CHRISTOPHER'S POV
"You don't need to visit him, Chris. He's not worth it," Eve said, her eyes pleading. I felt the tug on my heartstrings and unconsciously nodded. "Alright. Not tomorrow, at least. But I will visit him eventually. Don't worry. He can't do much from prison anyway." I reassured her, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Franklin, you're up," I announced, signaling him to begin his own revision of my past. He was, and is, my best friend and business partner. I figured he'd know more than anyone.
"As you already know, I am neither your secretary nor your personal assistant," Franklin deadpanned, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. I chuckled and shook my head.
"We returned to the country after more than two decades away to set up subsidiaries of your company, Stratos. Uncle Lionel—your father—had already planned for you to take over as Chairman, General Director, and CEO of Atlantis Conglomerate. He also wanted you to partner up in marriage with the President's daughter—"
"Wait, the President's daughter?" I interrupted, surprised.
"Well, yes, but anyway… you rebelled. You said if he didn't let you marry the woman you loved, you'd leave civilization, go live in the mountains, shave your head, and become a monk." Franklin delivered this with a perfectly straight face, causing everyone else in the room to burst into laughter.
"I might not remember anything, but surely I didn't say that," I argued, a grin playing on my lips.
"Well, technically, no. But something like that was definitely up your alley," he countered.
"So you're making up stories now? How much of what you've said is even true?" I raised an eyebrow, challenging him.
"All of it. Absolutely true. But the most important thing is that you did become Chairman and CEO of Atlantis. You purged the company of the cancerous element embezzling funds. And to the shock of everyone, you oversaw the merger between Stratos and Atlantis—the biggest merger the business world has ever seen." Franklin paused, his voice softening. "You are someone I'm very fortunate to know, learn from, and work with."
"Well, I'm equally grateful to have you around. Anything I did right, I owe to you. You aren't just a friend; you're indispensable." I walked toward him, extending my hand. As soon as he took it, I pulled him into a hug, patting him awkwardly on the back, surprising him.
"I'll need an update on everything I've missed. Documents, meetings, everything. I want to start going through some of it before I'm discharged."
"Sure, I'll have it ready by this evening," he said, stepping back, a small, genuine smile on his face.
"No one in the company knows about my condition, correct?" I asked, turning serious.
"None at all," he confirmed. I nodded, then moved to the bed where Eve sat, her hand resting on the edge of the mattress.
"Father, do you want to go ahead?" I asked, smiling at my father, who was seated beside Eve's mum.
I heard him sigh, his head bowed, before raising it to look at me. I didn't miss the profound sadness in his eyes.
"I was not a good father," my father began, his voice thick with emotion as he rubbed his hands together nervously.
"Father," I said gently, and he looked up. "Whatever happened, happened. It's in the past. You aren't a bad father. If that were true, you wouldn't have had such an incredible son as me." I winked, and the tension in the room eased as everyone chuckled and laughed.
"But I'm serious," I said, cheekily easing the tension in the room. "From every news article I've read and every story I've heard in person, my life is a testament to a properly raised son. So don't worry too much." I assured him, and a genuine smile lit up his face.
We discussed other important information before everyone left in the late afternoon, leaving me alone with Eve.
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Weeks had passed since I returned to the office. Mountains of work awaited me on my desk, and multiple meetings filled my schedule.
I was preparing to attend my third meeting of the day—a crucial partnership negotiation—when my phone rang. A smile tugged at my lips when I saw who was calling.
"Hi, beautiful," I greeted her. Eve giggled from the other end.
"Did you get what I sent you?" I asked.
"I did. Thank you," she said. "And have you had lunch yet?"
"Not yet, love. But I promise I will as soon as I'm done with these meetings," I said.
"Alright, then. I'll call you when I'm done at the office," she said.
"Don't stress yourself too much, love. And I'll send the driver to pick you up and bring you here when it's time," I said.
"Take care. Love you… bye," she said, and hung up.
I couldn't suppress the smile on my face, nor the fluffy feeling in my heart as I returned to my work.
Since being discharged from the hospital, Eve and I had moved into the house I'd bought for us before the wedding. Those weeks had been the best days I'd had since waking from the coma. The love I felt for her from the moment I woke had only grown, and I couldn't imagine my life without her.
A knock sounded on my door, and it opened. I looked up, pleasantly surprised to see Cole walk in. But then I noticed the grim expression on his face, and a cold dread washed over me. Something was wrong.
"Cole, what is it?" I asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Frederick escaped from prison," he said simply, running a hand wearily over his face. He looked a tad tired, unlike his usual stoic self.
"What?" I asked, almost rising from my seat. "What did you say?"
"He escaped. A week ago. The prison commissioner has been keeping a lid on it, hoping they'd catch him before the public and the media got wind of it…" He paused, gauging my reaction.
"And now the media has caught wind of it. It's all over the news." He switched on the television in my office.
True to his word, breaking news banners flashed across every channel, reporting on Frederick's escape.
"Why wasn't I informed of this?" I asked, my voice low, gritted teeth barely containing my rising anger.
How could they be so negligent as to allow such a high-profile criminal to escape, and why hadn't anyone thought to inform me?
What if he went after Eve? What if he did something dangerous again? I felt a surge of seething rage.
"Because we thought he would be caught easily," Cole said.
"You knew about this too? And you didn't bother to inform me? What if he went after Eve?" I asked, my anger now palpable, radiating off me in waves.
"Because it was for your own good," he said, his voice steady.
