"Help! Someone help me."
"You can't harm her!!"
The words echoed in his mind, jolting him from his deep slumber. His hands instinctively pressed against his ears, as if he could block out the haunting phrases.Where have I heard these words before? Why do they sting so much?
"Mmhhm."His eyes fluttered open, and he turned toward the sound, only to find Charlotte, his loyal assistant, asleep in a chair beside his bed. It hit him all at once: he was in a hospital, and this time, he was the patient. The sterile smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, mingling with the rhythmic beeping of the machines surrounding him. His body felt sluggish, weighed down, and a dull throb pulsed painfully in his head.He tried to piece together what had happened, but his memories were fragmented—blurry images of tracking down Lorenzo, then... nothing. He must have blacked out. Guilt stirred in his chest as he watched Charlotte stir, her face soft with the exhaustion of someone who had stayed by his side for far too long."Alex!"Her voice cut through the quiet, and she leaped from the chair, rushing to his side with an urgency that broke through her usual composed demeanor. She grasped his sleeve, her ember eyes shimmering with unshed tears and emotions she hadn't spoken of. "You've been in a coma for six months," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "I was so worried."His cold gaze softened as he reached up, instinctively brushing a hand through her ginger hair, offering what little comfort he could. "I'm alright now, Charlotte..."But then, as if struck by lightning, something vital clicked into place. His gentle touch tightened into a nervous grip on her arm. "Where's Cassandra?" His voice was urgent, raw with fear and disbelief.For a moment, Charlotte stood frozen, her gaze distant, as if the mere mention of Cassandra's name had ripped open an old wound—one she had long tried to forget. Her eyes clouded, a veil of sorrow and regret overtaking her expression. She looked down, the weight of the unspoken truth pressing heavily on her chest.Suddenly, the door crashed open, cutting through the tension like a sharp blade."Charlotte! I've called you countless times, and I know you're avoiding me, but that doesn't stop my—" The pink-haired, slender man's words faltered as his eyes fell upon the scene before him. His mouth went dry, and without a second thought, he rushed forward, yanking Charlotte away from Alex's grip with a frantic urgency."Woah, woah, first thing you do when you wake up is try to harm my darling?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with dramatic disbelief, a strange mix of worry and possessiveness.But Alex didn't flinch. His eyes remained locked on Charlotte, his voice ice-cold as he interrupted with unnerving calm. "Where's Cassandra?"The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. The room fell into a heavy silence. The man who had pulled Charlotte back stiffened, his grip on her tightening as if he could somehow shield her from the weight of Alex's question. Charlotte's chest tightened, and for a moment, it felt as though the world had paused, the air thick with anticipation.Finally, Charlotte's voice broke the stillness, her words barely a whisper. "She's gone."The room seemed to exhale in unison, each person locked in a quiet, shared moment of realization. The truth, raw and painful, hung between them all."GONE!" What do you mean by Gone?!!"She's dead, Alex," the pink-haired man said flatly, his voice carrying a cold, detached edge. But before anyone could process the words, a blur of motion shot through the room. A fist, fueled by fury and desperation, rocketed toward him. The punch came so fast that the pink-haired man barely had time to react, but with a quick sidestep, he dodged it, his movements sharp and fluid."Alex!" Charlotte's voice rang out, desperate as she rushed to intercept him. She stepped in front of him, her hands pressing against his chest, holding him back with surprising strength. "You're still injured—please, lie down," she urged her voice a mixture of concern and quiet pleading.Her eyes locked with his, the vulnerability in them stark against the fury that still simmered beneath his calm exterior. The room was a battlefield of emotions—tension thick in the air as Charlotte fought to keep him steady, while Alex's gaze remained as intense as ever."What do you mean my wife is dead?" He thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "Wasn't it your job to keep her safe, Giovanni?" He accused, his eyes blazing with fury. He sank to the floor, his legs giving out beneath him."Who...who did this?" He whispered, his voice cracking with grief. "Who is the bastard that took her from me?"Giovanni, the man with the striking pink hair, hesitated before speaking. His expression turned grave, and he said, "It was Lorenzo."The air seemed to vibrate with tension as the words hung in the air, a stark and brutal truth that couldn't be ignored.