The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 58: Lost Memory

Daniel turned around quickly, his body still tense from fear.

His eyes met Ford’s, and for a brief moment, he felt like time had frozen. Ford’s face was laced with curiosity and concern, his sharp gaze studying Daniel closely. The weight of the silence between them made Daniel’s heart race even faster.

"Oh, sir," Daniel said quickly, forcing a smile as he tried to steady his voice. "I finished very late from work, so I thought I’d stop by to check on you and see if you needed anything." He let out a small chuckle, scratching the back of his neck as if embarrassed. "Looks like you got here before I could even find you."

Ford didn’t look entirely convinced. His brow furrowed slightly as he glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the hallway.

"But it’s almost midnight," Ford pointed out, his tone firm but not unkind. "You should have just gone home instead of coming all the way here."

Daniel nodded, keeping his expression neutral, but inside, he was struggling to stay calm.

"I know, sir," he said smoothly. "But I just wanted to be sure you were okay."

Ford was only half-listening. His attention kept drifting back toward the hospital corridor, his eyes still searching. His posture was tense, and Daniel knew Ford was looking for someone.

Seizing the moment, Daniel decided to redirect his focus. He tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity.

"Are you alright, sir?" he asked, his voice filled with forced concern. "You seem to be looking for someone... Is everything okay?"

Ford hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing." His voice was calm, but Daniel could sense the frustration behind it.

Ford turned back to him, his expression unreadable.

"You can go home now," Ford instructed. "Kelvin will take care of things here. Just make sure to be at work early tomorrow and clear up some of the workload on my desk."

Daniel immediately nodded. "Yes, sir. I’ll be there first thing in the morning."

Ford didn’t say another word. With a final glance around the hallway, he turned and walked away, his steps firm and purposeful.

Daniel stood frozen in place, his heart hammering against his chest as he watched his boss disappear around the corner.

The moment Ford was completely out of sight, Daniel exhaled deeply, his body sagging with relief. He hadn’t even realized he had been holding his breath.

His palms were sweaty, and his legs felt slightly weak. That was too close—way too close.

Ford hadn’t realized the truth, but if Daniel had made even one wrong move, he would have been caught.

A slow, relieved smile spread across his face. Shaking his head, he turned toward the trash can where he had hidden his discarded black clothes, He lifted the lid slightly, pulling out a syringe from his pocket he threw it into the trash can peeking inside for the last time before closing it again.

With one last glance around, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and made his way toward his car.

As Ford walked back to Elena’s hospital room, frustration tightened in his chest. His jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists. The image of the strange man—the one who had attacked Elena—flashed in his mind. He had been so close to catching him, but the man had slipped away. The thought made his blood boil. If only he had been faster. If only he had stopped him. But dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything now.

Right now, the most important thing was Elena. She was unconscious, lying helpless in that hospital bed. Ford needed her to wake up. Even if she could only say a few words about the attacker, it would be enough. He just needed a clue, anything that could help him track the man down.

Stepping into the room, his eyes immediately fell on her. Elena’s face was pale, her breathing slow and steady. Carefully, he climbed onto the bed beside her, his movements gentle as if afraid he might disturb her. Sitting close, he studied her peaceful expression, memorizing every delicate feature.

Reaching out, he stroked her soft cheek with the back of his fingers. Her skin was warm, smooth beneath his touch. His heart ached as he looked at her—so fragile, so still. Leaning closer, he whispered, "I promise no one’s going to touch you again." His voice was firm, filled with quiet determination.

This time, he refused to sleep.

The last time he had closed his eyes, he had woken up to chaos. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again. No matter how tired he felt, he would stay awake. He would watch over her, protect her.

Hours passed in silence.

The first rays of morning sunlight crept into the room, spilling through the blinds and casting golden streaks across the bed. A warm glow spread across Ford’s face, forcing his eyelids to flutter. He shifted slightly, rubbing his eyes as he slowly woke up.

And then, he realized something was wrong.

The bed was empty.

His heart slammed against his ribs as he bolted upright. His eyes darted around the room, searching for her. Panic shot through him like a jolt of electricity. Where was she? How had she left without him noticing?

Without wasting a second, he jumped off the bed and rushed to the door.

The moment he stepped outside, relief washed over him.

There she was—Elena. She stood in the hallway, talking to a nurse. The sight of her awake, standing, alive, made his knees weak.

"Elena?" he called out, his voice filled with happiness and disbelief. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Hearing her name, she turned, her eyes meeting his.

It was him—the same man she had woken up to see lying beside her. She barely had time to process it before he closed the distance between them.

Without hesitation, Ford pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close.

"I was so worried," he murmured, his voice thick with relief.

After holding her for what felt like a long time, Ford finally released Elena from his embrace. His hands lingered on her shoulders as he studied her face, searching for any sign of discomfort.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "I know you must be in a lot of pain, but don’t worry. You’re going to be fine. I promise, I will find the person who did this to you." His tone was firm, filled with quiet determination.

Elena remained silent, her eyes fixed on him with an unreadable expression. She had been watching him closely the entire time, trying to understand what was happening. Her mind felt clouded, as though she had woken up in the middle of a story without knowing the beginning. The only thing that felt real to her at that moment were the bandages wrapped around her abdomen and head. She could see them, feel the dull pain beneath them. That was the only truth she could hold onto.

Finally, she found her voice. "Who are you?"

Her words were soft but clear, the first proper question she had asked since waking up.

Ford stopped speaking immediately. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his expression frozen. Then, to Elena’s complete surprise, he burst into laughter.

"So, you can actually joke now?" he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "That must mean you’re feeling better. I’m truly happy, my baby."

Before she could react, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Elena stiffened.

Her eyes widened, and confusion swirled inside her like a storm. What was happening? Why was this man acting so familiar with her? She didn’t recognize him. And yet, he spoke as if they were close—closer than close.

She quickly turned toward the nurse standing beside her, grasping for some sense of reality.

"Please, nurse, is he alright?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

The nurse stood frozen, her eyes darting between Elena and Ford. She looked just as shocked as Elena felt.

Elena took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "And if I may ask, can I meet with the doctor?" she continued. "I need to know how I got here and why this man is all over me."

Her tone was serious now, her patience wearing thin. She needed answers, not affectionate gestures from a stranger.

Ford’s smile faltered. His expression shifted from amusement to concern in an instant. He stepped closer, reaching out to touch her shoulders as if to check if she was truly serious.

"Elena, are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

She pulled away, her frustration bubbling over.

"Please, sir, I am so confused right now," she said sharply. "And if you can’t explain what is happening, then please, leave me alone!"

Her words hung in the air, heavy and final.

"Sir Ford, please calm down!" the nurse urged, stepping forward in an attempt to diffuse the growing tension. "I think something is wrong. Let me go call the doctor." Then, turning to Elena, she spoke in a gentle tone. "Please, ma’am, just take it easy. This man here means no harm to you." Without waiting for a response, she quickly turned and hurried down the hall to find the doctor.

Ford stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. His heart pounded against his chest as he turned his gaze back to Elena. Her expression was blank, her face a mask of confusion.

"Elena, what’s happening?" he asked, his voice tight with worry. "Can’t you remember anything? Do you even know how you got here?"

Elena hesitated, her hands gripping the fabric of the hospital gown as if grounding herself. Then, slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Who are you to me?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.