His Revenge, Ruthless

A sharp, antiseptic scent filled the air before she even opened her eyes. The cold air pressed against her skin, her body feeling strangely heavy, as if she were sinking into the mattress beneath her.

Beeping. A slow, rhythmic sound, steady and unrelenting.

A hospital.

Panic slithered through her chest as she tried to move, but her limbs felt weak. Something tugged at her arm-an IV. Forcing her eyes open, she winced at the bright fluorescent lights.

Where was she?

The question echoed in her head, followed by another, more terrifying one.

Who was she?

A sharp pang of fear shot through her. Her mind was a blank slate, void of any recollection of her life before this moment. There were no names, no faces, no memories-just a hollow void where they should have been.

Still drowning in confusion, she heard footsteps. A nurse rushed into the room, her face breaking into a bright smile as she looked down at her.

"You're awake! How are you feeling?" the nurse asked, her voice filled with warmth and excitement as she checked her vitals.

She tried to speak, to tell her she felt weak and disoriented, but her throat was dry, and her voice barely came out as a whisper.

"You've been in a coma for three months. We were starting to lose hope," the nurse continued, oblivious to the panic building inside her.

Three months? Her heart pounded. She had been unconscious for three whole months? What had happened to her?

The nurse must have noticed her rising anxiety because she quickly added, "Don't worry. You don't have to force yourself to speak. Your body has been through a lot, so this is normal."

Normal? How could anything about this be normal?

The nurse kept talking, mentioning how her case had been something of a miracle, how the doctors had been invested in saving her. But the words blurred into the background, drowned out by the deafening roar of her thoughts.

Nothing about this felt real.

"I'll get the doctor," the nurse said, giving her a reassuring pat on the arm before disappearing out the door.

Moments later, she returned with an elderly man in a white coat, his expression gentle yet professional.

"How are you feeling, Laura?" he asked.

Her breath caught.

Laura.

The name felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else. But it was the only piece of identity she had.

"My body feels heavy," she finally managed, her voice hoarse and brittle.

The doctor nodded. "That's expected. Your body has been inactive for a long time, but you'll regain your strength soon."

She swallowed, her throat tightening. "I... I can't remember anything. I don't know who I am. I only know my name because you called me that."

His expression softened. "Memory loss isn't uncommon in cases like yours. Your brain suffered significant trauma, but don't panic-your memories will likely return with time."

His reassurance did nothing to calm the unease twisting in her gut.

Before she could say anything, his next words sent her mind spiraling.

"We need to conduct a scan to check your baby's health. Now that you're awake, we need to ensure everything is fine."

She blinked. "My... what?"

"Your baby," he repeated gently. "You were pregnant when you were brought in."

The room spun. Her breath hitched as a cold chill swept through her veins.

P-Pregnant?

Her hands instinctively moved to her stomach, but she felt nothing different. No memories, no connection. Just emptiness.

How could she be pregnant when she didn't even know who she was?

Her pulse pounded in her ears. If she had a husband, why wasn't he here? Why wasn't anyone looking for her?

Or worse...

Was she even married at all?

The thought made her stomach churn. Her mind raced with horrifying possibilities. If she had no family searching for her, no husband at her bedside, then what kind of life had she lived before this?

The doctor must have sensed her distress because he spoke again, his voice gentle. "Don't stress yourself too much, Laura. Your body is still healing."

She barely heard him. Her mind was spinning with too many unanswered questions.

Over the next few days, she regained enough strength to move around the hospital room. Her body was still weak, but she pushed through. Staying still made her restless, made the questions in her mind too loud.

One evening, as she sat staring out the window, a soft knock came at her door.

An older woman entered, carrying a small tray of food. Her silver hair was tied back neatly, her kind eyes studying Laura with something close to recognition.

"You must be starving," she said with a gentle smile.

She wasn't. But she nodded anyway.

The woman set the tray down and took a seat beside her bed. "You don't remember anything, do you?"

Her throat tightened. "No."

The woman sighed, her gaze distant. "It must be terrifying... waking up with no past."

She lowered her eyes. "It is."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, the woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a small chain with a pendant. She placed it gently on the tray beside her.

"I found this with your belongings when you were brought in."

Laura stared at it, hesitant. The pendant was gold, simple but elegant. When she picked it up, she noticed initials engraved on the back:

A.S.

A strange sensation gripped her, like she was supposed to remember something. Someone.

The woman must have seen the confusion on her face because she added, "You shouldn't fight fate; everything will happen at its desired time."

