The next afternoon, Tessa appeared outside my room carrying a cardboard box.

“Miss Lane, you don't have an appointment.”

The nurse on duty stopped her.

“I'm dropping off some things.” Tessa opened the box, revealing several carefully sealed fragrance ornaments. “They're from her studio. Didn't the doctor say familiar scents might help her remember?”

The nurse looked uncertain.

Just then, the head of neurosurgery passed on his rounds and glanced into the box.

“That's fine if the fragrance is mild. The remaining blood has cleared, and her memories should gradually return. Keep the visit under half an hour.”

At last, Tessa was allowed inside.

Although Sebastian was on leave, he was still at the hospital and had been called away for an internal consultation.

I was alone.

Seeing the diffuser stones, my eyes brightened.

“Did I make these?”

“Yes. They're from the last batch at your studio.”

Tessa took out a white ceramic stone and added two drops of fragrance oil.

A faint scent of fig and cedar spread through the room.

I closed my eyes and breathed it in.

“It feels familiar.”

“Of course it does. It's one of your favorite formulas.”

She sat beside the bed, hesitated for a long time, then took my hand.

“There are things Sebastian won't let me tell you. He says they'll upset you and affect your brain.”

“But your doctor just said you're going to start remembering...”

After a moment's silence, I asked, “Is this about the breakup?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes were slightly red, but her voice was serious.

“You thought it through before you left. He hurt you. You packed up every single thing of yours in the apartment you shared.”

“You said you were tired of chasing someone so cold.”

My fingertips tightened.

“Was he really that cold to me before I lost my memory?”

Tessa sighed.

“Yes. You didn't leave for Paris right after the breakup. You stayed with me for a few days. We talked a lot.”

“You said that when you had a fever, all you wanted was for him to stay with you for one night. He refused.”

“You brought him some documents at the hospital and heard him call you irrelevant.”

“When you burned your wrist, you were almost fainting with pain. He told you to call 911.”

With every sentence, my face grew paler.

Then the door opened.

Sebastian strode in, his eyes frighteningly dark.

Tessa immediately stood in front of me.

“Are you going to throw me out again?”

He didn't look at her. He went straight to the bed.

“My head...”

I pressed a hand to my temple. The two people in front of me blurred into wavering double images.

His expression changed, and he caught me in his arms.

“Sophie?”

Tessa panicked too.

“I'll get the doctor.”

The neurosurgeon arrived quickly and examined me.

“Judging by her progress, she should regain all her memories within two days at the latest.”

As I slept, Tessa's visiting time ended, and a nurse escorted her out.

Sebastian went alone to the fire stairs. He took a cigarette from the packet in his coat and placed it between his lips.

It took three tries to light it.

He lowered his eyes and inhaled deeply.

The harsh smoke flooded his lungs, suppressing the nearly uncontrollable suffocation in his chest.

He hadn't smoked in a long time.

I disliked the smell, and after we got together, he had almost entirely quit.

Now he leaned against the cold wall, lighting one cigarette after another.

Smoke surrounded his long fingers. Exhaustion and obsession lay bare in his eyes.

Soon, I would remember.

I would remember every time he'd pushed me away.

What could he use to keep me then?