "Mama, home!"
I closed my eyes, hugging them back tentatively. Their warmth seeped into my cold skin, and for a moment, the confusion faded.
"Wynne… Maven…" I whispered the names Rhydian had told me before.
"Yes!" Wynne said, pulling back to look at me with a bright smile. "It's us!"
I looked up at Rhydian again. He was standing there, watching us, his expression unreadable, but his hands were clenched tightly at his sides.
"Let's go home," he said quietly.