Chapter 1

I have a strange illness.

Every morning I wake up, the previous day’s memories are completely gone.

My wife, Olivia, is the only person I trust when I open my eyes.

She always tells me patiently:

"Your name is Ethan. You’re twenty-nine, and you’re my husband."

I believed her without a shadow of a doubt.

Until today, when I found a hidden diary in the corner of the study.

On the very first page, written in my own handwriting, was a chilling warning:

"Never trust Olivia."

"Julian isn't her cousin. He's the man she’s been in love with for years."

"You don't have amnesia. She has been drugging you."

"This is the 1001st time I’ve discovered the truth."

From this moment on, I decided to play dumb. I’ll keep acting in her little play.

I opened my eyes in the morning, my mind completely blank.

"Are you awake?"

I turned my head and saw a woman in a silk bathrobe sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Who are you?"

The words slipped out of my mouth automatically.

The woman smiled, gently brushing her hand over my forehead.

"I’m Olivia. Your wife."

"And you are Ethan, my husband. You’ve been sick, which is why you forget everything from the day before."

She pointed to the picture frame on the nightstand.

"That's our wedding photo."

In the photo, I was wearing a tuxedo, leaning close to her.

But strangely, there was a noticeable crease along the edge of the photo.

She took my hand, her fingertips warm. "Ethan, I’m the only one you can trust."

I nodded, accepting this reality.

Olivia helped me get out of bed, laid out my clothes, and even meticulously adjusted my collar.

"What do you want to do today?"

I looked at myself in the mirror.

"I don't know. I don't remember anything."

"Then just let me handle everything."

Olivia wrapped her arms around me from behind, resting her cheek against my back.

"A family doctor is coming for a checkup this morning. In the afternoon, I’ll take you for a walk in the garden. And tonight..."

Before she could finish, the doorbell rang.

Olivia let go of me, her brow furrowing just for a split second.

"That must be Dr. Julian."

I followed her downstairs.

A man in a white lab coat was standing in the living room.

When he turned around and saw Olivia, his eyes lit up instantly.

"Olivia."

"How is Ethan doing today?"

Olivia walked naturally to Julian’s side and took his medical bag.

Their fingers brushed against each other as they made the handoff. Neither of them pulled away.

Julian looked at me, a quick, calculating look flashing deep in his eyes.

"Ethan, let's test your memory baseline today."

For the last question of the test, he pointed at Olivia.

"Who is she?"

"My wife."

Julian’s pen paused on the clipboard, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

"The basic cognitive function is still there. But Olivia, I still suggest we increase the dosage."

He began packing up his equipment.

As he stood up, his fingers casually brushed against the back of Olivia's hand.

I sat quietly on the sofa.

Through the window, I saw Julian lean close to her ear outside the front door, whispering something.

When she closed the door and walked back in, her face immediately returned to that sweet, gentle expression.

"Ethan, what would you like for lunch?"

I stared directly into her eyes.

"What did he whisper to you outside?"

Olivia froze for a moment.

Then, a sharp, testing look flashed in her eyes.

"Why do you ask?"

I looked down, my finger tapping the armrest of the sofa absentmindedly.

"He comes here every day. Were we very close in the past?"

"Dr. Julian is just doing his job."

Olivia wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

The faint scent of cedarwood on her was exactly the same as the scent on Julian.

"Ethan, you have to remember. In this world, I am the only one who truly cares about you."

"Don't believe a word anyone else says."

I nodded silently, saying nothing more.

But deep down, I knew something was terribly wrong.