Blurb：
Dive into the gripping world of Detective James Blackwood as he unravels The Crimson Code, a secret society conspiracy that threatens the city. With allies like Agent Sarah Reed and foes such as The Shadow Syndicate, this page-turner is packed with suspense, cryptic clues, and unexpected twists. Perfect for fans of crime thrillers and intricate plots!
Content：
After a car crash, I wake up without a scratch, but my girlfriend, Elena Reed, has amnesia.
What shocks me the most is that I can hear my late grandma’s voice in my head.
That shameless woman is feigning amnesia to trick Rowan! If I were still alive, I’d break her legs myself!
My eyes fly wide in disbelief.
Grandma’s voice keeps raging in my head.
“Rowan, in your past life, Elena ruined you. You had miserable years with her and nearly died of a heart attack while she was out celebrating Miles’ birthday!
“Your grandpa is about to have you choose a bride. Don’t pick Elena. Pick Piper. She’s a good woman!”
A second later, Grandpa and the elders walk into the hospital room and spread out photos of heiresses from the four great families, asking me to choose a bride.
I don’t even hesitate. I choose Piper Alden, the one I’ve been butting heads with for as long as I can remember.
I’ve always listened to Grandma. If she says that Elena doesn’t love me, then I don’t want her anymore.
Chapter 1
My grandpa, Edmund Becker, hesitated as he studied my face.
He then asked, “Rowan, are you sure about this? Piper’s the one you’ve butted heads with the most. Once I announce the engagement, there’s no turning back.”
In archaeology circles, Grandpa was a legend. Years ago, he publicly pledged that whichever one of the four great families married their daughter to me would receive the Becker family’s full support in excavations and museum projects.
Elena Reed’s mother, Grace Sterling, looked rattled and quickly tried to persuade me.
“Rowan, Elena has amnesia and doesn’t remember you, but you’ve always loved her. Why not wait a little longer? Maybe she’ll get her memory back once you’re married.”
My grandma, Martha Keller, clicked her tongue sharply in my mind.
“Oh, come on! In the past life, that scumbag Miles smashed Rowan’s watch. Rowan didn’t even say a single word, but Elena still threw him out. He stood in the rain in just his sleep shirt and nearly froze to death.
“Piper was the one who showed up with an umbrella and found him a room for the night. She might come off harsh, but she’s got a good heart.”
Her words hit me like a punch.
I never understood why Grandma talked about past lives, but when I heard her, something in my chest tightened. I couldn’t shake the feeling that what she said had really happened.
Miles Ashcroft really was Elena’s first love. I only started dating her after they broke up.
“Grandpa, I’ve made up my mind,” I said. “I choose Piper Alden.”
Grandpa slid the photographs back into their envelope and clasped my shoulder. “Very well. I’ll respect your choice. In two days, I’ll announce your engagement to Piper.”
Grandma let out a sigh of relief. “Good. Now, maybe Rowan can finally have a happy married life.”
While Grandpa stayed with the other elders to talk business, I changed out of the hospital gown and went to get some air.
But when I stepped out of the hospital room, three elegant, polished women were waiting at the door. They were all my childhood sweethearts, all once considered candidates for my future bride.
Elena was there, but Piper wasn’t.
Sabrina Collins flashed a bright smile and took a step closer. “Rowan, I heard that Edmund is choosing your fiancee from the four of us. So, who is it?” she asked curiously.
Wren Porter laughed. “Do you even need to ask? Everyone knows that Rowan has been crazy about Elena forever. He treats her like she’s made of glass.”
Elena gave me an indifferent glance. “I don’t remember anything from the last three years. The only thing I remember is that Miles is my boyfriend.
“I know that somewhere in those missing years, you and I were together. I don’t love you now, but if my dad insists on the engagement, I’ll go through with it.”
Grandma snorted. “In the past life, she faked memory loss so she could fool around with Miles while keeping Rowan at her side so she could access the Becker family’s money. In the end, she drove Rowan into depression and even to his death. What a terrible woman! She should stay away from him!”
I looked at Elena’s cold, distant face. If Grandma hadn’t spoken up, I might have believed her.
I had loved Elena. I really had. And for a time, I was foolish enough to believe that she loved me, too.
Chapter 2
It was just like three years ago when Elena set off fireworks across the entire city for me.
She looked at me with devotion and said softly, “Rowan, I want to marry you. I want you to be the happiest man on earth.”
I had been moved to my core. We dated for three years, and I never expected that she had truly forgotten Miles.
She couldn’t afford to offend me, so she played the part of the woman in love.
Perhaps now she was tired of pretending, which was why she feigned amnesia and said out loud that she loved Miles. She voiced her agreement to marry me only to secure the partnership.
Naturally, I wasn’t going to let her get what she wanted.
