Chapter 368
"Liam, I'm glad you could make it!" Sophia, who had been tucking in the corners of Teresa's blanket, turned and forced a smile upon seeing Liam. She decided to be upfront: "Teresa had an accident last night. She's lost her memory, stuck three and a half years ago when you two were an item."
Teresa might have amnesia, but the rest of them didn't, and there was no way they'd let Liam take advantage of the situation with any untoward intentions, preying on her vulnerable state. So Sophia didn't beat around the bush.
"How could this happen?" Coming to his senses, Liam shifted his gaze between Gabriel and Sophia, his face a mixture of surprise, confusion, and sympathy.
"You might want to ask your dear mother, Yvonne," Gabriel said, his eyes bloodshot and filled with barely restrained fury, his voice ice cold.
He knew it wasn't Liam's fault, but he couldn't help the surge of emotions overwhelming him.
If it weren't for Yvonne, Teresa wouldn't have been subjected to all this pain and disgrace, and she wouldn't have lost her memory, forgotten him, or stopped loving him.
"She..." Liam started, looking at Gabriel at a loss for words. " Isn't she in prison? What has she done now?"
"Do you remember Madison?" As Gabriel remained silent, the anger palpable in his stance, Sophia quickly interjected to defuse the tension, "Madison isn't dead. She's been under the control of your mother, Yvonne, this whole time after undergoing surgery to look like Teresa. Last night, Teresa and Diana were at a club for dinner, and while Teresa was in the restroom, the assailant kidnapped her. Madison took her place and returned to the Garcias'. Thankfully, Gabriel and Teresa's close bond, sharing a bed and deep in love, allowed him to see through the ruse, exposing the imposter Madison immediately."
Sharing the same bed night after night, a couple's love deepens.
Yvonne had dropped that line deliberately for Liam to hear, her intent clear: even if Teresa had amnesia, Liam should not attempt to sabotage the bond she shared with Gabriel.
"The person who abducted Teresa that was set up by Yvonne in advance, too?" After a moment of shock, Liam raised his hand to stroke his stiff face and asked in a deep voice.
Since Yvonne was already locked up in prison, Liam believed that the Garcia family wouldn't have allowed her the opportunity to contact the outside world.
"It was Brian," Sophia said, glancing at Gabriel, who remained silent and then continued to respond to Liam. "He must have been in cahoots with Yvonne from the start; otherwise, how could Brian have taken advantage of Madison?"
"Liam..." Just as Sophia's words faded, Teresa slowly opened her eyes to the hospital bed. Joy and a profound warmth immediately filled her gaze upon seeing Liam.
Gabriel watched, acutely aware that Teresa had lost her memory, completely forgetting herself and remembering only her relationship with Liam. Yet his heart clenched painfully, as if pricked by myriad fine needles, leaving him struggling to breathe.
"Teresa." Liam tried to muster a smile at the awakening Teresa.
"Liam..." She furrowed her brow, trying to sit up, but paused as the pain from her injuries elicited a low cry.
"Sweetheart!" Gabriel exclaimed and rushed to assist her.
"Don't touch me," Teresa resisted sharply, flinging Gabriel's hand away the moment he touched her, the forcefulness of her action once again pulling at her wounds and contorting her face in pain.
"Teresa," Sophia quickly came to check on her, "Teresa, what's wrong?"
"Teresa, are you alright?" Liam stepped forward with concern, asking her.
"Mom, I'm okay," Teresa fell back onto the bed, took deep breaths, shook her head, then looked at Liam, reaching for his wrist. With furrowed brows, she asked, "Liam, where have you been? Why does it feel like I haven't seen you in so long?"
Watching her hand grasp his, Liam's heart fluttered slightly.
Her hand felt softer and more delicate than it had three and a half years earlier.
With a smile, Liam, the picture of handsomeness, sat by the bedside, gently took her hand, and said softly, "You forgot? I told you I went on a business trip. I'll bring you a gift when I come back."
"Where's the gift?" Teresa's gaze softened as she turned to him, a tender sweetness that was a stark contrast to the indifferent front she had given Gabriel just moments before.
Gabriel felt a twinge in his heart as he watched. His chest tightened as if a clump of sponge blocked his breath.
He couldn't stand it any longer and turned to leave.
"Gabriel," Sophia called out, worry etching her features, hurrying to stop him.
"I'm fine, just need some fresh air," Gabriel paused to respond, then continued, striding away.
As Teresa lay in the hospital bed, she watched Gabriel's retreating figure, his bitterness and sorrow filling her with a slow creeping confusion.
"I was in such a rush I forgot to bring your present. I'll go back and get it for you later, okay?" Liam answered Teresa with a tenderness that could melt hearts.
How he wished he could turn back time all the way to three and a half years ago.
If he could, he would have married Teresa right then and there, sparing no expense.
"Liam," Teresa started, her tone shifting as she looked at him. " The doctor said I've lost my memory. I've forgotten everything from the last three years. That man who just left, that Gabriel, is he really my husband?"
Sophia stood aside, watching the interaction between Teresa and Liam, not expecting such a question. Her eyes filled with anticipation, hoping Liam would reveal the truth to Teresa.
"Teresa, do you want Gabriel to be your husband?" Liam said with a hint of a smile, "Gabriel is the heir to the Garcia family. Capital Construction and Rieder Corp, including all of Garcia's assets, will be his one day."
"So, Gabriel is really my husband," Teresa frowned, her confusion intensifying. " Then why did we break up? Merely because Gabriel is the heir to the powerful and wealthy Garcia family, ruling over this sphere?"
Despite her amnesia, Teresa was aware of the prominence of the Garcia family in River North.
"Is it because he's not handsome or kind to you?" Liam asked lightly, echoing in Teresa's thoughts.
—Is he not kind to you?
Teresa furrowed her brow, pondering Liam's question.
Even though she had been mostly asleep since last night and throughout the altercation, she had felt a consistent sensation, as if someone was holding her hand, watching over her with stillness.
That hand was masculine, broad, warm, and strong.
If Gabriel truly were her husband, if he truly harbored ill will towards her, he would not have remained vigilant by her sickbed, his hand clasping hers without relent, his gaze fixed upon her in silent vigil.
When she first awoke, she distinctly saw a pallor wash over Gabriel's face as if his entire world had crumbled at his feet.
Was it because she had forgotten him that he reacted so profoundly?
Clearly, he cared deeply for her.
"The reasons why we broke up are complex. If you want to know, I can tell you now," Liam said to Teresa with a gentle smile, his warmth emanating from a place deep within, as if they had been transported back to a time three and a half years ago.
Sophia, standing to the side, finally let out a sigh of relief after listening to their conversation.
She had been overthinking it. Liam wasn't the type to take advantage of vulnerability, especially since he was Gabriel's very best friend.
With a heart at ease, Sophia smiled contentedly and turned to brew a cup of tea for Liam.
Teresa gazed at Liam and nodded lightly, "Okay, tell me. I'm all ears."
...
