They Never Loved Me. Now I Don’t Remember Them. Chapter 06

Dr. Mercer’s expression grew serious.

“Given Isabella’s condition, I find that even harder to believe.”

Mom and Dad stared at him.

“What condition?”

Dr. Mercer paused.

“Mr. Rinaldi, Mrs. Rinaldi… Isabella was diagnosed with progressive amnesia.”

Mom went still.

“Progressive… amnesia?”

It was obvious neither of them knew.

Matteo’s face, however, drained of color.

Isabella had told him.

And he’d accused her of making it up for attention.

Dr. Mercer glanced at my parents before continuing.

“Normally, I wouldn’t discuss Isabella’s medical information in breach of adult patient confidentiality. She

is eighteen.”

“But if she’s missing, you need to understand the risk.”

He spoke carefully.

“Her memory is deteriorating. She may forget people she knows, places she’s been, even basic

information she once knew without thinking.”

“If it progresses far enough, she may not remember who she is.”

The room went silent.

Dr. Mercer looked at Mom and Dad.

“I had strongly advised her to tell her family and return for follow-up evaluation.”

He hesitated, then added politely.

“With respect, have either of you noticed anything unusual lately? A memory journal she checks frequently? Moments when she seems confused about people she should recognize?”

Mom’s face slowly turned pale.

Dad said nothing for a long moment.

Then he murmured,

“I’ve seen the memory journal.”

Matteo stood frozen.

He remembered every time I’d stared at him blankly.

Every time I’d asked who he was.

Every time he’d accused me of pretending.

Thunder cracked outside.

Matteo suddenly looked toward the window.

The storm. The Cinder District.

And a girl who might not even remember her own address..

He had left me there alone.

“Fuck.”

Matteo spun around and ran for the door.

Mom and Dad finally reacted.

“Isabella-”

They abandoned Bianca and rushed after him.

Within minutes, the Rinaldi and De Santis families had people searching.

Drivers and security personnel, street informants and contacts-anyone who knew the Cinder District was

told to look for me.

A huge reward was offered tot any real information.

Matteo drove back through the storm with my parents close behind.

When they reached the street where he’d left me, he slammed on the brakes and jumped out.

“Isabella!”

The street was empty.

Mom stumbled out of the second car.

“Where is she?”

There was no answer.

Matteo ran down the block, searching doorways and alleys.

Then he stopped.

Something lay near the curb.

One of my shoes.

He picked it up with shaking hands.

There was blood on the shoe.

For a second, Matteo just stared.

Then he bent over and gagged.

When he straightened again, his face had gone pale.

“Isabella!”

He ran into the rain.

“Isabella! Where are you?”