The night at the warehouse was like a bomb that exploded in both John and Phyllis's hearts. Phyllis returned to her apartment in a daze. John's whispered "Yaya" still echoed in her ears, so familiar, so tender, yet in a blink, he reverted to the cold CEO Zhuo. What was going on?! She lay awake, tossing and turning, her mind buzzing with questions. Had he really remembered? But why was he pretending not to know her? This hot and cold treatment was worse than direct pain! She felt like she was walking a tightrope, every step cautious, afraid of accidentally shattering that fragile hope, or detonating a more terrifying truth. She closed her eyes, her mind filled with images of John clutching his head in pain, and the trembling warmth of his body when he held her tightly. That warmth was so real it made her heart ache, but then the thought of his subsequent cold gaze instantly chilled her. She even began to wonder if she shouldn't have touched those deeply buried memories? But thinking of the fire five years ago, and that vow, she felt that no matter how painful, the truth had to be uncovered.
The next morning, Phyllis was "invited" by Kevin to John's private villa. The atmosphere in the villa was extremely tense. The usually busy servants were gone, leaving only John's private doctor, Elina, looking incredibly serious, holding a stack of medical reports. As soon as Phyllis entered, she saw John sitting on the sofa, his face as pale as paper, an ice pack on his forehead. He looked particularly weak, radiating exhaustion. Elina was examining him, muttering professional terms like "memory regression" and "cerebral stress response," which made Phyllis's heart pound. She knew John must be suffering from the memory flashbacks of last night, and this pain might be more intense than she imagined.
John saw Phyllis, and a complex look, a struggle mixed with pain, flashed in his eyes, but it quickly reverted to that cold, distant demeanor, as if nothing had happened. He said nothing, only gestured for Phyllis to sit on the single sofa opposite him. After her examination, Elina whispered a few words to John, her voice very low. Phyllis only vaguely heard terms like "needs rest" and "avoid stimulation." Before Elina left, she specifically glanced at Phyllis, a warning in her eyes, as if to say: 'You've put him through a lot!' Phyllis's heart sank; she knew John must be suffering from the memory flashbacks of last night, and this pain might be more intense than she imagined.
"What did you find at the warehouse last night?" John suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, but his tone held an unquestionable command, like he was interrogating a prisoner. His gaze was sharp as a knife, staring directly at Phyllis.
Phyllis's heart leaped; he knew, as expected! Without hesitation, she took out the "Shadow" organization emblem she found in the warehouse and placed it on the coffee table, pushing it towards John. "This, I found it in the warehouse. It's identical to the watermark on that warning letter." She met John's eyes, trying to discern something, any emotional fluctuation.
John's gaze fell on the emblem, his pupils constricted sharply, and his body stiffened again, as if instantly frozen. He didn't clutch his head in pain like last night; his face just grew paler, and his eyes became even darker, as if a storm was brewing within them. He picked up the emblem, his fingertips lightly tracing the pattern. The movement held a strange persistence, as if he was trying hard to identify something. Phyllis even saw his fingertips turn slightly white from the force.
"'Shadow' organization." John whispered, his voice filled with intense hatred, each word seemingly squeezed through gritted teeth, carrying a scent of blood. "They destroyed everything I had, and almost destroyed you too." He suddenly looked up at Phyllis, his gaze so complex that Phyllis couldn't decipher it. There was anger, pain, vigilance, and even a hint of imperceptible fear. "You know too much now. From now on, you must stay by my side, not leaving for a single inch." His tone was unquestionable, an absolute command, as if declaring an irrefutable fact.
Phyllis's heart sank. Sure enough, he still wanted to keep her confined. She knew he was protecting her, but this protection, for her, was like an invisible cage, stripping away all her freedom and independence. She yearned for truth, for freedom, not to be imprisoned. She wasn't his pet, nor his plaything!
"I'm not your caged bird," Phyllis said firmly, with a hint of defiance, every word resolute. "I came here to find out the truth, to find the answers from five years ago, not to be protected by you, and certainly not to be imprisoned by you!"
