Page 67 of Battle with a Billionaire

“Relax, don’t try to force anything with your memory, okay?” The doctor ushered them from the room.

Kyle strode down the hall as they stepped into it. “Something wrong?”

Dr. Gray answered, “Julia’s suffering from retrograde amnesia. We’re still assessing how deep that goes. It’s important to remember that this isn’t uncommon, and that, in many cases, it does reverse.”

“When? Like in a few hours?” Sierra asked as she clung to her father. The panic lacing her voice betrayed how much she cared about her stepmother.

“It’s difficult to tell. It could be hours, it could be months.”

“Months?” Sierra repeated, her eyes wide, as Grant’s heart clenched again. “How many months?”

“That’s difficult to say. And you should know that sometimes…it never reverses.”

“What?!” Sierra said with a stamp of her foot. “You’re saying she could never know us?”

“No,” Dr. Gray said. “No, she will re-learn everything. But in some instances, the lost memories never return fully.”

Grant slid an arm around his daughter as she reeled from the news. He did, too. The idea that Julia may never remember anything about the year they’d shared was not the news he wanted to hear.

“I’d like to try to probe her memory to see if there’s anything that she does remember. That can help us determine how deep this goes and how much she’s lost. It’s really important that you try not to react. I know this is hard to watch, but just let her take her time, okay?”

Grant nodded, unable to formulate words as they shuffled into Julia’s room behind the doctor. Kyle followed them, leaning against the door jamb.

“Okay, Julia, I want you to try one last time,” Dr. Gray said. “Just…let your mind relax and let me know if there’s even a vague hint of recognition for your family. It doesn’t have to be a solid memory. Take your time.”

His heart pounded against his ribs as she studied him. Memories of her floated through his mind–their shared laughter, quiet moments of connection, the easiness of their relationship.

She narrowed her eyes at him, her eyebrows pinching. Was she remembering? Come on, Julia. Just one little memory. That’s all we need.

Her eyes flicked to the side, and she did a double-take as she stared at Kyle. The crease between her eyebrows deepened as she stared at him. “You.”

Grant flicked his gaze to Kyle.

“That’s Dr. Carter. He took care of you when you came in. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s also family?” Dr. Gray slid a questioning glance at Grant who nodded.

“Kyle,” she said.

“That’s right, yes.”

“I remember you. I remember Kyle.”

Grant’s stomach tumbled at the news. She remembered Kyle? How could that happen?

“What?” Sierra shrieked. “You remember Crazy Kyle, but not me?”

“Okay, easy,” Dr. Gray said, holding up a hand. “Do you have a specific memory of him?”

Julia stared at him for another moment before she flicked her gaze back to the doctor and shook her head. “No, just…a vague recollection.”

“Okay, vague recollection is better than nothing.”

“Vague recollection? But no memory of us?” Sierra continued. “Julia, I can’t believe this. I am your loving stepdaughter, Daddy is your husband. Kyle is–”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Dr. Gray said. “The purpose of this was just to see if she had any memories after her marriage to you. She does which is a good sign.”

“Will my memories come back?” Julia asked.

“That I can’t answer for sure. There is a very good chance you will, but you may not.”

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