After the Crash, I Forgot Why We Broke Up

The first thing I remember after the car crash is a memory from three years ago.

Back then, Ember and I hadn't broken up yet.

My voice was thick with tears as I dialed his number, telling him my head hurt so much.

There was a long silence on the other end. Then, Ember's voice, cold as ice, asked if I thought this was some kind of sick joke.

He hung up on me. I was completely lost.

About five minutes later, he called back.

He told me to give him the address, and that this had better not be some stupid dare.

I gave him the address of the hospital.

Half an hour later, Ember appeared at my bedside. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, looking like hed traveled a long way.

My nose stung with the urge to cry, and I threw myself into his arms. He smelled faintly of tobacco, a scent that felt foreign to me. The Ember I knew didn't smoke.

His body went rigid. He gripped my wrist and pulled me away.

"Chad, what the hell are you doing?"

I stumbled back onto the bed, my eyes instantly welling up. "Ember, you don't love me anymore! We're done!"

"Done?" Ember let out a short, harsh laugh, as if my words were the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard. "We broke up three years ago."

His words hit me like a thunderclap.

A wave of pain crashed over me. I clutched my head, my brow furrowing tightly as the room spun around me.

The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Ember slamming the call button by the bed, his voice sharp with panic. "Doctor!"

When I woke up again, the sky outside was dark. The hospital room was silent.

My heart sank.

Ember was gone.

The doctor told me the amnesia was caused by a blood clot in my brain. He couldn't say for sure when my memories would return.

I lay in bed, my mind replaying scene after scene of Ember and me, sweet moments that felt like they'd happened only yesterday. He had always doted on me, spoiled me. He would never lie to me, and he would never, ever say the word "breakup."

The more I thought about it, the more miserable I became, and the tears started to fall again.

Just then, the door opened, and Ember walked in, carrying a takeout container.

He was still in the same suit, his tall, lean frame getting closer and closer.

I couldn't hold it back anymore and started sobbing. "I thought I thought you left"

A tissue was held out in front of me. I took it, wiped my eyes, and blew my nose.

Ember pulled a chair up to the bedside. He opened the container, and the rich aroma of food filled the small room. It was a steaming oxtail soup, and it looked incredible.

Grumble.

My stomach protested loudly, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

Ember glanced at me, then slowly ladled a bowl of soup and held it out.

I didn't take it. The words slipped out before I could stop them. "Babe, you feed me."

His hand froze in mid-air. The way he looked at me, it was like he was looking at a complete stranger.

Reality came crashing back.

We broke up, he'd said.

A heavy weight settled in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I fought to keep my emotions in check, my voice muffled. "It's just a habit. I'll get used to it."

"Is that what you call Nathan, too?" Ember's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "You're hurt. How come I don't see him here?"

Nathan?

He was a senior from our university. Ember, being the jealous guy he was, had never wanted me to be too friendly with him after hed asked me out once.

I was completely confused. "What does he have to do with anything?"

Ember's gaze clouded over, but he didn't push the subject.

Trying to remember things just made my head ache, so I let it go. My eyes were fixed on the chunks of meat in the bowl. "So, are you going to feed me or not?"

He glanced at the IV in my hand and finally relented.

"It's hot!"

"I want the broth."

"Come closer."

I couldn't help it. I fell back into our old rhythm, whining and being playful with him.

Ember paused for a second, then obediently scooted his chair closer.

His face hadn't changed much from my memories. But looking closer, I could see the differences. The boyish cockiness was gone, replaced by a quiet, steady confidence that showed in his every move.

A wave of sadness washed over me. "Ember," I whispered, "why did we break up?"

He never answered my question. He took a work call and left.

Later, I found a train ticket in my purse. The departure city was Northwood, over six hundred miles away. Vague, blurry fragments flashed in my mind, but I couldn't piece them together.

The next day, two police officers came to my room.

That's when I learned that the driver who hit me had been caught. The reason hed done it? He was in a bad mood.

As for compensation, that was something I'd have to handle myself.

That evening, the doctor came by on his rounds and reminded me to settle the hospital bill.

I nodded, agreeing readily.

But when I took my bank card to the payment window, the clerk informed me I had insufficient funds.

Flustered, I fumbled for another card.

Still insufficient.

The clerk was getting impatient. "Which card is it? If you don't have the money, let the next person go."

My face burned with humiliation.

"This one." A hand with long, elegant fingers slid a credit card through the window.

Ember paid the bill for me.

The clerk's attitude changed in a heartbeat, her voice suddenly sweet. "Here's your card back, sir."

Ember took it, his face like stone. "Apologize to her. Unless you'd prefer to receive a formal complaint."