I wanted to argue with Elena, but the look on her face told me how sure she was that I’d chosen her. So, I swallowed my words and decided to let her bask in it for two days.
I was genuinely curious to see how she would react when she heard Grandpa announce the engagement.
When I kept quiet, Sabrina nudged my shoulder and asked, “So, Rowan, did you choose Elena?”
“You’ll find out in two days,” I said evenly.
With that, I turned and walked away.
Behind me, Wren clicked her tongue. “Elena, it has to be you. Back when you were really sick, Rowan went everywhere looking for a cure. He heard that the old church on Mount Northbrough was miraculous, so he climbed the mountain and prayed all night for your recovery. He’s head over heels for you.”
“Is that so?” Elena let out a soft, coy laugh. “I didn’t realize that he loved me that much.”
My heart ached, but I kept my eyes dry. Everyone in our circle knew I loved Elena. People joked I was a doormat, but I didn’t care.
I had lost my parents when I was young. Grandpa and Grandma spent years on archaeological digs and were always away. I was the kid anyone could push around. Only Elena stood up for me.
I’d liked her since I was a boy. When she confessed to me, I was over the moon and swore that I’d treat her better than anyone else ever could.
But every kindness she showed me came with strings attached. She didn’t deserve my sincere love.
“Rowan, wait!”
I turned and saw Elena walk over in her high heels, her chin held high. “I know that you’ve chosen me. I’ll marry you, but my heart belongs to Miles. I hope you’ll leave us alone and not interfere.”
I stared at her. “Didn’t you lose your memory? What makes you so sure that I’d choose you?”
Elena frowned. “Everyone says you love me. Who else would you choose?”
I almost laughed. So, she knew how I felt. And this was how she wanted to treat my feelings.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t chase you anymore. I’ll stay out of your way.”
Honestly, if Elena knew that I had chosen Piper, she’d probably be delighted.
My words stunned Elena for a second.
I turned and headed for the main doors.
Seeing this, Elena moved as if to grab my sleeve.
Just then, an electric scooter suddenly shot toward me out of nowhere.
The front wheel slammed into my shin. I hit the ground hard, my palms scraping across the floor as a wave of pain crashed over me.
Miles went pale, jumped off the scooter, and reached to haul me up. “Rowan, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you. Please don’t be mad.”
I hadn’t even answered when Grandma’s furious voice rang in my head.
“That punk did it on purpose! He pulled the same stunt in the past life, too! He was always playing dumb or twisting things to frame Rowan, and Elena fell for it every time. Neither of them is any good!”
Seeing Miles all flustered, Elena instantly went soft. “It’s fine, Miles. It’s nothing. With me here, no one will blame you.”
She steadied him, then shot me a look edged with warning. “He only bumped you. You’re not going to make a federal case out of it, are you?”
Blood slicked my forearm. I gritted against the sting from the wound and pushed myself up to my feet.
Miles looked at me, his expression one of pure wounded innocence. “Rowan, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll slap myself if it means you’ll forgive me.”
Chapter 3
Miles lifted his hand to slap himself.
Elena quickly grabbed his wrist and snapped at me. “Rowan, Miles didn’t do it on purpose. Do you have to throw your weight around every time?”
Grandma got even angrier. “What a piece of work! Rowan hasn’t said a single word, and that punk is already crying. How is Rowan the bully? I’m so furious! Rowan, chin up! Give them something to think about!”
I raised my hand and slapped Miles across the face. Then, I looked at Elena and asked, “See that? That’s what throwing my weight around looks like.”
Miles froze. Elena did too, her eyes turning icy. “Rowan, you’re out of line…”
I lifted my hand again and slapped her just as hard. “That is out of line.”
I’d spent years spoiling her, never once losing it. My slap left her completely stunned.
Elena glared at me and said through gritted teeth, “Fine. Great! You laid hands on me, so don’t you dare regret it! Come on, Miles. I’ll take you to have that looked at.”
Grandma scoffed. “You ignore Rowan as he bleeds and rush to coddle another man. You’ll only regret sticking with that scumbag! Oh, my poor Rowan, that must hurt.”
I looked down at the scrape on my arm, blood pooling bright red. The dull ache I’d been holding back surged in a wave.
Back in school, if I so much as scraped my knee, Elena would panic as if the sky was falling, ready to take the pain for me if she could. Perhaps her love was a lie, but the closeness we shared back then was genuine.
But now, she didn’t even glance at my injury. She scolded me instead, desperate to shield the man she really cared about.
Grandma’s words sounded true. If I were to marry Elena, it would only end badly.
I pushed the thought aside and went to find a nurse to clean and bandage my arm.
Just then, a cluster of nurses was peering toward the corridor, so I glanced over too.
Through the glass partition, I saw Miles and Elena wrapped in each other’s arms, their body language anything but innocent.
I heard Miles murmur, “Elena, if Rowan ever finds out you faked amnesia just to be with me out in the open, he’ll flip.”
