She lost her memory

The captain mounted Mao Zedong's severed head atop the Parliament House. Then, just as swiftly as they had appeared, they vanished into the shadows, leaving no trace of their presence.

The crowd, paralyzed by terror, stood frozen. No one dared to question or intervene—a heavy silence blanketed the scene, punctuated only by the deafening echoes of fear.

Richard Mansion,

The study's atmosphere was taut with tension, the weight of unspoken emotions palpable in the air.

Charlie's eyes burned with indignation as he faced Bella. "I refuse to waste my time hunting down the killer of that worthless girl. Did you hear me? I won't do it. Find someone else to deal with this mess."

Bella's expression remained composed, unaffected by the anger radiating from her younger brother.

Her voice, calm yet commanding, sliced through the charged air. "Charlie, this is not a request. It's an order. By tonight, you will find Emma's murderer, and tomorrow morning, you'll accompany me to the hospital to meet Mr. Richard."

Her mention of Mr. Frank Richard, her adoptive father and Charlie's estranged parent, only fanned the flames of Charlie's fury.

Charlie's jaw tightened, his voice laced with defiance. "Sister Bella, I will neither search for that girl's killer nor set foot in that hospital to see him. Do what you will, but I won't yield."

Bella's eyes narrowed slightly, her demeanor unshaken. "You will do both, Charlie. End of discussion. Now, take Bartika to my room and ensure she's asleep. I have other matters to attend to."

Charlie clenched his fists but refrained from further argument. Gathering Bartika gently into his arms, he stormed out of the study, his handsome features still flushed with resentment.

Tibet,

The wooden outhouse stood secluded amidst towering mountains and dense forests, an oasis of secrecy known only to Reyansh, Aarav, Aditya, and a handful of trusted subordinates.

Inside, the air was heavy with concern as a female doctor examined the injured girl. Reyansh, Aarav, Aditya, and Robbin—the youngest of Reyansh's men—watched in silence, their expressions unreadable.

Finally, the doctor straightened, her voice somber. "She has endured prolonged and inhumane torture. Her body bears internal and external injuries, but her eyes… they've been irreparably damaged by acid. Furthermore, she seems to have suffered a concussion that has resulted in complete memory loss. She remembers nothing of her past."

Aditya and Aarav exchanged horrified glances. Even Robbin, accustomed to cruelty, felt his stomach churn. The idea that such brutality could be inflicted upon an eight-year-old child was beyond comprehension.

Reyansh's gaze remained fixed on the girl, her delicate face marred by injuries but still exuding an angelic innocence. Her crimson eyes, despite their condition, seemed to hold a story untold—a silent cry for help that stirred something unfamiliar within him.

"Her memory?" Reyansh's voice was calm but edged with steel. "When will it return?"

The doctor hesitated. "There's no guarantee. It could resurface tomorrow, years from now, or never. As for her eyes, they require an immediate transplant if there's to be any hope of recovery."

Reyansh's tone was resolute, brooking no argument. "There will be no transplant. Focus on healing her injuries for now. I will see to the rest."

His words left the doctor, Aarav, and Aditya momentarily stunned, unsure of his intentions but unwilling to challenge his authority.

After issuing a subtle gesture to Robbin, Reyansh exited the room, his footsteps measured and deliberate. Robbin followed, his loyalty unwavering.

Outside, the crisp mountain air did little to lighten the gravity of their conversation.

"Boss," Robbin began cautiously, "Big Boss called earlier. He inquired if you planned to attend Grandma's funeral."

Reyansh's reply was curt. "I have exams tomorrow. I won't be attending."

Robbin nodded, hesitating before adding, "Initially, Big Boss considered sending Rocky in your stead, but I assured him I would handle things here. However, he did ask me to confirm with you directly."

Reyansh's expression didn't falter. "I'll speak with him myself. You needn't worry."

Robbin gave a slight bow of acknowledgment as Reyansh turned back toward the mountains, his silhouette a stark contrast against the fading twilight.

