Prologue: Mystery Man and I
"Who am I?"
Who was this woman? Why could she not recognize the face staring back at her through the mirror? What secrets were those eyes hiding from her?
What happened to her?
***
Who would have thought the most precious heiress would find herself in this predicament?
All her life, she had been so sure of who she was. She had lived the life that most could only dream of. Her life was perfect. She had everything.
Loving parents.
Wealth.
Beauty and brains.
Most of all, she had the man of her dreams wrapped around her dainty fingers.
The perfect man loved her.
What else could she ask for?
Nothing!
Until—
She lost everything.
Her perfect world crumbled before her eyes. She had nothing left but a blank canvas. The incident erased everything, including the people she loved and all her memories.
It left her with emptiness and unanswered questions.
Where did she come from?
Who were her family?
What was her name?
So on and so forth.
In an unfortunate accident, she forgot everything about her past. She lost all her memories and the life she left behind.
Was it a curse, a punishment, or a blessing in disguise?
***
"Your name is Skyler. Skyler McKenzie." The doctor told her when she came out of a coma. "You were in a car accident. You have a terrible head concussion, causing you to lose your memories."
How could she forget her name? Her identity? She remembered a few things, but those images were more like a blur. Unfortunately, it did not help much.
"We are your family. I'm Lily, your Mom. And he is your Dad, Martin." Two unfamiliar people introduced themselves, telling her they were her family.
Of course, they told her about her childhood, stories about her youth that she had no recollection of, and some people and places she could not recall.
Truthfully, nothing her father and mother said made sense. To her, like everyone else, they were still strangers.
"Mom!" She called out to the woman, lovingly caressing her hair. "Dad!" Letting the word roll out of her tongue. Sadly, it sounded unnatural.
Could she trust these people? Nonetheless, did she have a choice? At that point, she had no one else but them.
Still, she could not stop asking the same questions.
Who are these people?
What happened to her?
"Who is Skyler McKenzie?"
Frankly, even her name did not ring a bell. But it seemed the worst was not over as the doctor dropped another unexpected news.
"You are three months pregnant."
Of course, it felt like a bomb just exploded around her. It was bad enough that she could not remember her name. But having a child growing inside her was just outright outrageous.
Wow!
"Just wow!"
She was speechless. What else could she say at a time like this? Of course, she did not expect that. Now, she had more questions as she looked down at her flat belly.
Damn!
Who was the father?
She was in a coma for a month before regaining her consciousness. Therefore, it must have happened two months before the accident.
"What do you know about the father?" She needed answers, so she asked her parents.
Ironically, she had no idea about her dating record, much more about her romantic relationships. So, how would she know the identity of her baby's biological father?
"Sorry, honey, but you have always been secretive about your life, especially your love affairs." Her mother disappointingly told her.
It was not exactly the answer she wanted to hear. But damnit! What else could she do? How would she know the identity of the man in her life?
"I guess it is just you and me for now." She telepathically whispered to her child, knowing there was no other way. She would never know who her lover was unless someone stepped up and claimed her child. Until then, it left her with no choice but to raise her child alone.
Crazy! Right?
But what choice did she have? Until she could remember her past, her only option was to accept her fate and live in the present.
On the other hand, her lost memories would have to wait.
For now, she had to prioritize the child growing inside her instead of worrying about things she had no control over.
"Be thankful, my child. Take this as a second chance in life." Her father sincerely smiled and gently tapped her on the shoulder.
She supposed she could not complain, looking at the two people who stood by her bedside. At least she still had a family, even if she had lost everything else.
What mattered most was that she was alive.
My baby is fine.
"Will I ever regain my memories?" She finally asked the doctor, seeking his professional diagnosis.
Was there a chance that she could still remember her past and, more importantly, the father of her child?
Did she love him?
Did he love her back?
Where is he?
It was a question that lingered in her mind despite the reassurance of her parents that everything would be alright.
"There are no guarantees. Your memories can return in a few days, months, or years." The doctor explained to her. "But in rare cases, some permanently forget everything."
Honestly, she did not know which she preferred. To remember everything or remain ignorant about her past forever.
But somehow, the latter seemed to become increasingly tempting as she thought of a clean slate. After all, her parents told her they had recently moved into a new place.
A new house.
A new home.
A new start.
Who knew?
Maybe it is for the best.
"Focus all your strength on recovering and caring for the baby." Her mother, Lily, suggested.
She guessed her parents were right. She had no time for anything else. She needed to move on and think of the future for her and her baby.
Yeah! I need to consider what is best for my baby.
She had to be tough to get through this ordeal. It would not be easy, but she had to find a way to survive.
She realized she could no longer wait for her Prince Charming. No one would come to save her or take responsibility for her baby. It was just her.
"Excuse me, Ms. Skyler." Someone knocked at the door after her parents left to give her space. "I have something for you."
A nurse stopped by the entrance, carrying a clear plastic bag with her name on it.
"What is it?" She asked, wondering what it could be. She could not think of anyone who would give her something.
After all, no one seemed to know who she was except her parents. Therefore, she doubted if she even had friends.
"It is your personal belongings the hospital kept after your accident." The uniformed woman handed the bag, leaving it in her hand.
Curiously, she opened the bag and took out the contents. First, she pulled out a beautiful gold bracelet, matching earrings, and necklace. It looked expensive.
Was it something she would wear? What was she like before the incident?
"Hmm!" Then, she noticed the ring at the bottom. Unlike the other jewelry set, it did not seem much. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a school championship ring.
"It's not mine." She concluded, seeing that it was too big for her finger. She could only assume it probably belonged to a man.
Looking closely, she found something written on the metallic band. What was it?
NO-EL
"Could it be him?" She wondered, staring closely at the object in her hand. "Was that his name?"
"Noel."
Could the owner of the ring be the father of her child?
Who was this mystery man?