Memory Restored, Love Destroyed

"Isabel? What are you doing at the hospital?"

I squatted down in surprise and pulled Isabel Frazier into my arms. She was my little companion during my amnesiac days.

During my time in the hospital, I was terrified and lost. It felt like someone had hollowed out a massive hole in my heart.

I drifted through the days in a constant dazed state and felt completely at a loss, like a piece of driftwood tossed about by a storm. I even struggled with the most basic tasks.

Isabel was the one who had patiently taught me, as if she were guiding a preschooler. She stayed with me, talked to me, and kept me company, so I felt less lonely in the hospital.

"She fell off the swing while playing and hit her head, so we're here to get it checked," her uncle, Fredric Moss, explained. His eyes lit up when he saw me, as if he was clearly pleased.

"Oh, no. Are you okay? Does it hurt?" I worriedly ruffled Isabel's hair.

She hugged my neck and nuzzled my cheek. "I'm okay. I just really missed you."

"I missed you, too."

As Fredric watched us tenderly, his refined features softened into a trace of concern. "Why are you here? Are you sick? Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine. My son had an allergic reaction, so we came to the hospital."

"Oh… That's good," he said with a relieved sigh, then quickly corrected himself. "Wait—that's not what I meant. Is your son okay?"

I couldn't help laughing. "He's fine. He just needs an IV."

Fredric was about to say more when Jude's angry voice rang out behind us. "Serena!"

I turned around to see Jude's gaze shift from Fredric to my face. The smile on my face made him frown.

"Oliver's crying."

I immediately looked over at Oliver. The swelling on his face had partially subsided. Maybe the allergic reaction was too uncomfortable because his eyes were full of tears.

Crying, he angrily and anxiously pointed at Isabel. "Who is she?"

"This is Isabel. She kept me company while I was in the hospital.

"Stop crying now. It'll feel uncomfortable if tears get on your skin. Besides, as the older one, you should set a good example for the little one."

Something about my words seemed to make him even angrier because he started crying and shouting, "I don't know her! Get out! I don't want you taking care of me!"

Oliver had never liked me. He had tried to kick me out of his room more times than I could count.

Seeing him get so worked up that blood started backing up into his IV tube, I turned around and immediately walked out.

I didn't stick around to see him pull a face and start sobbing harder the moment I was gone.

After raising the pay several times, I finally found a nanny who was willing to come in for a tryout. I told Jude and Oliver in advance, "I've found a suitable nanny who'll come by later. Since you'll both be home, you can see if she fits."

Oliver, who had been inexplicably quieter and less hostile since the hospital incident, spoke up in a small voice. "Mom… I-I thought you didn't like having strangers in the house."

It felt like a lifetime since he had called me "Mom." Usually, it was just "hey, you" or my name.

Whenever I scolded him, he would just get more rebellious and say he didn't like a mom like me, and that Maddie was a thousand times better.

For a second, I was so startled that goosebumps crept up my skin. I brushed aside the discomfort and let out a dry laugh. "Having a nanny will make things easier."

Jude adjusted his glasses and chimed in, "It's probably for the best that you're taking a break, but…"

He gave a light snort and continued, "Don't find some ridiculous excuse to fire her once she's here, like claiming she's trying to seduce me."

The mention of my embarrassing past made me cringe so hard my scalp tingled.

That was just what being helplessly in love had done to me.

I remembered that when a nanny had simply forgotten her clothes and stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, I decided she was trying to seduce Jude and kicked her out of the house the same night.

Thankfully, losing and regaining my memory shook off that lovesick mentality. Otherwise, who knew how much more humiliation I would have caused?

Just as I was about to promise it would never happen again, the doorbell rang. Oliver glanced at me cautiously and surprisingly answered it himself.

There was some commotion at the door.

I was wondering what was happening when Maddie walked in, looking youthful and pretty. "So this really is Dr. Dixon's house!

"I saw the listing for a nanny and thought that I should apply since I could help you out. So, here I am."