Raphael's POV

Rain hammered the penthouse windows like it was trying to break inside.

I stood in the living room, staring at the city lights smeared across the glass. My phone sat silent on the marble counter. No new messages from Liana since her short text: Can't make dinner. Something came up. Sorry.

I checked the time again. 8:20 p.m.

The reservation at Le Gavroche was long gone. I had called to cancel. The host had sounded almost sympathetic.

I wasn't hungry.

My stomach was knotted too tight to eat.

The day had been endless, board meetings, investor calls, the patent fight with Blaise Corps still breathing down my neck. Elena had sent an update: the code was stronger now. Marcus said the legal papers were ready to file. Jackson was monitoring their public announcements.

Work never stopped.

But my thoughts kept circling back to her.

Liana.

This morning at the coffee shop still felt unreal. Her red lipstick. Her teasing smile. The way her foot brushed mine under the table and made my face burn. I'm not usually shy. I speak to powerful people every day without blinking. But with her? I suddenly become shy.

I paced the open living room. The penthouse felt too big tonight. Too empty.

I grabbed my phone again. Texted her: *Are you okay? Let me know if you need anything.*

Still nothing. I set the phone down. The doorbell chimed softly

I frowned. I hadn't ordered anything nor was I expecting anyone.

I crossed the room. Checked the security screen.

A woman stood in the hallway. Long dark hair. Red dress. High heels.

Sasha.

My occasional escort for the past three years.

She never came unannounced. I opened the door.

She smiled, that slow practised seductive smile.

"Miss me, Rafe?" I stepped aside to let her in.

She walked past me, heels clicking on the marble floor. I closed the door.

"What are you doing here?"

She turned. Dropped her coat on the couch.

"You've been quiet lately. No calls. No late-night texts. I thought you might need company."

I rubbed the back of my neck.

"I'm not in the mood tonight."

Her smile didn't falter.

She stepped closer. Fingers trailed down my chest.

"You always say that. Then I remind you how good it feels to forget everything for a few hours."

I caught her wrist gently.

"Stop."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" I let go of her hand.

"I met someone."

Her eyes narrowed, just a little."Someone special?"

"Yeah."

She laughed softly. "That's cute. But special girls don't stay special forever. You know that."

I walked to the bar cart. Poured myself a drink.

"I know."

She came up behind me. Pressed against my back. Her hands slid around my waist.

"Let me help you forget her. Just for tonight."

I set the glass down, then turned to face her.

"I don't want to forget her."

Sasha's smile faded.

She stepped back.

She looked at me like I was a stranger.

"You're serious."

I nodded.

She studied my face for a long moment.

Then she laughed. "Wow. The great Raphael Blackthorne. Falling for someone."

I didn't answer.

She picked up her coat.

Slipped it on.

"Fine. Enjoy your little romance. But when she breaks your heart,, and she will, you know where to find me."

She walked toward the door. I watched her go.

She placed her hand on the door handle, then she paused and turned back.

She shot me one last smile.

"Oh, and Raphael?"

"Yeah?"

Her eyes flicked over me, up and down.

"Be careful. Love is more of a foe than a friend."

Just as the elevator closed, my phone rang.

It was Jackson.

I picked it up. "What?"

"Boss, she's in the hospital."

"Who are you talking about?"

"It's Liana. She is in the hospital."

"What!"

Liana's POV

The hospital room felt like a bad dream that wouldn't end.

Everything was blindingly white. Beeping machines. The IV drip going drip-drip-drip like it was mocking my headache.

I stared at the woman in the suit who had just walked in. She closed the door with a soft click and sat in the chair by the bed like she owned the place.

She was pretty in that polished way, with dark hair in a neat bun, makeup perfect, suit tailored to show off curves without trying too hard. But her eyes were sharp. Too sharp for a doctor or nurse.

"I need to speak with you," she said. Voice crisp. Business-like."

I blinked. My head is still fuzzy from the faint.

"Speak about what? Who are you?"

She crossed her legs. Smiled. Not friendly.

"Elena. I work for Raphael Blackthorne."

My stomach flipped. Raphael.

She pulled out the photo from her bag. The one of me leaving the hotel at dawn. Rain. The coat was clutched tight. Shot from across the street.

