Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
*Jul… Thank you.”
“That said, I cannot guarantee what he will be like after he wakes up.” Julien lowered his eyes. He appeared to have something to say, but he remained hesitant.
Right now, Alyssa no longer cared wish for anything. All she wanted was for him to regain consciousness and be safe. “It’s alright… It’s okay. No matter how different he may be, I will love him. I will love him forever. I’m willing to bear with it no matter the costs!”
Despite feeling weak herself, Alyssa stayed by Jeremy’s side the entire time.
Jonah and Julien couldn’t talk her out of it, so they could only retreat from the hospital ward.
When they were in the corridor, Jonah suddenly held Julien back. He squeezed his hand tight. In a concerned voice, he asked, “Julien, you didn’t tell Lyse the truth, did you?”
Their eyes met. Julien’s clear pupils constricted.
‘There’s no one else here now. You have to be honest with me.”
Jonah leaned into him, breathing into his space. “What’s Jeremy’s condition really like? Will he… lose his memory?
His voice was raspy and slightly shaky.
In actual fact, he had a subtle feeling that a brain injury would affect his memory.
But he didn’t have the guts to say it out loud. The term ‘memory loss” was too cruel for Alyssa to hear.
It had almost cost them their lives before they could get back together again. How could she bear it if the man she loved the most forgot her?
“I can’t be sure if he will lose his memory either. It’s possible, but it’s also not definite.” Julien mumbled, “The hypothalamus is closely related to human emotions, while the brainstem plays a crucial role in activating emotions.
‘Jeremy’s hypothalamus and brainstem are damaged to a certain extent. It might affect his memory, but there’s also another possibility…”
Jonah’s chest tightened. “What possibility?”
“That he will become someone else a stranger who simply occupies Jeremy’s shell.”
Ever since Alyssa woke, she had hardly left Jeremy’s side, forsaking sleep and rest with no regard for her own health.
Three more days dragged by, though for her, it felt like months-years-decades.
The time that passed was agonizing.
This wasn’t the first time Jeremy had been hurt because of her. She had been through the fear and panic before, when his life hung by a thread or when he lay in a deep coma. Yet, this time was different. For reasons she couldn’t understand, the calm and rationality she once had had vanished.
She gripped his hand tightly, her fingers woven with his. Fear surged through her like an avalanche, threatening to drown her from the inside.
This was a fear that she had never felt.
That intense helplessness tormented her mentally every second of the day.
In just one week, Alyssa, once proud and radiant, had withered like a pale white rose. She was gaunt, fragile, and exhausted.
Her hospital gown looked so big on her emaciated frame that it looked like it was swallowing her.
Each day, from morning until night, she spoke to Jeremy about their past. She shared stories from when she was 11 to 18, of their marriage, their divorce, and their eventual reconciliation. She remembered every heart-stopping moment with perfect clarity. There were happy times, sad times, tears of joy.
And now, all those memories, once too painful to revisit, seemed insignificant in comparison,
As long as she remembered him, everything was well. She had no right to ask for more.
*Jeremy… Jul said that there is some issue with your brain. I’m really scared. I’m afraid that you will forget me when you wake up.”
Alyssa picked up Jeremy’s calloused hand and interlaced her fingers with his. With tears streaming down her face, she planted kisses all over his fingertips, the back of his hand, and his palm.
During their most intimate moments, Jeremy had often said she was like a tender piece of meat, tempting him with every bite. He would shower her skin with kisses, leaving her trembling in ecstasy before bringing her to an even higher peak.
In public, their affection was more restrained. He would kiss her fingers, her palms-just like this.
He loved her too deeply. His constant kisses were simply his way of showing his love, of not knowing how to express it any other way.
He didn’t know what to do with himself physically and emotionally.
Now, it was her turn to be vulnerable, her turn to taste the fear of losing him.
Indeed, God was just. Those who failed to appreciate what they had would eventually be punished.
“Okay, it’s alright… It’s alright even if you forget me.’
Alyssa’s tears fell continuously onto his palm. “If you have to forget me to get through this safely… I’m okay with my disappearing from your memories. I will have no regrets. As long as I can watch over you for the rest of my life, I will be satisfied..
Jeremy had uttered the same words countless times.
This time, it was Alyssa’s turn to say it. Every word was like a jagged stone cutting across her heart repeatedly.
Would she really be satisfied?
Wasn’t this just a moment of self-consolation after she had exhausted all her efforts and compromised, only to find that she was completely helpless?
“Don’t forget me… please… Don’t forget me…”
In the end, Alyssa couldn’t lie to herself anymore. She leaned against his chest, her shoulders shaking as silent sobs wracked her body.
“Lyse, don’t cry.”
“Wake up and comfort me again,” Alyssa thought, her mind pleading.
Please.
As she was sobbing, the door to the hospital ward was pushed open slowly.
Landon walked in carrying a bowl of soup. When he saw the scene before his eyes, he froze on the spot and fell into a daze. His hands started trembling uncontrollably while he carried the bowl of soup.
As a tall and strong man, his heart had long been filled with Lauren’s love. A scene like this moved him, and he felt a sudden urge to cry.
He waited until Alyssa’s sobs died down. Then, he calmed himself down and walked to her side slowly. “Lyse, have something to eat. I brought some fish chowder. I remember that you like this, so I made some for you myself.”
Alyssa was silent for a long time.
Landon peered to the side and noticed that her breakfast was still on the bedside table, untouched. He couldn’t explain the heaviness and misery he felt in his heart.
‘Landon… I’m sure you really hate me, don’t you?”
Alyssa sat there with a blank look on her face. After some time had passed, she spoke up in a soft voice. “I’m the reason Jeremy is like this. He’s your very best buddy, and I didn’t take good care of him. He nearly his life because of me and has been in a coma since.”
Alyssa added, “Landon, I know that you hate and resent me. Just let all your anger out. I feel even worse to see you this calm.”
“But, I don’t hate you.” Landon pressed his lips together. He walked over and sat down by the side of the bed.
Looking at Jeremy’s pallid face, he said in a deep voice, “Lyse, I respect every decision that Jeremy makes. No matter what the outcome is, I will not resent anyone. Whatever happens, I’ll face the consequences with him.”
Alyssa’s heart ached even more. She shut her tear-filled eyes.
“I shall say something that’s inhumane and controversial.” Landon let out a bitter chuckle. “It was fortunate that he was the one who got hurt instead of you.”
Alyssa was dumbfounded. She stared at him.
“Lyse, Jeremy is far weaker than you might think.”
Landon’s eyes turned red. “You grew up in a loving environment. You have parents, stepmothers, and brothers who love you. Since you were young, you’ve never been through much suffering. That’s why you can be optimistic, positive, and cheerful as you overcome all sorts of obstacles.
“However, that wasn’t the case for Jeremy. He once had nothing. His mother went through so much difficulty in reclaiming his identity as a Walsh. Even so, people plotted and schemed against him time and time again. He stumbled all the way to where he is today and ended up all bruised and battered.
*Other than Grandpa Newton, you are the only one he has. So, he’s more fragile than you think. He cannot afford to lose.
“If anything were to happen to you, believe it or not, he would lose his motivation and courage to continue living. You should know that he used to have depression when he was young. Those knife scars on his left wrist are proof of that.
“So, Lyse, you have to live well as you wait for him to wake up. Otherwise, it will really be a letdown toward Jeremy’s sincerity in going through all those challenges and his willingness to risk his life for you.”
At last, Alyssa was convinced. With her shaky hands, she accepted Landon’s bowl of chowder. She scooped up a spoonful of chowder and stuffed it in her mouth.
