CHAPTER 336: BEGINNING OF SOMETHING (6)

Georgia’s POV

Ella told me everything she could remember about my life after I got off that island—and for the first time since waking up, I actually felt... good. We laughed softly over some stories, cried during others—especially when she mentioned Colleen, Wendy’s assault, and the fire at my old house. Through it all, we whispered and stifled our emotions, trying not to wake Nick, who was still slumped on the sofa.

When Ella showed me videos and photos from the phone, my breath caught. There I was—smiling, laughing, glowing in ways I didn’t even recognize. That woman looked so alive.

"See?" Ella whispered, her eyes glassy. "That’s you. That’s how happy you were. Do you think... maybe you can give Nick a chance again?"

I looked at him then—his mouth slightly open, head tilted back, completely out cold. He looked ridiculous and heartbreakingly endearing all at once.

"I’ll try," I murmured. "Not just because you’re telling me to, but because... I don’t feel scared of him. He feels familiar, like someone I used to dream about. And those pictures—they’re proof enough that he treated me well."

Ella smiled. "That’s my girl. And if your memories never come back, you can always make new ones. You didn’t lose everything anyway."

Before I could answer, the door swung open with a loud thud, making both of us jump.

Nick shot up instantly—alert, tense, as if preparing for a fight.

"Mommy!"

That one word froze me. Katie’s little voice rang through the room, so full of love and excitement that I felt it in my chest.

She sprinted toward me, but before she could reach the bed, Nick caught her mid-run and lifted her into his arms.

"Whoa there, young lady," he said with a gentle smile. "Mommy’s still healing. We have to be careful with her, okay? She’s fragile right now."

"Fragile like an egg?" Katie asked, scrunching her nose adorably.

Nick chuckled and pinched it lightly. "Exactly. Fragile like an egg."

I couldn’t help but smile through the sudden tears clouding my vision. Watching them together—their ease, their warmth—it didn’t look forced or rehearsed. It looked real.

And in that moment, I realized something: even if my mind didn’t remember, my heart already knew this was home.

Katie looked at me with those big, innocent eyes that always seemed to speak straight to my heart. "Are you alright, Mommy? I was so scared when I saw you fall from the ship... and then I couldn’t find you anymore. I thought you left me—like my real Mommy and Daddy did."

Her words pierced right through me. My chest tightened, and suddenly a sharp ache bloomed in my lower abdomen. My hands flew to my stomach instinctively.

The change in my expression was enough to set the whole room into panic.

"Call the doctor—now!" Nick’s voice thundered, filled with panic.

Ella rushed to press the nurse button while the man who had just entered the room bolted back out, shouting for help.

"I—I’m fine," I tried to reassure them through shallow breaths. "It’s just... hearing Katie say that—it broke my heart. I just can’t stand the thought of her feeling abandoned again."

Katie’s little face crumpled. "I’m sorry, Mommy! I didn’t mean to hurt you!" she cried.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I reached out and squeezed her tiny hand gently. "Oh, no, sweetheart. You didn’t hurt me at all. Mommy’s just a little weak right now, but I’ll get better soon, I promise."

The doctor and a nurse burst into the room moments later. They checked my pulse, my vitals, and the monitor beside me. Nick hovered anxiously at the foot of my bed, gripping the railing like he was holding himself together by sheer will.

After a few tense minutes, the doctor smiled reassuringly. "She and the baby are both fine. But she needs to rest. I’ll have to ask everyone to step out for now. You can visit again tomorrow."

Relief washed over the room. I exhaled softly and looked at them all. "I’m sorry, everyone. Will you come back tomorrow?"

Katie nodded eagerly, her tears now replaced with a shy smile. "Aunt Vicky told us about the baby. You have to rest, Mommy, so the baby can get better too."

That melted me completely. I opened my arms to her, and Nick gently lifted her into my embrace. I held her close, breathing her in, memorizing the warmth and the weight of her tiny body. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart," I whispered, kissing her temple.

When Nick took her back into his arms, I turned to Vicky. "I’m sorry for this," I said with a tired smile. "You brought them all the way here just for me to send them home."

Vicky shook her head softly, her eyes glimmering. "Don’t be silly, Georgia. Seeing you safe and smiling again—that’s more than enough. We’ll stay at a hotel nearby. But before we go, let me introduce everyone properly." She turned to the doctor with a polite smile. "Is that alright?"

The doctor nodded. "Please be quick. We’ll only allow one person to stay with the patient tonight."

Vicky smiled in thanks before turning back to me. She introduced her parents—Nick’s mom and dad—and her brother, Liam, before taking Katie from Nick’s arms.

Wendy reached for my hand, her touch soft and maternal. She leaned down to press a gentle kiss on my forehead. "We’ll talk tomorrow, dear. Just rest for now, alright?"

I nodded, feeling that warm ache in my chest again—the kind that made me feel both loved and homesick at the same time.

Then Nick’s mother looked around and asked, "Who’s staying with Georgia tonight?"

My gaze darted between Ella and Nick. The two of them were silently exchanging looks, like they were having a wordless argument.

Ella was the first to speak. "I’ll stay. Georgia might still be uncomfortable since she can’t remember all of you."

But before my brain could even process it, the words left my mouth on their own. "Ella, go home. You look exhausted—and you have your business to run tomorrow. I’ll be fine." I hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing, "I think... N-Nick should stay. It’s only right since he’s my husband, i-if he wants to stay."

A quiet ripple passed through the room.

Everyone turned to look at me, then at Nick—whose eyes widened in pure surprise, as if he’d just heard something impossible.

My cheeks grew warm, but deep inside, something in me settled. I didn’t know why I said it, but it felt right. Natural. Like a habit my heart and mouth remembered, even when my mind couldn’t.

Because somehow... even if my memory was gone, my soul knew him.