The smile on the clerk's face froze. After a moment, she grudgingly muttered an apology to me.

Back in the room, Ember set down the takeout and turned to leave.

I panicked. I ran and wrapped my arms tight around his waist, instinctively nuzzling my face against his chest.

His breathing hitched. His body was ramrod straight, and his voice came out low and rough. "Chad, let go."

I refused, pressing my full weight against him and looking up with pleading eyes.

"Ember, don't push me away."

"I feel dizzy"

The room fell silent.

Then, Ember suddenly swept me into his arms.

I instinctively hooked my arms around his neck, my gaze fixed on the sharp line of his jaw. My voice trembled.

"Ember, what what are you doing?"

The words were barely out of my mouth before he unceremoniously dropped me onto the bed.

The romantic bubble in the air popped with a sad little poof.

A week later, I was discharged.

Ember came to pick me up.

I stared at the luxury car for a few seconds, then said nothing and got in.

Over the past few days, he would bring me food and then stay in the room for an hour or two. But he was always on a conference call or on his phone.

I'd secretly looked him up online.

What I found was shocking, but also, not entirely unexpected.

Back in his junior year, Ember had already been planning to start his own business. He was Southport's valedictorian, accepted into Southport University with the top scores in his program. He loved game design and had even won a gold medal with his roommates at the National Game Design Awards. He'd racked up countless awards during his time in school.

His dream was always to start his own game development company.

And in just three years, he'd done it.

He was even more successful than I could have imagined. He had glowing reviews online, and a legion of female fans who called him their "internet husband."

He'd always been popular at school, but everyone knew how crazy he was about me, so I never paid those other girls any mind.

But now...

"Where do you live?"

Ember's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I opened a hotel booking app on my phone and gave him the address.

The day after the accident, the doctor had told me to contact my family. I'd opened my mom's chat history and scrolled through our messages. My heart had plunged into a pit of ice. She had remarried and moved out of Southport.

No wonder I was staying in a hotel. I didn't have a home here anymore.

Ember was quiet for a moment, his grip on the steering wheel tightening slightly.

I pulled myself together, and a question popped into my head.

"Ember, do you have a girlfriend?"

The light ahead turned red, and the car slowed to a stop.

Ember turned to look at me, his eyes dark and unreadable, swirling with an emotion I couldn't name.

"No."

A smile spread across my face. "Then can I stay at your place?"

After picking up my luggage, Ember took me back to his apartment.

It was in the most expensive part of the city. The place was huge, immaculate. I wandered around under the pretense of "taking a tour" and found no signs of a woman living there.

Ember wheeled my suitcase into the guest room, said, "Make yourself at home," and disappeared into his office for a meeting.

The meeting lasted for over an hour.

I watched TV, bored, until my stomach started to grumble.

The fridge was stocked with fresh ingredients, so I rolled up my sleeves, ready to cook.

And promptly sliced my finger.

"Ah"

I cried out, my brow knitting in pain.

I heard a string of worried footsteps, and Ember's voice, tight with tension. "What happened?"

I turned to see him standing there, his eyes locked on the bead of blood welling up on my fingertip.

Before I could say anything, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the living room.

He sat me on the sofa, opened a first-aid kit, and knelt in front of me.

His head was bowed as he carefully disinfected the cut and applied a bandage. The bandage had little cartoon characters on it, my favorite.

Watching the focused, gentle way he tended to me, I felt a lump form in my throat. My voice was dry.

"I'm sorry. I was just hungry and wanted to make something."

Ember looked up, his dark eyes reflecting a blurry image of me.

A small smile touched his lips. "Chad, this isn't like you."

He stood up and ruffled my hair.

"Don't cook. I'll take you out."

The nights in Southport were as lively as ever.

Ember took me to the food street near the university, to the ramen place that used to be our favorite.

In my memory, we had been here just a short while ago. But the shop's decor was completely different.

After we sat down, I asked him, "Do you come here often?"

[Chad is about to learn the painful truth behind their breakup. Unlock the next chapter to discover the secrets that tore them apart.]

Ember poured me a cup of tea. "Rarely."

I tried to sound casual. "Have you brought other girls here?"

He just looked at me, his gaze deep and unreadable, and didn't answer. Time had changed him. He'd learned to hide his feelings. He was no longer the boy who had shared everything with me.

My heart ached, but I couldn't stop myself from probing. "Well, have you or haven't you?"

What I really wanted to ask was if he'd dated anyone in the years since we'd been apart.

"Two bowls of ramen!"

The owner's voice cut through our conversation. Steam rose from the bowls, blurring Ember's face.

With food in front of me, I forgot my question and took a sip of the broth.

It still tasted exactly the same.

Suddenly, a few extra slices of braised pork appeared in my bowl. I looked up, surprised.

