Life went on. I started helping take care of the house, spending all my time with the children. Rhydian was softer now, more patient. He stopped pushing me to remember, and just let things be.
But deep down, I was still searching.
One day, while I was walking in the garden with Wynne and Maven, the gates opened.
A car drove in. It wasn't Rhydian's car.
My heart stopped.
A man stepped out. He was tall, handsome, with kind eyes. And when he saw me, his face went pale.
"Aureliana?" he whispered.
I froze. The name on my tongue, the face in my memories…
"Damian?" I breathed out.
"Mama? Who is that?" Maven asked, hiding behind my legs.
Rhydian came out of the house immediately, his face turning murderous. He stood in front of me, blocking me from view.
"What are you doing here?" Rhydian roared. "I told you never to step foot on this property!"
"I heard she woke up," the man said, his eyes never leaving mine. "I had to see her. Aureliana… do you remember me?"
I was shaking. Everything was spinning. This was the man from my memories! This was the man I loved!
"Yes…" I whispered. "I remember you."
"Don't listen to him!" Rhydian grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "He is lying! He is here to destroy us!"
"No!" Damian took a step forward, looking hurt. "Aureliana, listen to me. You were engaged to me. We were supposed to get married! Then you had the accident! He kept you from me! He told everyone you were married to him! He changed everything!"
"Shut up!" Rhydian lunged forward, but Damian didn't back down.
"Is it true?" I looked up at Rhydian, my heart breaking into a million pieces. "Rhydian… tell me the truth. Were we really married? Or did you make it all up?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
Rhydian looked at me, his eyes filled with desperation, love, and fear.
"I did it because I love you," he said hoarsely. "I couldn't let you go. When you woke up, you needed a family. You needed me. The children… they need you."
He didn't deny it.
My world shattered completely.