Chapter 269

Chapter 269
Scarlett's POV
"Don't look back! Scarlett, we have no room for regret!"
Chloe's voice echoed in my ears, urgent and tense.
She gripped my hand tightly, pulling me as we ran through the darkness.
Breathing heavily, heart pounding like thunder, fear following us like a shadow.
Behind us, a little girl's sharp, crying voice pierced my heart.
"Mom! Sister! Don't leave me behind! Please take me with you!"
That voice was so desperate, making me want to turn around.
But Chloe's grip tightened even more, almost crushing my bones.
"Don't look back, Scarlett! Once you turn around, we'll never be able to leave Obsidian Palace!"
The little girl's crying voice grew more distant, but it cut into my heart like a sharp blade. That was—
"No!"
I opened my eyes abruptly, my heart racing, my body drenched in cold sweat.
My head ached terribly, the intense pain almost preventing me from thinking, as if something had crushed it.
Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, landing on the immaculately white walls. The distinctive smell of hospital disinfectant filled my nostrils.
Where was I? Who was I?
I opened my eyes wide, trying to recall my identity, but found only emptiness.
Fragments of memories were like torn photographs, impossible to piece together into a complete picture.
Whenever I tried to grasp those memories, the headache became even more intense.
I struggled to sit up but felt a wave of dizziness.
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands pressed on my shoulders, gently pushing me back onto the bed.
"Your injuries haven't healed yet. You'd better lie down for now."
That voice... I looked up to see a handsome man standing beside the bed, his eyes showing concern, but also something I couldn't quite read.
My brain desperately tried to grasp any memory related to him, but it was like peering through a thick fog.
"You are..." my voice was dry, my eyes alert and confused.
A nameless wariness suddenly surged within me, though I didn't know where it came from.
He seemed to notice my unease, leaning slightly forward, his deep eyes looking directly into mine: "You don't remember what happened?"
His gaze was probing.
I frowned deeply; each attempt to remember sent pain like an electric current through my mind.
I couldn't help but groan, clutching my head with both hands.
"I... I don't remember... Who am I? Why am I here?"
Panic began to spread, that feeling of being abandoned in a strange world made it almost impossible to breathe.
The man's eyebrows raised slightly, a barely detectable calculation flashing in his eyes, but he quickly resumed his concerned expression.
"You were in a car accident, resulting in a mild concussion. The doctor said there might be temporary memory loss, but it's okay, take it slowly."
His voice was gentle, but for some reason, I felt something hidden beneath that gentleness.
"Car accident..."
Faint ripples stirred in my mind, but I couldn't find more memories connected to it.
"I'll go get the doctor, I'll be right back," he said, turning to leave.
A strange fear suddenly gripped my heart.
In this unfamiliar environment, he was the only familiar presence—though I couldn't even remember who he was.
"Wait!" I frantically grabbed his sleeve, my voice trembling with anxiety. "Don't go yet, you haven't told me who you are?"
He turned around, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint smile, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. He leaned down, close to my ear, his voice low: "Me? I'm your husband, Ralph."
Husband? For some reason, in this strange environment, I felt an inexplicable dependence on this man, but at the same time, a voice deep inside warned me to remain vigilant.
I examined his face carefully, trying to recover any memory of him.
His handsome features, elegant demeanor, everything seemed so familiar yet so foreign.
"Ralph..." I repeated the name softly, hoping to trigger some memories. But besides that vague sense of familiarity, there was nothing.
Just then, I noticed a young girl standing at the doorway, looking at us with surprise, her eyes flickering with complex emotions.
"I'll go call the doctor," Ralph gently patted my hand, then walked toward the door.
The girl quickly turned and followed Ralph out of the hospital room.
I tried hard to see her face clearly, having a strange feeling that I should know her.
But the headache struck again, and I closed my eyes weakly, trying to drive away the pain.
"You need to rest," he told me, "Take it slowly, your memory will return."
Listening to his voice, I felt a strange sense of disconnect.
Should I trust him? Was I really his wife?
As I wrestled with these questions, I heard arguing outside the door.
"...is her husband."
Muffled conversation reached my ears, slipping away just as I was about to grasp its content.
I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep, but my ears perked up.
It was Ralph's voice; he seemed to be arguing with someone.
"You take good care of her, don't cause me any trouble."
His voice gradually faded away, followed by footsteps approaching my room.
I pretended to just wake up, blinking my eyes hazily.
A young woman entered, about fifteen or sixteen years old. Seeing me awake, a concerned expression immediately appeared on her face.
"Sister, how are you feeling now?" Her voice was soft, carrying something I couldn't quite identify.
I frowned at her, trying to focus my vision.
"You are..." my voice was hoarse and weak.
Her expression flickered briefly before returning to gentleness.
"Sister, do you really not remember me? I'm Yvette. You were in a car accident. Ralph and I have been so worried about you, especially Ralph, he's your husband."
"Husband?" I instinctively clutched the bedsheet, feeling a wave of unease wash over me.
"Yes, Ralph is your husband. You went out with him, and unexpectedly encountered a serious car accident. The doctor said you have a concussion and temporary memory loss. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
She said with a smile, but I noticed something flashing in the depths of her eyes.
I carefully examined this girl who claimed to be my sister.
Yvette, this name stirred a faint sense of familiarity in my heart. I tried hard to remember, only to be struck by another intense headache.
"Don't push yourself too hard," she said, handing me a glass of water, "The doctor said you need rest, your memory will gradually return."
I took the glass, sipping carefully.
"Thank you," I said softly, still studying her, "Are we, are we close?"
Her smile froze for a moment, but quickly became natural again.
"Of course, we're sisters. I've always admired you."
I felt a wave of fatigue washing over me, my eyelids growing heavy.
"You're tired," Yvette said quietly, "Get some sleep, I'll stay here with you."
I wanted to say something, but the fatigue was too overwhelming.
My consciousness began to blur, but just at the edge of falling into dreams, I sensed something wasn't right.
The way Yvette looked at me, it wasn't concern, it was more like... hatred?
But I was too exhausted to continue pondering this question, and soon slipped into darkness.