Chapter 002
Chapter 2: The Husband’s Awakening (1)
Despite her fervent prayers, Craig was still alive the next day, and the day after that.
Her days repeated as usual, like an endless cycle.
Perhaps that would have continued if she hadn’t noticed the subtle movements of his fingers.
“Oh?”
Cordelia rubbed her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.
“What happened?”
“His fingers, did you just see that? His fingers moved.”
“Hmm.”
The maid looked at Craig’s hand with a skeptical expression. But his fingers didn’t move at all.
“I think you were mistaken.”
“If you think so, you’re probably right.”
Emily smiled and brushed it off.
But the next day, Cordelia saw Craig’s fingers move again. Unfortunately, the maid had gone to fetch water, and Cordelia was the only witness.
Stunned, Cordelia rushed to his side.
“Craig?”
“Ugh…”
‘I couldn’t believe it. When I saw him waking up, I felt both joy and disappointment…’
No, in truth, the disappointment was greater. He had truly fought to survive, he was persistent.
Still, Cordelia hid her regret and played the role of the concerned wife.
“Craig, are you conscious?”
“Ugh…”
Craig groaned in pain several times and barely opened his eyes. His blurry vision gradually became clearer.
“…Huh?”
“Yes?”
“Ah, ha, where am I?”
“Do you know it’s been more than five months since you collapsed? Instead of sitting here, I’ll fetch the doctor immediately.”
Cordelia reached for the bell to summon the maid. However, her arms stiffened when she heard his next question.
“What’s my name?”
“Pardon?”
“What’s my name?”
***
Helena screamed when she learned that Craig Abrams, who had miraculously woken up after five months, had become a fool who didn’t even know his own name.
“This is absurd!”
She immediately called for five renowned doctors, but they all shook their heads.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what this is either…”
“Fix him and restore him to his original state at once!”
“I’m truly sorry, Madam.”
The doctors bowed their heads in embarrassment. Helena paced around the sofa nervously.
“No. Impossible. If this continues, I’ll lose the family name, it’ll be taken by someone else. How did this happen!”
Despite forbidding her attendants from speaking, rumors about Craig’s condition had already spread.
However, this was good news for those who had been waiting for an opportunity to seize control of the family since Craig’s collapse. After all, they couldn’t have a fool as the head of the family.
If this truth became widely known, it was obvious that Craig’s cousin, uncle, or even a distant Abrams relative would come forward, claiming to be the rightful heir.
If that happened, Helena, the stepmother, would be expelled from the castle without even a single coin.
On the other hand, Cordelia’s eyes began to sparkle when she heard the doctor’s diagnosis.
“My goodness, he’s a fool, he’s a fool!”
It seemed the heavens hadn’t completely abandoned her. The moment she heard the doctor’s words, a way to escape this damned hell suddenly flashed in her mind.
“Madam, I’ll speak with Craig.”
“What? You?”
“Yes. We’re husband and wife, after all. If we talk about the past a little, won’t his memories return?”
“Oh, what the young lady said is entirely possible.”
Fortunately, one of the doctors supported Cordelia’s words.
Normally, Helena wouldn’t have paid her any attention, but now she was in no position to distinguish between hot and cold.
“Fine. It might help in times like these.”
Helena turned to Cordelia and ordered her to pray.
“You must do it as quickly as possible. Those wild cats won’t stay still.”
“Don’t worry.”
Cordelia smiled bitterly and left the room. She quickly headed to her own room.
“Where is it? I’m sure I left it here somewhere.”
Cordelia urgently searched through all the drawers, looking for something she had hidden.
“Ah, I found it!”
It was a crumpled piece of paper with an old, musty smell.
[Divorce Document]
She was truly glad she had obtained a copy of this document in preparation.
The only blank space was where the husband’s signature belonged.
Smiling, she grabbed it and ran to Craig’s bedroom.
“It would’ve been better if he had died, but it’s not bad that he’s a fool.”
If she could gently persuade him to sign this document while he couldn’t remember anything, Cordelia would gain a substantial alimony and her freedom.
If that happened, she might even be able to open the small shop she had dreamed of for so long.
Cordelia went to Craig’s room, carefully holding the documents in her arms.
When the maid guarding the room saw Cordelia arrive, she bowed deeply and left.
“How are you feeling?”
Cordelia smiled as gently as she could and sat on the chair next to his head.
“This is awful.”
Craig looked at her slender figure with disgust and muttered.
“Still, you don’t know how happy I am that you woke up like this. I prayed to the morning star every day. Please let him wake up…”
“Your name.”
“Yes?”
“What’s your name?”
Craig interrupted her rather coldly.