Ember's jaw tightened slightly. He tried to look nonchalant. "Just a habit."

I blinked. "Oh."

Was that his answer?

That night, after my shower, I was curled up on the sofa watching TV. Ember had been in his office ever since we got back.

After thinking for a long time, I padded over in my slippers and knocked on the office door.

"Ember, can I borrow your computer?"

He opened the door and leaned against the frame, arms crossed. "What for?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I want to work on my resume."

Now that I was back in Southport, I didn't plan on leaving again. I wanted to build a life here.

Ember nodded and stepped aside to let me in.

The computer was locked. I turned to him. "What's the password?"

He paused, then walked over, leaned down, and typed in four numbers. He was so close I was practically enveloped by him, his warm breath fanning against my cheek.

My heart hammered in my chest.

The temperature in the room seemed to rise. On impulse, I tilted my head up and kissed his cheek.

"You still haven't answered my question from the ramen shop."

Ember froze, a faint blush creeping up his neck. His voice was low and husky. "What about you? Are you back in Southport for Nathan? Or for me?"

Nathan again?

Did we break up because I cheated on him?

Think, you idiot, think!

I tapped my head, but he caught my wrist.

"Forget it." Ember straightened up, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. "What's the point of arguing with someone who can't even remember?"

He turned and walked away, his lean back looking strangely lonely.

A fragmented memory flashed through my mind. On the day we broke up, I think I watched him walk away just like that, disappearing into the thick darkness of the night.

Ember got incredibly busy, leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night.

He had his lawyer help me with the accident compensation. He also hired a cook to prepare my meals. And just like that, I settled into his home.

That weekend, I went back to the hospital, desperate to get my memory back.

After a simple check-up, the doctor told me, "There's a condition known as psychogenic amnesia. It's possible the memories are so painful that your brain has chosen to forget them as a protective measure. If you truly want to remember, you could try hypnosis, or revisiting old places, meeting old friends"

I left the hospital, the doctor's words echoing in my head, twisting my heart into a knot.

I sat on a roadside bench for a long time, until a pair of black leather shoes entered my vision.

"Chad." A familiar voice came from above me.

When I didn't respond, Ember knelt down to meet my gaze.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, frowning as he gently wiped a tear from my cheek.

"I'm not crying. Something got in my eye," I said stubbornly.

"Want me to blow it out for you?"

"..."

And then he actually did, leaning in and blowing gently at my eyes.

I held my breath, my cheeks turning red.

Ember had come straight from his office. On the way to the parking garage, he took a call about a dinner meeting.

I stopped by the car door. "I can just take a cab back."

Ember opened the door for me. "The cook is off today. There's no food at home."

Home.

The word dropped like a pebble into a still lake, sending ripples through my heart.

"It's just Marco and the guys. Want to come with me?" he added. Marco was his college roommate.

I was still hesitant. "Would that be weird for me to go?"

Ember didn't push. "Then you pick a place to eat."

I thought for a few seconds. "Where are they eating?"

"Near the university."

The doctor's words came back to merevisit old places, meet old friends.

"Okay," I nodded. "I'll go."

The traffic was terrible. By the time we got to the restaurant, the private room was already full.

The moment I walked in, the lively chatter died down. The atmosphere turned tense.

Ember scanned the room, his gaze lingering for a moment in one direction.

I followed his line of sight and froze.

It was Nathan.

He smiled at me. Out of politeness, I smiled back.

When I turned my head, I met Ember's dark eyes. He didn't look happy. His lips were pressed into a thin line.

Marco stood up, glass in hand. "Ember, my man! You're late! You know the rules, you gotta chug one." He poured a generous amount of liquor into Ember's glass.

Then, as if he'd only just noticed me, he feigned surprise. "Well, well, Ember. And who did you bring with you?"

Ember frowned, downed the drink in one go, and shot Marco a warning look.

"Get another chair."

Marco ignored him, his eyes fixed on me. "Isn't this Chad Shaw? Couldn't hack it in Northwood, so you came crawling back to Ember?"

Ember's face darkened. "Marco, shut up," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"What? Did I say something wrong? Who was it that dumped you and ran off when you needed her most? Wasn't it Chad?!"

"Marco!"

A dead silence fell over the room.

Everyone else just watched, a vaguely hostile curiosity in their eyes.

Nathan opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again.

I stood there, mortified, digging my nails into my palms.

"Whatever, my bad," Marco said, waving a hand dismissively and calling a waiter to bring another chair.

A warm hand closed over mine.

Ember was pulling me toward the door.

Suddenly, a sharp female voice cut through the silence from behind us.

"Ember, Chad's father is a murderer! You'd better stay away from her!"