Richard didn''t say a word, just kept his hands tight on the steering wheel.

    When they pulled up in front of Ferguson Corporation, he didn''t ask ra anything—just picked up his phone and called Dn.

    Even when it was Richard calling, it was still the assistant who answered first. Only after recognizing Richard''s voice did the assistant finally pass the phone over to Dn.

    "What''s up?" Dn''s voice was clipped.

    "Dn, I have something you need to know. It''s about the North American Ferguson family. Can youe down for a minute?"

    Richard always seemed to know exactly what Dn wanted-or needed-to hear.

    ra sat quietly next to him, trying to read his expression, but Richard hung up after a short exchange and pulled the car into the underground garage.

    She waited about ten minutes before she saw Dn step out of the elevator, his new assistant following close behind.

    Seeing Dn again felt strange, almost like it had been a lifetime since thest time. ra stared, frozen for a few seconds, as he walked straight to Richard''s window and knocked lightly.

    Richard only cracked the window, his tone as cool as ever. "Busy these days? Aren''t you working with the Warren family too? Actually, I was hoping to talk about that today."

    Dn didn''t answer. His assistant hovered behind him, looking like he wanted to interfere, but Richard just got out, opened the back door, and said, "Get in."

    Dn slid into the back seat. Richard looked at the new assistant. "I''m just taking him to my office. He''ll be back in an hour."

    The assistant nced around the car, but from his angle, he couldn''t see ra— she''d made sure to keep herself hidden.

    Richard got back in, started the car, and drove off.

    It wasn''t until Dn was already in the car that he noticed someone was sitting in the front passenger seat. He didn''t say a word, didn''t even ask who she was, just turned away to stare out the window, lost in his own thoughts.

    When the car stopped in front of the hospital, ra caught Dn''s gaze in the rearview mirror.

    "Aiden needs your help," she said quietly. "You''re the only one who can get those specialists back from overseas."

    Dn looked at her for a few seconds, then turned his eyes away.

    Richard saw he wasn''t going to answer, so he got out. "You two talk," he said, closing the door behind him.

    Outside, he lit a cigarette and

    scanned the area. His instincts were sharp no one was following them for now, but that could change at any second.

    ra knew she had to be quick.

    She climbed from the front seat to the back, facing Dn head-on. "You really don''t remember anything?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    He said nothing, just dropped his gaze to his wrist.

    Without warning, ra grabbed his hand and pressed it to her chest, over her heart.

    His eyshes trembled. He tried to pull his hand back, but she was stronger than he was.

    Was he just unwilling to let go? Or had he really grown weaker than her? He didn''t know.

    ra took a shaky breath, then suddenly pulled out a gun and pressed it to his shoulder.

    Dn didn''t flinch. He looked at her,pletely calm, like he wasn''t scared at all.

    "Dn, call the specialists overseas," she said. "Help Aiden first. If you don''t, I''m afraid you''ll regret it once you remember."

    Dn pressed his lips together, his eyes falling to the gun in her hand. There was

    something familiar about it, but he couldn''t quite ce why.

    ra inhaled again, then turned the gun on herself, pressing it to her own shoulder-and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

    The bullet ripped through her. Her face went white from the pain.

    She''d only just started to recover, and her palms were still covered in scars. Now,

    she had another fresh wound to add to the list.

    Dn''s eyes went wide, horror and

    shock shing through them. The image of ra, blood blooming across her shoulder, burned itself into his mind-bright red, unforgettable.