Chapter Six: The Family That Stole His Past

Damien Ashford had faced enemies before.

Competitors who tried to destroy his company.

Business partners who betrayed him for money.

People who smiled in front of him while secretly planning his downfall.

He understood those kinds of enemies.

They were predictable.

But this was different.

Because the person who had stolen five years of his life was someone who had stood beside him when he was at his weakest.

Someone who held his hand while doctors told him he might never recover his memories.

Someone who told him they were family.

Damien stared at the photograph on his desk.

Elena.

Himself.

A moment from a past he couldn't remember.

They looked happy.

Not the kind of happiness created for cameras.

Real happiness.

The kind that came from two people who believed they had found something rare.

His fingers tightened around the photograph.

"Why?"

The question left his lips quietly.

Not directed at anyone.

Not yet.

But someday, he would ask the person responsible.

And he would demand an answer.

---

The next morning, Elena woke up before her alarm.

She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the threatening messages.

She saw Damien discovering the truth.

She saw fear in his eyes when he looked at Noah.

For years, she had controlled every part of her life.

Now everything felt uncertain.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from the hospital.

The surgery deposit deadline had been extended.

She stared at the notification.

For the first time in days, she felt a small amount of relief.

Then another message appeared.

From an unknown number.

Her heart immediately tightened.

You should have left him forgotten.

Elena froze.

Before she could respond, another message arrived.

The more Damien remembers, the more danger your son faces.

Her hands trembled.

This was no longer a warning.

It was a promise.

Someone was threatening Noah.

She immediately stood and checked his room.

He was still sleeping peacefully.

A small smile rested on his face.

Completely unaware of the war surrounding him.

Elena walked over and gently touched his hair.

"I won't let anyone hurt you."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"No matter what happens."

---

At Ashford Tower, Damien sat across from the one person who had helped him most after the accident.

His stepmother.

Victoria Ashford.

Elegant.

Composed.

Always perfectly dressed.

To the world, Victoria was the woman who held the Ashford family together.

To Damien, she had always been the person who stayed when everyone else disappeared.

Until now.

"Why did you hide her from me?"

The question was direct.

Victoria looked up from her tea.

For a moment, nothing changed on her face.

Then she slowly placed the cup down.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Damien pushed the photograph across the table.

The color drained slightly from her expression.

Only slightly.

But he noticed.

"Interesting."

Her eyes moved back to him.

"Where did you get that?"

"So you do know."

Victoria sighed.

"Damien."

"No."

His voice became colder.

"I spent five years believing I had lost my memories because of an accident."

He leaned forward.

"But what if the accident was only the beginning?"

Silence.

Victoria looked away.

That was enough.

Damien had spent his life reading people.

And guilt had a language.

"You knew about Elena."

Victoria remained quiet.

"Did you know about Noah too?"

The silence became heavier.

Then she said softly:

"Some truths are better left buried."

Damien felt something inside him break.

Because that wasn't a denial.

"You knew."

Victoria looked at him.

"I was trying to protect you."

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"By stealing my life?"

"By protecting the Ashford family."

There it was.

The truth hidden beneath every excuse.

The family.

Always the family.

Damien stood.

"If anything happens to Elena or Noah—"

"You don't understand what you're dealing with."

Victoria's voice changed.

For the first time, fear appeared.

"Some people will destroy everything to keep that secret hidden."

Damien stared at her.

"Who?"

Victoria didn't answer.

Because the answer frightened her.

---

Later that day, Elena arrived at Ashford Tower after receiving a call from Damien.

She expected another business discussion.

She didn't expect him to look like a man who had just discovered his entire life was built on lies.

"What happened?"

Damien handed her the photograph.

Her breath caught.

She took it slowly.

Her younger self stared back at her.

Standing beside Damien.

Smiling.

A memory she thought only belonged to her.

"You had this?"

"No."

His voice was quiet.

"Someone sent it to me."

Elena looked at him.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

For once, Damien looked uncertain.

Not weak.

Human.

"They knew about us."

Her fingers tightened around the photograph.

"What does that mean?"

"It means someone made sure I forgot you."

The words hurt.

Even though she knew.

Even though she had always suspected something was wrong.

Hearing him say it made everything real.

"Why would anyone do that?"

Damien looked at her.

"Because whoever did this wanted me to lose something."

A pause.

"And I think that something was you."

Elena looked away.

Those words were dangerous.

Because a part of her wanted to believe them.

But believing again meant risking everything.

"I need proof."

Damien nodded.

"I know."

"And until you have it, Noah stays away from this."

Damien didn't argue.

Instead, he said:

"You're right."

The answer surprised her.

"You agree?"

"I lost five years."

His voice softened.

"I won't take another moment from him."

For the first time since seeing him again, Elena saw something familiar.

Not the billionaire.

Not the CEO.

The man from five years ago.

The man who had once made her feel safe.

---

That night, Damien returned home.

He expected another message.

Another threat.

Instead, he found something waiting outside his office door.

A small envelope.

No name.

No explanation.

Inside was a hospital document.

His hands went still.

It was a medical record from five years ago.

His accident report.

But there was one line that had been removed from the original file.

A witness statement.

A statement that had never been included in any official report.

Damien read it.

And his entire world stopped.

Because the witness had written:

"Before the accident, Damien Ashford was on his way to meet a woman who was pregnant with his child."

Damien lowered the paper.

The truth was no longer hiding.

It was standing in front of him.

And someone was terrified that he had finally found it.