Chapter 6

The explosion echoed through the hospital like rolling thunder.

The floor trembled beneath Saria’s feet.

Smoke poured into the corridor, swallowing the flashing emergency lights until everything was painted in an eerie crimson glow.

People screamed.

Doctors shouted orders.

Patients cried for help.

Lucas tightened his grip on Saria’s hand.

“We have to leave. Now.”

He led her into the hallway.

The police officer assigned to protect her rushed toward them.

“Mr. Red!” the officer shouted.

“Take Miss Ben to the emergency exit. I’ll check the east wing.”

Lucas nodded.

“Be careful.”

The officer disappeared into the thick smoke.

Saria looked around in panic.

“Where’s Dan?”

“I don’t know.”

Lucas’s answer came too quickly.

“We don’t have time to look for him.”

Before Saria could respond, another explosion shook the building.

The ceiling cracked.

Pieces of concrete crashed onto the floor behind them.

Lucas shielded her instinctively.

“Run!”

They hurried down the corridor with dozens of frightened patients.

Emergency lights flickered overhead.

The air grew hotter with every passing second.

Suddenly

Bang!

A gunshot echoed through the hallway.

Everyone screamed.

Lucas immediately pulled Saria behind a row of hospital beds abandoned in the corridor.

“Stay down.”

Heavy footsteps approached through the smoke.

Three figures dressed in black tactical clothing emerged.

Each carried a silenced pistol.

Their faces were hidden behind black masks.

One of them spoke into a radio.

“Target located.”

Saria’s heart nearly stopped.

Target?

They were talking about her.

Lucas peeked around the bed.

His expression hardened.

“They found us.”

One of the masked men slowly scanned the corridor.

“Search every room.”

“She can’t leave this hospital alive.”

Saria covered her mouth to stop herself from breathing.

Lucas leaned closer.

“When I say run…”

What about you?

“I will catch up.”

“No.”

“Saria.”

His voice became unusually serious.

“Listen to me.”

“If anything happens, don’t trust anyone.”

Her eyes widened.

Not even Dan?

Lucas hesitated.

“Especially…”

Before he could finish

A loud voice rang through the corridor.

“Police!”

Detective Noah appeared from the opposite end with several armed officers.

Drop your weapons!

Gunfire exploded instantly.

The attackers fired first.

The officers returned fire.

Bullets shattered windows and tore through the walls.

The corridor became a battlefield.

“Go!” Noah shouted.

Lucas didn’t hesitate.

He grabbed Saria’s wrist and pulled her toward a stairwell.

They slammed the heavy metal door behind them.

The sounds of gunfire became inaudible.

Saria leaned against the wall, breathing hard.

“I can’t keep running.”

“You have to.”

Lucas looked up the staircase.

“The basement is compromised.”

“We’re going to the roof.”

“The roof?”

“A rescue helicopter is coming.”

Saria stared at him.

How do you know that?

Lucas remained silent.

They climbed flight after flight.

Every step sent pain through Saria’s injured body.

Halfway up

She stopped.

“Wait.”

Another sharp pain pierced her head.

The walls around her faded.

Another memory surfaced.

She stood inside a luxurious office.

The sapphire necklace rested against her neck.

Across the desk sat the elegant woman wearing black gloves.

The same woman from the ballroom.

Her lips curved into a cold smile.

“Sign the marriage certificate.”

Princess Adria looked down at the document.

“I won’t.”

The woman calmly slid a photograph across the desk.

It showed a tiny baby wrapped in a pink blanket.

Little Lily.

“If you refuse”

The woman picked up a lighter.

“your daughter disappears forever.”

Princess Adria’s hands shook.

What do you want from me?

“Simple.”

The woman’s smile widened.

“You will marry Dan Carter.”

The vision shattered.

Saria cried out and stumbled backward.

Lucas caught her before she fell.

What happened?

She stared at him in horror.

“I remember…”

What?

“My marriage…”

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“It wasn’t for love.”

Lucas closed his eyes.

For a brief second

It looked as though I was able to expect those words.

You remember something else, don’t you?

Saria nodded slowly.

There was a woman.

She forced me to marry Dan.

Lucas’s face grew pale.

“Did you see her face?”

“No.”

“Only…”

She frowned.

Black gloves.

Lucas muttered something under his breath.

What?

“Nothing.”

“No, you said something.”

“I said we’re running out of time.”

He avoided her eyes.

Another secret.

Another answer he refused to give.

They finally reached the rooftop.

The cold night wind hit them immediately.

Rain continued pouring from the dark sky.

The city lights shimmered in the distance.

But something was wrong.

The rooftop was empty.

No helicopter.

No rescue team.

Only silence.

Lucas slowly reached inside his jacket.

His instincts had already sensed it.

Someone else was there.

A voice echoed from the darkness.

“I was wondering how long it would take.”

A tall man stepped out from behind the rooftop generator.

He wore a black overcoat despite the rain.

His face remained hidden beneath the shadow of an umbrella.

Around him stood six armed men.

Each pointed a weapon directly at Saria.

The stranger smiled.

“Welcome back…”

He paused deliberately.

“…Princess Adria.”

Saria felt her blood freeze.

Lucas immediately stepped in front of her.

“Don’t say another word.”

The stranger chuckled.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

He slowly removed his glove.

On the back of his right hand…

Was a silver crest.

The same strange symbol engraved on the sapphire necklace inside the velvet box.

Saria stared at it.

A terrible feeling settled in her chest.

She had seen that symbol before.

Not in this life.

In her memories.

The stranger raised his pistol.

“Her memories are returning.”

He looked directly at Saria.

“So this time…”

“We’ll make sure she doesn’t survive them.”

Behind them, the rooftop door suddenly burst open.

Everyone turned at once.

Standing in the doorway…

Was Dan.

And he wasn’t alone.

He was pointing a gun.

Not at the masked men.

Not at the stranger.

But straight at Lucas.

“Step away from my wife.”

Lucas didn’t move.

Rain poured between the two men as they stood facing each other.

Saria looked from one to the other.

Then her heart nearly stopped when she heard Dan’s next words.

“If you really love her…”

His finger tightened on the trigger.

“…tell her who Lily’s real father is.”