Chapter 7:

Vincent's POV:

A soft "click" startled me awake. I looked down and saw that the thing which had fallen was a wooden box.

I sat up, about to lean over and pick it up, when a sudden wave of pain struck my head, forcing me to kneel down, my hand holding my forehead. My eyebrows furrowed tightly together. It hurt so much.

This chronic headache had been haunting me for the past five years, but now I didn't know whether this pain came from my old illness relapsing or because I had been drinking. Ryder had warned me not to touch alcohol or any stimulants, but at times like these, they were the only sedatives a sober man needed.

"Majori…" Her name appeared in my mind.

After a moment, the nerves in my head finally stopped stretching and twitching as if they were about to tear my skull apart. I bent down to pick up the box. It was made of black walnut wood, crafted with meticulous care. Its polished surface gleamed with a deep, warm brown tone. On the lid, delicate carvings formed the shape of forget-me-not flowers — small and fragile, yet symbolizing eternal love and memory. Each petal seemed to have been carved with endless patience, curving gently around a circle representing immortality and connection.

The corners of the box were framed with faded silver metal, giving it an ancient look that felt both elegant and mysterious. On the front, a shiny alloy combination lock was tightly fixed in place, with finely engraved numbers that only revealed their secret when the right code was entered. The locking mechanism moved smoothly, leaving not the slightest gap, as if guarding a sacred secret meant only for the one truly worthy.

My fingers slowly brushed over the numbers, the motion so familiar. Then a soft "click" sounded, and the lid opened. My lips curved into a faint, bitter smile.

Inside the box were neatly arranged envelopes, and in one corner, a few small items were carefully placed. Yes, this was the box that kept everything related to Majori or in other words, to our love.

Handwritten letters, photos of us together, gifts, matching clothes, and even her first baby teeth. Everything was preserved here.

No matter how angry I was with her, I could never bring myself to throw them away.

Just then, as I was gazing at those old mementos, an uneasy feeling suddenly rose inside me, spreading quickly like fire on dry grass. I stood up abruptly, slamming the box shut, my eyes widening as I stared into the empty space ahead — though there was nothing there.

It felt as if I was watching something… leaving.

My chest rose and fell violently. My breathing grew fast and shallow, and the feeling of tension and anxiety climbed higher and higher. I pressed a hand to my chest, where all my emotions seemed to be flooding in.

"Majori… could something have happened to you?"

That restless feeling urged me to run outside, to go to her, to make sure she was safe. Hastily, I placed the box back into the drawer and turned toward Majori's room.

Without thinking, my steps grew faster and faster, as if afraid that if I was just a little too late, she would leave just like she did five years ago. My mind was filled with all the possibilities of what might happen. When she was brought back here, Majori was severely injured, her health extremely weak. I had no idea what had happened to her during those five years. Her defiant and cold attitude cut into my heart like a blade, and I could not stop myself from feeling angry about it.

But there were nurses and doctors on duty in her room all the time. Surely nothing bad could have happened… right?

When I brought her back, I deliberately arranged for her room to be as close to mine as possible. Maybe that gave me a small sense of security and peace. It was only a short hallway away.

In front of Majori's room, Ryder's two assistants, Harper and Harry, were sitting guard. Seeing me approach, they immediately stood up, a trace of unease flashing across their faces.

"Good evening, Mr. Vincent. You came to see Miss Majori?" Harper was the first to speak.

"Yes." I didn't say much. I was about to open the door when a hand suddenly reached out to block my way.

"Mr. Vincent, Miss Majori has just fallen asleep. She was given medication not long ago. It might not be good for her if you go in now. You two argued this morning, and her unstable mental state could trigger a severe anxiety attack…"

"I just want to see her for a moment. I won't wake her up. You don't have to worry."

Saying that, I tried to push Harper's hand away to go in, but he stubbornly held his ground.

"Mr. Vincent, Dr. Ryder specifically ordered that no one should disturb Miss Majori at this time. You can visit her in the morning when she wakes up."

"Move." My voice hardened. I could sense something was wrong with the two of them. After my command, Harper and Harry exchanged a quick glance, but their arms still didn't lower. That was strange — far too strange. Something had definitely happened. My heart tightened. I shoved Harper's arm aside and turned the handle to step into the room.

"Mr. Vincent!" Harper and Harry hurried in behind me.

The room was completely dark. I turned on the bedside lamp. She was afraid of the dark, terribly afraid of it — so why was the light off?

I walked toward her bed. She was lying there, nothing unusual, as if she was just sleeping.

"Mr. Vincent, Miss Majori needs rest…" Harper started again. But I wasn't at ease. I sat down and reached out to touch her face, only to flinch immediately, it was ice cold.

"Majori." I called her name, then lifted the blanket. My eyes widened in shock. Beneath the blanket, her fingernails had turned pale white, bloodless. I grabbed her hand, it was as cold as if it had just been pulled out of a glacier.

"Majori."

"Majori. Majori!"

My breath hitched. I shook her shoulders, first gently, then harder. Her head tilted to one side, the hand resting on her stomach slipping down, and the arm I was holding went limp.

She… what happened to her?

"Majori! Majori, answer me!"

I shouted, but there was no response. Panic burst through my mind like an explosion. I shook her harder, but her body was limp as if her soul had already left.

I quickly checked her breathing. She was still alive, though faintly.

"What happened to her? Call the emergency team, now!" I shouted at the two people in white coats standing nearby. But they just stood there, frozen like statues.

I understood then. I finally understood what was going on.

I gritted my teeth. "I can't trust any of you anymore."

"Someone, call Dr. Pembroke here immediately!"

"Call Dr. Pembroke right now!"

My voice broke through the night. I didn't care how I looked anymore desperate, pitiful, or terrifying none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered to me was her.

I held Majori in my arms, trying to resuscitate her.

Why? Why did it have to be like this? All I ever wanted was to stay by her side. Was that too much to ask?

"Majori, if you don't wake up, I will never forgive you. Never."