Chapter 1
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“I lost my memory during the earthquake. Three Christmases later, I came back to find my husband with a new love, my parents with an adopted daughter. Even my own children were calling someone else mom. When I smiled and asked, ‘So will you be coming when my husband and I celebrate our anniversary?‘ the entire banquet hall fell dead silent.”
*****
When the earthquake struck, I pushed my daughter Layla Martin to safety, then lost consciousness and my memory.
Half a month later, my husband Thomas Martin, heartbroken, married an orphan named Christina Walker who bore a striking resemblance to me.
The children I’d fought so hard to bring into this world now had a new mother.
Three Christmases passed, and everyone knew Thomas and Christina were deeply in love.
Even my parents treated her like their own daughter.
When I recovered my memory and returned home, they were celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Thomas stepped protectively in front of Christina, looking at me
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with cold distance.
“Today is Christina’s and my wedding anniversary.”
I nodded. “I know. So will you be coming when my husband and I celebrate our anniversary?”
When I walked in, the banquet hadn’t started yet.
Suddenly, the sound of a wine glass hitting the floor echoed behind me–crisp yet jarring.
I turned around to see Thomas raising his voice in disbelief: “You’re alive?”
My parents stared at me intently, completely stunned.
I smiled as I looked at Christina standing nearby. She wore the subtle makeup I’d always loved, and could easily pass for my twin.
No wonder someone might mistake her for me.
The guests turned to look at us, whispering in amazement.
“That must be Thomas’s ex–wife. Didn’t she die in the earthquake?”
“Yeah, Mr. Martin even fainted from crying at her funeral.”
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“And her parents‘ hair turned white overnight.”
I looked directly at them, but they all avoided my gaze.
Christina suddenly cried out in pain, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
“Christina, does it hurt?”
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She looked down at the glass shards on the floor. When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with tears.
She choked out: “Evelyn’s back…”
Before she could finish, Thomas pulled her into his arms to comfort her.
“Christina is a good woman. Don’t cause trouble.”
Suddenly, I felt like laughing. I didn’t think I’d said a single word yet.
“Am I causing trouble?”
Hearing my response, Thomas couldn’t argue back, but he still found an excuse.
“You could have come back any time, but you chose today. You’re obviously trying to…”
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He knew he was in the wrong and didn’t dare finish.
But I was the biggest victim of that accident.
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My husband had a new wife, my parents had a new daughter, my children had a new mother.
After recovering my memory, I just wanted to see them one more time.
Yet now, I’d become the outsider who didn’t belong.
“I was betting on how long this substitute could stay Mrs. Martin. Now it’s hard to say who’s winning. Thomas’s ex–wife is back, so this substitute…”
Instantly, Christina’s face went pale as my parents protectively flanked her.
The guest who’d been whispering fell silent after seeing Thomas’s furious expression.
“How dare you gossip about Mrs. Martin!”
Thomas gestured, and security immediately escorted that guest
out without mercy.
Watching them stand up for Christina, I smiled bitterly.
That guest was right, but it didn’t matter.
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I wasn’t here to destroy Thomas and Christina’s relationship
anyway.
Just as I was about to speak, Thomas said somewhat hesitantly: “Evelyn, Christina is my wife now.”
My parents also explained from the side: “Besides, Christina hasn’t had it easy. She’s been an orphan since childhood, and we really feel for her.”
“I know all that.”
My response left them speechless. Then I tilted my head with a light smile: “I just came back to see Oscar and Layla one more time.”
After thinking for a moment, I added: “Don’t worry. I’ll leave after I see them.”
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