"She just got out from the hospital and I gave her personal security to make sure no one can harm her again.
I hope you're making sure that your son will never get any contact with her, or else you already know what will happen, Mr. Director."
Alton strongly stated while the director sat opposite to him, inside his office, with a table that separated them.
Alton, as usual, was in business attire, same as the director. They both had a very professional aura.
"I can assure you that, Mr. Morant."
Jack convinced Morant to stop the case to not make Mariana's health worsen.
Since she had forgotten everything that happened, it's a big chance for them to just pretend that it didn't happen at all.
Alton agreed with it and he believed that it was actually good and could benefit everyone.
"I always knew there's something between you and that Calum, Mr. Director.
Except for you having the same last name, you're also protecting him from
the media."
Alton said professionally.
"I was never protecting him, but it was true that it wasn't him that shot her and he never intended to kidnap her.
And in fact, if he's not giving us any help about our future operations for those big-time syndicates, I will be the one to kill him."
Alton took a tiny smile.
"What a words."
Jack continued, he wanted to end the conversation immediately. He didn't want to keep talking to him.
Sadly, they had been talking almost an hour now.
But he was happy that Morant didn't change his mind about cooperating with him.
"I appreciate your time and cooperation Mr. Morant. I gotta go. You have a great day."
"You as well."
Alton left a smile on his face as the director came out of his office.
He had never been happier, he already got Mariana and they had been preparing for their wedding.
It will happen next week.
---
Mariana gazed out the window of her bedroom, her eyes fixed on the sprawling view of her home. She was wearing a white sleeveless dress and was barefoot. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. A sense of unease settled over her, a feeling that something was missing, a part of her life that she couldn't quite grasp.
Her head throbbed with a persistent ache, a lingering reminder of the trauma she'd endured. The memories of her life before the hospital were fragmented, hazy. She could recall her presentation to Philip Harden, their client, and the events leading up to it. But everything after that was a blank slate, a void filled with darkness.
Every night, she woke up in a cold sweat, tears streaming down her face. She desperately wanted to remember everything, to piece together the missing fragments of her life. It felt like a crucial part of her heart was missing, a void she couldn't fill.
It had been almost a week since she'd been released from the hospital, but the feelings of confusion and loss persisted. The looming shadow of her wedding, a mere week away, only intensified her anxiety. She needed to go out and check on her wedding dress, but the thought of it filled her with dread.
She sank back onto her bed, tears welling up in her eyes once more. She wasn't happy. She tried her best to hide her sadness from Alton, to mask her true feelings, fearing that it would hurt him. But the truth was, a significant part of her refused to marry him. The thought of it filled her with a deep, gnawing unease. She lacked the courage to tell Alton how she truly felt. He had been so kind to her, so loving, and she didn't want to repay his kindness by breaking his heart. She knew he loved her deeply.
"Mariana?"
Caitlin, her personal assistant, knocked softly on the door.
Mariana quickly wiped away her tears, composing herself before opening the door.
"Are you okay?" Caitlin asked, her voice filled with concern. She had noticed Mariana's tear-stained face, a visible sign of her distress. Caitlin was a kind and compassionate soul. She was in her early forties, with sleek black hair and piercing blue eyes. She had recently lost her husband and daughter in a tragic car accident, a loss that had left an unfillable void in her life. Alton had offered her a generous sum to be Mariana's personal assistant, but Caitlin had accepted not for the money, but because she genuinely cared for Mariana. She reminded Caitlin of her daughter.
"I'm fine, Cait. I'm just a little worried about whether the wedding dress will suit me," Mariana replied, forcing a smile.
"Everything suits you, dear. Don't worry about it. And honestly, Alton loves you so much that he wouldn't care what you wore," Caitlin said, her genuine smile easing Mariana's anxieties. Caitlin's words, filled with warmth and sincerity, helped to soothe the turmoil swirling in Mariana's mind.
"You're an angel, Cait. Thank you for being here with me," Mariana said, standing up and pulling Caitlin into a tight embrace.
"I wish my daughter could still hug me like this," Caitlin whispered, her voice tinged with sadness. Mariana knew how much Caitlin missed her daughter, and she understood the depth of her grief.
"I wish my mother could hug me like this again," Mariana replied, her voice choked with emotion.
They broke their embrace, sharing a sad smile. Both women were grappling with their own pain, but they were doing their best to find solace in each other's company.
"I can be your mother, Mariana," Caitlin said, her voice filled with a tender warmth.
"And I can be your daughter, Cait," Mariana responded, a flicker of hope lighting up her eyes.
They both laughed, a sound that was both bittersweet and comforting. They were both hurting, but they were finding strength in their shared vulnerability, in their mutual need for love and support.
"Let me freshen up a bit, and then we can go check on your wedding dress. I'll be ready in a minute." Caitlin said before leaving Mariana's room.
***