Ava woke before dawn.
For a moment, she didn't remember where she was. The room was dim, the curtains barely letting the first pale light of morning seep through.
Then everything came rushing back.
Lucien.
Aurora.
The erased life she was still trying to piece together.
Her chest felt tight.
Something was wrong.
Not outside.
Inside her mind.
Fragments of memory had begun returning over the past few days, but this time it felt… different. Sharper. Clearer.
Dangerous.
Ava sat up slowly in the large bed, pressing a hand to her temple. A sudden wave of images flashed through her head.
A dark office.
A voice speaking urgently.
A man she couldn't see clearly.
"You shouldn't know this, Ava."
Her breath caught.
She squeezed her eyes shut as the memory forced itself forward.
"You have proof," the voice said. "If they discover what you know, they will erase you."
Erase you.
The words echoed like thunder in her mind.
Ava gasped and opened her eyes.
Her heart was racing now.
That memory… it wasn't just a fragment.
It was a warning.
A real one.
Which meant someone had known her memories would be taken.
Someone had tried to protect her.
Before she could think further, the bedroom door opened quietly.
Lucien stepped inside.
He was already dressed in dark slacks and a crisp black shirt, his presence filling the room instantly. The faint morning light outlined his tall figure, giving him a dangerous elegance.
His eyes immediately locked onto her.
"You're awake."
Ava nodded slowly.
Lucien studied her face carefully.
"You had another memory."
It wasn't a question.
Ava exhaled.
"Yes."
He walked toward the bed, his movements calm but deliberate.
"What did you see?"
She hesitated.
Lucien sat beside her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him.
"Tell me."
His voice was softer now.
Ava swallowed.
"There was a man," she said slowly. "I couldn't see his face. But he knew my memories would be erased."
Lucien's expression darkened slightly.
"He told me I had proof. Something powerful enough that people wanted me silenced."
Lucien went very still.
"Proof of what?"
"I don't know."
Silence filled the room.
Ava watched his face carefully. He looked like a man calculating possibilities at terrifying speed.
Finally, he spoke.
"That memory shouldn't exist."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What do you mean?"
Lucien leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"When memories are erased properly, there are no warnings left behind. No fragments like that."
He turned his head toward her.
"Which means whoever erased your life made a mistake."
Ava's stomach twisted.
"So someone tried to wipe me out… but failed?"
Lucien's gaze hardened.
"Yes."
A knock suddenly echoed from the door.
Both of them froze.
Lucien stood immediately.
"Stay here."
But before he could reach the door, it opened.
Aurora stepped inside without waiting.
She looked exactly the same as always—perfectly composed, her blonde hair cascading over one shoulder, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
"Well," she said smoothly. "Good morning."
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"You shouldn't be here."
Aurora ignored him and looked directly at Ava.
"You remembered something again, didn't you?"
Ava's pulse jumped.
"How do you know that?"
Aurora smiled faintly.
"Because the people hunting you just made their next move."
Lucien's voice dropped dangerously.
"What did they do?"
Aurora walked further into the room.
"They've placed a price on her head."
Ava felt the blood drain from her face.
"A price?"
Aurora nodded.
"Not a small one either."
Lucien crossed his arms.
"How much?"
Aurora's smile widened slightly.
"Ten million."
The words hung in the air like a loaded weapon.
Ava's heart slammed against her ribs.
"Ten million dollars… for me?"
Aurora tilted her head.
"That's how valuable your memories are."
Lucien looked furious now.
His voice was ice.
"Who issued the contract?"
Aurora met his gaze calmly.
"We don't know yet."
Ava's hands began to shake.
"So anyone could come after me?"
Aurora nodded.
"Professional killers. Mercenaries. Hunters."
Lucien turned toward Ava.
His expression softened slightly when he saw her fear.
"You're safe here."
Aurora laughed softly.
"That's adorable."
Lucien's eyes flashed.
"Explain."
Aurora leaned against the wall casually.
"Because the bounty message was sent to every major underground network."
A pause.
"Which means someone will find this place eventually."
Silence filled the room again.
Ava felt her heart racing harder than ever.
Lucien turned slowly toward her.
His dark eyes burned with determination.
"Then we move."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Lucien nodded once.
"Yes."
He looked at Ava.
"You're leaving the city with me."
Her breath caught.
"Where are we going?"
Lucien's gaze darkened slightly.
"Somewhere even they can't reach you."
Aurora smiled slowly.
"That should be interesting."
Ava felt a strange mixture of fear and excitement twist inside her chest.
Her life had been erased.
Now people were hunting her.
And the only man standing between her and death…
Was Lucien.