The morning sun streamed through the French windows, casting a warm glow over the John's private villa bedroom, layering the scent of disinfectant and herbs with a soft light. John lay on the soft bed, his face still pale, but his breathing had steadied. Phyllis sat by his side, sleepless through the night, her eyes bloodshot, yet still tightly clutching John's cold hand. Before leaving, Dr. Elina had gently told her that John's condition was stable; he just needed time to rest and process.
Phyllis gently tucked the blanket around John, her gaze unconsciously falling on the distinctive scar on his wrist. The scar, strikingly clear in the sunlight, looked like an ancient brand. Her fingertips gently touched it; beneath the cool skin, she could feel the pulsating vein on John's wrist and the rough texture of the scar.
The moment her fingertips brushed the scar, John's body trembled violently, and he weakly opened his eyes. His gaze was no longer the cold indifference and confusion of the past but held a complex mix of emotions: pain, struggle, but more so, a long-lost, profound tenderness and clarity. He looked at Phyllis, his gaze falling on her hand gently stroking his wrist, and then shifted to the photo she tightly clutched.
"This scar... is it from the accident five years ago?" Phyllis asked softly, her voice carrying a subtle tremor. She knew this was the answer she had waited five years for.
John's throat bobbed with difficulty, his voice hoarse and weak, tinged with unbelievable pain and yearning: "Yes... Phyllis, I... I didn't forget you."
He struggled to lift his other hand, gently caressing Phyllis's tear-streaked cheek. His fingertips were cool, yet they carried a burning warmth, as if to evaporate all her tears.
"Five years ago, I thought I was going to die," John's voice grew even weaker, each word seemingly squeezed from the depths of his soul, carrying a heavy burden. "After being rescued, my injuries were too severe, and my memory was damaged, especially the emotional parts. I was secretly treated, while also eliminating those who wanted to use me or harm you. I pretended not to know you to protect you, and because I was afraid... afraid of losing you again."
Phyllis could no longer control her emotions. Tears burst forth, streaming down her cheeks, soaking John's fingers as he caressed her face. She suddenly leaned down, burying her head in John's chest, her tears soaking his thin shirt.
"You fool! Why didn't you tell me?!" Phyllis's voice was thick with emotion, filled with grievance and heartache. So that's how it was... He hadn't forgotten; he had pretended for her protection, to eliminate threats. He had endured so much, silently bearing it all alone. She recalled John murmuring "Yaya" in his semi-conscious state, and Kevin's unusual gaze earlier; everything now made sense. All the grievances, all the waiting, all the pain, now turned into a torrent of tears.
John felt Phyllis trembling in his embrace. He struggled to lift his arm and held her tightly. Phyllis's warm tears on his chest brought him immense relief and sorrow.
"Finally... finally I can tell you," John's voice trembled slightly, yet it was filled with conviction. "Phyllis, I love you. My control, my pretense, it was all because I was too afraid to lose you. Now, do you believe me?"
He knew he had to let her see that photo. He struggled to shift his gaze to the photo on the bedside table, which Phyllis clutched tightly. That blurry photo was the only secret he had kept about them, the only solace during five years of pretense and pain. He looked at Phyllis's crying face, a wave of immense relief and sorrow washing over him. He knew he had to let her see that photo; it was the testament to their love, the source of all his pain, and the only comfort he had held onto for five years.
Phyllis held him tightly, feeling the warmth and heartbeat emanating from his chest. She knew her John had finally returned. All the mists had cleared, and all the truths had emerged. This photo was the most authentic proof deep within his memory, and the only secret he had preserved about them during five years of pretense and suffering. And she, too, could finally shed all her pretense and defenses, completely entrusting herself to him.
"I believe you, John," Phyllis lifted her head, her tear-streaked face now breaking into the most sincere smile. "I've always believed you. Together, we'll face everything."
John closed his eyes, feeling Phyllis's warm embrace. Five years of pain and torment were completely released at this moment. He knew that their love, tempered by time and tested by life and death, had become even stronger and deeper. The revelation of the truth was just the beginning of their new chapter.
John's private villa, deep underground, housed a heavily protected secret intelligence room. On the massive screens, complex codes and global maps flickered with a cold light, like pulsating neurons, connecting to the Yafei family's extensive intelligence network. The air was filled with the faint hum characteristic of electronic equipment and the subtle aroma of coffee.
John's face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes had regained their former sharpness and depth. He sat at the main console, his fingers lightly tapping the table—a habit he once used to suppress emotions, but now it conveyed a calm control over the entire situation. Phyllis stood beside him, her gaze fixed on the scrolling encrypted data on the screens, her brow slightly furrowed, but her eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.
