The beeping sound of the ventilator machine echoed in Jada's ears, and slowly, her lashes blinked as if weighed down by the burden of the moment.
Her eyes fluttered open, revealing a world shrouded in sterile white. The harsh fluorescent lights made her squeeze her eyes shut.
Jada's vision slowly adapted to the room's brightness, her pupils dilating as she took in her surroundings.
The sterile white walls surrounded her, alerting her that she was in the hospital. She tried to recall how she ended up in this unfamiliar place. Still, her mind felt foggy, her memories like fragments of shattered glass.
As Jada shifted in her bed, a sharp pain jolted through her head, causing her to wince. The throbbing ache intensified with every movement.
Slowly, she reached a trembling hand to her forehead, feeling the bandages tightly wound around her temple.
"How did I end up injured like this?' Jada thought, but just then, a click from the doorknob broke the silence, diverting Jada's attention from her throbbing head. The door swung open, revealing a figure dressed in a white lab coat. With his salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes, Dr. Matthews entered the room with a clipboard.
"Wow, Mrs. Kingsley, you're awake," Dr. Matthews said gently. "How are you feeling?"
"Mrs?" Jada tried to speak, but her voice was weak and hoarse. She cleared her throat before responding, "I... I don't know. What happened to me?"
"You don't remember?" Dr. Matthews repeated, his voice laced with concern. He approached the bed, and Jada watched as he glanced down at the clipboard, his eyes scanning the notes with furrowed brows.
Swallowing slowly, her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and confusion coursing through her veins. She searched her mind for answers, desperately trying to grasp onto any fragment of memory. But it was like trying to catch smoke with her bare hands. Frustration welled within her, mingling with the throbbing ache in her head.
"I... I don't," she finally admitted, her voice barely audible. "Everything feels... hazy."
Dr. Matthews sighed softly, his expression sympathetic. "It's not uncommon for patients to experience memory loss after a head injury," he explained gently. "Your brain is still healing, and it may take some time for your memories to return fully."
Jada nodded weakly, her fingers clenching the white hospital sheets. She felt a surge of vulnerability, as if her identity had gotten stripped away along with her memories. She glanced around the sterile room, searching for something familiar to ground her in this disorienting reality.
Dr. Matthews seemed to sense her unease and pulled up a chair, sitting by her bedside. Then he looked into her eyes as she asked softly, "How did I end up here?"
"A gunshot to the head." A voice froze Dr. Matthews' lips as they parted, and he and Jada looked to the doorway to see a tall, imposing figure standing there, dressed in a sharp black suit. His presence filled the room with an air of authority, and the weight of his words hung heavy.
After a split second of silence, Dr. Matthews recovered quickly, his eyes widening in shock. "Mr. Aniston," he stammered, a glimpse of fear in his eyes. "You are back... Good news. Mrs Kingsley is awake."
"I can see that," Chase said, his gaze fixed on Jada with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
"Mr. Aniston?" Jada whispered, her voice barely audible. "I am sorry, but who are you?"
A glimpse of worry sparked in his eyes while he walked further into the room, shutting the door.
Jada's heart raced as she watched Chase Aniston approach her bedside. His presence exuded an undeniable aura of power and authority, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her with a mixture of concern and hesitation.
"Jada," Chase said, his voice filled with a complexity of emotions. "I'm Chase Aniston. You really don't remember this face?"
Slowly, Jada shook her head, her mind reeling as she desperately tried to make sense of the man standing before her. Chase Aniston. The name echoed in her mind, but there was no flicker of recognition, no spark of familiarity.
She studied Chase's face, her gaze tracing the sharp angles of his jawline, the intensity in his eyes. Something about him drew her in, a magnetic pull that stirred her emotions. But try as she might, she couldn't recall their past.
Chase's brows furrowed with concern, his voice filled with a tinge of vulnerability. "Jada, we have known each other for years."
Jada's throat tightened as she struggled to respond, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. The frustration of her forgotten memories weighed heavily on her.
