"Alexander!"
Elara rose up immediately, she saw his fingers twitched.
His fingers twitched.
"Ms Moore, calm down," the nurse said quickly, stepping forward.
"I'm calm," she whispered, but her voice was shaking. "He moved… he moved, I saw it."
Elara stepped closer to the bed, her hands gripping the railing.
"Alexander…" she called softly.
Nothing
Then…
His chest rose sharply.
His brows pulled together.
A low sound left his throat, like pain was dragging him back to life.
And then…
His eyes opened.
For a second…
Everything stopped.
Even Elara's breathing paused.
Because he was looking at her.
"Alexander…" she whispered, her lips trembling. "Thank God…"
"Doctor!" one of the nurses called. "He's awake!"
Dr. Cole moved quickly to the bedside. "Alexander, can you hear me?"
He didn't answer.
"Alexander?" she said again, slower this time.
He blinked twice.
Like he was trying to clear something from his head.
His lips parted.
"…Where am I?"
His voice was weak.
"You're in the hospital," Dr. Cole said gently. "You were in an accident…"
"Victor."
The name cut through the room.
Elara froze.
"What?" Dr. Cole asked.
"Where is Victor?" Alexander said again, stronger this time.
His eyes finally left Elara.
"I'm here."
The voice came from the door.
Victor Vale stepped in like he owned the room.
Like he had been waiting for this exact moment.
Alexander's eyes softened slightly when he saw him.
"Are you okay?" Victor said, stepping closer. "You gave us a scare."
Alexander let out a slow breath. "The car…"
"We'll handle it," Victor said smoothly. "Don't stress yourself."
Elara stepped forward.
"You were in a crash," she said, trying to stay calm. "It was bad. You…"
Alexander's gaze snapped back to her.
"Why is she here?"
The question landed heavy.
Elara blinked.
"I…."
"She's been here since the accident," Dr. Cole said carefully. "She's been…"
"I didn't ask that," Alexander cut in.
He still didn't take his eyes off Elara.
"Who? Is. She?"
The room went silent.
Even the machines felt quieter.
Elara's chest tightened.
She swallowed hard.
"It's me," she said softly. "Elara."
But then…
Something flickered in his eyes.
A flash.
Like a broken memory trying to come back.
He frowned.
"Elara…" he repeated slowly.
Her heart lifted.
"Yes," she said quickly. "Yes, it's me…"
"You're the one who betrayed my company."
"…What?" she whispered.
Alexander's gaze darkened.
"I remember you," he said, voice low. "Those documents you signed. Cost us millions."
Her breath caught.
No.
That wasn't…
"You had access you shouldn't have had," he continued, ignoring her. "You got too close. Then everything went wrong."
"I didn't betray you," she said, her voice breaking now. "You know that. You said…"
"I don't say things without proof."
He leaned back slightly, eyes still locked on her.
"And I would never trust someone like you."
Victor watched quietly from the side.
And for a second…
Elara caught the faintest smile on his lips.
"Alexander," Dr. Cole stepped in carefully. "You've experienced memory loss. Some of your recollections may not be accurate…"
"My memory is fine," Alexander said flatly.
"It's selective," Dr. Cole corrected. "You may have gaps. Misinterpretations…."
"I know what I remember."
His tone shut the room down instantly.
Elara took a step back.
Her hands were shaking.
This wasn't just memory loss.
This was worse.
Much worse.
He didn't forget her.
He remembered her wrong.
"Get her out."
The words were quiet.
But final.
Elara froze.
"…What?"
"I don't want her here," Alexander said, not even looking at her now. "Remove her."
"She's been under stress," Dr. Cole tried. "Let's not make…"
"I said get her out."
This time, his voice rose slightly.
Two security men stepped forward.
"Elara Moore," one said gently. "Please..,"
"No," she whispered.
Her eyes stayed on Alexander.
Desperate.
Broken.
"You asked me to marry you," she said.
The words slipped out of her mouth.
The room froze again.
Victor's head tilted slightly.
Interested.
Alexander slowly turned back to her.
"Marry you?" he repeated.
A humorless laugh followed.
"You really think I'd do that?"
Her heart shattered quietly.
"I'm your wife," she said, barely audible now.
Alexander smiled.
"That's funny," he said slowly. "Because I would never marry someone who stabbed me in the back."
The words sank deep.
Elara staggered back slightly.
Like the ground shifted under her feet.
Victor stepped forward then.
"Maybe she's confused," he said lightly. "Or desperate."
His eyes met Elara's.
Cold.
Warning.
"People lie when they're cornered."
Elara's chest rose sharply.
No.
"Alexander," she said, forcing strength into her voice. "You signed the marriage contract. Three days ago. You said it would protect both of us."
Something flickered again.
That same broken flash.
Alexander's hand moved slightly.
To his head.
Pain flashed across his face.
Dr. Cole reacted immediately. "Don't push him…"
"She's lying," Victor said smoothly.
His gaze snapped back to Elara.
"Get. Her. Out."
The guards stepped closer.
One hand lightly touched her arm.
"Please…"
Elara didn't fight.
She couldn't.
Not when the man who married her…
Was looking at her like she was nothing.
As she was led toward the door, she turned one last time.
Hoping.
Praying.
Begging silently.
But Alexander had already looked away.
Like she never mattered.
The door closed behind her.
And just like that…
Everything ended.
Or so it seemed.
The hallway felt cold.
Elara leaned against the wall, her legs giving out slowly.
Her body slid down until she was sitting on the floor.
Her hands covered her face.
And for the first time since the crash…
She broke down.
"He forgot me…" she whispered.
But even that wasn't the worst part.
"He thinks I betrayed him."
She didn't look up.
Didn't need to.
She already knew who it was.
Victor.
He stopped in front of her.
"You really thought this would work?"
She looked up slowly.
Her eyes were red.
"What did you do?" she asked.
Victor smiled.
"I didn't have to do anything," he said softly. "Fate did it for me."
"And you think I'd believe that."
His smile widened slightly.
"Believe whatever helps you sleep."
He crouched down slightly, lowering his voice.
"So let me give you some advice, Elara."
Her fingers curled.
"Leave."
"Walk away now, and maybe you keep what little dignity you have left."
"He won't protect you anymore," Victor continued. "And this world?"
"It will eat you alive."
Elara stood slowly.
Her legs were weak.
But she forced herself to stand.
"I'm not leaving."
Victor's eyes darkened.
"You should."
"No," she said again, stronger this time. "Because whether he remembers or not…"
Her voice trembled…but didn't break.
"I'm still his wife."
Victor just stared at her.
Then he stood.
Straightened his suit.
"Then you're more foolish than I thought."
He turned to leave.
Then paused.
"And foolish people?"
He glanced back at her.
"They don't last long in our world."
He walked away.
Elara stood alone in the hallway.
Everything felt like it was crashing down again.
Inside the hospital room…
Alexander stared at the ceiling.
His head was pounding.
Fragments of something…
Something important…
Trying to break through.
A voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
"Alexander…"
His fingers twitched.
"Elara…" he murmured unconsciously.
Victor, standing by the window, heard it.
And his smile slowly disappeared.
Victor stepped out to the corridor, pulling out his phone.
"Activate plan B."
"If she refuses to leave…"
His eyes went straight toward where Elara stood.
"Make her disappear."