<Chapter 2> The Husband Who Awoke
November 2, 2023
Despite her desperate prayers, Craig continued to breathe the next day… and the day after that.
It was a repetitive, hamster-wheel routine—
That is, until she saw his finger move.
“Huh?”
Cordelia rubbed her eyes, not believing what she’d just seen.
“What is it, my lady?”
“His finger. Did you just see that? It moved.”
“I’m not sure…”
The maid examined Craig’s hand with a skeptical look.
As if it had all been a lie, his fingers showed not even the slightest twitch.
“I must’ve imagined it.”
“It happens when you wish for something badly enough.”
Emily brushed it off with a soft smile.
But the next day, Cordelia saw it again—Craig’s finger moved.
Unfortunately, the maid had stepped out to fetch water, so only Cordelia witnessed it.
Startled, she rushed to his bedside.
“Craig?”
“Ugh…”
He even groaned. Seeing him wake up filled her with…
Joy and disappointment.
No—if she were honest, more disappointment. The man really was hard to kill.
Still, Cordelia hid her frustration and put on the act of a dutiful wife.
“Craig, can you hear me?”
“Ugh…”
After groaning painfully a few more times, Craig barely managed to open his eyes.
His blurry pupils slowly began to focus.
“…Di?”
“Yes?”
“W-Where am I?”
“You’re home. Do you know you’ve been unconscious for over five months? I’ll call the physician right away.”
Cordelia reached for the bell cord to summon a maid—but stopped at his next question, her hand freezing midair.
“What’s my name?”
“…What?”
“What’s my name?”
When word spread that Craig Abrams, who had miraculously awakened after five months, couldn’t even remember his own name, Helena screamed.
“This is ridiculous!”
She immediately summoned five renowned physicians from nearby.
But all of them shook their heads.
“We’re terribly sorry, Countess Dowager. This sort of case is beyond even us…”
“Then fix him right now!”
“We truly apologize, my lady.”
The doctors bowed deeply, flustered. Helena paced nervously around the sofa.
“This can’t happen. No way. If this gets out, someone else will snatch the family title! I built this with my own hands!”
She ordered the servants to keep quiet, but the rumors about Craig’s condition spread quickly.
Those who’d been eyeing the position of family head since Craig collapsed now saw an opportunity.
There was no way they’d accept a fool as the new lord.
Once the news broke, Craig’s cousins—anyone remotely related to the Abrams family by blood—would rush in to claim they were the rightful heir.
If that happened, stepmother Helena would become a kite with its string cut.
Penniless and cast out of the estate.
But Cordelia’s eyes gleamed when she heard the physician’s diagnosis.
‘An imbecile? He’s really a fool?’
Maybe the heavens hadn’t completely abandoned her after all.
At that moment, a brilliant escape from her hellish life flashed in her mind.
“My lady. Let me speak with Craig.”
“What? You?”
“Yes. We are husband and wife, after all. If we talk about the past, maybe it’ll help jog his memory.”
“Hm, the countess’s idea is quite reasonable.”
Fortunately, one of the doctors sided with Cordelia.
Normally, Helena wouldn’t have spared her a glance.
But now, she had no room to be picky.
“Fine. You’re finally being useful.”
Helena’s face lit up. She urged Cordelia firmly.
“Do it as soon as possible. Those vultures won’t sit idle for long.”
“Don’t worry.”
Cordelia smiled sweetly and left the room—then headed quickly to her own chambers.
“Where is it? I know I put it somewhere around here…”
She tore through drawers frantically, searching for something she had hidden long ago.
“Aha! Found it!”
The crumpled parchment scroll gave off a musty, old smell.
[Certificate of Intent to Divorce]
It was a good thing she had asked for a copy—just in case.
The only blank space left was for her husband’s signature.
Grinning, she tucked it under her arm and dashed to Craig’s bedroom.
‘Sure, it would’ve been better if he’d died—but having him turn into a fool isn’t so bad either.’
If he didn’t remember anything, she could coax him into signing the paper.
Then she’d finally get alimony—and freedom.
Maybe… maybe she could finally open that little shop she’d dreamed about for so long.
Clutching the document close to her chest, Cordelia made her way to Craig’s room.
The maid standing watch bowed deeply at Cordelia’s arrival and exited the room.
“How are you feeling?”
Cordelia sat in the chair beside his bed, putting on the gentlest smile she could muster.
“Horrible.”
Craig muttered, glaring at his limp body with disgust.
“Still, I can’t tell you how happy I am you woke up. I prayed every morning to the morning star… begging for you to come back to me.”
“Your name.”
