Chapter 272

Alexander's POV

"Ralph," I said, positioning myself protectively in front of Scarlett. "What have you done to her? Why can't she remember anything?"

Ralph's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Done to her? She's my wife. What exactly do you think I've done?" His eyes gleamed with malice. "The real question is what are you doing, breaking into my home, approaching my wife?"

I felt Scarlett shift behind me, her confusion palpable. The manipulation Ralph had orchestrated was worse than I'd imagined. He had completely rewritten her reality.

"Your wife?" I couldn't keep the disgust from my voice. "You've manipulated her memories. She is Scarlett Smith."

Scarlett stood up, her eyes wide with confusion. "You said that before... that I'm your wife? I don't understand."

Hope flickered in my chest. She was questioning—that was the first step. "Yes. Your real name is Scarlett Smith. You have a sister named Yvette. We were together, we were in love—"

"Don't listen to him, darling," Ralph interrupted, moving to Scarlett's side and wrapping his arm possessively around her shoulders. "He's trying to confuse you. You're my wife. You know that."

I watched Scarlett's face, saw the pain and confusion there as she struggled with conflicting narratives. "Yvette... my sister?" she murmured, pressing a hand to her temple. "But Ralph said she's an assistant..."

"He's lying to you," I said desperately. "The car accident you were in—Ralph orchestrated it. He wanted to make you forget everything, forget us, so he could control you."

Scarlett winced, clearly in pain. "I remember... fragments. But they're so blurry..."

Ralph's eyes hardened. "See what you're doing to her, Gray? She was in a terrible accident. Lost her memory. And now you're exploiting her vulnerability, trying to plant false memories."

I stepped closer to Scarlett, ignoring Ralph. "The accident took more than your memories. You were pregnant with our child. We lost the baby in that crash—the crash that Ralph arranged."

Scarlett gasped, her hands flying to her abdomen, tears springing to her eyes. "Why does that sound... so familiar?"

Ralph's composure cracked. "Enough!" he shouted, his face contorted with rage. "Rivera! Luke! Get up here!"

I knew I had only moments. I grabbed Scarlett's hand. "Come with me. I'll take you away from here, back to your real life."

Scarlett wavered, caught between pain and confusion, fragments of memory battling against Ralph's lies. Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs as Ralph's security responded to his call.

"Kill him!" Ralph ordered as his men burst into the room. "But don't harm Scarlett!"

I ducked as the first guard lunged at me, using his momentum to throw him against the wall. The second came at me with a knife, which I narrowly avoided. I caught his wrist, twisting until he dropped the weapon, then delivered a swift blow to his temple. He crumpled to the floor.

"Scarlett, we need to go now!" I reached for her, relieved when she took my hand, though her movements were hesitant.

We made it to the hallway when I heard the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked. I turned to see Luke Rivera at the end of the corridor, his weapon aimed directly at my back.

"Stop right there, Gray," he said coldly.

I calculated my options, knowing I had seconds at most. But before I could move, Scarlett suddenly pulled away from me.

"Scarlett!" I called out in alarm.

To my horror, she stepped between Rivera and me, facing the gunman. Everything seemed to slow down as I realized what was happening.

"No!" I lunged forward, but it was too late.

The gunshot echoed through the hallway. Scarlett's body jerked and then crumpled to the floor, blood spreading from a wound at her temple.

"You idiot!" Ralph screamed, rushing toward Scarlett's fallen form. "I said don't harm her!"

I fell to my knees beside her, gathering her limp body into my arms. Blood soaked through my shirt as I pressed my hand against her wound, trying desperately to stop the bleeding.

"Stay with me," I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "Please, stay with me."

Hours later, I stood in the sterile hospital corridor, my clothes still stained with Scarlett's blood. The surgeon emerged from the operating room, his expression grave.

"We've removed the bullet," he said wearily, "but there's significant brain trauma. She's in a deep coma. I'm sorry, but there's a strong possibility she may remain in a vegetative state."

The words hit me like physical blows. Ralph, pacing at the other end of the hallway, turned on me with fury.

"This is your fault!" he snarled. "If you hadn't shown up, she would be fine!"

I couldn't argue. The guilt was crushing me. Why had she stepped in front of that bullet? She barely remembered me, yet her body had acted instinctively to protect me.

"I'm having her transferred to Obsidian Palace," Ralph announced. "The medical facilities there are superior. Prepare the helicopter," he instructed one of his men.

I stepped forward. "You're not taking her anywhere. Haven't you done enough? You kidnapped her, manipulated her memories—"

"And what good did your rescue attempt do?" Ralph sneered. "Look at what protecting you cost her!" His voice lowered. "Even without her memories, her body remembered you. She took a bullet for you, Gray. How does that feel?"

His words twisted the knife of guilt deeper. I watched helplessly as Ralph's team prepared to transport Scarlett, knowing I couldn't stop them—not here, not now.

But I wouldn't give up.

Dusk was settling over Obsidian Palace when I infiltrated the compound. Security was tight, but I knew the layout well enough to avoid detection. I found Scarlett in a private medical suite, surrounded by state-of-the-art equipment monitoring her vital signs.

She looked peaceful, almost as if she were merely sleeping. I took her hand, cold and unresponsive in mine, and felt tears well up again.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I should have protected you better."

"I knew you'd come."

I turned to find Ralph standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "You never learn, do you, Gray?"

"I'm taking her with me," I said, carefully gathering Scarlett in my arms, mindful of the IV lines and monitors attached to her. "She doesn't belong here."

Ralph's laugh was hollow. "And where exactly will you take her? You think you can provide better care than she's getting here?" He gestured, and armed guards appeared behind him. "You won't be leaving today, Alexander. Not alive, anyway."

I backed toward the balcony, Scarlett cradled against my chest. The guards advanced slowly, weapons drawn.

"It's over, Gray," Ralph said. "Let her go."

"Never," I replied.

I felt my heel hit the balcony railing. Below was a sheer drop to the cliffs and ocean beyond. The guards lunged forward as Ralph realized my intent.

"Stop him!" Ralph shouted, reaching for Scarlett.

But it was too late. I stepped back, feeling the momentary weightlessness of freefall, Scarlett secure in my arms. If this was the end, at least she wouldn't be left in Ralph's clutches.

As we plummeted toward the crashing waves below, I held her close, pressing my lips to her forehead. "At least we're together in the end," I whispered.

Ralph's anguished cry faded above us as we fell into the gathering darkness.

At the cliff's edge, Ralph stared into the abyss, his face a mask of disbelief and loss. "It's over," he murmured. "It's all over."

But far below, hidden from view, my fingers twitched and then tightened around Scarlett's hand—

THE END

To be continued in the next volume...