The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot

Natalie felt her world spin, the room tilting in ways she couldn’t control as she stared at Dominic, looking pale with his head covered in bandage. His voice, so familiar yet distant, sent shockwaves through her, making it impossible to breathe.

Does he remember only their time in Aracemia? The words rang in her ears, over and over, like a cruel joke. Not their entire tumultuous history, not the hurt or the betrayal, just... the early, sweeter times. A time when things were simpler, a time before it all fell apart.

Sabrina’s voice cut through the silence, her own shock quickly transforming into anger. "How could he only remember her?!" Sabrina’s fury was palpable, her eyes narrowing as they flickered from Dominic to Natalie. "Doesn’t he know who else was here for him? Who else fought for him all this time?"

She had given birth to him, raised and was the only one he would ever obey. To see Dominic, her precious son, forget her, and remember only Natalie was a direct blow to her pride and love. She gritted her teeth, fury rolling off her in the form of hot tears.

Dr. Mathew, sensing the tension growing in the room, stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Mr. Grey," he said carefully, his voice calm but firm. "Can you tell me where we are right now?"

Dominic’s brow furrowed, a sharp flash of pain crossing his features. He winced, his hand going to his temple as if trying to ward off the discomfort. His eyes shut tightly, the effort of recalling even the simplest memory was too much.

"We’re in Aracemia," Dominic finally murmured, his voice hoarse and strained. "I just had surgery... for the tumor."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Even the junior doctors who had been observing the case felt their breath catch, some whispering among themselves, astonished by what they were witnessing.

Natalie gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. Aracemia? It was as though Dominic’s mind had jumped back in time to a period when everything was just beginning—their hopes, their dreams, and the battle against his illness. Her heart ached. Of all the memories to hold onto, he had chosen this one—a time before the fractures in their relationship had started.

Sabrina, however, looked on the verge of collapsing herself. She stood frozen, her hands clenched at her sides as she tried to make sense of it all. "How... how could this happen?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

But before anyone could answer, Dominic let out a groan, his face contorting in pain. His hand shot to his head as he doubled over, gasping for breath. The suddenness of it all made everyone jump.

"Dominic!" Natalie screamed, panic overtaking her as she rushed forward. His entire body tensed, and within moments, he slumped unconscious.

Dr. Mathew snapped into action, moving quickly to check Dominic’s vitals. "Please wait outside," he ordered, his voice professional and commanding, sending the two stunned women out of the room.

Natalie stumbled backward, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the chair behind her, her mind blank as she stared numbly at Dominic’s unmoving form. She could hear her mother’s voice, Rosalind, calling her name, but the words didn’t register. Everything felt distant, blurry, and unreal.

Evelyn’s eyes fell on Sabrina, who looked like she was about to collapse. Sabrina, despite her anger, had reached the end of her exhaustion. Her face paled, her breathing ragged as she swayed on her feet. Evelyn stepped forward, offering a hand. But Sabrina dodged her help, turning away sharply.

Avery watching with thinly veiled disdain, scoffed under her breath. "Still have the nerve to be rude. God, I can’t stand this woman."

Just then Dominic’s assistant walked in, followed closely by Fredrick Gale, Dominic’s father, and Sabrina’s ex-husband. He had arrived at Vespera a few days ago, immediately after receiving Jonathan’s call about Dominic’s condition.

"What did the doctor say?" Fredrick demanded, his eyes zeroing in on Sabrina, who merely shook her head weakly before finally giving up. She collapsed onto him, unconscious from the sheer stress of the past days.

Everyone tensed up and the staff rushed to Sabrina’s side, trying to revive her. But amidst the commotion, Fredrick’s eyes never left Natalie, having heard she had also gone inside to see his son.

Natalie, though, was oblivious to the world around her. She just sat, staring blankly at the floor, as if in a trance. The weight of everything—Dominic’s condition, the past, the uncertainty of the future—pressed down on her chest until she felt like she could hardly breathe.