“…What?”
“What’s your name?”
Craig cut her off coldly.
Cordelia, who had just been spouting her lies without blinking, quickly feigned an apologetic look.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. I forgot you’re not fully recovered yet. My name is Cordelia—your wife.”
“Your maiden name?”
“Vasquez.”
“Vasquez, huh. Hah. Pearls before swine.”
His sneer was sharp as he looked her up and down—not with any hint of desire, but like someone appraising an object.
‘He’s changed completely since waking up.’
This wasn’t the Craig she knew. There was something off—his tone, his demeanor…
Still, Cordelia dismissed the unease.
“Where is the Abrams estate located?”
“…What?”
“I asked what region this estate is in. Never mind. It’s probably in some backwater you’ve never even heard of. Then—what are the eight closest noble houses?”
“The estate lies between the Vasquez and Hillerst territories. It’s a bit closer to Hillerst.”
“Hillerst, huh. That’s a relief.”
He muttered under his breath—quiet, but loud enough for Cordelia to hear.
“What’s a relief?”
“You don’t need to know. Why are you here?”
“What do you mean, why? Do I need a reason to visit my husband?”
“We weren’t exactly a happy couple, were we?”
“…Why would you say that?”
Cordelia asked with a soft, composed smile.
Craig pointed his chin toward her arrogantly.
“When I woke up, you weren’t happy—you looked disappointed. And you didn’t even come to see me for a whole day.”
“Well…”
“Your husband wakes up after five months in a coma, and you don’t even stop by?”
“Oh no, it’s not like that! I was just… so shocked. And I didn’t come yesterday because I thought you might be too tired…”
He’s too sharp.
Cordelia began to seriously doubt whether he was really a fool.
Someone who didn’t even know his own name shouldn’t be making deductions like that.
“I hate wasting time. Stop with the nonsense and just tell me why you’re here.”
“…Actually…”
She pulled out the certificate as naturally as possible.
“I wanted to finish something we left unresolved.”
“What is this?”
“I’m sorry to bring this up right after you woke up…”
Cordelia drooped her eyebrows and lips, putting on her most pitiful face.
“Before you collapsed, you really wanted to finish this. And so did I.”
“Divorce?”
“Yes. I mean… I’m not sure if you remember, but there were women you loved—Miss Alicia and Miss Elizabeth. You loved them both very deeply. If you’d like, I can call them here right now.”
“Hah.”
Craig smirked—though it wasn’t clear who the laugh was aimed at.
Unfazed, Cordelia handed him the divorce papers.
They were written entirely in her favor, if anyone took a close look.
“You said you wanted to make one of them your wife. It hurt, but I understood. We agreed to separate cleanly. All that’s left is your signature here.”
“…You really are something.”
“…What?”
Craig snatched the paper from her hand and threw it to the floor.
A blatant show of disrespect.
Cordelia frowned, glaring at him.
“What are you doing?”
“You think just because I don’t remember anything, I must be a complete idiot?”
His tone was razor-sharp, and Cordelia took a deep breath to keep herself from snapping back.
“From what I’ve heard, our marriage was a disaster. Now that your husband’s supposedly a fool, you figured it’s your big chance, didn’t you?”
“…You didn’t enjoy our marriage either.”
“You should know why the nouveau-riche Abrams family married into the Vasquez name. Since when did marriage require love?”
“What…”
“And you think Abrams would just let you go? I bet buying into the Vasquez bloodline cost them a fortune.”
“…Who are you?”
Cordelia shuddered. She instinctively took a step back.
This wasn’t just a change in personality.
This man was completely different—from the way he spoke to how he thought.
“Who do you think? I’m your husband.”
Craig smiled at her for the first time.
His smooth face was eerily snake-like.
“Instead of shoving divorce papers in my face, why don’t you start by telling me about my past?”
He gave the command so naturally that Cordelia found herself reluctantly sitting by his side again.
‘What the hell is going on?’
She thought she could just play along and get him to sign—
But the situation had twisted into something much more complicated.
Cordelia quietly picked up the divorce papers from the floor and acted like nothing happened.
There’s plenty of time.
Patience had been her closest companion since childhood.
“Then let’s talk about that later—after you’ve recovered a bit. You want to know about your past?”
“Yeah. I’ve heard a little from the servants, but surely my wife would know best.”
“Well… we’ve only been married a year, so…”
“Just tell me what you know.”
His voice was cold and commanding.
Cordelia wanted to refuse—afraid that talking might trigger a real memory—
But if Helena heard about her refusal, things could get messy fast.
‘First, I need to figure out how much he really remembers…’
