Chapter Four

Noah’s POV

For a second, I think I misheard him.

“No one touches him.”

Adrian said it like a command — calm, cold, controlled — the way he used to talk to board members when they crossed him.

But his eyes gave him away. Fear and confusion tangled there, as if he were protecting something he didn’t yet understand.

Victoria froze. For once, her perfect composure cracked.

“Adrian, you don’t know what you’re saying.”

He stepped forward, positioning himself between me and the guards.

“I said no one touches him.”

The men hesitated, glancing at each other. No one ever defies Victoria Wolfe. Not even her sons.

“Adrian…” Her voice sharpened, warning laced in it.

“I’m tired,” he interrupted. “Take them out.”

For a moment, I thought she’d push back. Then she exhaled slowly, the mask sliding back into place.

“Very well. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

She turned on her heel and left, the guards following her through the door.

Silence flooded the garden.

I stared at him, heart pounding. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did,” he said quietly, not meeting my eyes. “You shouldn’t be here. But if she touched you…”

He hesitated. “I don’t know why, but I couldn’t let her.”

My chest tightened. “Because you remember.”

He shook his head. “No. But something inside me reacted. Like muscle memory.”

“That’s how love works,” I whispered.

He looked away. “Stop saying that.”

“I can’t,” I said. “Because it’s the truth.”

He let out a shaky breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “You don’t understand. Every time I look at you, I feel something, but it doesn’t make sense. It’s like standing in a room I know I’ve been in before—but can’t find the light switch.”

I stepped closer. “Then let me help you find it.”

He didn’t move when I reached out. My fingers brushed his sleeve, and warmth shot through me like an electric pulse.

For a second, his eyes closed. Then he stepped back.

“Noah, if my mother finds you here again, she’ll destroy you. You know what she’s capable of.”

I gave a humorless laugh. “She already tried.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“She called my lawyer. She’s trying to prove our marriage is fake. If she succeeds, I could lose everything — even my license.”

His eyes darkened. “She wouldn’t…”

“She would,” I said. “You know she would.”

He didn’t argue. That said enough.

“Adrian,” I continued softly, “you married me because you wanted to be free from her control. You said we’d build a life where no one could reach us. Don’t let her take that away.”

He looked at me, pain flickering behind his calm. “I don’t remember saying that.”

“But it’s still true,” I whispered. “Even if you’ve forgotten.”

The wind carried the smell of rain and hospital disinfectant between us. He was so close, yet miles away.

Finally, he said, “You need to leave. Before they come back.”

“I can’t keep running, Adrian.”

“Then let me handle this,” he said. “I’ll figure out what’s real.”

“And what if she convinces you it’s not me?”

He hesitated. “Then I’ll still find the truth.”

It wasn’t the promise I wanted, but it was something.

I nodded. “Okay.”

He walked me to the garden gate. His hand brushed mine — brief, almost accidental — but enough to make my heart ache.

“Be careful,” he said quietly.

“You too.”

I slipped away before the guards returned, disappearing into the night.

⸻

By morning, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing — messages, missed calls, and one unknown number again.

You should have listened.

No name, but I knew it was her.

I ignored it and headed to the small architecture firm I used to work for.

Mark, my boss, greeted me with a strained smile. “Noah. I heard about the accident. How’s Adrian?”

“Recovering,” I said carefully.

“Good. Listen… we need to talk.”

He shut the office door. “We got an email this morning. From Wolfe Industries’ legal department. They’re questioning your credentials — implying you falsified your degree.”

My blood ran cold. “That’s not true.”

“I know,” he said gently, “but they’re powerful. And I can’t risk a lawsuit.”

“You’re firing me?”

He looked genuinely sorry. “You’re talented, Noah. But until this blows over…”

I nodded numbly. “I get it.”

Outside, the world felt heavier.

They weren’t just erasing our marriage — they were erasing me.

When I got home, I could barely unlock the door. Everything inside reminded me of him — the coffee mug he always stole, the sketchbook he once doodled in when he thought I wasn’t watching.

I pulled out that sketchbook and flipped through until I found the page that mattered:

a drawing of a small house by the sea.

Underneath, his handwriting — Our place someday.

I traced the words, remembering his voice when he’d said, “If the world ever turns against us, we’ll disappear there.”

Maybe it was time to find it.

I packed a bag, shoved the drawing into my pocket, and headed for the door.

Before I could leave, my phone rang. Teresa.

“Noah,” she whispered urgently. “Something’s wrong.”

My heart skipped. “What happened?”

“They moved Mr. Wolfe out of his room this morning. Private facility, they said. But it wasn’t scheduled. And when I asked where, no one answered.”

“What do you mean, moved?”

“I mean he’s gone.”

The phone nearly slipped from my hand. “Gone?”

“Yes. Mrs. Wolfe came in early. She signed the transfer herself.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “Do you know where they took him?”

“I tried to check the system. The file’s been locked. I’m sorry, Noah.”

“Thank you for telling me,” I said softly.

When I hung up, I just stood there in the street, the noise of cars fading into nothing.

He was gone. Again.

Victoria hadn’t wasted time. She must have realized he was starting to remember.

⸻

I went straight to Wolfe Industries.

It was late evening, the lobby nearly empty. The security guard recognized me instantly.

“Mr. Reyes,” he said awkwardly. “You can’t be here.”

“I need to see Mrs. Wolfe.”

“She’s not in.”

“Then I’ll wait.”

He shifted uneasily. “You can’t wait here.”

Before he could stop me, I walked toward the elevator. He called after me, but I didn’t care.

The doors closed, and the world felt smaller, tighter.

When I reached the top floor, the lights were dim. The offices empty. Her door was half-open.

I stepped inside.

Victoria sat behind her desk, calm as ever, sipping tea. She didn’t even look surprised.

“Noah,” she said smoothly. “Persistent, aren’t you?”

“Where is he?”

She set her cup down. “Safe.”

“Tell me where.”

Her eyes glinted. “Why would I? You’re not part of his life anymore.”

“I am his husband.”

She smiled faintly. “You were his mistake.”

Anger flared. “You can forge papers, threaten my job, hide him from me — but you can’t erase the truth.”

“The truth,” she said slowly, “is whatever I decide it to be.”

I took a step forward. “You’re scared. Because he’s remembering.”

Her expression hardened, though she stayed seated. “He’s confused. You’re exploiting that.”

“He’s my husband!”

The words echoed off the glass walls. Even she seemed startled by the force in my voice.

Then she leaned back. “You want him so badly, Mr. Reyes? Fine. Let’s see how far you’ll go to find him.”

“What does that mean?”

She stood, walking toward the window. The city lights burned behind her like fire.

“It means,” she said softly, “your love is about to be tested.”

My stomach dropped. “What did you do to him?”

She turned, that same icy smile curving her lips.

“Let’s just say… by the time you see him again, he might not love you anymore.”