The morning sun streamed through the French windows, casting a warm glow over 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. We'll face everything together."
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.
Yafei Group's Reckoning
The top-floor conference room of the Yafei Group's headquarters building. Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the City H skyline looked somewhat somber under the gloomy sky. Inside the conference room, the air was so heavy it felt as if it could drip. Around the long mahogany conference table sat the members of the Yafei family's board of directors, each with a hint of unease and bewilderment on their faces. John sat at the head of the table, his face still pale, but his gaze sharper and colder than ever. His fingertips tapped lightly on the table, each tap like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present. Phyllis stood beside him, her gaze calm and resolute, like a drawn sword, radiating an invisible aura.
Kevin and Lynn stood on either side, thick stacks of documents and encrypted tablets before them. Serena Ross, the Yafei family's chief legal counsel, was also present, her expression grim, a file clutched tightly in her hand.
"This meeting is being held today to settle some old scores," John's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority. Each word was like a cold blade, cutting through the silence of the conference room. His gaze swept over Uncle Osmond and Leonardo, devoid of any warmth, only bone-chilling coldness.
Osmond Yafei, the elder who once wielded significant influence within the family, was now deathly pale, fine beads of sweat dotting his forehead. He tried to maintain composure, but his trembling hands betrayed his inner fear. Leonardo was even more restless, his eyes flickering, afraid to meet John's gaze.
"Uncle Osmond, Leonardo," John's voice suddenly rose, laced with cold mockery. "Did you truly believe your illicit dealings could be hidden from anyone?"
He gestured to Kevin, who immediately connected his tablet to the large screen in the conference room. Instantly, the screen displayed dense encrypted communication records and multiple suspicious financial transactions.
"These are the secret communication records between Uncle Osmond, Leonardo, and an individual named Victor," Kevin's voice was calm and clear, each word like a knife, precisely stabbing at Osmond and Leonardo. "Victor, a shadowy figure in the international black market, and an peripheral member of the 'Shadow' organization."
The records on the screen clearly showed how Osmond and Leonardo, through Victor, leaked certain core technological information of the Yafei family to the "Shadow" organization and used the resort project for large-scale money laundering. Every piece of information, every financial flow, was meticulously detailed to an appalling degree. Phyllis recognized at a glance that these were the scattered, shadowy clues she had stumbled upon during her own secret investigation, now fully presented by John before everyone.
"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," Phyllis said, her voice carrying a hint of coldness, her gaze sharply sweeping over Osmond and Leonardo. 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.
Osmond's body jolted violently. He could no longer maintain his facade, his face instantly turning ashen. He had not expected John to possess such detailed evidence, even Victor, their secret contact, had been thoroughly investigated. Leonardo, terrified, slid directly from his chair, collapsing onto the floor, emitting unconscious whimpers.
"This evidence is enough to ruin your reputations and even lead to imprisonment," Serena Ross's voice rang out, her tone cold and professional, like a verdict. She slammed the file in her hand onto the table; it was the Yafei family's internal investigation report and the prepared legal documents for prosecution.
"No! John! Please! Don't! I was wrong! I won't dare again!" Osmond completely broke down, kneeling on the ground, pleading tearfully. Leonardo curled into a ball, trembling.
John showed no mercy. His gaze was as cold as iron: "It's too late. Your actions have crossed the Yafei family's bottom line, and they've crossed my bottom line. Betraying the family and selling your souls demands a price."
The other board members present were utterly silent, like cicadas in winter. They looked at John's cold and resolute back, their hearts filled with awe and fear. They knew that from today onwards, the Yafei family would be entirely in John's hands, and anyone attempting to challenge his authority would face a thunderous strike.
A family internal purge was swiftly completed under John's iron fist. Osmond and Leonardo were escorted away by the Yafei family's security team. What awaited them was severe legal punishment and complete expulsion from the family.
John returned to the main seat. He gently clasped Phyllis's hand, the coldness in his eyes instantly melting, replaced by a long-lost tenderness and reassurance.
"Phyllis, with you by my side, I'm no longer fighting alone," John's voice was tinged with fatigue, yet filled with strength. "Your intelligence and ability are my best weapons. This time, I won't let you out of my sight until all threats are eliminated."