2025-05-06 06:16:23"You're here for the banquet? With this piece of trash?" Sierra and Marcus burst into loud laughter, drawing the attention of people nearby.
"Please, I know you've spent the past few years trying to get a partnership with Nova," Sierra said smugly. "Too bad—they chose me every single time!"
"You know why that is?" she asked, wrapping her arm around Marcus's proudly. "Because I know who can help me. And you... just look at that garbage beside you. Don't tell me you actually believe he got you that invitation?"
Sierra let out an exaggerated laugh. "You're pathetic, Alice. Truly pitiful! You must've begged someone on your knees to get in, huh? Oh wait—you probably still won't get in."
Alice tilted her head, a slow, amused smile forming. "Don't worry about me. I'm exactly where I need to be."
Sierra rolled her eyes. "Spare me the cryptic lines, sweetheart. This is a Nova Company event, not a street carnival. Only invited names make it through."
"You and Ethan are perfect for each other. He's always been a freeloader, relying on whatever woman is willing to drag him along. And you? You're the underdog startup that'll never break into the big leagues. So desperate to climb that you're pretending you got invited here?" She continued.
Alice's jaw tensed, but her smile never faltered. "It's funny how threatened you sound, Sierra."
Sierra sneered. "Threatened? Don't flatter yourself."
Alice arched a brow. "You're right? Want to make it interesting?"
Sierra's eyes glittered. "Are you challenging me?"
"Let's bet," Alice said smoothly. "Whoever fails to enter tonight kneels right here at the entrance—and admits they were wrong."
A small crowd began to gather at the entrance, sensing drama brewing.
Marcus snorted. "You're seriously betting against Sierra? Her name's on every guest list from here to the capital."
Sierra didn't even hesitate. "Deal. I hope your knees are in good shape."
With that, she flicked her hair, strutted up to the security team, and handed over her diamond-embossed invitation. The guard scanned it once, nodded, and stepped aside.
"Welcome, Miss Sierra. Mr. Marcus," he said politely, gesturing them in.
Sierra turned with a smirk and winked at Alice. "I'll keep the floor warm for you."
Alice's smile stiffened. She reached into her clutch, pulled out her invitation, and handed it to the security guard with confidence.
Alice looked at the arrogant Sierra with growing frustration. She let out a cold snort and handed over her invitation letter—personally delivered to her that morning via express courier from Elsa herself. She was confident there wouldn't be any issues.
However, the security guard took the invitation and frowned.
"Miss, may I have your name?"
"Alice Morgan. My companion is Ethan Storm," Alice replied.
The guard typed in their names, then said sternly, "Sorry, Miss, your names aren't in the system. You'll have to leave."
Sierra and Marcus burst into loud, mocking laughter.
"Alice, I can't believe you'd embarrass yourself like this. Don't tell me you were fooled by that piece of trash next to you?" Sierra sneered. "Did he say he could get you into Nova's banquet?"
Sierra laughed even louder. "And you actually believed him!"
Alice's face turned pale. She looked at Ethan with a trembling voice. "W-What's going on?"
Ethan frowned and gently held her hand, trying to calm her. "Don't worry. I'll call Elsa right now and ask what happened."
"Hahahahaha! Did you all hear that?" Sierra howled with laughter. "He said he's going to call Elsa! Does he think he's someone important? Elsa Logan is an incredibly important figure—why would she take his call?"
"Shut your mouth," Ethan said coldly. "One more word, and I'll be happy to teach you what manners are."
Sierra flinched under Ethan's icy gaze, then bristled with rage. "How dare you talk to me like that, you garbage!"
Just then, a man in a suit rushed out of the banquet hall and called to the security at the entrance.
"Restart the system! Have all guests who just entered step out for a moment!"
"There's been a change to the guest list—we need to update the registrations!"
