"This is beautiful," she said, her voice soft. "Everything about tonight feels like a dream."
Dominic glanced at her, one hand steady on the wheel, the other tapping the gear. "You sure you're not just tipsy on overpriced Italian wine?"
She smiled lazily. "Maybe. But mostly drunk on you."
He chuckled under his breath. "That's worse. I'm a very dangerous addiction."
"Tell me about it." She turned to him fully, her eyes reflecting the faint glow from the dashboard. "You ever think about what happens next? When we're not hiding in this little fantasy?"
His jaw tensed slightly. "No," he said. "I'm not letting real life ruin this yet."
She reached for his free hand, threading her fingers through his. "We did it, Dom. We actually ran off and got married. Can you believe that?"
"You're not regretting it, are you?" he asked, glancing at her quickly.
"Not even close."
His lips twitched. That rare smile-the one no one else ever got to see. It belonged to her alone.
"You're not who people think you are," she said, tracing circles on his palm.
"What? You mean I'm not a heartless, ruthless billionaire with zero moral compass?" he smirked.
"You're still grumpy. Still a control freak. But there's so much more underneath."
He raised a brow. "Because I'm soft with you?"
"Because you love me."
He didn't deny it.
Instead, his hand tightened around hers. "I don't do this with anyone else, Vi. Only you."
She leaned over slightly, brushing her shoulder against his. "I know."
A beat passed. The rain got heavier.
"I have something to tell you," she said quietly.
His eyes flicked to her. "You do?"
"Yes. But not yet... Keep your eyes on the road."
He gave her a look. "A hint?"
She bit her lip. "No."
"A kiss, then."
"Dom."
"Just one."
"You'll crash the car."
"I'll crash anyway if you keep saying no."
She laughed, trying to push his face away. "Idiot."
He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. "One day, I'm gonna be a boring husband who drives slow and argues about grocery lists."
"No you won't," she said. "You'll always be this reckless, infuriating man I ran away with."
His smile faded slightly, eyes softening. "Happy anniversary, Mrs. Wolfe."
"Happy anniversary."
Then-
A bend too sharp.
A second too fast.
And the world flipped.
His hands gripped the wheel. Her scream caught in her throat.
The tires lost control. The car spun, glass shattered-
Metal screamed against metal.
Darkness. Silence.
And just like that-
he forgot her.
Everything stopped for a minute and then a cold Silence.
The kind that wraps around you like water-thick, heavy, and suffocating.
Rain still fell. Steam hissed from the hood. Somewhere, a tire spun in place, useless.
Vivienne stirred.
Her fingers twitched against broken glass.
She gasped softly, the pain sharp and immediate-but not what she reached for.
Her hands moved shakily to her stomach.
Still there... please still there.
Tears stung her eyes as she dragged herself toward the driver's seat, blood smearing her wrist.
"Dom..." her voice was barely a whisper. "Dominic..."
He was slumped over the wheel. Blood on his temple. Eyes closed.
"No. No, no, no-" She touched his face with trembling hands. "Dom, please... look at me. Please."
He didn't move.
She leaned forward, forehead pressed to his shoulder, clutching him with everything she had left. "Don't forget me," she breathed. "Don't you dare forget me."
Then-
Darkness swallowed her whole.
---
Beeping.
Steady. Cold. Too clean.
Vivienne's eyes fluttered open to sterile white lights. The scent of antiseptic burned her nose.
A monitor beeped beside her. An IV was taped to her arm.
She blinked slowly. Swallowed.
Pain. Fog. A world she didn't remember stepping into.
"Dom?"
A nurse leaned over, adjusting the IV drip.
"Ma'am, please-try not to move. You've been unconscious for two days."
Vivienne's throat was raw. "Where is he?"
She struggled to sit up. "My husband. Dominic Wolfe."
The nurse froze. "I'm sorry... There was no one else in the vehicle."
Vivienne blinked at her. "What?"
"You were alone, ma'am. Paramedics pulled one person from the wreck. You."
"No." Her voice cracked. "No, you're wrong. He was driving. He was with me. He never lets me drive."
"Ma'am-"
"You're wrong! We were together. He held my hand. We kissed right before the crash-he was there."
The nurse stepped back slightly, trying to calm her. "Your car was registered in your name. There was no ID for anyone else. You were alone."
"That's not true!"
Tears burned down her cheeks. "He wouldn't leave me. He hates it when I'm not near him. He-he gets mad when I go to the bathroom without telling him!"
"Ma'am," the nurse said gently. "I know this is hard. But stressing yourself could affect your recovery. And the baby."
Vivienne froze. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
"The baby...?"
"Still strong. Miraculously." The nurse smiled softly. "You're lucky."
Vivienne sank back, breath shaky. But then her brows furrowed. "No," she whispered. "No. Something's wrong."
She yanked the IV out with a hiss, ignoring the nurse's alarmed cry.
"Ma'am! You can't just-!"
But Vivienne was already up, legs trembling, hand pressed to her side. "Where's the computer? Where do you keep patient records?"
At the nurses' station, her voice was sharper.
"Dominic Wolfe. I need his room number. Now."
The nurse at the desk eyed her hospital gown and pale face. "Only family is allowed-"
"I am his family. I'm his wife. Look it up."
The nurse hesitated, then typed something. "Room 214. ICU. But I'm telling you-"
Vivienne was gone.
She reached the door, barely able to stand.
It was slightly open.
Voices inside. A soft laugh.
She pushed it open.
Dominic sat up in bed, bruised but alive. Bandages across his forehead. IV in his arm. Awake.
