All Chapters of The Heart Never Forgets: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“Jane,” Daniel said, his voice hard and urgent, rain streaking down his face. “Get in the car. Now.”“What? Daniel…”“Please,” he snapped, eyes flicking toward the ridge where that dark figure stood motionless against the lightning-slashed sky. “Drive away before something happens.”Something in his tone made me obey without another word. I slid behind the wheel, fingers trembling as I started the engine.The tires spun against the wet ground before catching, flinging mud behind us.For miles, neither of us spoke. The storm chased our taillights, thunder rolling over the empty road like an echo of everything we couldn’t say.By the time we reached the city, dawn was a dull smear across the skyline. Daniel dropped me off in silence, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.“Stay alert,” was all he said before driving away.I didn’t sleep that day. I couldn’t. The image of that figure on the ridge replayed again and again, still, watching, waiting.And when evening came, it felt as tho

By morning, I was running on caffeine and instinct.The foundation’s office felt hollow, like someone had drained all the color from the walls. The air smelled faintly of printer toner and cold fear.When Mia walked in, she looked worse than the night before. Dark circles framed her eyes, and her hair was pulled back carelessly. She avoided everyone’s gaze.“Mia,” I said quietly. “In my office.”She froze, her hand halfway to her coffee cup. “Jane, I…”“Now.”She followed me inside, her footsteps light, hesitant. When I shut the door, she flinched at the sound.“Sit,” I said.She sat.“Mia,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady, “I need you to tell me the truth. Are you in contact with Jonathan Pierce?”Her eyes went wide, filling instantly with tears. “Jane, I didn’t…”“Don’t lie to me,” I said sharply. “I saw his name on your phone.”Her lips trembled. For a moment, I thought she might deny it again, but then she broke.“Yes,” she whispered. “I was. But I didn’t mean for it to go

My breath hitched.The glow of his computer screen burned through the dim light behind him with those same words staring back at me.My fingers went numb. “You have it,” I whispered.Daniel turned, following my gaze. His expression changed, shock first, then something darker, heavier. Guilt.“Jane, listen…”“No,” I cut in, my voice sharp. “You have the same files. The same ones Mia gave me. The ones that show you at the hospital.”His jaw tightened. He took a careful step toward me. “I can explain that night.”“Explain?” I laughed, but it came out thin and bitter. “Explain why you were outside my father’s room at three in the morning? Why is there footage of you walking out of the hospital while he was unconscious?”“Because I wasn’t there to hurt him,” he said quietly.The words landed softly, but

The glow of the monitor was still burned into my eyes, the looping footage of me standing over my father’s bed,Daniel’s reflection appeared next to mine.The police had arrived thirty minutes later, too late for anything but questions and paperwork.Now, the room felt stripped of air. The red light was gone. The camera bagged and tagged. But the fear? That stayed.A detective in a rumpled gray suit leaned on the windowsill, jotting notes in a small pad. His voice was tired, the kind that came from seeing too much.“You’re saying this was streaming live? From the hospital?”“Yes,” I said. “To somewhere offsite. Daniel traced it, but…”He cut in with a skeptical glance. “Mr. Walker’s not a cybersecurity specialist, is he?”I felt Daniel stiffen beside me. “I’ve run companies that have more security infrastructure than this hospital,” he said evenly.The detective made a noise that was neither agreement nor dismissal. “Still. No clear suspect. No fingerprints on the device. No signs of

I was caught between fear and distance. “I…” I started, but the words tangled in my throat.“I saw you leave. I needed to know what you’re hiding.”He stepped closer, rain dripping from his hair, his expression unreadable. “You followed me?”“You’re keeping secrets, Daniel!”“Because I’m trying to keep you alive!” he snapped. “You think I’d drag you into this if I didn’t have to?”“Then tell me the truth!” I shot back. “Stop deciding what I can or can’t handle!”The storm between us broke open again…fear, anger, something darker, something almost tender. But his eyes hardened.“This isn’t about trust,” he said tightly. “It’s about survival. And right now, you’re making it harder for both of us.”I took a step forward. “So you’d rather shut me out than let me help?”His jaw clenched. The rain ran down his face like tears he refused to shed.“I’ve already lost too much because of this,” he said. “I can’t lose you too.”“Then stop running!” I shouted over the rain. “If you want me safe,