The Wife Who Jumped on New Year's Eve

Chapter 12

Joanna Taylor woke up, her head heavy and her vision blurred.

She glanced around the simple cottage. The fire in the hearth cast a warm glow, and the quilt covering her carried the faint scent of sunshine.

An elderly woman noticed she was awake and brightened. "Mr. Yates, your sister's awake."

Sister? Joanna frowned slightly but followed the woman's gaze.

A man with refined features stood there, his eyes gentle and calm.

For some reason, Joanna felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

The man stepped forward, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "How are you? Does your head still hurt?"

Joanna managed a faint smile. "I'm fine, brother... just a little dizzy. And... I don't seem to remember you."

Sean Yates' expression faltered for a moment.

Not long ago, Old Li, a local fisherman, had found a young woman washed ashore. With no suitable place to house her, Sean had taken pity and told the villagers she was his distant sister who had come to stay with him temporarily. Otherwise, rumors about an unmarried man and woman living together would have tarnished her reputation.

But now, she had lost her memory?

Sean sighed and handed her a bowl of medicine. "Drink this first. Rest will help you remember."

The elderly woman looked at her sympathetically. "Poor child, you've been through so much. I'm Auntie Li, your neighbor. If you need anything, just ask."

Joanna nodded gratefully.

Auntie Li hurried off, leaving Joanna to sip the medicine slowly.

Everything—these people, this place—felt utterly unfamiliar.

She glanced at her palms, smooth and unblemished, nothing like the hands of a village girl.

Confused, she murmured, "Brother... why don't I have any calluses?"

Once Auntie Li was out of earshot, Sean explained the truth.

"Miss... the story I told was just a temporary measure. What do you plan to do now? Should we try to find your family?"

At the word family, an inexplicable ache twisted in Joanna's chest.

She shook her head instinctively. "No."

The air grew still for a moment before Sean spoke again. "If you have nowhere else to go, you can stay here. To everyone else, you're my distant cousin."

Joanna nodded, gratitude swelling in her heart.

Under Sean's care, she gradually settled into life in the village.

Though poor and remote, the place had its own charm, with breathtaking scenery and kind-hearted people.

Sean was the only teacher in the village, often stretched thin.

Moved by the children's eagerness to learn and wanting to repay Sean's kindness, Joanna decided to help him teach.

Mornings filled the humble classroom with sunlight as Joanna and Sean led the children in reciting lessons.

After class, she played with them in the yard while Sean watched, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

Days passed in peaceful contentment.

Until—

Auntie Li rushed in, beaming. "Wonderful news! The village chief says an entrepreneur is donating money to our village!"

"This is fantastic! The kids will have better schools now. Who knows? Maybe a phoenix will rise from our little valley!"

Sean's face lit up. "Really? Mr. Bennett is willing to donate to a place like this?"

At the mention of the surname Bennett, a strange unease coiled in Joanna's chest, as if something buried deep was about to break free.