Richard Mansion,

In the dead of night, a soft knock echoed against Mr. Luke's door.

He opened it to find Bella standing there, her face calm yet determined.

In a low voice, he asked, "It's late, Bella. Why aren't you asleep?"

"I couldn't sleep, Uncle. Is Aunt resting?"

"She is. It took quite some effort to get her to sleep," he replied with a weary sigh.

Bella exhaled deeply before saying, "Uncle, Charlie has found the man who murdered Emma. What to do with him is your decision."

Mr. Luke's expression turned cold as he asked, "Who is he? Where is he now? And why did he kill Emma?"

Without hesitation, Bella responded, "His name is Joseph, and he has ties to the Silver Gang in the underworld. Emma had been purchasing drugs from him for two years. However, for the past year and a half, she refused to pay him. When he demanded the money, Emma had him beaten. In retaliation, he killed her. He's in the garden area right now."

Mr. Luke's fists clenched tightly as anger and grief surged within him.

It had been Mr. Luke himself who, a year and a half ago, had instructed Bella to block Emma's credit cards, hoping that lack of funds would curb her addiction and bring her back to her senses. He never imagined that this decision would ultimately cost his daughter her life.

Without another word, Mr. Luke turned, retrieved a gun from his drawer, and strode toward the garden.

Bella stood at the doorway for a moment, watching him leave, then silently returned to her room.

Inside, Bartik lay curled up on the bed, hugging a pillow as she slept peacefully. In slumber, her face radiated an innocence that seemed magnified.

Bella sat by Bartik's side, gently covering her ears with her hands. A moment later, the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the silence of Richard Mansion, reverberating through its halls.

Thirty shots. Then silence.

Bella removed her hands from Bartik's ears, leaned down to kiss her forehead, and walked into the bathroom to freshen up.

When she emerged, now dressed in casual attire, she lay down beside Bartik, enveloping her in a gentle hug before closing her eyes.

Yet as soon as her eyes shut, an unsettling sensation washed over her — the feeling of being watched.

Her eyes snapped open as she scanned the room. Nothing. The windows were locked, and everything was in place.

Dismissing the feeling, Bella tried to rest again, but the sensation returned, stronger this time. It was as though unseen eyes were fixed on her.

For the third time, Bella opened her eyes and forced herself to look around. This time, nothing seemed amiss. Convinced it was just her imagination, she finally let herself drift into sleep.

Unbeknownst to her, a dark shadow lingered outside the window, its crimson eyes fixed on Bella as she slept. It stood there motionless throughout the night, disappearing only with the first light of dawn.

The Next Day

The funeral arrangements for Grandma remained incomplete. Bin, Nikhil, and Sam had departed for Britain.

Kartik, having left his body double at Buckingham Palace, had traveled to China the previous night. From there, he continued to Rockwave City.

Though Rockwave was an island nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, those familiar with it often referred to it as Rockwave City.

By midday, Bella was seated in her office cabin at Richard Corporation, immersed in work. After meeting Mr. Richard, she had come directly to the office. With the turmoil within her family, traveling to Britain wasn't an option.

Nearby, Bartik sat on a couch, absorbed in a science fiction novel.

The sudden sound of a knock drew their attention.

"Come in," Bella called out.

Two guards dressed in black entered, flanking a tall, slender woman.

Bella's gaze sharpened as she noticed the black-wing symbol on the guards' uniforms — they were from Rockwave.

The woman, her face concealed behind a mask, walked in with an air of authority and seated herself without waiting for permission. Her cold, arrogant eyes were the only visible feature, yet they spoke volumes of her beauty.

At her signal, one of the guards stepped forward, placing a suitcase on Bella's desk.

The woman opened the suitcase, retrieved a black paper, and handed it to Bella. Her voice was devoid of warmth as she stated, "Rockwave wants you to return. In exchange, you'll receive far more than you ever did before."

Bella listened silently, her expression calm. The woman's tone wasn't that of a request — it was a declaration.

___________________________

What will happen next?

To know…

To be continued…

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