Revenge amnesia upgraded to his brother novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant invaded my nostrils, overwhelming and unmistakable.

A steady, rhythmic beeping echoed in my ears, the unmistakable sound of a heart monitor, accompanied by the soft but deliberate footsteps of two people approaching.

Two distinct sets of footsteps.

“When will she wake up?” a voice whispered, causing my eyelashes to flutter involuntarily.

It was Damian, my fiancé. His voice floated from just outside the door, lowered intentionally but still clear enough to reach me.

“The doctor said any moment now,” came a deeper, unfamiliar voice in response.

Though strange, that voice stirred a distant recognition inside me.

Lucien—Damian’s brother. I knew that voice far too well.

“Are you sure she remembers nothing?” Damian’s tone was different this time, a strange mixture of disbelief and something I couldn’t quite place.

“Short-term memory loss,” Lucien replied calmly. “Post-concussion symptoms. Could last days, could drag on for months.”

I slowly cracked open my eyes, just enough to peek through the narrow slit.

At the door, both men stood with their backs to me. Damian’s blond hair gleamed like strands of molten gold in the hospital light. Next to him, Lucien’s taller frame nearly filled the doorway.

“Perfect,” Damian muttered, letting out a low chuckle. “Listen, Lucien, I need a favor.”

“Go ahead,” Lucien replied.

“Since Norah has amnesia, why don’t we… rearrange our relationship?” Damian’s voice was cold, calculating.

“What?” Lucien’s voice was sharp with disbelief.

“Don’t interrupt, just hear me out,” Damian said, lowering his voice further. I strained to catch every word, the sentences blurring together until Lucien’s voice cut through.

“You want me to pretend to be her boyfriend?” Lucien’s tone turned icy.

“The doctor said she remembers nothing,” Damian laughed darkly. “Just act like you’re her boyfriend.”

“And Serena and I will show up as a couple,” Damian added with cruel satisfaction.

“Serena?” Lucien asked, confused.

“Norah’s best friend, remember?” Damian laughed again, a sound that made my skin crawl. “She’s been in my bed for five years.”

My fingers clenched tightly into my palm, nails digging in as the words sank in.

Serena—my closest friend since college, the lawyer who managed my parents’ estate—had been involved with him for five years?

“Are you out of your mind?” I wanted to shout, but I remained silent, trapped beneath the weight of their conversation.

“My dear brother, just imagine the look on her face when she finally remembers and realizes her best friend and fiancé were in love all along, while she was busy loving you,” Damian said with a cruel smirk.

“You’re sick, little brother,” Lucien’s voice softened, almost resigned. “But why me?”

“Because you hate her, don’t you?” Damian’s laugh was venomous. “At every family gathering, you’re ice-cold. I know you’d never touch a woman I’ve discarded.”

My heart constricted painfully, as if gripped by an invisible fist.

Five years.

I had been with Damian for five years, engaged for two. Yet the moment I supposedly lost my memory, he treated me like a pawn, handing me over to his brother Lucien, while he wasted no time flaunting his relationship with my best friend Serena?

All of this just for a game? A spectacle?

What was even more infuriating was that I hadn’t really lost my memory at all.

Serena controlled my parents’ estate—the vineyard, the trust fund, the jewelry collection… everything was in her hands.

It was clear they had planned this all along. Had my fortune already been tampered with?

Damian continued, “As long as you agree. In return, I’ll give you what you want.”

A long silence followed.

“Three months,” Lucien finally said, his voice low and steady. “I’ll play this filthy game with you for three months. Then you hand over the port shares.”

“Deal.”

Good. Very good.

If they wanted to play, I would see it through until the bitter end.

After hearing Lucien’s agreement, Damian pushed open the door and stepped inside the hospital room.

As his footsteps grew closer, I woke just in time, releasing a soft groan.

Damian rushed to my bedside, his face wearing the concern I had once cherished deeply. “Norah! Thank God you’re awake.”

I feigned confusion.

“Where… where am I?” My voice was weak, trembling with bewilderment. “What happened?”

“You were in a car accident, sweetheart,” Damian said, taking my hand gently. “Do you remember me?”

I stared at him for a moment before slowly shaking my head. “Should I… know you?”

Damian’s expression was a whirlwind of shock, delight, guilt, and excitement, flashing across his face in an instant.

He called out toward the door, “Lucien! Come in, she’s awake!”