Chapter 172
Chapter 172:
Inside the hospital, Helena poured out every detail to Valeria, her voice growing more frantic with each word.
“You have to hypnotize me—now! Something’s close. I can feel it. The memories are right there p>
“Take a deep breath and calm yourself first!” said Valeria, her tone soft but laced with concern. “You’re far too overwhelmed at the moment. If we rush into hypnosis like this, it could push you past your limits—or worse, leave lasting damage to your head p>
Instead of agreeing to the session, Valeria handed Helena a mild sedative to ease her nerves, deciding that rest was the safest path for now.
Moments after taking the medication, Helena’s heart stopped racing. Her eyes grew heavy, and sleep quietly took hold.
Only once Helena had drifted off did Valeria quietly step out into the corridor, Alden following in silence.
“Helena’s endured more than enough. Apparently, the memories she lost are even more disturbing than we imagined. We have to take this slowly—she needs time to regain her strength,” said Valeria, her voice low and heavy.
Alden didn’t respond right away. His jaw clenched, and his expression gave nothing away except for the weight pressing behind his eyes.
He gave a quiet nod in reply, holding back the emotions tightening his chest. Valeria studied him for a beat, her eyes narrowing slightly as a crease formed between her brows.
Based on the way Alden reacted, it was obvious that he held strong feelings for Helena.
But if his concern ran that deep, then why hadn’t he shown it by asking even one question about how she was doing?
That could only mean one thing—he might already have answers she didn’t.
“Mr. Wilson, are you hiding something? Do you already know the truth behind Helena’s memory loss?” Valeria asked, a hint of suspicion slipping into her voice.
Caught off guard, Alden faltered for just a second before shaking his head and offering a smooth denial.
Just beyond the doorway, Helena stood completely still—awake, alert, and hearing every word being said.
gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈n – 𝓶𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻
Valeria’s pointed question struck her like a slap, jolting her from the inside out. Helena’s eyes snapped to Alden through the glass, narrowing with suspicion as doubt seeped in.
Valeria wasn’t about to let the matter drop. She shot a steady stare at Alden, her expression demanding a straight answer.
Irritation flashed across Alden’s face. He rarely showed patience with anyone who wasn’t Helena. “Dr. Clark, with all due respect, you’re free to think whatever you like about me, and I’m under no obligation to justify anything to you. But I do want you to understand this—Helena is barely holding herself together. She can’t handle another wave of emotional pressure p>
He tilted his chin down slightly, eyes glinting with warning. “I’ll say this once. Keep your theories to yourself. Helena doesn’t need to hear them p>
Exhaling slowly, Valeria gave a small nod. In her heart, she didn’t doubt that Alden would go to any length to protect Helena. That alone told her enough—whatever he was hiding, it wasn’t meant to hurt her.
But the moment Helena picked up on the caution in Alden’s tone while he addressed Valeria, her suspicions deepened—he was hiding something.
At that moment, the limping man, Ricky Carson, was going from place to place, digging for information about Alden. He had memorized the Chevrolet’s license plate, and after making enough inquiries, he discovered that the vehicle belonged to none other than Alden. The moment the truth sank in, a wave of panic washed over him—his body broke into a cold sweat.
Ricky was seconds away from making a break for it when Xavier arrived with a squad behind him, cutting off any chance of escape. They beat him until he teetered on the edge of death and then discarded him in the cold silence of an abandoned warehouse.
“It’s been a while, Ricky. Tell me, do I still look familiar?” The words slithered out from the darkness, cold and sharp enough to slice through the air, sending a violent shiver down Ricky’s spine.
Suddenly, a blinding light exploded across his vision. He squinted, blinking hard, and when his eyes finally adjusted, he saw Alden seated upright, his posture rigid, his gaze locked on him—merciless, hollow, and impossible to read.
“You’re… you’re that boy?” Ricky stared at Alden, uncertain. Then he froze. There was no—
Hearing aid. None at all. Ricky’s expression tightened. He said slowly, “Your ears… they’re fine now p>
Years ago, Ricky had been one of the men who left Alden deaf. Back then, Helena had fallen into their hands, abducted with twisted intentions. Alden had burst onto the scene just in time, throwing himself into danger without hesitation to shield her. They had beaten him within an inch of his life, but his intervention had saved her.
Unfortunately, Helena’s mind had wiped the whole thing clean—no memory of blood, fear, or the boy who had nearly died for her. Back then, Alden had been nothing but a skinny teenager. Yet the raw ferocity he’d shown, like someone who’d never learned to fear death, left a mark that haunted Ricky to this day.
Ricky drew back, his body shaking as his voice cracked with desperation. “Mr. Wilson, I admit it—I was wrong. But I’ve already suffered for it! My leg’s done for… please, I’m begging you, let me walk away p>
“You call that suffering?” Alden asked, his tone full of hatred. “You really believe a disabled leg makes things square? Take a moment. Think about those old partners of yours—do you even know what happened to them? And then ask yourself this—why do you think you’re still breathing while they’re not p>
Realization flickered across Ricky’s face as the words sank in. One by one, his old partners had dropped off the map—accidents, sudden illnesses, quiet disappearances. He was the only one left.
It hit Ricky all at once—he hadn’t been spared out of mercy. He was just a piece on the board, kept around in case Alden ever needed someone to testify against Chadwick.
And Alden… Alden was far more terrifying than anything he’d pictured in his worst thoughts.