Emerging from John's villa study, Phyllis felt as though she'd woken from a long dream. He had admitted it. He truly acknowledged the existence of the "Shadow" organization, confirmed that the accident five years ago wasn't an accident, and validated her investigation. Most importantly, he needed her, inviting her to be his ally. This trust sparked a immense warmth in Phyllis's heart, along with a weighty sense of responsibility. She knew that from this moment on, they were no longer controller and controlled, but true comrades fighting side by side.
Yet, the beginning of this alliance carried a subtle awkwardness. Though John had opened up, that deep-seated coldness and desire for control hadn't entirely vanished. When he handed Phyllis the file, his fingertips brushed the back of her hand, sending a jolt through her, but he immediately pulled back, as if nothing had happened. Phyllis knew he was still struggling, still adapting to this feeling of "exposing" his vulnerability.
In the following days, John didn't appear at the company. He secluded himself in the villa's study, seeing almost no one except Kevin and Elina. Phyllis received encrypted files and John's latest instructions from Kevin daily. These files contained clues about the "Shadow" organization John had secretly collected over the years, as well as suspicious financial transaction records from within the Yafei family. Phyllis knew these were painstakingly accumulated by John, even in his amnesiac state, purely through instinct and extraordinary insight.
Phyllis buried herself in these materials, her agent skills put to full use. With her top-tier intelligence analysis capabilities, she meticulously pieced together the fragments of information, tracing the connections between the "Shadow" organization and the Yafei family. She discovered that the organization was far larger and more secretive than she had imagined, its tendrils reaching into every level of the Yafei family, potentially even controlling some core high-ranking members. The suspicious financial transactions were often conducted through complex overseas accounts and shell companies, the methods extremely sophisticated.
As she analyzed the data, Phyllis occasionally found John's annotations. His handwriting, with its characteristic sharpness and a hint of imperceptible tenderness, made it feel as though he was right beside her, fighting together. This brought her a strange sense of warmth and strength. She knew that although he wasn't physically present, he was, in his own way, bearing the pressure alongside her.
However, the "Shadow" organization didn't give them much breathing room. The terrorist attack on the overseas branch caused an uproar internationally. The media swarmed, bombarding the Yafei Group and John himself with reports. Uncle Osmond and Leonardo's faction seized the opportunity, fiercely attacking John at the board meeting, demanding his immediate resignation as CEO and the public disclosure of the truth behind the terrorist attack, attempting to shift all blame onto him. They even secretly contacted the media, spreading rumors detrimental to John, aiming to create public pressure and completely bring him down.
John's counterattack was equally swift and fierce. Through Kevin, he issued a statement to the media. While not directly naming the "Shadow" organization, it hinted at a premeditated terrorist attack targeting the Yafei Group and vowed to pursue the truth at all costs. Simultaneously, he had Lynn fix network vulnerabilities and trace the attack source, identifying several IP addresses linked to Uncle Osmond. At the board meeting, John directly presented preliminary evidence of the "Shadow" organization's existence and signs of their infiltration into the Yafei family. His actions shocked all the directors and caught Uncle Osmond and Leonardo off guard. They hadn't expected John to be so decisive, exposing the family's scandal to the public.
Nevertheless, Uncle Osmond and Leonardo didn't give up. Instead, they retaliated even more frantically, even secretly contacting some international powers, attempting to pressure John from outside. In John's encrypted phone, Phyllis discovered secret communication records from international intelligence agencies. Ryan's name was prominently listed. She knew that third-party forces had intervened, complicating the situation further.
One evening, as Phyllis was in the study examining documents, her private encrypted phone rang again. It was John.
"How's the progress?" His voice carried a hint of fatigue, but his tone was full of expectation.
Phyllis meticulously recounted her findings and her suspicions about the "Shadow" organization's infiltration of the Yafei family. She even mentioned the suspicious financial transactions and a few family members she suspected.
John was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "I suspect the leader of the 'Shadow' organization has a deeper connection with the Yafei family. Perhaps even with a secret identity from my past."
Phyllis's heart leaped; she hadn't expected John to say such a thing. It reminded her of the details of the accident five years ago and the unresolved mysteries surrounding John.
"You... remembered something?" Phyllis asked cautiously.
John's voice grew even deeper, tinged with pain and struggle: "Some fragmented images, some blurry sounds... I need more stimulation to remember everything." He paused, his tone firming. "The New Year's Gala is their next target."
Phyllis's heart plummeted. The New Year's Gala! It was a globally anticipated event, with the Yafei family holding grand celebrations at their castle every year, attended by celebrities from all walks of life. If the "Shadow" organization launched an attack there, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"What's your plan?" Phyllis asked, knowing that if John could predict this, he must have a strategy.
"Lure the snake out of its hole." John's voice was cold and resolute. "I want them to fall into my trap, to catch them all in one fell swoop!"
Phyllis's heart tightened. She knew John was playing a grand game of chess, and the New Year's Gala was the final battlefield. She felt an unprecedented mix of tension and excitement. She knew this would be a tough battle, a battle of love, memory, and survival! But she was no longer alone; she had John by her side, the man who had once forgotten her, but whose memories she had reawakened. They would fight side by side until all the fog was lifted, until the truth was fully revealed!
She hung up the phone, picked up the "Shadow" organization emblem from the table, and lightly traced the pattern with her fingertips.