Kevin and Lynn stood on either side. Kevin, as meticulous as ever, held a tablet, ready to report at any moment. Lynn wore thick-rimmed glasses, his fingers flying across the keyboard, the screen displaying the financial flows and network nodes he was tracking. Dr. Elina was also present, not for treatment, but as a witness to John's recovery and to provide professional medical analysis.
"Five years ago, that train accident was not an accident," John's voice was deep and powerful, tinged with suppressed anger. "It was carefully planned by the 'Shadow' organization. Their target was the Yafei family's core technology, and... me."
Phyllis's heart sank. She pointed to a gradually clarifying organizational chart on the screen, prominently displaying the "Shadow" organization's various branches and core members. "This 'Shadow' organization, five years ago, their goal was the Yafei family's core technology, and the train accident was just a means for them to create chaos." Her voice carried a hint of coldness, every word filled with power. "They wanted to create chaos to opportunistically steal the Yafei family's secret technology and use your 'disappearance' to cause internal disorder within the family, taking the opportunity to install their puppets."
John's gaze was sharp as a blade: "They infiltrated very deeply, even using some within the family. Uncle Osmond and Leonardo were merely pawns used by them." He looked at Kevin. "Kevin, pull up all the secret communication records between Osmond and Leonardo and Victor, and the evidence of their money laundering through the resort project."
Kevin immediately operated on his tablet, and soon, the screen displayed encrypted communication records between Osmond, Leonardo, and a person named Victor, along with multiple suspicious financial transactions. Phyllis recognized Victor at a glance; he was the shadowy figure she had secretly investigated before. He was indeed involved with the "Shadow" organization! She recalled John murmuring "Yaya" while semi-conscious, and Kevin's unusual gaze earlier; everything now made sense. Kevin had known John's secret all along and had been secretly coordinating his plan.
"I should have known," Phyllis's voice carried a hint of self-reproach. "The resort's security system, those seemingly superfluous top-tier configurations, your 'control' over me, even that anonymous warning letter... it was all to protect me, and to lure them out." She recalled the pain and sense of responsibility in John's eyes when he explained the family heirloom, and her heart swelled with empathy. Everything he did was for her, to protect their shared future.
John gently squeezed Phyllis's hand, his gaze firm: "Phyllis, with you by my side, I'm no longer fighting alone. Your intelligence and ability are my best weapons. This time, I won't let you out of my sight until all threats are eliminated." He looked at Phyllis's focused profile, his heart filled with reassurance and resolve.
Lynn typed rapidly on the keyboard, the data flow on the screen changing swiftly. "Boss, I've tracked the 'Shadow' organization's financial flows on the international black market. They have close ties with an international arms dealer named Xavier Black. He recently had a large arms deal in the Southeast Asian region, with an exceptionally vast financial chain, likely the 'Shadow' organization's main source of funding."
John's eyes narrowed: "Xavier Black... it is him, as expected. He's not only an arms dealer but also involved in human trafficking and technology theft. Five years ago, some of the Yafei family's core technologies flowed to the 'Shadow' organization through his hands." He looked at Elina. "Elina, you mentioned earlier that the cause of my memory loss, besides physical trauma, also involved a special neural inhibitor?"
Elina pushed up her glasses, her expression serious: "Yes, Mr. Zhuo. According to my analysis, your brain's central nervous system was suppressed by a certain drug. This inhibitor can selectively block the formation and retrieval of emotional memories. This technology is very advanced; currently, only a few top illegal biotech labs internationally possess it. The 'Shadow' organization likely collaborates with these labs."
Phyllis's heart was shaken once more. So John's amnesia wasn't merely trauma, but deliberate manipulation! This "Shadow" organization was more terrifying than she had imagined.
"They wanted to turn me into an emotionless tool," John's voice held a trace of coldness. "A puppet who only knew how to follow orders, to be used by them. But they underestimated the Yafei family's foundation, and they underestimated... our bond." He looked at Phyllis, his eyes filled with strength.
"Now we know their source of funding, and the technology they're using," Phyllis said, her eyes firm. "The next step is to cut off their financial chain and find the lab that produces this neural inhibitor. Only then can we completely dismantle the 'Shadow' organization."
"Exactly." John stood up, walked to the large map, and placed his finger on a red dot in Southeast Asia. "Kevin, Lynn, prepare immediately. We are heading to Southeast Asia. This time, we will thoroughly settle the old scores from five years ago and make those who tried to use the Yafei family pay the price."
Kevin and Lynn immediately took their orders and acted swiftly. Phyllis walked to John's side and gently took his hand. She knew a real hard fight was about to begin, but now, she was no longer alone. Her John was back, and they would fight side by side until the fog completely cleared, until the truth was revealed.
The Yafei family's security team also quickly entered a state of maximum alert. Black, the Deputy Head of Security, was directing his subordinates to mobilize the most elite mercenaries and advanced weaponry. He knew this operation was no small matter; John and Phyllis would directly confront the "Shadow" organization's core strength.