Chapter 45: The Memory That Slipped Through
The next morning felt unusually quiet.
Lina woke up slowly, her head still heavy from restless thoughts. For a moment, she forgot everything.
Then reality returned.
Emily.
The document.
The doubt.
Her chest tightened again.
She turned slightly.
Adrian was already awake.
He sat at the edge of the bed, looking thoughtful.
"You didn't sleep well," he said quietly.
She gave a faint smile.
"Neither did you."
He didn't deny it.
Because it was true.
He barely slept.
Something felt wrong.
Not just about Emily.
Not just about Lina's memory.
But something deeper.
Like a piece of his past was trying to surface.
Then suddenly—
A sharp pain hit his head.
He frowned.
"You okay?" Lina asked quickly.
He pressed his fingers to his temple.
"Just… a headache."
But then—
A flash.
Rain.
A dark road.
Lina crying.
His grip tightening on the steering wheel.
"You don't understand, Lina."
Her voice trembling—
"I don't want to lose you."
His breath caught.
The memory disappeared.
Adrian blinked.
"Lina…"
She looked worried.
"What happened?"
"I remembered something."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
He hesitated.
"You were crying…"
Her breathing slowed.
"Before the accident?"
He nodded.
"I think… we were arguing."
Her chest tightened.
"About what?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know… it's blurry."
She nodded slowly.
But her heart pounded.
Because this meant—
More memories were returning.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready.
—
Downstairs…
Sophia and Daniel arrived.
"You look terrible," Daniel said bluntly.
Adrian ignored him.
"I remembered something."
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
Adrian nodded.
"Before the accident… Lina and I were arguing."
Lina looked down quietly.
Daniel frowned.
"That matches Emily's story."
Sophia crossed her arms.
"Or it matches reality."
Silence filled the room.
Lina's fingers tightened slightly.
Adrian noticed.
He stepped closer to her.
"It doesn't change anything."
She nodded softly.
"I know."
But her voice lacked confidence.
—
Meanwhile…
Emily sat inside her office.
She received a message.
"Adrian's memories are returning."
Her smile slowly widened.
"Perfect."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Let the truth come…"
Her eyes darkened.
"That will destroy them faster."
—
Back at the house…
Lina tried to distract herself.
She prepared lunch quietly.
But her mind remained restless.
Suddenly—
Her head throbbed.
She paused.
Her breathing slowed.
Then—
A flash.
A hospital room.
Machines beeping.
Her hand gripping Adrian's.
Her voice trembling—
"Please… I can't remember…"
Her heart pounded.
Another flash.
Adrian sitting beside her.
His eyes tired.
"You don't have to remember."
Her breathing became uneven.
Another flash.
Doctor speaking—
"Memory suppression might help."
Her eyes widened.
Then—
Everything disappeared.
Lina stumbled slightly.
Sophia quickly held her.
"Lina!"
"I'm… okay…"
But her voice shook.
"You remembered something?" Sophia asked.
She nodded slowly.
"I think… I saw the hospital… after the accident."
Sophia's expression turned serious.
"What else?"
Lina shook her head.
"Just fragments."
Adrian walked in.
"What happened?"
Sophia answered.
"Her memory."
His eyes widened.
"You remembered?"
Lina nodded slowly.
"I think… we talked about memory suppression."
Silence fell.
Adrian's expression changed.
"So… Emily might not be lying."
Lina's heart tightened.
"But…"
She hesitated.
"I also saw you… staying with me."
His chest softened slightly.
"I never left you."
She looked at him.
Her eyes softened.
"Yeah… I saw that."
The tension eased slightly.
But uncertainty still remained.
—
Later that afternoon…
Adrian received a call.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
A calm voice replied.
"I believe you're looking for answers."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Who is this?"
"I'm the doctor who treated you."
His heart skipped.
"What?"
"I think it's time we talk."
The line went silent.
Adrian looked serious.
Lina noticed.
"What happened?"
He spoke quietly.
"The doctor… wants to meet."
Her heart pounded again.
Because finally—
The truth…
Was getting closer.