"I'm sorry," she managed to whisper, her voice trembling. "I wish I could remember, but... everything is just a blur."
In a split second, another voice blasted in the room, "You don't remember?"
Quickly, Dr. Matthew stood and turned to face Leon, saying, "Mr. Kingsley, you are here. As you can see, your wife has woken up, but it seems like she suffered from Alzheimer's disease."
A chilling silence engulfed the space as Dr. Matthews addressed the tall, well-dressed man who had entered the room.The weight of those words hung in the air, freezing time itself. With broad shoulders and a stern expression, Leon Kingsley stood rooted to the spot, and his eyes locked on Jada's pale face. It was as if the world around them faded into insignificance.
Slowly, she dried her eye and then the other before meeting Leon's troubled gaze and asked, "You are my husband?"
"Where were you the night that Jada got shot?" Chase's voice sliced through the silence, his eyes narrowing as he locked his gaze with Leon's. The tension in the room thickened.
Leon's jaw clenched, his usually composed expression giving way to a flicker of unease. He stepped closer to Jada's bed, his voice steady but laced with a hint of defensiveness. "I already spoke with the police... Also, what's your business with my wife? I heard you have been visiting her night and day, even sleeping here sometimes. I understand your family has power, but don't you think you are abusing that power, Mr. Aniston? So I will ask you again... What's your deal with my wife?"
As Chase moved his lips to speak, his eyes darted to Jada, but he halted, a flicker of hesitation crossing his features. At that moment, she saw something in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. It was a mixture of pain, longing, and a hidden truth, desperately fighting to break free."Mr. Aniston," Leon's voice was laced with suspicion and accusation. "What exactly is your business with my wife?"It took a minute for Chase to tear his eyes away from Jada. Then his gaze hardened, and he turned to face Leon. "I think there's more to Jada's accident than meets the eye,"Sensing the tension in the room, Dr. Matthews stepped forward, his voice calm. "Gentlemen, let's try to keep this conversation for another day. Jada needs rest and time to recover."For a second, Leon said nothing as his jaw tightened, and his gaze never left Chase's. In silence, Jada watched the look he held in his eyes, such coldness that it sent a chill down her spine. There was something unspoken between Chase
The tension in the room had reached its breaking point, and it seemed like a confrontation was inevitable. "Chase, you can stay." Jada abruptly blurted out.The room fell silent as Jada's words hung in the air. Leon's grip on her hand loosened slightly, his eyes searching hers for any signs of hesitation. On the other hand, Chase seemed taken aback by her unexpected response. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jada locked eyes with Chase. "I want you here with me," she blurted out, her voice stronger this time despite the lingering uncertainty. "Please,""What are you doing now, little butterfly?" Leon asked, his nostril flaring."Don't call me that," "Call you what?""Little butterfly... Something about that name is eerie-""But little butterfly-""Stop calling me that!!!"Her sudden scream pierced through the tension-filled room, shattering the uneasy silence that had settled over them. Startled, Leon and Chase turned their attention back to her, their eyes widening in concern."
