Chapter 367
"My wife, she's suffering from selective amnesia, isn't she?" After smoking half the cigarette in a few intense drags, Gabriel finally asked, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
William stood a few meters away, speechless, mysteriously feeling the weight of Gabriel's anguish.
"Yes," the leading specialist nodded respectfully, "Based on Unity's current state, it seems she indeed suffers from selective amnesia. It occurs when someone experiences severe external stress or a traumatic injury to the head, forgetting the events or people they wish to avoid or are trying to escape from."
—Severe external stress.
—A traumatic injury to the head.
The bite marks, the whip scars, the signs of struggling against chains on her wrists and ankles, the tearing—all over Teresa's body. It was all too much for Gabriel even to bear thinking about for a second.
If that brute Brian were still alive, Gabriel would flay him, strip his tendons, shatter his bones, and drain his blood.
Teresa had forgotten, all the pain and humiliation wiped clean from her memory. Maybe it was for the best that she never remembered.
If she did, those memories would cast a lifelong shadow on her heart, possibly haunting her forever.
And if that were the case, it would mean a lifetime of torment for her.
He couldn't bear that.
He'd rather she forget him, no longer love him, than have her live in the shadow of the monster Brian and the agony he inflicted on her—a life of endless suffering and pain.
"Gabriel, patients with selective amnesia aren't beyond help. We can…" the doctor began.
"No need," Gabriel cut him off before he could finish. Puffing on his cigarette with an intensity that left the doctors bewildered, he expounded, "My wife doesn't need to get her memory back. Things are fine as they are."
If he could make Teresa fall for him once, he could do it again—and again.
Besides, they had croissants for breakfast; what was there to fear?
The lead doctor glanced at his colleagues perplexedly, then nodded, "Alright, we'll do as Gabriel says. No psychiatric medications for Unity."
With a subtle nod, Gabriel took a final drag from his nearly spent cigarette and exhaled a note of sheer determination.
Acknowledging the gesture, the lead doctor gathered his team and left the room.
Once the doctors had gone, William approached with a playful smirk. "Are you sure about not letting Teresa's memories come back? You do realize this makes Liam your top rival again, right?"
Gabriel looked down and scoffed bitterly, snuffing out the cigarette butt and tossing it into the trash. "The first time was a golden opportunity, and Liam still couldn't beat me. Now or ever, he won't stand a chance."
He then pulled out his phone, turned it back on, and dialed Liam's number.
William watched him, his lips curving in an amused smile, saying no more.
"Gabriel," Liam's voice came through almost instantly.
"I'm at First Hospital. Come here," Gabriel said flatly.
It wasn't an order nor a plea, just his usual tone.
At the other end, Liam, freshly washed and ready for breakfast, scowled as he listened to Gabriel's raspy and clearly distraught voice. "What's happened? Who's in trouble?"
"Teresa," Gabriel replied succinctly.
"I'll be right there." Liam didn't ask why or even hesitate for a second. He agreed instantly, hung up the phone, grabbed his suit jacket from the housekeeper, and rushed out.
"Liam, where are you off to? You're in such a hurry this early." Tyler, fresh from his morning workout, inquired as he watched Liam hurry out the door.
"Gabriel just called. It seems like Teresa has been injured at the hospital. I'm heading over to check," Liam replied, stepping into his car.
"Word has it that the Garcias rounded up a couple of hundred people last night; even Big Louie got involved. All this fuss might be about Teresa," Tyler said as he approached Liam, gently patting him on the shoulder. "Look, I know you can't quite let go of Teresa, but she's been with the Garcia clan for ages now, winning their hearts left and right. You need to keep your actions in check."
Liam looked at him, his face registering surprise, then nodded solemnly, climbed into his car, and instructed his driver to head to First Hospital.
At the sprawling Garcia estate, Mason and Raymond had slept late into the morning due to the previous night's events. As they came downstairs after freshening up, their sister Katherine hurriedly broke the news, "Dad, Raymond, the hospital just called—Teresa's lost her memory. It's like she's stuck in her junior year of college, completely forgot about Gabriel and all of us, even the Croissant."
"Memory loss?" Raymond echoed, clearly taken aback. "How did that happen?"
It was Mason, his hair speckled with grey, who sighed deeply and furrowed his brow, "The shock and humiliation last night must have been too much for Teresa. Maybe, in a way, this could be a blessing for her future."
"What else happened last night, other than her being kidnapped?" Katherine asked, confused.
"That Brian, a vile creature, less than human," Raymond cursed, recalling the trauma Teresa endured last night.
Just then, the little one, Croissant, dashed over, eyes shining as he looked up at Raymond, "Grandpa, Great Grandpa, good morning! I want my mommy and daddy."
"Alright," Raymond bent down to scoop up the youngster, "After breakfast, we'll go see your parents."
"Okay."
......
In the hospital, Teresa was incredibly weak. After being examined by the doctor, she drifted off to sleep, her forehead still furrowed, never fully relaxed.
Patrick and Sophia were already aware of Gabriel's decision. Since he didn't mind Teresa forgetting him and was concerned for her well-being, they saw no reason to fuss.
Once Teresa fell asleep, Sophia quietly checked her injuries, unable to hold back her tears.
An ordinary woman couldn't bear such humiliation and abuse. Forgetting would be a blessing; without the memories, Teresa's heart wouldn't be shrouded in shadows.
"Gabriel, I've asked someone to prepare breakfast. Why don't you freshen up and grab something to eat? I'll stay here with Teresa," Sophia said, her voice laced with concern. She caught Gabriel sitting by the hospital bed, gazing at Teresa unblinkingly, holding her hand, and keeping vigil.
After a moment's hesitation, Gabriel nodded, letting go of Teresa's hand to stand up.
"Gabriel, Aunt Sophia."
The door to the room opened, and just then, Liam strode in, greeting Gabriel and Sophia first. His eyes landed on Teresa lying in the bed, and he paused, his face frozen in place.
