Chapter 1My fiancé lost his memory after a car accident—mistook my bestie for his fiancée.
To keep him from spiraling, I swapped lives with Ivy.
The deal? Fake relationship, no sex.
Once his memory came back, we'd go back to normal.
Six. Fucking. Months.
Still no sign of remembering me.
Then I stumbled on a post online:
"Mixed up my girlfriend after a crash. Now I'm into her bestie. How do I explain this to my girl?"
Top comment:
"Keep faking amnesia, dude. Fuck her till you're bored, then say you finally 'remembered.'"
He'd LIKED it.
I looked up.
Zane stared at Ivy—his eyes full of love.
Turns out the amnesia? FAKE.
His cheating? REAL.
Fuck this!
Game over, Zane Sterling.
...
"Nora, you're home early today."
"Zane and I just hit the store."
"Making your favorite chicken soup tonight—sound good?"
Zane followed behind her.
Gave me a polite nod, then headed straight into the kitchen.
After Zane's "amnesia," I became a guest in his and Ivy's place just to stay close to him.
I WAS his actual girlfriend.
But I had to watch him treat another woman like princess.
Every time they held hands or hugged in front of me?
It broke my heart.
All I could do was tell myself, over and over:
Once Zane's memory came back, everything would go back to normal.
I held on for six months.
He never remembered.
Instead, I found out he'd fallen for Ivy for REAL.
Ivy followed my gaze to Zane in the kitchen.
She leaned in close and whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Nora."
"I've tried everything, but Zane still hasn't remembered you."
I looked down. Gave a bitter smile.
She had no idea.
You can't wake someone who's pretending to sleep.
"But don't worry."
"I've got your back. I won't let him sleep around."
I hummed in response. My chest ached.
"I just came back to grab something. Gotta head out again in a bit."
Right then, Zane called her into the kitchen to help.
She practically jumped up.
"Okay, Nora, you go do your thing."
"Dinner'll be ready when you're back."
I stood there.
Watched Ivy hold her garlic-covered hands up to Zane's face.
"Smell. Do my hands stink?"
Zane kissed her fingers. Smiled.
"Nope. You always smell amazing."
They laughed and teased each other like a real couple.
It was exactly how I'd imagined married life with Zane would be.
Except I wasn't the one standing beside him.
Maybe he thought I'd already left.
Zane casually asked Ivy.
"Nora's been staying with us for six months. Still hasn't found her own place?"
Ivy hesitated. Stumbled over her words.
"No."
"It's not safe for a girl to live alone. Plus rent's expensive."
"She's closer to work here. I feel better having her around."
"Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"
Zane kept peeling vegetables. His voice firm.
"Let's ask her to move out."
"Three people under one roof is awkward."
"Every time I want to fuck you, I have to worry about her being here."
"And I hate seeing you hold back because of her."
"You said you'd make your favorite BBQ ribs tonight."
"But the second Nora showed up, you changed it to chicken soup."
"This is YOUR home."
"Why do you act like a guest?"
Ivy paused for a few seconds.
Then suddenly kissed him on the cheek.
Chapter 2
Ivy's kiss—like a knife straight through my chest.
She'd sworn to me she'd keep her distance from Zane.
When I was around, she barely even looked at him.
But somewhere along the way, she could kiss him like it was nothing.
Did they even fuck behind my back?
"I know you care about me."
"Let's talk about it later. It's hard to find a place right now anyway."
Zane had clearly thought this through.
"I already had a friend look at two apartments."
"Both close to us. And close to her work."
Left with no argument, Ivy nodded.
"Then... I'll tell Nora when she gets back."
My eyes stung. I blinked hard and looked around.
This apartment—I'd decorated it myself. Every corner. Every detail.
It was supposed to be OUR home.
But after Zane's "amnesia," I went from owner to guest.
All my stuff got shoved into the tiny spare bedroom.
In just six months, Ivy erased me from this house completely.
And now Zane wanted me gone for good.
Their laughter drifting out of the kitchen stabbed at my ears.
I took a breath.
Slipped out the door without a sound.
Instead of going back to work, I went to the hospital, clinging to one last shred of hope.
Maybe that post wasn't even his.
Maybe he really hadn't gotten his memory back.
Maybe he only treated Ivy that way because he thought she was me.
"Zane Sterling?"
Dr. Wilson finally found his name in the stack of files.
"I called him three months ago for a follow-up. He said his memory came back."
"I remember it was Thanksgiving."
"I even congratulated him. Told him it was perfect timing—coming back together on a day like that."