Narrowing his eyes away from Jada, Leon looked at Dr. Matthew and said, "Now that that jerk is gone, I need you to start working on the paperwork to get her out of here and back home."Dr. Matthew's eyes darted between Jada and Leon, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. He adjusted his glasses nervously, finding the right words to respond to Leon's demand."No!" Jada cried out. She focused on sitting up, ignoring the ache and discomfort coursing through her body. Her eyes blazed with defiance as she stared up at Leon."Mrs. Kingsley," Dr. Matthew interjected. "Even though it has been a month, your wound has not fully healed yet internally. So, I advise you to lay back in bed."Ignoring his voice, Jada gritted her teeth, mustering every ounce of strength. The fire in her eyes burned brighter as she found her voice. "No, Dr. Matthew. I won't be held captive by him. I refuse to be with you."As her feet rested on the floor, Leon's face contorted with anger, his control slipping
For the longest, Chase's gaze darted into hers as he held his tongue, and then he looked away for a short time before focusing on Jada again."My lawyer is very creditable. But are you this serious about leaving your husband?" Chase asked, staring into her soul. "Why?""I don't like him." She mumbled as she dropped her gaze."That's not reason enough.""I don't know him."Not saying a word, Chase stood there, his eyes locked on Jada's downcast face. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken emotions, tension coiling like a live wire. Time seemed to stretch, each passing second filled with anticipation and uncertainty.Jada could feel Chase's intense gaze on her, his eyes boring into her soul. The weight of his scrutiny made her heart race and her palms grow clammy. It was as if he could see through her, peeling back the layers of her carefully constructed facade and exposing the vulnerability she kept hidden.Finally, unable to bear the silence, Chase moved closer to Jada, his
The gravel crunched under the wheels of Leon's black sedan as he sped up the winding driveway toward the mansion. His heart raced as he approached the gates, a sense of rage gnawing at him. Without hesitation, Leon slammed his foot on the gas pedal, and the powerful engine roared to life, propelling him forward. The gates swung open with a metallic groan, revealing the sprawling manor beyond. He barely stopped the car before jumping out and rushing towards the grand entrance.As he stormed up the steps to the front door, a distinguished-looking butler, James, emerged to greet him. "Good evening, sir Kingsley. May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?" James asked, his voice dripping with politeness.However, Leon paid little attention to the butler's courteous demeanor and said roughly, "I need to see Mr. Hudson. It's urgent."James raised a well-groomed eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Leon's brusque demeanor. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and nodded. "Of course, si
The sunlight glowed inside as Leon stormed through the polished glass doors of HH's headquarters, his footsteps echoing in the grand marble-floored lobby. His frustration simmered just beneath the surface, a dangerous fire that threatened to consume him entirely. A month had passed since Jada had left, and it was as if she had vanished into thin air. The walls of worry were closing in on him, and he couldn't wait any longer. Her memories could resurface at any moment, and his carefully laid plans would crumble to dust.He had hoped to finish the job before making any move on the business, but time was no longer on his side. The relentless tick-tock of the clock had become an unbearable reminder of his mounting desperation.With determined steps, Leon marched towards the elevators, his piercing eyes focused like laser beams, and his usual charisma was masked by the shadow of anxiety.As he ascended to the top floor, Leon couldn't help but replay the thoughts in his head, 'She has no
The women hesitated, eyeing each other before one answered, removing Jada's pajamas off her shoulders, "He's in the dining room, waiting on you." Slowly, she stepped into the tub, and the water held her like a comforting embrace, her body sinking into the warmth. The women surrounded her, their hands cupping water and cascading it over her shoulders, tracing delicate lines along her arms. Each touch and stroke was filled with care and tenderness as the women worked silently, their movements gently. Jada closed her eyes, surrendering to the sensations that washed over her, allowing herself to be enveloped by the healing ritual. ~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~ The dining room carried tension with just a look from Chase as he stared away from his mug and focused on his assistant. Standing before his boss, Jacob frowned as he said, "It's been a month. She is healed... Why are you helping her, master?" As Chase set his tea down, his piercing blue eyes narrowed. He studied Jacob's face for a moment be
The kitchen hummed with the bustling energy of anxious maids, their whispers intertwining with the clattering of pots and pans. Jada ran about in the room through the chaos and collected various ingredients from the kitchen cabinets. Each cabinet door creaked open, revealing a treasure trove of spices, herbs, and delicacies.As she reached for a jar of saffron, a young maid approached her, her eyes brimming with concern. "Miss Jada, please, Sir, is very particular about what he eats. We have served him faithfully for countless years, knowing his every culinary preference to your fingertip," she pleaded.Jada paused, her hand still hovering in mid-air, her fingers yearning to caress the vibrant threads of saffron. Her eyes softened with understanding as she regarded the maid. "Then teach me," she said. "Teach me what Chase loves. I promise that I am a quick learner. Give me an instruction, and I will follow. But I want to make him breakfast from now on."The maid's eyes widen