Jonathan and Zevian exchanged worried glances, both unsure of what to do next, worried more about Natalie than Dominic. A few minutes later, Dr. Mathew stepped out with a grim expression and asked them to follow him.

As everyone settled in his office, the small room filled with the entire Reign Family and also Fredrick, Dr. Mathew sighed.

He glanced at Fredrick, then at the others. Clearing his throat, he began to explain, "Dominic’s memory loss is likely linked to the trauma from both the tumor and the surgeries. His brain seems to have regressed to a time before the tumor started affecting him,

which is why his memories seem stuck in the period when he was in Aracemia. It’s as if his mind is protecting him by retreating to a familiar, safe space."

Natalie’s throat tightened, her body numb. She could barely process the words, but the explanation hit her like a wave of cold water. *Dominic’s mind only remembers the time they were happy.*

"The brain is complex," Dr. Mathew continued, "and in cases like this, it’s not uncommon for someone to hold onto memories with strong emotional connections. His time with Natalie during Aracemia seems to have been a period of vulnerability, which might explain why those memories remain while others have faded."

Fredrick couldn’t help but glance at Natalie, his expression hard to read. For a moment, the weight of his gaze made her heart race, but she remained silent, trapped in her own thoughts.

"What do we do now?" Fredrick’s question was loaded with expectation, and he looked directly at Dr. Mathew.

"Returning to Aracemia may help," Dr. Mathew suggested. "If Dominic revisits the place and the memories associated with it, there’s a chance it could trigger more recovery of his memory. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s the best course we have for now."

Natalie’s head shot up, her eyes wide. A flood of memories hit her—memories of everything she and Dominic had gone through together in that place. It was where they had first bonded, where she had first seen the softer, more vulnerable side of him. Returning to Aracemia? The thought terrified her.

Evelyn’s heart ached for her. It was clear to anyone watching that Dominic only remembered the best parts of their relationship—completely oblivious to the hurt and the betrayal that had come late, but Natalie was still haunted by them. It was beyond cruel, leaving her to carry the burden alone.

"I will take my son back to Aracemia," Fredrick declared, his voice brokering no argument. "After Katherine’s death, I thought Sabrina needed him more than I did, but from what I’ve learned, I made a mistake. Dominic and Natalie would have been happier with me, not suffering here."

He turned toward Natalie, his expression softening slightly. "Will you come with me? Dominic needs you now more than ever."

Dr. Mathew nodded in agreement. "He does. Right now, he only remembers his life with you. If you go, it might help him recover."

Natalie blinked, torn between her love for Dominic and the memories that still haunted her. She sat motionless, the weight of Fredrick’s question pressing down on her like a suffocating fog. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Jonathan’s sharp voice.

"I won’t let my daughter suffer again," Jonathan stated firmly, stepping between Fredrick and Natalie. "Not after everything she’s been through."

The tension in the room escalated, and everyone waited for Natalie’s answer. But before she could even consider her decision, Sabrina, who had just been revived, stormed into the office, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Who’s taking who?" she demanded, her voice like venom.

Fredrick turned to her and got up, his gaze cold. "I’m taking Dominic with me, and Natalie back to Aracemia. It’s what’s best for him."

"Over my dead body!" Sabrina shrieked, her voice echoing through the room. She was beyond reason now, her mind consumed with anger and fear. "You’re not taking my son anywhere! Especially not with her!" She pointed a shaking finger at Natalie, her rage boiling over. "She’s the reason for all of this! It’s all her fault!"

Without warning, Sabrina lunged at Natalie, her hand raised to slap. But before anyone could react, Natalie caught Sabrina’s writs mid-air, her grip firm.

Sabrina stood speechless for the first time in front of her timid daughter-in-law. Natalie’s eyes were icy as if someone else had taken over her. And before Sabrina could even process it, Natalie released her hand and slapped her instead.