Cordelia, who had been lying without swallowing the saliva in her mouth, immediately looked apologetic.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot your memory isn’t what it used to be. My name is Cordelia. I’m your wife.”
“What was your last name before marriage?”
“It’s Vasquez.”
“Vasquez. Ha, that’s like a string of pearls around a pig’s neck.”
He sneered and looked Cordelia up and down. The feeling of being evaluated like this was stronger than the slimy feeling she had felt before.
‘After dying and coming back to life, a person’s behavior changes completely.’
It was a tone unlike Craig’s. He seemed strangely different, but Cordelia ignored it.
“Where is the current Abrams estate?”
“Where what?”
“In which region is this castle located? No, I don’t think that question is useful. If I’m stuck in some rural corner anyway, you probably wouldn’t know the place’s name. Which of the eight families are closest to here?”
“The current estate is between Vasquez and Hellost. It’s a bit closer to the Hellost side.”
“That’s good.”
He muttered in a low voice, not loud enough for Cordelia, who was right beside him, to hear clearly. She asked,
“Why are you pleased?”
“You don’t need to know that. Why did you come to see me?”
“Why? Does there really need to be a reason for me to come see you? We’re husband and wife.”
“I don’t think we were a good couple.”
“…Why do you think that?”
Cordelia asked, still smiling lightly.
Craig pointed his chin at her arrogantly.
“You felt disappointed when I woke up instead of happy. And you haven’t come to visit me until now.”
“That…”
“Your husband, who was unconscious for five months, woke up.”
“My goodness, why would I feel disappointed? I was just shocked… and the reason I didn’t visit you yesterday was because I was afraid you’d be tired.”
Cordelia began to wonder if this man was truly a fool.
Who would’ve thought that someone who didn’t even know his own name could make such a sharp guess?
“I hate wasting time. Instead of making useless excuses, tell me why you came.”
“Well, actually…”
She brought out the divorce document as naturally as possible.
“I came here to finish the story we couldn’t complete.”
“What?”
“Craig, I’m sorry to show you this the moment you opened your eyes, but…”
Cordelia made herself look as pitiful as possible by lowering her eyebrows and the corners of her mouth.
“I really wanted us to finish this before you lost consciousness.”
“Divorce?”
“Yes. Well, no. I don’t know, but you already had someone you loved besides me. Miss Alicia and Miss Elizabeth. They both love you deeply. You can sign now if you want.”
“Hah.”
Craig lifted one corner of his mouth and sneered. It wasn’t clear who the sneer was aimed at.
Cordelia didn’t care and handed him the divorce document.
If he examined it closely, it contained only terms favorable to her.
“You said you wanted to take one of them as your wife. It was painful, but what could I do? We agreed to part cleanly. Now, all you need to do is sign down here.”
“You’ve really done it all.”
“Yes?”
Craig snatched the document she was holding and threw it onto the floor by the bed. It was extremely rude behavior.
Cordelia frowned and looked at him.
“What are you doing now?”
“Do you think just because I don’t remember anything, that makes me a real fool?”
His energy was so sharp that Cordelia recoiled slightly and took a deep breath.
“After listening to the servants’ talk, it seems the relationship between you two was at its worst. They said your husband has become a fool, so you thought it was time to bring out the divorce papers.”
“…You also found it hard to stay married to me.”
“You know why a wealthy family like Abrams chose a woman from Vasquez as a bride, don’t you? Since when did marriage require love?”
“What…”
“Will the Abrams family let you go? Buying Vasquez blood must have cost them a lot of money.”
“Who are you?”
Cordelia felt a chill. She stepped back without realizing it.
It wasn’t just a change in personality. It was as if he were an entirely different person.
Not only did he act and speak differently, but his way of thinking was completely different, making him seem like a stranger, not the “Craig Abrams” she knew.
“Well, I’m your husband.”
Craig smiled at her for the first time. His smiling face was as frightening as a snake.
“Instead of presenting divorce papers to your husband who just woke up after five months, tell me about the past.”
He ordered her naturally. Cordelia sat by Craig’s bed, swaying under the pressure.
‘What happened?’
Since he was a fool, she thought she could just coax him and get his signature, but the situation had taken a strange turn.
Cordelia pretended nothing had happened as she picked up the divorce document that had fallen on the floor, confirming her intent to divorce.
There was plenty of time anyway. Patience had been her friend since she was very young.
“Then let’s talk about the divorce after you regain your strength. And your past?”
“Fine. I’ve heard bits and pieces from others, but you, my wife, surely know better than them.”
“Well, we’ve only been married for a year.”
“Just tell me what you know.”
He said coldly.
‘I wanted to refuse because I was a bit scared that his real memories might come back, but things would get more complicated if this reached Helena’s ears.’
“First, I should check how much I remember.”