"You have a long road ahead of you, dear," she said kindly. "But you're not alone."

She left the room, leaving Laura staring at the pendant.

Who was A.S.?

And why did something about those initials feel...familiar?

The next morning, the doctor returned to check on her, as he was going he turned to speak to her.

She swallowed hard, unsure of where this was going.

She had nothing to her name. No identity beyond Laura.

The doctor smiled warmly. "You'll be discharged tomorrow."

She nodded, but deep down, unease curled in her chest.

"How about the hospital bills? Will they let me leave without paying?"

The doctor's expression shifted. "Well... that's the surprising part. Your bills were paid in full."

Her heart skipped a beat. "By who?"

He shook his head. "We don't know. It was paid in cash the night you were brought in. The person kept shouting for us to save you and the baby, then vanished before we could ask any questions."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Someone knew she was pregnant.

Someone paid her bills.

Someone disappeared the moment she was wheeled into surgery.

A terrifying thought whispered through her mind.

What if the person who saved her...

Laura was discharged the next day, uncertain of what the future held for her and her unborn child. As she stepped out of the hospital, fear tightened around her chest-she had nowhere to go. But before she could walk far, a car pulled up beside her.

Dr. Carter, the doctor who had cared for her, rolled down the window. "Laura, do you have anywhere to go?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head.

"Come inside," he offered gently. "My wife and I run a shelter for traumatized and displaced people. You can stay there if you don't mind."

A surge of relief washed over her. This felt like a blessing, a gift from the heavens when she had nothing left. Without hesitation, she got into the car.

As he drove, he continued, "I'll speak to a friend of mine who owns a company downtown. Hopefully, he'll have a job for you to support yourself until your memory recovers."

Laura could hardly believe his kindness. Gratitude swelled in her chest, though she struggled to find the right words to express it.

Dr. Carter took her to the shelter-a home for women recovering from trauma and those with nowhere else to turn. The moment she arrived, she felt unseen eyes watching her. The other women had clearly been informed of her arrival. Some offered small, polite smiles, while others observed her with a mix of pity and quiet judgment.

She hated it.

After a brief introduction, she was shown to her room. It wasn't too big or too small, just enough to accommodate her. A safe space, yet she still felt out of place.

For days, she kept to herself, uninterested in making acquaintances. The matron, a kind but firm woman, checked on her often, bringing food and engaging her in small talk. She never pressured Laura to respond, but it was clear she was watching closely, as if afraid she might shatter at any moment.

Maybe she already had.

Three days later, Dr. Carter arrived with unexpected news.

"How are you doing, Laura?" he asked as he stepped into her room.

"I'm fine," she replied automatically, though they both knew it was a lie.

He sighed. "I heard you've barely left your room. The matron is worried you might be slipping into depression."

Laura remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

"That's why I had to move quickly," he continued. "I reached out to a friend of mine who owns a company nearby. He's looking for a secretary, and I recommended you."

Laura blinked, caught off guard. A job? Just like that?

"I... I don't even remember who I am," she murmured. "How do I know I'll be able to do it? Maybe I should take something simpler-like waitressing."

Dr. Carter chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't you believe in yourself?" he asked gently.

She hesitated. Did she?

Seeing her uncertainty, he smiled. "I explained your situation to my friend. He wants to help as much as I do. He's willing to train you, and as long as you can read and write, he's happy to have you."

Warmth spread through her chest-gratitude. She had nothing to offer in return, yet this man was going out of his way for her.

"I don't know how to thank you," she said softly.

He patted her shoulder. "You can thank me by taking care of yourself and excelling at your job."

For the first time, he felt like more than just a doctor. In that moment, he was like the father she had never known-or perhaps never had.

The job turned out to be better than she expected. The CEO, Dr. Carter's friend, welcomed her warmly and took the time to explain everything. Bit by bit, she learned. She adjusted.

And for a while, she felt normal.

But time moved faster when one was trying to forget.

Nine months passed in a blur.

She was working late at the office when it happened. A sharp pain tore through her stomach, so intense that she nearly collapsed. A rush of warmth between her legs confirmed what she feared-her water had broken.

Somehow, she managed to drag herself to the hospital-the same hospital where she had first woken up from her coma.

The pain was unbearable, but that wasn't the worst part. The doctors informed her there were complications. She needed an emergency C-section.

Darkness swallowed her before she could protest.

When she woke up, exhaustion weighed heavily on her. Her body ached, drained of every ounce of strength. As she turned her head, she saw the matron from the shelter sitting beside her.