She held it up.

"This you?" I snatched it from her hand.

"How did you get this?" She leaned back. "I searched for it. On his orders."

"Raphael's?"

She nodded. "He thought it was cute. A way to say he was thinking of you. Men are idiots sometimes."

I stared at her. "You're his....?"

"Executive assistant," she corrected. Her voice was sharp "I handle his schedule. His calls. His... flowers."

I leaned forward despite the headache.

"What do you want, Elena?"

She uncrossed her legs. Leaned in.

"To see what the fuss is about."

Fuss?

I raised an eyebrow. "Fuss?"

"Raphael's been... distracted. Since he met you. Skipping lunches. Canceling meetings. Worrying like a lovesick puppy. It's not like him."

I smiled. Slowly and teasingly.

"Jealous?"

She flinched. Just a little.

Bingo.

She recovered fast. And she laughed again.

"Of him? No. Of you? Maybe. He's a good man. Sweet. Kind. The kind who remembers your coffee order but forgets to tie his shoes."

I pictured him this morning. Blushing. Stumbling over words. "Yeah. He is."

She narrowed her eyes. "You don't deserve him."

I laughed, for real this time.

"Oh, honey. You came all the way here to tell me that?" She stood up. Paced the small room.

"He's a billionaire. CEO. He could have anyone. Models. Actresses. Women who know how to act in public. Not some data girl from a rival company who faints at work."

I swung my legs over the bed. I stood up slowly. The room tilted but I ignored it. "You mean women like you?"

She stopped pacing. Faced me.

"I've been with him for years. Handling everything. His life runs because of me."

I stepped closer. My voice low.

"Handling everything? Or just hoping?"

Her face turned red.

"You think you're special? One night in a cheap hotel?"

I grinned. "It wasn't cheap. And it wasn't just one night. He wants more. Dinners. Dates. The whole thing."

She stepped closer too. "He'll get bored. You're a distraction. A phase."

I tilted my head. "Jealousy looks good on you, Elena. Makes your eyes sparkle."

She huffed.

"You're crazy."

I winked.

"You have no idea."

She grabbed her bag.

"I'm warning you. Stay away from him."

I laughed again. "Or what? You'll send more flowers?"

She opened the door and turned back one last time.

"Or I'll make sure he sees who you really are."

She left.

The door clicked shut.

I sat back on the bed, my head spinning, not from the concussion. But from her.

Elena.

She is in love with Raphael, and now she sees me as the enemy.

I haven't even gone out with him properly.

The door opened again.

Who on earth is it again this time

I looked up.

Raphael.

His face was pale, and his eyes wide with fear.

"Liana-" He called out in that accent that I like so much.

He rushed to the bed, but before he could reach me, the door opened again, this time, it was Lucy.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw Raphael holding my shoulders.

"Liana, who is this?"

Before I could talk, Raphael spoke up, "I'm her boyfriend and who are you?"

My eyes widened as I turned to face him.

LWhat the hell?

Liana's POV

The hospital discharged me at 7 a.m. sharp. They said the concussion was mild-no bleeding on the brain, just rest, painkillers, and no sudden movements.

I took painkillers. Ignored the rest. By 9:30 I was back at Blaise Corps, hair in a messy bun to hide the bandage, sunglasses on to hide the dark circles, black sweater loose enough to cover the IV bruise on my arm.

I looked like someone who'd had a bad night, not someone who almost lost her entire past life in one faint. I blamed myself again. Every time I changed something, a memory died.

Last night's confrontation with Lucy? After Raphael dropped that bomb.

Lucy blinked once. Twice. Then she laughed. A sharp, confused sound.

"Boyfriend?" she echoed. "Wow. Congratulations, Liana." So," she said slowly, eyes flicking to him, "you're the one who sent the flowers."

Raphael smiled.

"Well, it was nice meeting you. Liana, see you at work tomorrow." Lucy said as she grabbed her bag and walked out, heels clicking like punctuation.

I sighed, turning to Raphael, "Sir. You don't even have my favorite color."

I shook my head and tried to focus on the pressing matter at hand.

I lose a memory whenever I try to change my fate.

