Chapter 4 — While Fighting for Her Life

The ambulance disappeared into the distance with its siren blaring, leaving the street strangely quiet.

Police officers arrived shortly afterward and began examining the scene. Luna's broken bag lay near the pavement, a torn piece of her jacket was caught against the wall, and there were traces of blood where she had fallen.

One of the officers crouched near the wall and studied the ground.

"Someone fought hard," he muttered.

His partner nodded.

"Let's find out who did this."

They questioned people in the surrounding area and checked nearby streets, hoping someone had seen the men who attacked Luna. But by the time they finished, there was still no clear description of the attackers.

By morning, their investigation had reached the diner.Marcus was behind the counter when two police officers walked through the door.

"Excuse me."

Marcus looked up.

"Yes?"

One of the officers studied him.

"Do you know a woman named Luna Vance?"

Marcus immediately straightened.

"Yes. Why?"

The officer exchanged a brief look with his partner.

"She was found injured last night."

Marcus's face went pale.

"What?"

"We believe she was attacked while walking home."

His hands tightened around the counter.

"Is she alive?"

"Yes. She was taken to the hospital."

Marcus didn't wait for anything else.

"Which hospital?"

The officer gave him the name and address.Marcus grabbed his jacket.

"Thank you."

"Mr. Marcus."

He stopped at the door.The officer's expression softened slightly.

"You should know she's in serious condition."

Marcus's heart dropped.He couldn't answer.He simply rushed out.

—------------------------------------------------------

Across town, Aurora stood in front of her bedroom mirror.The television behind her was still showing clips from Ethan's interview.His face filled the screen as he spoke about the girl who had saved him fourteen years ago.

**Luna.**

Aurora stared at the photograph sitting on the table.It was a picture of her twin sister.Her expression slowly changed.

"He doesn't know what she looks like now."

Their mother sat on the edge of the bed.

"Are you sure this will work?"

Aurora picked up the photograph.

"Of course."

She studied Luna's face carefully.

"Ethan remembers a twelve-year-old girl. He doesn't know what she looks like at twenty-six."

Her mother hesitated.

"But what if he asks questions?"

Aurora smiled.

"I'll give him the answers he wants."

She placed the photograph down and reached for a small silver pendant.Her mother immediately noticed it.

"Where did you get that?"

Aurora turned it between her fingers.

"I had it made."

Her mother stared at her.

"A replica?"

"Exactly."

Aurora's smile widened.

"Luna never took hers off. I already knew what it looked like, so I had someone make an exact copy."

She glanced back at the photograph.

"Not everyone knows we're twins."

Her mother remained uneasy.

"All you have to do is tell Ethan you're Luna?"

"Not exactly."

Aurora's eyes gleamed.

"I have to become Luna."

She walked toward the mirror and studied her reflection.Their faces were identical.Their features were the same.To anyone who didn't know them well, telling them apart would be almost impossible.And Ethan had spent fourteen years searching for a memory.

Aurora knew exactly how to use that.

"He wants to believe he found her," she said quietly. "He won't be looking for reasons to doubt me. He'll be looking for the girl he remembers."

Her mother slowly smiled.

"And the ten million dollars?"

Aurora's eyes hardened with greed.

"That too."

For a moment, neither woman spoke.Then the phone rang.Their mother answered.

"Hello?"

Her expression changed.

"What?"

Aurora looked at her.

"What happened?"

Their mother listened in silence before covering the phone with her hand.

"It's the hospital."

Aurora's expression barely changed.

"What about Luna?"

Their mother listened again.

"They said she's in serious condition."

Aurora frowned.

"How serious?"

Her mother lowered the phone slightly.

"They said she suffered a traumatic brain injury and that her condition is still being monitored."

Aurora looked at the photograph.

"Is she going to die?"

"They don't think so."

Aurora slowly exhaled.

"Then she'll survive."

Her mother returned the phone to her ear, listened for a few more seconds, and ended the call.Aurora picked up the photograph again.

"See?"

She looked at Luna's face.

"She'll survive."

Her mother stared at her daughter.

"Shouldn't we go to the hospital?"

Aurora shook her head.

"Why?"

"She's still your sister."

Aurora's expression hardened.

"She'll be fine."

She put the photograph back on the table.

"We have something more important to deal with."

Her mother hesitated.

"What?"

Aurora turned toward the mirror.

"Ethan."

She looked at her reflection.

"I have to become Luna before anyone else finds her."

—------------------------------------------------------

Across town, Luna lay motionless beneath white hospital sheets.Machines quietly monitored her heartbeat and breathing. A bandage covered part of her forehead, while bruises darkened her face and arms.

The doctors had managed to stabilize her, but the attack had left her with a serious head injury and weakness on her left side. For now, they were keeping her under close observation.

She didn't know where she was.She didn't know how much time had passed.She only knew that somewhere in the darkness, she could hear a familiar voice.

"Luna."

Marcus.

His voice sounded distant.

"Luna, please."

He had rushed into the hospital as soon as he learned where she was, nearly colliding with the receptionist on the way.

"Luna Vance," he said breathlessly.

The receptionist looked up.

"Are you family?"

"No."

His voice cracked.

"I'm her friend."

The receptionist checked the computer.

"She's in the emergency ward."

Marcus hurried down the hallway.He found Luna's manager standing outside her room.

"Marcus."

He stopped.

"How is she?"

The manager shook his head.

"Not good."

Marcus looked through the glass.His heart broke.Luna lay completely still.She looked so small beneath the hospital sheets.He had seen her exhausted.He had seen her hurt.He had seen her pretend that everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.But never like this.

"What happened?"

"Police said she was attacked on her way home."

Marcus clenched his fists.

"Did they catch them?"

"Not yet."

He looked back through the glass.

"Has anyone from her family come?"

The manager shook his head.

"No one."

Marcus stared at him.

"Nobody?"

"Nobody."

His eyes filled with anger.

"She's been lying here alone?"

"Until we came."

Marcus slowly sat down beside her room.After a moment, he reached through the opening and took Luna's hand.

Her fingers were cold.

"Hey."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"You always tell me you're fine."

He swallowed hard.

"So wake up and tell me again."

Luna didn't move.Marcus lowered his head.

"I'm here."

He held her hand tighter.

"And I'm not going anywhere."

Inside the room, the machines continued their steady beeping.

Luna remained unconscious.

And while Marcus sat beside her, unaware of what was happening across the city, Aurora was already preparing to walk into Ethan Blackwood's life wearing Luna's identity.

**The real Luna was fighting to wake up.**

**Her twin was preparing to take her place.**