I froze.
Thanksgiving.
That was the day Ivy's parents came to visit.
Zane drove to the station himself. Welcomed them into the house like family.
That same day, my parents showed up in Seattle with bags full of gifts.
He told the security guard he didn't know them.
Even had them kicked out.
I couldn't hide it anymore after that.
I had to tell my parents about Zane's "accident."
My mom sighed, trying to comfort me.
"As long as he's okay, that's what matters."
"The doctor said it's just a matter of time before he remembers."
Turns out, Zane had already remembered.
He knew he wasn't Ivy's boyfriend.
He knew I was the one he'd been with for four years. The one he was supposed to marry.
But he still chose to pick up Ivy's parents.
Still had mine thrown out.
He'd already decided to stay "amnesiac" forever.
Dr. Wilson looked at me, confused.
"Is something wrong with him now?"
I shook my head, forcing a bitter smile.
"Just checking. Worried there's no leftover damage."
Dr. Wilson chuckled. Teased me a little.
"Don't worry. He came in for a checkup already."
"He's fine. Won't affect your wedding or the sex."
After the accident, Zane had been unconscious for an entire week.
I took time off work. Stayed by his bed the entire time.
But the one moment I left—just to pay a bill downstairs—I asked Ivy to watch him.
That's when he woke up.
No matter how desperately I explained the truth, he insisted Ivy was his girlfriend.
Dr. Wilson said his brain couldn't handle stress.
He'd told me the same thing back then.
"I know you love him. And I know you're getting married."
"Don't worry. Three months, tops. He'll remember."
"It won't affect your wedding."
Funny how things turn out.
Our wedding's probably never happening now.
Chapter 3
In the elevator going down, I kept replaying the last three months in my head.
His acting was shit, actually.
I'd just been making excuses for him the whole time.
Lost in thought, I accidentally got off at the OB-GYN with some random person.
By the time I snapped out of it, I'd already walked halfway down the hall.
I turned around to head back.
That's when I saw him.
Zane.
Wasn't he supposed to be home cooking dinner with Ivy?
I froze at the doorway. Heard the doctor inside.
"You're pregnant. Eight weeks."
"Do you want to keep the baby?"
Ivy hadn't even answered yet.
Zane jumped in.
"Yes. We're keeping it."
He grabbed the ultrasound printout from the doctor's hand.
Pulled Ivy into his arms.
"Did you hear that? We're having a baby!"
He was already planning everything.
"Let's get married before you start showing."
"I'll call my parents tomorrow."
"I know it's rushed. I know it's not perfect."
"But I promise—you'll have everything you deserve."
Zane had his back to the door.
Ivy, though—she looked up and our eyes met.
The color drained from her face.
She shoved Zane off her.
He turned around following her gaze.
The second he saw me, panic flashed across his face.
"Nora, I thought you went to work."
"Why the hell are you at the OB-GYN department?"
I ignored his question.
My eyes stayed fixed on Ivy.
"You're pregnant?"
She looked down. Wouldn't meet my eyes.
Zane stepped in front of her.
"We're engaged!"
"Things got heated in bed, we forgot protection. It happens."
I let out a bitter laugh.
Wasn't even sure if I was talking to him or myself.
"Right. YOU TWO are the engaged ones now."
On the ride back, Ivy sat next to me in silence.
Zane kept checking the rearview mirror.
As if he were terrified I'd do something to his precious Ivy.
I looked down at my phone. Texted HR.
"I'll take the transfer to Milan."
Corporate had announced at the midyear meeting they were expanding overseas.
They needed engineers from the regional offices.
Lucky me.
I was the only one in the company who'd studied Italian in college.
Even if Zane hadn't "lost his memory," I wouldn't have done long distance with him.
Once, I'd chosen Zane over my career.
Never again.
From now on, I'd choose myself.
When we got back to the apartment, I found out why they'd rushed to the hospital.
While making dinner, Ivy had suddenly started vomiting.
Zane freaked out. Thought something was wrong with her stomach.
Now that we were home, he was worried the smell of food would make her nauseous again.
He suggested I take over in the kitchen.
Ivy looked at me. Hesitated.
"But Nora doesn't cook."
Zane helped her sit down on the couch.
"She can learn."
"You can't expect a pregnant woman to do everything."
The word "pregnant" stabbed through me.
I turned and walked into the kitchen.
Zane followed me in.
Locked the door behind him.
"If anything happens to Ivy or my baby, you'll pay for it."
