The forgotten Heiress

The Man Who

bove her, humming like a warnin

to show her own reflection, but not clearly. She lay in a narrow hospital bed, wrapped in a thin blanket. Her w

her arms trembling

re

rtantly:

r creak

sion, like every step had been measured in advance. His face was clean-shaven, han

rning,

m. Something in he

are, she said, her voice b

mal after what you've been through. Your

way from him

not

lfe, he said.

ood ra

d? she

hand, but she flinched bef

long enough for her to see something

, bad car crash. You've been here for a few month

ened. I don't re

I'll help you rememb

ide her screamed:

he knew what fear felt like, and h

hood memories. No birthdays. No parents. Just brief, flickering images: a flash of red hair

to notic

oked at Damian before a

mirrors. No phone. N

never allowe

her read them like he was measuri

here were

er. Elara pretended to swallow them. Waited until the cameras turned. Spit them o

different n

nds trembling as she

, her voice b

not saf

reath cau

ra and lowered her voice further. He's

a whispered. Why wo

atching. I can't say more. But if y

the nurse backed away and exited the

carrying a bouque

ght? he asked,

a smile. Just fin

n the side table. Because my

a fr

orr

r hand, ignoring how stiff she went.

hing. Just n

nurse returned, he

ed," she

There's a maintenance exit on the lower level. Swipe this, she ha

helping me?

hat looked like guilt. Because I didn't

l Elara nee

o the clothes. Her body felt weak, but adrenaline made her faster. She

had started. Dim lights lined the walls.

to the

the end of the hall. She

ang out b

ou think y

a tu

silhouette framed by fluorescent light. His voice w

anning to leav

aid n

e back, sweetheart. You

k her he

r enough,

hen s

me. Her breath caught in her

om, she swi

oor c

nto the night. The cold slappe

t know wh

new she w