Elena pinched his cheek. “So what if he does? Everyone knows he loves me. Whether I have amnesia or not, he’ll still be begging me to marry him.”
Grandma gave a cold snort in my head. “Keep dreaming! Rowan didn’t choose you this time. He won’t be begging you for anything. In a couple of days, when the engagement news drops, we’ll see how cocky you are!”
I let out a humorless breath, my face as pale as paper, and decided I’d heard enough. Holding my bandaged hand, I headed for the exit.
That was when the hallway erupted. Someone yelled, “Those guys have knives! Run!”
Panic rippled through the crowd.
Instinct took over, and I moved with the crowd, but one of the agitated patients lunged at me, grabbing hold and raising a knife to strike.
I was already banged up, and fighting back head-on wasn’t going to end well.
I spotted Elena looking in the direction of the commotion. She had trained in martial arts and was skilled in fighting. I didn’t have the luxury of pride. “Elena, help me!” I shouted.
She started toward me on instinct, but Miles clamped onto her arm and wouldn’t let go. “Elena, I’m scared! Don’t leave me, please!”
She faltered. In that heartbeat of hesitation, the blade pierced my forearm. Pain shot through me, and I sucked in a sharp breath.
Grandma was beside herself. “That medical dispute was bad enough last time. How did Rowan end up caught in the middle of it today? Elena doesn’t really have amnesia. She knows how he went to hell and back for her, yet she won’t lift a finger! This is too much!”
My strength was draining away with the cut. I gritted my teeth and yelled, “Elena, I’m begging you! If you don’t help me, I’m going to die!”
Right then, a patient rushed at them. Elena moved in a flash, threw herself in front of Miles to shield him, and pulled him to safety.
Chapter 4
My mind went blank as I watched Elena shield Miles and run.
Even if she felt nothing for me, I had loved her for years and treated her well. With life and death on the line, she still couldn’t spare a hand for me?
Suddenly, the weight on my chest was gone. Piper kicked the man off me, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me through the chaos.
“Move!” she shouted.
The corridor was in chaos, but security rushed in and quickly subdued the patients with knives.
I stood there dazed, still catching up to what had happened.
Piper pressed a cup of warm water into my hand. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes.
I didn’t notice it, and I didn’t ask why she was there. I just murmured a thank-you.
Word of the attack reached Grandpa within the hour. He blew up and demanded that both the Reed and Ashcroft families answer for it.
The Ashcrofts put Miles on lockdown and sent gifts as an apology. The Reeds were livid and forced Elena to come over and apologize in person.
That night, Elena walked in and dropped a bag of supplements on the table, her expression sour. “Rowan, what happened today had nothing to do with Miles. I’m the one who didn’t help you. Why make him suffer for it? Are you settling a score?”
I lifted my arm. Fresh bandages wrapped it thickly. “Do you see this, Elena?”
She faltered for a beat, then pushed back. “You’re not dead, are you? Everyone knows you’re the scion of the Becker family. All you have to do is shout, and people will line up to protect you.
“Miles only has me. You saw it. He nearly got hurt, too. Stop going after him. Talk to Edmund and get Miles’ confinement lifted, or I’ll call off our engagement.”
She said it as if she were sure I would cave.
But I was past disappointment. I didn’t even have the energy to argue. “Security, walk her out.”
The guards then escorted her out of my house.
At the door, she spun and snapped, “Rowan, you’ll regret this!”
She didn’t show her face the next day.
Grandpa took my engagement seriously and hosted the grandest banquet the Becker family had ever held.
All four of the great families were in attendance. I walked in wearing a tux.
Elena stood at the center of the banquet hall. Miles was next to her, grinning like he’d won.
I was briefly taken aback. How was Miles here if he was supposed to be grounded?
Grandma gave a cold laugh. “Elena must have pressured the Ashcrofts until they caved. She bends over backward for Miles, but she never once did that for Rowan. What a heartless woman!”
Elena glanced my way and looked off like I wasn’t there, while Miles flashed me a cocky smirk.
Whispers ran across the crowd.
“Why is Elena so cold to Rowan? And why is she glued to Miles? I heard that Piper is into Rowan. Maybe this engagement banquet isn’t as simple as it seems.”
“No way! Elena has amnesia and only remembers Miles as her boyfriend, but Rowan loves her deeply. His fiancee has to be Elena.”
Piper’s cold gaze slid over the group. They flinched and drifted away.
Grandpa waved me to the stage and handed me the microphone. “Rowan, this is your engagement banquet. You should be the one to make the announcement.”
“Alright.” I took the microphone and felt a burning gaze on me.
Elena was staring straight at me. I gave her a mocking smile, and I saw her tense up.
“Thank you for coming,” I said, my voice carrying across the hall. “I’d like to formally introduce my fiancee…”
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