I needed quiet. I needed to think. I headed to the staff breakroom. The door clicked shut behind me, cool air greeting me like an old friend. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead.

I leaned against the door, closed my eyes, and tried to pull up some memories. I remember most but I lose details of the important ones.

The smell of prison food. Nothing. Blank. My chest tightened. Another change. Another loss. I opened my eyes and took a shaky breath.

I started walking into the room properly taking slow and careful steps. My head still throbbed with every step. Halfway into the main lounge, I heard voices. Low. Breathless. I stopped. Then, I peeked into the room. Brian. And the new intern, Sofia. Twenty-one. Fresh out of uni. Dark curls. Big eyes. She was pressed against the wall.

Brian's hands on her waist. Mouth on hers. Hungry and messy, she giggled softly.

He pulled back just enough to whisper something in her ear. She laughed again. Bit her lip. His hand slid lower. I stepped back fast. As fast as I could.

But my elbow hit the door. They froze. Brian looked up. Eyes wide. "Liana-" I turned. I walked out of the room, my heart racing. My elbow throbbed from the hit.

And I ran into the stairs well, just as I was about to go downstairs, I heard footsteps below. Voices again. Lucy's voice was sharp, almost whispering. "...you think you can just walk away? I have everything. Every email. Every photo. Every late-night meeting. One word from me and your wife knows. Your board knows. You're done." Silence.

Then Graham's voice, it was low and shaking. "You wouldn't." Lucy laughed coldly and quietly. "Try me. You started this first. You'll help me finish it. Or I send the folder tonight." My heart slammed against my ribs. What's going on?

Who are they talking about? I leaned over the railing just enough to see them, two floors down, Lucy standing close to Graham, her hand on his arm, not gentle, it was threatening. Graham's face red, sweaty, eyes wide. "I... I can't keep covering for you.

Security's already asking questions. The logs-" "Then fix the logs," Lucy hissed. "Make it look like we planned." Graham wiped his face. "If this blows up-" "It won't. Because you'll do what I say. Like always." She stepped back. Smiled sweet again. "See you at the team meeting, boss." She turned. Started up the stairs. Toward me.

I backed away fast. Quiet as I could. Slipped through the door onto my floor. Heart racing. Head spinning. They are planning something.. And Lucy had something on Graham-something big enough to make him sweat like that. Photos. Emails.

Late-night meetings with what or who. Blackmail. Pure blackmail. I walked back to my desk on autopilot and sat down with hands shaking. The monitor glowed. My hidden folder is still there. Shadow protocol still running. But now I know. Lucy wasn't just a backstabber. She was running the whole game. Controlling Graham. Who knows what else.

I opened a new document. Typed one line: *What does Lucy have on Graham?* I stared at it and deleted it. Too risky. I needed proof. I needed to remember. I closed my eyes. Tried to pull up anything. The prison visiting room. Lucy on the other side of the glass. Smiling. What did she say? Nothing came. Just blank.

The ringing started again. It was faint, but it was there.I opened my eyes fast. No. Not now. I stood up. I walked to the restroom. I needed air. I needed to think.

I pushed the door open. Just as I was about to enter. I heard voices. Lucy. On the phone. "...yes, I'm working on it.. But he knows something. We need to move faster." Pause. "I don't care. Graham's scared. He'll do what I say. " Another pause. Then she laughed. Her low cruel laughter. "Dont worry , I'll all go according to plan." Click. She hung up.

I backed away. Fast and quietly. My heart in my throat.

I slipped into the stairwell again. Closed the door. Leaned against it. Breathing hard. Lucy on the phone. Planning. I Needed to Remember. But the ringing was louder now. The edges of my vision are blurring. No. Not again. I slid down the wall. Sat on the cold steps. Head in my hands. I tried to hold on. To anything. Raphael's face popped in my head.

"Not now." I groaned

The stairwell door below. Slow footsteps coming up, I stood up and ran. I sat on my chair shaking all over. I saw Lucy walking over to me. She stopped two steps away from me.

She tilted her head. "Feeling okay, bestie?" The ringing drowned everything. My vision tunneled. But I saw her eyes.

The ringing grew louder. The stairs tilted. Everything went black.