CHAPTER THREE — THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT LET GO

CHAPTER THREE — THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT LET GO

St. Haven’s Emergency Ward buzzed with activity the moment she arrived nurses rushing past, gurneys squeaking, disinfectant stinging the air. The world here moved fast, frantic, full of panic.

Liana stepped through it like she was walking through candle smoke.

Detached.

Clear.

Untouched.

In her first life, she had run into this very hallway trembling, breathless, nearly collapsing when she saw Adrian unconscious.

Tonight, she simply adjusted her coat and walked to the nurses’ station.

“Adrian Jin. Car accident.”

Her voice was steady, warm enough to be human but cold enough to draw respect.

The nurse, startled by her composure, quickly checked the chart. “Yes he’s in Trauma Room Three. He”

A shout cut through the corridor.

A deep, hoarse, violent sound.

Then the sharp crash of metal hitting the floor.

“Let go of me!”

The nurse flinched. “That’s him. He woke up confused and started fighting the staff. He doesn’t recognize anyone. We sedated him twice already but he’s too strong.”

Memory loss.

Right on script.

But the violence?

That was new.

Liana exhaled quietly. “Open the door.”

The nurse hesitated. “Ma’am, you should wait”

“I said open it.”

Something in her eyes made the nurse obey.

The door slid open.

Chaos waited inside.

Two orderlies were on the ground, struggling to catch their breath. A doctor pressed a hand to his bruised jaw. Medical instruments lay scattered across the tile.

And in the center of it

Adrian.

Tall, broad shouldered, hair disheveled, hospital gown torn at the collar like it couldn’t contain him.

His eyes were wild.

Not the cold, calculating gaze she remembered from her first life.

Not the chilling indifference that once signed her death sentence.

This was something rawer.

A disturbed animal.

A lost child.

A man whose instincts had snapped awake before his mind did.

His head jerked toward the open door the moment she stepped inside.

Everyone else faded.

His gaze locked onto her like the world narrowed to a single point.

She didn’t move.

Neither did he.

The air tightened, pulled taut between them.

Then, slowly like a predator scenting familiarity he approached.

The orderlies panicked. “Sir back away !”

But Adrian didn’t hear them.

He heard her.

He stopped a breath away, chest heaving, eyes tracing her face with unmistakable recognition even though he did not know her name.

She lifted her chin.

“Adrian,” she said.

His pupils tightened. “Who… are you?”

Liana opened her mouth to answer

But he reached for her first.

Not gently.

Not politely.

He grabbed her wrist large hand enveloping her skin as if anchoring himself to something solid, something sane.

The room jolted.

“Sir let go of her!”

The doctor reached forward.

Adrian snarled an actual snarl and pulled her behind him as though shielding her from the entire world. His stance turned lethal, protective, instinctual.

The entire staff froze.

Liana’s heart thudded once.

This wasn’t in the book.

This wasn’t in her first life.

This was obsession being born in real time.

She lifted a hand, slowly, deliberately, touching his forearm.

“Adrian,” she repeated softly, “I’m not here to hurt you.”

His breathing stumbled.

That was all it took.

His grip loosened.

Not fully never fully but enough to let her step closer.

“I’m Liana,” she whispered. “I came for you.”

His eyes lowered to her lips like her words were something he needed to taste to believe.

Then, shockingly gentle, he rested his forehead against her shoulder.

Like a man collapsing into the one safe place he recognized without memory.

The staff looked on in open astonishment.

Liana’s fingers twitched just once before she steadied.

So this is the version of Adrian I get this life, she thought.

Lost.

Dangerous.

Unmoored.

And already clinging to her like she was gravity itself.

She exhaled, letting her voice warm just enough to soothe him.

“It’s alright,” she murmured. “I’m here.”

He shuddered.

His fingers tightened around her wrist again not hurting, but refusing to let go. Refusing to risk she’d disappear.

As if she were the last thread tethering him to reality.

The doctor cleared his throat cautiously. “Ma’am… if you could help us get him back on the bed we need to examine him”

Adrian lifted his head sharply, eyes flashing.

“No.”

The single word vibrated through the room.

Liana looked at him.

His eyes…

They were no longer wild.

They were possessive.

Desperate.

As if his soul recognized her even if his memory had not.

She sighed quietly.

“Adrian,” she said, soft but firm. “Lie down.”

He stared at her.

Then

Against every instinct but hers

He obeyed.

Still holding her hand.

Still refusing to release even an inch of her.

The doctor scrambled to adjust equipment, terrified to move too fast.

Liana watched the man who would one day destroy her… cling to her like she was life itself.

A strange emotion slid under her ribs.

Not pity.

Not affection.

Power.

The first true shift in fate.

The moment a condemned woman realized the executioner now knelt at her feet.

She pulled a chair close to the bed.

His fingers tightened around hers.

And for the first time, she whispered a promise meant only for herself:

“This time, Adrian… you will never be the one to end me.”