And beside him-
A blonde woman in designer clothes. Touching his arm, sitting too damn close.
Vivienne stared, shaking.
"Dom?"
He looked up. Eyes meeting hers.
Blank.
Not confusion.
Not shock.
Nothing.
Vivienne stepped into the room. "It's me. Vivienne."
The blonde woman turned, brow arched. "Do you know her?"
Dominic didn't even blink.
"Security."
Vivienne flinched. "W-what?"
"I said get security. I don't know this woman."
She stepped forward, voice cracking. "Dominic. It's me. We were in the car-remember? You kissed me. We were laughing-you said you loved me. We got married in Italy, don't you remember the wine, the vows-?"
He leaned back slightly. "My wife? Woman, are you out of your damn mind? I don't even know your name."
"Don't do this..." Her voice wavered. "Don't say that. Don't look at me like I'm a stranger. You promised you'd never forget me."
The blonde woman laughed softly. "Oh honey. That's dramatic."
Vivienne turned to her sharply. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Hailey. His fiancée."
Vivienne felt like someone slapped her. "What?!"
A nurse appeared in the doorway, flanked by security.
"Miss, I need you to come with me."
"No!" she shouted. "Don't touch me-I'm his wife! We were in the crash together. Why are you all acting like I don't exist?!"
"Miss-please-"
"DOMINIC!"
He looked away.
Didn't say a word.
Didn't flinch when the guards took her arms and pulled her back.
And she realized-
He wasn't watching her anymore.
He had already turned back to Hailey.
That's when Vivienne knew:
This wasn't just memory loss.
This was a rewrite.
And she'd been erased.
---
Three Years Later
Vivienne Chase adjusted the dark sunglasses on her face as the elevator doors slid open.
Floor 58 - Executive Level of Wolfe Enterprises.
The headquarters of the empire she had quietly, strategically infiltrated.
"You have ten minutes," the assistant said. "Mr. Wolfe doesn't wait."
Vivienne smiled under her breath.
He never did.
Vivienne nodded once. "I only need five."
The assistant left. The office door opened without a knock.
Dominic Wolfe stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, hands in his pockets, the skyline stretching behind him like a kingdom. Black suit. No tie. Perfectly still-like a storm that hadn't decided when to break.
He turned at her entrance. Eyes sharp. Voice smooth.
"Mrs. Chase. Pleasure to meet you."
Vivienne smiled, stepping in like she owned the air between them.
Her heels tapped softly against the marble.
"Of course," she murmured, her gaze sweeping across the office with quiet calculation.
He hadn't changed a bit. Still the same devil in black - sharp lines, sharp eyes, sharp tongue.
Dominic turned, cold and commanding
"Let's get straight to the point, I don't share my company with strangers. You don't just walk in here and claim a seat at my table."
Vivienne's lips curled. Calm. Lethal.
"Stranger?" She tilted her head. "Pardon me, Mr. Wolfe, but I've been a shareholder in Wolfe Enterprises for four years. That's hardly the definition of a stranger."
"Lies."
The word snapped from his mouth like a bullet. His fists clenched, jaw tight.
She was already under his skin.
"You have records, don't you?" she said coolly. "Or do you run your empire blind?"
He said nothing. She took that as permission to step closer.
Her red dress - the color he hated most - flowed like silk, daring, deliberate. She moved with precision, confidence bleeding from every step.
"I've contributed more to this company than half the leeches on your board," she whispered. "Check the files, check the numbers. You'll see me everywhere - just not under this name."
His silence stretched, but his stare sharpened.
Then she leaned in, breath a ghost across his skin.
"Are you married, Dominic?"
He flinched.
"What?"
She straightened, a faint smirk curving her lips.
"A simple question."
Disgust twisted across his face. "Who the hell are you?"
"Just a shareholder," she said. "Nothing more."
"You want to play games?"
"I want to make an offer."
"I'm not selling my shares," he snapped.
She met his stare. Unbothered. Amused.
"I wasn't asking for yours. I already bought 38% through subsidiaries. You still hold the majority - but barely."
His face darkened. That truth rattled him.
"You're bluffing."
"Try me." She stepped even closer. "You don't even know the name of the company I used to buy in. Do you really think you're still in control?"
His hand raked through his hair - a crack in his armor.
"God, you're insufferable."
"And yet, here I am." Her voice softened. "In your office. Wearing red. Alive."
He paused.
Alive?
A flicker crossed his face.
Confusion. Something else. Something almost like-
No. He shut it down.
"Get out."
"I own 38% of this building," she said, smiling thinly. "Technically, you get out."
His eyes narrowed, but she was already turning away.
"See you at the board meeting, Mr. Wolfe."
And just like that, the war officially began.
Vivienne walked out of the glass office, heels echoing through the marble corridor like war drums.
The assistant opened her mouth to say something, but Vivienne didn't even look at her.
Her phone buzzed.
Rose.
She picked up without missing a step.
"Did he remember?" Rose's voice was low, cautious.
Vivienne didn't answer immediately. She kept walking until she reached the elevator. The doors closed behind her with a hiss.
"Not even my voice," she finally said, her tone flat. "Not a flicker. Nothing."
"Damn," Rose muttered. "He's a fool."
Vivienne exhaled, slow and deliberate. "He is. And fools deserves no mercy!"
Silence.
Then, cold steel wrapped around her next words.
"I will destroy everything he built. Slowly. Strategically. I want him to remember me - through chaos. Through ruin. Through the silence I left behind."
"That's dark," Rose said softly.
Vivienne smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"That's justice."