At least this time, she wasn't alone.

Seeing her awake, the matron quickly stood and asked how she was feeling before rushing out to call the doctor.

Moments later, the doctor arrived, checking her vitals with a neutral expression. "You're recovering well," he said.

Then, he turned to leave. But something in his demeanor sent a ripple of unease through her.

Why hadn't anyone mentioned her baby?

A cold chill spread through her.

"How... how is my baby?" she asked hesitantly.

The doctor stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable.

Then, he said the words that shattered her.

"I'm sorry, Laura... but your child didn't survive."

The world tilted.

Laura's breath hitched, her chest tightening painfully.

No.

No, this couldn't be happening.

She barely registered the way her body collapsed onto the cold hospital floor before darkness swallowed her whole.

When she opened her eyes again, Dr. Carter was sitting by her side. The moment their gazes met, tears welled in her eyes. And once they started falling, she couldn't stop.

She wept-deep, gut-wrenching sobs that shook her frail body.

Why was fate so cruel?

Why did life keep taking everything from her?

She had lost her identity. She had lost her past. And now... she had lost the only future she had been holding onto.

Dr. Carter didn't say much. He simply let her grieve, murmuring soft reassurances that felt meaningless.

"Don't question fate, Laura," he whispered. "It will all make sense one day."

Fate.

She had heard that word too many times. But this time, fate didn't feel like a guiding force.

It felt like a cruel, merciless hand that had torn her world apart.

The days that followed were hollow. She remained in the hospital, going through the motions-therapy sessions, check-ups. People told her she needed to talk about her pain, to let it out.

But what was there to say?

How could she explain the depth of a loss that had taken everything from her?

When her physical wounds healed, she returned to work.

But some wounds didn't heal so easily.

Some wounds left a person as nothing more than a walking shadow.

Days blurred into weeks, yet the ache remained, settling deep in her bones like an old wound that refused to heal. Work became her lifeline-the only thing keeping her from drowning in emptiness.

She barely ate. Barely slept. The therapist at the hospital had warned her about throwing herself into work as a coping mechanism, but what other choice did she have? Work was the only thing she had left.

She was at her desk, fingers flying over the keyboard, when the telecom rang.

"The CEO wants to see you," the voice on the other end informed her.

Straightening her blouse, she hurried to his office.

When she stepped inside, Mr. Carter's friend-the man who had given her this job-was seated at his desk, skimming through a document. He looked up as she entered.

"Laura," he acknowledged with a nod. "There's an important meeting today. A last-minute arrangement. Some high-profile businessmen are coming, and I need you to prepare the conference room."

"Yes, sir," she responded automatically, already making a mental checklist of what needed to be done.

"Make sure everything is perfect," he added, his tone carrying an unusual weight.

Laura found it strange. He wasn't normally this tense. But she didn't question it. Instead, she got to work, making sure the meeting room was immaculate-arranging files, setting up the projector, ensuring refreshments were placed properly.

She barely had a moment to catch her breath before the doors to the conference room swung open.

And then, he walked in.

The air in the room seemed to shift with his presence. He was tall, impossibly broad-shouldered, and carried an aura so commanding that the room itself seemed to shrink around him. His tailored suit was pristine, his movements calculated-but it was his eyes that stopped her cold.

Piercing blue. Sharp as ice.

The moment he stepped inside, his gaze locked onto her.

A flicker of emotion crossed his face-too fast to catch. But for that brief moment, she saw it all.

Shock.

Anger.

Something unreadable.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone. His expression smoothed over, replaced by a mask of cool indifference.

He moved to take his seat at the head of the table, nodding briefly to the CEO before the meeting began.

But Laura felt it.

His gaze.

No matter how hard she tried to focus on the discussion, she was hyper-aware of it-the weight of his stare, the way his eyes drifted toward her every few minutes. Like he was studying her. Assessing her.

She swallowed hard, keeping her hands clasped in her lap.

She didn't know this man.

She was sure of it.

But the way he was looking at her... like he did...

She forced herself to push the thought aside. It didn't make sense. She was overthinking it.

The meeting wrapped up faster than she expected. She was gathering the documents, preparing to leave, when the CEO's voice stopped her.

"Laura, could you stay back for a moment?"

She looked up, surprised. The other businessmen were already filtering out of the room. The CEO stood next to the man-the one who hadn't stopped staring at her all through the meeting.

And then, the CEO said something that made her stomach tighten.