"Like hell it is!" I spat, unable to contain my anger. Just then, a notification pinged on my phone.
I picked it up and swiped, instantly noticing the notification was a video. I clicked on it, and the image that filled the screen shocked me to my core. It was Frederick. His face was bloodied and swollen, his hands tied above his head as he dangled from a chain that hung him slightly above the ground. He looked weak and pained.
Another notification came through with directions to where he was being held.
"You need to see this," I said, handing my phone to Cole. He watched the footage, his expression unreadable.
I felt a strange mix of relief and dread in my chest. Relief because Frederick wasn't out there plotting anything against Eve, dread because someone had him, and that someone clearly wanted me involved. I needed to see him, with my own eyes.
"Reschedule all my appointments today to a later date," I informed my assistant through the office intercom.
"Are you coming?" I asked Cole, grabbing my keys and heading for the door.
"Of course," he said, and followed me out of the office.
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We drove for at least an hour to what felt like the outskirts of the city. An estate loomed ahead, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over me. It felt like I'd been here before.
As soon as we drove onto the property, the déjà vu intensified. A snippet of memory surfaced—a hazy image of myself and Franklin, standing in the same spot, years ago.
We got out of the car, and I saw them: a young man who looked to be about my age, a woman beside him, and a small child. The girl, her face radiant with joy, ran toward me, her arms outstretched. A surge of warmth filled me, and a wide smile spread across my face.
"Unc Kis! Unc Kis!" she cooed in her baby voice, her tiny legs churning as she closed the distance. I scooped her up into my arms, and she erupted in giggles. "I missed you, Unc Kis!" she said, planting a sloppy kiss on my cheek.
The simple act triggered another memory—holding her like this, in this same place, in the past. The fragments were becoming clearer, sharper.
I carried the toddler towards the man and woman, her parents, I assumed. As I approached, another memory crashed over me, and suddenly I knew him. Luca. My very good friend.
"Luca," I called out, the name tasting foreign yet familiar on my tongue. He looked genuinely surprised, his eyes widening.
"You remember me?" he asked, his voice laced with happiness.
"Just a moment ago. I just remembered… being here before," I said, still trying to piece the fragments together.
"Yes, you were here before. Many times." He clapped me on the shoulder. "I'm so glad you're starting to remember your past. Please, come in." He ushered us toward the mansion.
He led Cole and me into an elevator, which descended smoothly into an underground basement. The air grew cold and damp, carrying the scent of mildew and concrete.
"I have a gift for you," he said, leading us deeper into the basement. And there, just as in the video, we saw him: Frederick. Chained, bloodied, and broken.
"How were you able to capture him when the police couldn't?" Cole asked, his voice sharp.
"As soon as he escaped, my people inside helped him break out… so we could catch him," Luca said, his eyes hardening. "He doesn't deserve to live, not with all the evil he's done." He handed us a thick folder filled with images—gory, sickening pictures of acts no sane human could ever commit. Child trafficking. Torture. Blackmail. He was evil, through and through.
Luca's men doused the slumbering Frederick with a bucket of ice water. He sputtered awake, blinking rapidly.
As I approached him, a sharp, throbbing pain erupted at the back of my head. The pain intensified, and a torrent of images flooded my mind.
I remembered my first encounter with him at Eve's office on her birthday. The forced pleasantries, the underlying tension. The clashes and confrontations we'd had because of Eve, the possessive glint in his eyes.
I clutched my chest, the air leaving my lungs as I recalled the news of Eve's kidnapping, the desperate search, the horrifying scenes I witnessed during her rescue. Every painful emotion I had tucked away at the back of my memory came rushing back, a tidal wave threatening to drown me.
"Chris, are you okay?" I felt Luca's hand steady me, pulling me back from the brink.
"I remember everything," I said, my voice hoarse. I inhaled deeply, trying to control the rage that was building in my chest.
I walked up and stood in front of him. Frederick looked shocked, genuinely surprised to see me awake and aware. Then, a cruel, evil smirk twisted his lips.
"So, you're alive, hmmm…? I should have aimed the gun better. At least you would have grieved for Eve alone, forever," he chuckled, a dry, rasping sound.
Rage blinded me. I balled my fist and punched him, hard, in the face. The force of the blow sent him reeling. "Keep Eve's name out of your mouth," I said, my voice a low growl. I moved away from him, knowing that if I stayed any longer, I wouldn't be able to resist killing him with my bare hands.
"He does not deserve to live, not with all the evil he has done against children and women. Besides, in this part of the world, it's always an eye for an eye," Luca said, his voice devoid of emotion. With that, he drew a silenced pistol and shot Frederick three times.
I watched with zero pity or remorse. He was worse than the devil incarnate. And I knew Eve would be devastated if and when she found out who Frederick truly was, that all the while they were friends, he'd been a monster.
Thinking of Eve, a warmth spread through me as the memories of our relationship began to solidify, each one a precious gem. Just then, my phone rang. It was Eve.
Speak of the devil… scratch that. Speak of the angel. I smiled, relief flooding me, before answering the call.
"I'm at your office. Where are you, babe?" she asked over the phone.
"I'm on my way," I said, my voice filled with love. I hung up and left the basement with Cole, eager to get back to her.
"I couldn't be happier. As I drove to the office, memories flooded back – Eve, healthy and vibrant, the babies thriving, Frederick's threat extinguished… Finally, peace."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~THE END ~~~~~~~~~~