John's gaze instantly turned icy, carrying an undeniable dominance, as if to devour Phyllis. "You have no choice." He stood up and walked towards Phyllis, his tall figure completely enveloping her, creating an immense sense of oppression, as if to crush all her resistance. "Now, you are my person, and your safety is my responsibility." His voice held an unquestionable authority, every word striking Phyllis's heart like a hammer. "If you want to investigate the truth, I can help you. But the premise is, you must listen to me. You must be by my side and act according to my rules." He reached out, seemingly wanting to touch Phyllis's cheek, but ultimately stopped in mid-air, then withdrew his hand, as if restraining himself.
Phyllis looked at him, her heart a mix of emotions. She knew John was giving her a choice, one that seemed free but was, in fact, controlled by him. She said nothing, only gripped her handkerchief tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms, her eyes firm. She knew that to get the truth from John, she had to first enter his world and understand his rules. This was her only choice.
In the following days, Phyllis's life became even more "transparent." Kevin's supervision of her reached an abnormal level. Wherever she went, Kevin's people followed, even waiting outside the restroom door when she used it. Her schedule was meticulously arranged by Kevin; besides attending meetings with John, she was "familiarizing herself with business" in various departments within the group, ostensibly "gaining a deeper understanding of the group's operations." In reality, she was firmly confined within the Yafei Building, with almost no opportunity to contact the outside world. Phyllis understood that John was using his own method to keep her firmly "trapped" by his side, preventing any danger from approaching. This feeling of being utterly protected left her both conflicted and complex. She yearned for freedom, yet she couldn't deny the sense of security this protection brought.
However, John's "protection" was not without flaws. Phyllis noticed that although he appeared cold and distant towards her, even more so than before, privately, those "coincidental" acts of care became more frequent and detailed. On her desk, besides her favorite coffee, there would often be a steaming hot breakfast or a dessert she had casually mentioned. If she occasionally complained about having too many documents, the next day, a stack of organized materials with John's annotations would appear on her desk. His annotations were sharp and carried a hint of imperceptible tenderness. When she worked late into the night, John's private chef would "happen" to deliver a nutritionally balanced dinner, claiming it was "ordered by CEO Zhuo to ensure employee health." These seemingly unintentional small details warmed Phyllis's heart, yet also left her feeling a little bittersweet. He clearly cared about her, yet pretended not to know her. This awkward concern disturbed her more than any sweet words. She didn't understand whether he had truly forgotten or was deliberately hiding something? If he remembered, why couldn't he just tell her directly? This guessing and waiting was more tormenting than any danger.
While Phyllis was secretly investigating, the internal family struggle never ceased, and in fact, intensified. Uncle Osmond and Leonardo's faction became even more dissatisfied seeing John's special treatment of Phyllis. They began to spread rumors, claiming Phyllis was John's lover, and even that she approached John for the Yafei family's assets, attempting to ruin her reputation. These rumors spread like venomous snakes within the Yafei Group, making Phyllis's days within the company even more difficult. Some employees began to point and whisper about her, and some even openly mocked her, calling her a "trophy wife who climbed the ladder using a man."
Phyllis knew very well that these were all Uncle Osmond's tricks. She ignored the rumors and worked even harder, proving herself with her abilities. She used the "secret channel" provided by Lynn to continue her in-depth investigation into the "Shadow" organization and the accident five years ago. She discovered that the "Shadow" organization seemed to have more than one informant within the Yafei family, and their infiltration was far deeper than she had imagined, possibly even involving core members of the Yafei family. These discoveries sent shivers down her spine; she knew she was touching upon a vast conspiracy.
Just as Phyllis was investigating a crucial clue, she suddenly received an unfamiliar call. On the other end, a deep voice, distorted by a voice changer, carried a chilling threat: "Phyllis Alice, stop your investigation. If you continue, those around you will be harmed because of you. Including John."
Phyllis's heart plummeted, and a chill shot up from her feet to her head. This was a warning from the "Shadow" organization! They not only knew she was investigating but also knew about her relationship with John! She felt an unprecedented sense of crisis, as if she had been targeted by a poisonous snake. She knew she had touched the "Shadow" organization's bottom line, and they had begun to retaliate against her, and this time, they directly threatened John.
She hung up the phone, her face pale. She knew she couldn't fight this battle alone anymore. She needed John's help; she needed him to fully recover his memory and fight this powerful enemy with her. She looked up in the direction of John's office, her eyes determined. She had to win this battle! For the truth, for John, and for herself! She knew it would be a long and arduous fight, but she was ready to give her all until the moment of victory!