The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 59: Lost Smile

Her words hurt Ford so badly. His chest tightened, his throat suddenly dry. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. Did she really not remember him? His hands trembled slightly as he took a small step closer.

"Elena, are you honestly saying you can’t remember me?" His voice cracked with emotion.

Elena simply shook her head, her brows furrowed in confusion. She had no answers to give him—only more questions. She turned away, as if distancing herself from the situation might help, but Ford was quick to react.

Gently, he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not forceful.

"Baby, do you feel pain anywhere? Maybe something is wrong. How can you say you don’t remember me?" His voice was filled with desperation now, his eyes pleading with her to say something—anything—to ease his fear.

Elena’s heart pounded in her chest. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke, it was as if he truly knew her. But why couldn’t she remember him?

Frustration and fear built up inside her, a storm of emotions she couldn’t control. With a sudden jerk, she yanked her hand free from his grasp.

"What... what is wrong with everyone?" she stammered, her breathing becoming uneven. "Can’t someone just... just—"

Before she could finish her sentence, her vision blurred. The room tilted, and the sounds around her faded.

Then, darkness.

"Elena!" Ford’s panicked voice filled the hallway as she collapsed before him.

"Elena! What’s wrong? Are you okay? Elena!" He rushed forward, catching her limp body in his arms before she could hit the ground.

His heart pounded wildly as he scooped her up, holding her close. Without wasting another second, he carried her back into the hospital room, calling her name over and over, hoping she would wake up.

Dr. Charles entered the room in a hurry, followed closely by a team of doctors and nurses. His face was filled with concern as he quickly scanned the situation.

"What’s going on with her?" he asked from the doorway, already making his way toward the bed.

Ford, standing beside Elena, looked both frustrated and worried. His hands were clenched into fists, his breathing heavy. He turned to Dr. Charles, his eyes flashing with anger.

"I should be the one asking you that!" Ford snapped. "You told me she was fine! You said there was nothing to worry about! How did she suddenly collapse? And why—why doesn’t she even recognize me?" His voice was sharp, filled with pain.

Dr. Charles stopped next to Elena and gave Ford an apologetic look. "I’m sorry, sir. Let me check what’s wrong," he said quickly, already reaching for Elena.

His hands were steady but quick as he examined her. First, he gently opened her eyelids and peered inside. His expression changed immediately—his eyes widened slightly, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

Ford noticed. His heart pounded. "What’s the problem?" he asked immediately, his voice tense.

Dr. Charles didn’t answer right away. He needed to be sure. He placed a hand on Elena’s forehead, feeling her temperature. His brow furrowed.

"She’s burning up," he murmured, half to himself. Then he reached for her wrist and checked her pulse, counting silently in his head. His frown deepened.

Something wasn’t right.

Straightening up, Dr. Charles turned sharply toward the nurses. His expression was no longer calm—it was filled with controlled anger.

"Who is responsible for her care?" he asked, his voice low but firm.

The room fell silent. The nurses shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other but saying nothing.

Ford, growing more impatient by the second, took a step forward. His presence alone was intimidating, but his next words sent a wave of fear through the staff.

"If he has to ask again, every single one of you in this room will be fired," he said, his voice dangerously cold.

The air grew thick with tension. Everyone knew Ford was not a man to make empty threats.

Dr. Charles waited, his sharp eyes scanning the room, expecting someone to speak. Seconds passed, and still, no one did. His patience ran thin.

"I asked who—" He hadn’t even finished his sentence when a hand slowly lifted from the back of the group.

A nurse, her face pale and her hands slightly trembling, finally stepped forward.

"It—it was me," she said hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

All eyes turned to her.

Dr. Charles exhaled sharply, trying to keep his frustration in check. Ford, on the other hand, clenched his jaw, struggling to hold back his anger.

The room remained silent, but the tension only grew thicker.

The nurse stepped forward hesitantly, her hands trembling. Her face was pale, her lips quivering as she struggled to find the right words.

"I—I am the one, sir," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, don’t fire me," she added desperately, bowing her head in humility.

Ford’s jaw tightened as he turned to Dr. Charles. His patience was wearing thin.

"Dr. Charles, what exactly is going on?" he demanded, his voice sharp with frustration.

Dr. Charles let out a slow breath, his face serious. His hands were already at work, checking Elena’s vitals again, but he knew what was wrong. He turned to Ford, his expression grim.

"It seems like she was given the wrong medication," he said carefully. "And it’s already in her bloodstream." He hesitated for a second before adding, "Sir Ford, this is a very dangerous drug. We need to act fast."

Ford’s stomach twisted with dread. "What does it do?" he asked, his voice barely steady.

Dr. Charles sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This drug is designed to clear a person’s memory," he explained. "It erases recollections, sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently. The side effects include a high fever and repeated fainting spells."

The words hit Ford like a punch to the gut. His hands balled into fists.

He turned back to the nurse, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "Did you give her any other medication apart from what you were instructed?"

The nurse was already fidgeting, her whole body trembling. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, dripping onto her uniform. The air conditioning in the room was blasting, but it did nothing to stop her sweating.

"N-no, sir," she stuttered. "I—I gave her exactly what I was told to give her. I swear. I don’t understand what happened. I’m just as confused as you are." Her voice cracked with fear.

Ford’s temper flared. His breath came out in sharp bursts as he struggled to control his anger. He turned back to Dr. Charles, his voice rising.

"How do you even know that’s what happened? You haven’t run any tests yet!" His hands clenched at his sides. "Are you seriously telling me that what I just witnessed—her looking at me like I was a stranger—was real? That she doesn’t remember me?"

His voice cracked slightly at the end, revealing the pain hidden beneath his anger.

Dr. Charles raised a hand, trying to calm him down. "Sir Ford, please," he said. "I understand your frustration, but I’ve seen this before. I know the symptoms, and I know how this drug works." He hesitated, glancing back at Elena. "I can control it. But you need to be patient."

Ford’s chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. He wanted to believe him, but fear clawed at his insides.

Dr. Charles added quietly, "I just pray it hasn’t gone beyond control."

Dr. Charles’s voice rang through the room, sharp and urgent.

"Don’t just stand there! Hurry up and bring the remedy!" he barked at the nurse.

The nurse didn’t need to be told twice. She spun around and dashed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Dr. Charles turned back to Ford, his face set with determination. "Sir Ford, we need to move her back to the theater immediately. We have to flush out as much of the drug from her system as possible."

Ford barely hesitated. "I’m coming with you," he said firmly, already stepping forward.

But Dr. Charles shook his head. "No, sir," he said, his voice steady but firm. "You know you can’t. Just give us a few minutes. Your presence will only make things harder—we need complete focus."

Ford clenched his jaw. He hated this. He hated feeling powerless, standing back while someone else handled the situation.

"But you assured me she was going to be fine," he said, his voice laced with frustration and sorrow. "Now look at what’s happening." His gaze dropped to Elena, lying unconscious, her face unnaturally pale. His heart ached.

Dr. Charles sighed, his expression troubled. "I don’t know, Sir Ford," he admitted. Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he frowned. "But—did anyone else come into this room? You’ve been with her, right?"

Ford furrowed his brows. "Someone?" He thought back, trying to recall if anything unusual had happened. But he had been so focused on Elena that he hadn’t paid attention to anything else. "I don’t think so," he finally said. "Why? What are you thinking?"