Chapter 4: THE MEMORY HE LOST

They escaped through the rear exit.

The stranger was gone.

But his words stayed with them.

Why did Adam really wake up?

And why had someone spent three years making sure he remembered as little as possible?

Back at the apartment, Adam refused to let Celine go home alone.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because you keep proving it.”

She looked at him.

For the first time since his recovery, she saw something different in his eyes.

Not arrogance.

Not confusion.

Fear.

That night, Adam woke from a nightmare.

He remembered headlights.

Rain.

A telephone ringing.

Then Celine screaming.

He sat upright.

Celine was in the living room and heard him.

She rushed in.

“What happened?”

“I remembered something.”

“What?”

“You were there.”

Her face went pale.

“At the accident?”

He nodded.

“I saw you.”

Celine shook her head.

“That can't be right. I arrived after the crash.”

“That's what I remember.”

They stared at each other.

Then Adam reached for her hand.

A strange warmth passed between them.

Celine pulled away.

“This doesn't change what happened.”

“I know.”

“You don't remember loving me.”

“Maybe my memory isn't the only thing that remembers.”

She looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

He stepped closer.

“I don't know.”

The distance between them disappeared.

For one brief moment, neither moved.

Adam gently touched her cheek.

Celine closed her eyes.

Then she stepped back.

“No.”

“Celine.”

“We can't.”

He nodded.

“I understand.”

Her phone rang.

Daniel.

She answered.

“Celine, I found something.”

“What?”

“The missing medical page.”

Her heartbeat quickened.

“Where?”

“In the hospital archives.”

“What does it say?”

Daniel hesitated.

“It says you were warned that Adam would die.”

Celine's face drained.

“I was never warned.”

“I know.”

“There is a signature on the document.”

“Whose?”

Daniel's voice lowered.

“Yours.”

Celine stared at Adam.

Someone had forged her signature.

But why would anyone want the record to say she knew Adam was dying?

And then Adam asked the question neither of them had considered.

“Who benefits if everyone believes you knew I was going to die?

Celine spent the night staring at the forged document.

It looked like her handwriting.

Her name.

Her signature.

But she had never seen it.

Daniel placed another file beside it.

“There are more.”

Celine looked up.

“More what?”

“Documents signed in your name.”

Adam picked one up.

They were all dated within six months of the accident.

Each one made Celine appear involved in decisions about Adam's treatment.

“I didn't sign any of these.”

Daniel nodded.

“Someone wanted to create a paper trail.”

“To make me look guilty.”

“Exactly.”

Adam's expression darkened.

“Who had access to her signature?”

Daniel answered carefully.

“Several people.”

“Who?”

“Your family. The hospital. Her workplace.”

Celine suddenly remembered something.

“Victoria.”

Adam looked at her.

“What about her?”

“She had access to our home before the accident.”

Victoria had been a close family friend.

She knew where documents were kept.

She knew Celine's handwriting.

But Celine refused to believe it.

“She wouldn't.”

Adam studied her.

“You still trust her?”

“I don't know.”

That afternoon, Victoria appeared at the hospital.

Adam confronted her.

“Did you know about the altered medical records?”

She looked at him.

“No.”

“Did you know Marcus Vale?”

Her silence was answer enough.

Adam stepped closer.

“How?”

Victoria's eyes filled with tears.

“He treated my mother.”

“That's all?”

“No.”

She looked at Celine.

“I knew he was involved with someone inside your family.”

Celine's heart raced.

“Who?”

Victoria shook her head.

“If I tell you, they will know I talked.”

Adam's voice hardened.

“Tell me.”

Victoria whispered one name.

“Your father.”

Adam froze.

“My father?”

Victoria nodded.

“He knew about the diagnosis.”

She left before answering another question.

Celine looked at Adam.

“Do you believe her?”

“I don't know.”

That evening, Adam went to his father's study.

He found an old safe behind a painting.

Inside was a folder marked:

Project Hayes.

Adam opened it.

The first page contained his medical history.

The second contained financial records.

The third contained Celine's photograph.

And the final page contained a note.

If Adam wakes, Celine must leave immediately.

Adam stared at the words.

Then he turned the page.

There was a photograph of Celine talking to Marcus Vale.

The date was three days before Adam's accident.

Adam's blood ran cold.

Celine had told him she had never met Marcus.

Someone was lying.

But who?