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73
“What?” The word left his mouth like a breathless gasp. He blinked, shaking his head slightly. “No… no, that can’t be right. She remembers me, right? Me. She remembers us.” The doctor didn’t answer right away.Ethan took a shaky breath, the doctor’s words rattling around in his skull like broken glass. She’s lost part of her memory.He swallowed the rising panic and forced his legs to move, inching toward the hospital bed as if any sudden movement might shatter her completely. Alice looked so fragile lying there, her pale skin ghostly under the fluorescent lights, her head carefully bandaged. His heart twisted at the sight.The doctor stepped aside silently, giving him space.“Alice?” Ethan said gently, his voice barely more than a whisper. He crouched beside the bed and reached for her hand, hesitant, as though afraid she might vanish if he touched her.Her eyelids fluttered.Then slowly, they opened.Ethan’s heart leapt. “Hey,” he said, trying to smile. “You’re awake.”Alice blink
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Langford’s pride shattered.The officer’s knees buckled, and he dropped with a heavy thud to the cold concrete floor. He crawled forward, hands clasped together in a desperate plea.“Ethan—please,” Langford begged, voice cracking, eyes wide and glassy. “I—I was following orders. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I swear! I was just—just doing what I thought was right.”Ethan didn’t even glance at him.Langford pressed his forehead to the floor.“I’ve got a family. Two kids. A wife. Please—please, Ethan! Don’t let this be the end for me. Don’t let the Perez family come after me. I’ll do anything. I’ll talk. I’ll confess. Just—just say the word.”Nothing.Ethan walked past him like he didn’t exist. Silent. Composed. Focused on one thing.Alice.He didn’t look back—not even when Langford started sobbing, pounding the floor with his fists in humiliation. Merrick didn’t stop him either. The chief simply watched Ethan go, then turned and gave Langford a look of pure disgust.Ten minutes later, he
71
The air in the interrogation room turned ice-cold after Chief Merrick’s booming voice thundered through the room.No one dared to move.Officer Langford stood rigidly near the table, his baton still clutched in his tight, shaking hand. His knuckles were white, and sweat had started to bead at his temples. He didn’t seem to know what to do—whether to drop the baton or pretend the last few seconds had never happened. His eyes flicked nervously to the man still cuffed to the chair.“I said—uncuff him,” Chief Merrick said again, this time softer, but the steel in his voice was sharp enough to cut through metal.Langford turned slowly to face him. His jaw was clenched so tight it looked like it might snap. His lips parted with visible struggle, his tone hard.“Chief, with all due respect—this is bigger than following orders. This man—he’s connected to the Bellano family. They—”SMACK.The sound of Chief Merrick’s open palm hitting Langford’s face was so loud it made the young officer in th
70
Police Station – Interrogation RoomThe room reeked of sweat, metal, and bad intentions. Harsh overhead lights buzzed like dying insects, casting long, warped shadows across the grimy walls. A dented steel table sat between two chairs—one empty, the other occupied.Ethan sat shackled to the bolted-down chair, his dark dress shirt clinging to his frame in the stale heat. The sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing lean, veined forearms. His coat was gone, his tie loosened and collar askew, but his composure remained untouched. Calm. Almost bored. His dark eyes followed the pacing officer like a predator watching prey.Detective Langford prowled the room with barely contained fury, his fists clenched at his sides, jaw ticking with every step. The tension was thick enough to slice.“You’re gonna talk,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. “One way or another.”Ethan tilted his head ever so slightly. “Interesting. I always thought the badge meant something. Justice. Honor. But here we
69
Langford furiously shoved Ethan off, rubbing his throat with a snarl. “You’re done, Storm! That’s assaulting a cop. I swear to God, I’ll make sure you rot for this. Connections or not.”Another officer stepped forward, gun halfway out of its holster. “Hands where I can see ‘em! Now!”Ethan didn’t flinch. His voice came out like steel wrapped in ice. “You think I’m scared of you? You really believe any of this ends with me in a cell?”Langford spat on the floor near Ethan’s feet. “Your attitude won’t save you. We have witnesses. Cameras. The whole damn hospital saw you lose it.”“I didn’t lose anything,” Ethan muttered, brushing dust off his coat. “You provoked me. You barged in here, guns drawn, while the woman I love was bleeding out on the table. And you expect me to kneel and smile for the press?”“Save your speech for the judge,” Langford snapped.Just then, the overhead Surgery In Progress sign blinked once… then went dark.All five men froze.A door swung open with a soft hiss,
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City General Hospital – 3:28 a.m.The red glow of Surgery In Progress still burned behind Ethan’s eyes, even as the buzz of tension swelled around him.“I said,” Langford growled, “you’re coming with us. Now.”Ethan didn’t turn away from the glass. His fists trembled at his sides.“I already told you,” he said, voice barely above a growl, “I’ll talk to my lawyer. You want to book me? Fine. But not while she’s still on that table. Not when I don’t even know if she’s—”“Spare me the dramatics,” Langford snapped. “You think you’re special because some girl took a bullet for you? That doesn’t make you less of a suspect. Frankly, it makes you look worse.”Ethan turned his head, slow as ice cracking, and finally faced the officer.“I’m warning you,” he said, stepping forward until they were toe-to-toe. “Back off.”Langford’s lip curled. He raised a hand—and the officers moved. Boots thundered. Metal clicked. One of them drew cuffs.“Get on your knees,” one barked.Ethan didn’t move.Langfor
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