Hearts Remember What Minds Try To Forget by Rex Wilder 24

Ella’s Story 1 

My husband, Ethan Wilson, had a relentless stalker. 

She plastered his photos across town, screaming her love. 

She once sprawled naked on his office desk, begging him to F**K her. 

She even live–streamed slitting her wrists, threatening suicide if he didn’t marry her. 

But Ethan never wavered. He made me feel safe. 

Until one year into our marriage–when the stalker showed up at our door, pregnant. 

I never thought the man who swore he loved me would betray me. 

So I asked for a divorce. 

Ethan knelt in the pouring rain for three days and nights, pale and hoarse: 

“Ella, I was drugged. I thought it was you. It was an accident. I can’t live without you. I’ll make her get rid of it, send her away. Just–don’t divorce me. I can’t lose you.” 

Everyone knew he’d fallen for me at first sight, pursued me obsessively. 

After we married, he treated me like treasure. 

He built me a private concert–hall music room. 

At an auction, he dropped a fortune on a manuscript just because I mentioned it. 

When my rival attacked me with a knife, he jumped in front without hesitation. 

Looking at his broken figure in the rain, I caved. 

But six months later, I saw Ethan and Sophia Miller at the mall. She was holding a baby. 

Ethan froze, face white. He grabbed my wrist. 

“Ella! Please! The doctor said she couldn’t abort. Once she recovers, I’ll send them abroad!” 

When his parents found out about their grandson, they declared, 

“A Wilson bloodline will never be abandoned!” 

Still, Ethan insisted on sending Sophia and the child away. For that, his father whipped him ninety–nine times. His back split open, blood everywhere, as he knelt before me, begging: 

“Ella, just once more–believe me. I’ll send them away.” 

I cried as I cleaned his wounds, heart bleeding, but I trusted him again. 

After that, Ethan became even more protective, 

When a maid said I had a slight fever, he abandoned a billion–dollar deal overseas, flew back that night, and stayed up by my side. 

My heart softened. I tried to forget them. 

Three years later, a woman’s sobs and a child’s cries shattered everything. 

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“Ethan, I didn’t want to bother you, but Liam has leukemia! The doctors said only a sibling’s cord blood can save him! Please–save our child!” 

Sophia knelt outside the mansion, smashing her forehead against the pavement until blood ran. 

Robert and Margaret Wilson rushed over. Margaret, eyes red, grabbed the child and threatened Ethan: 

“Ethan, this is your son! If you don’t help him, I’ll die with him!” 

Ethan’s face drained, inch by inch, until he finally gave in. 

Sophia and the child moved into our bridal suite. 

Red–eyed, he hugged me, voice trembling. 

“Ella, it’s a life. My child. I can’t abandon him. Don’t worry–I’ll only do IVF. I won’t touch her. Once he recovers, I’ll send them away. Please… don’t leave me. I can’t live without you.” 

I nodded numbly. 

At first, Ethan kept his distance. 

But the baby’s cries, Margaret’s nagging, Sophia’s pleading eyes–they pulled him in. 

Soon, I kept stumbling on picture–perfect family scenes. 

Morning: Ethan feeding Liam, clumsy, while Sophia leaned in to wipe the boy’s mouth, eyes soft. 

Night: Ethan’s deep voice telling stories, Sophia’s gentle hums, Liam’s innocent laughter. 

Each sound was a poisoned needle stabbing my heart. 

I felt like a stranger in my own home. I just wanted it to end. 

Then one afternoon, Liam got into the chocolate I’d left on the table. 

Rashes broke out, his breathing turned shallow, his body convulsed. 

Sophia lunged at me, slapping me again and again. 

“Ella Carter! Hate me all you want, but Liam’s innocent! How could you be so vicious?!” 

I stood frozen.“I didn’t! Why would I ever hurt a child?!” 

I looked to Ethan, desperate.“Ethan, believe me. I didn’t do this.” 

But his eyes avoided mine. He glanced at the cake, sighing, heavy with doubt. 

“Ella… 

you never eat chocolate.” 

My blood ran cold. I grabbed my phone, showing my chat. 

“This was a client’s gift. I don’t eat it–that’s why it was there. Look-” 

“Enough!” Ethan smashed my phone to the floor. 

“I told you they’re only here for treatment! Once he’s better, they’re gone! Why can’t you understand?!” 

Margaret stormed in, venom in her 

eyes. 

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“You vicious woman! You can’t give us a child, and now you want to kill my grandson? You’ll pay! Maids, hold her down! Force her to 

eat the mango!” 

I thrashed, screaming at Ethan. 

“It wasn’t me! Ethan! Please! Believe me!” 

He didn’t answer. 

He scooped up the boy and left with Sophia, without a glance back. 

As the mango was shoved down my throat, I heard his frantic voice outside: 

“Where’s the driver? Get us to the hospital, now!” 

My chest seized. My vision blurred. Darkness swallowed me. 

The last thing I remembered was a memory- 

Back then, even if I pricked my finger on a music sheet, he would cup my hand, kiss it, scold himself endlessly. 

Now, knowing exactly how his mother meant to hurt me, he didn’t even look back. 

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