Chapter 152

~ Octavia ~

The wheels of the hospital bed rolled smoothly down the brightly lit corridor as Dr. Aris and the nurse guided me toward the testing area. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of how long I had been trapped in this place. Halfway there, I turned my head slightly and spoke up, my voice clearer than it had been in weeks.

"Doctor... I’ve regained my memories."

Dr. Aris stopped abruptly, exchanging a quick glance with the nurse before looking back at me with renewed interest. "All of them?"

I nodded. "Yes. Everything."

That single revelation changed the course of the tests. Instead of the standard follow-up he had planned, Dr. Aris ordered a full neurological workup—checking my brain function, reflexes, coordination, balance, and responsiveness. I endured an MRI that trapped me in a loud, claustrophobic tube, a CT scan that clicked and whirred around my head, and a long series of cognitive and memory assessments that left me mentally exhausted but strangely relieved.

When my mother finally joined us, her face already carried a mixture of excitement and concern. One look at her told me Franklin had already broken the news. She squeezed my hand gently, her eyes searching mine as if trying to read the depth of what had returned to me.

After what felt like hours, we sat together in Dr. Aris’s office, the crisp white walls and neatly arranged certificates doing little to ease the nervous energy in the room. My mother and I exchanged an eager glance as the doctor flipped through the results on his tablet.

"Mrs. Herman," Dr. Aris began with a warm, professional smile, "I have good news."

My mother’s face lit up instantly. "I’m all ears, Doctor."

He leaned forward slightly. "The tests show that Octavia’s memory has improved dramatically. From our evaluation, she has successfully regained the majority of her long-term memories—including personal experiences and emotionally significant events that occurred before the accident."

A wave of relief washed over me, even as complicated feelings stirred beneath the surface. My mother clasped her hands together, her eyes shining with unshed tears of joy. "This is wonderful news, Dr. Aris!" She turned to me, beaming. "Just wait until I tell your father—he’s going to leap with joy when he hears this."

Dr. Aris nodded, but his expression remained measured. "While this is indeed a very positive development, I must add that memory recovery after traumatic amnesia can sometimes be gradual. Although Octavia has reclaimed a large portion of her past, there may still be minor gaps or moments of confusion—particularly surrounding the traumatic event that triggered her amnesia."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Certain memories might return in fragments, often triggered by familiar environments, people, or strong emotional experiences."

As he spoke those last words, a dark memory crashed into me without warning. The cold, venomous voice of Franklin’s secretary echoed relentlessly in my mind:

"I was the one who sent someone to push you down the stairs at JeffTech."

The sentence repeated over and over, haunting me like a ghost I couldn’t escape. My chest tightened. My fingers curled into the fabric of my hospital gown as I fought to keep my breathing steady.

"Octavia, honey?" My mother’s soft voice broke through the haze. She reached over and took my hand, her touch warm and grounding. "Are you okay?"

I blinked, forcing the looping words to quiet. "I’m fine, Mom," I mumbled, offering what I hoped was a convincing smile.

She studied me for a moment longer, concern lingering in her eyes. "Are you sure? You don’t seem as happy as I expected after hearing such good news."

"I am happy," I lied gently, squeezing her hand back. "I’m just... processing everything Dr. Aris is saying. It’s a lot to take in at once."

She seemed satisfied with that and turned back to the doctor, who continued without missing a beat.

"Nevertheless, we still recommend keeping her under close observation for a short period. I advise avoiding any unnecessary emotional stress. Encourage calm, familiar surroundings, and plenty of rest. If she experiences headaches, sudden confusion, dizziness, or any memory lapses, bring her in immediately."

My mother nodded slowly, absorbing every instruction. "Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make sure of that. Now that she remembers everything, when can she come home? She’s been here for over a month already."

Dr. Aris offered an understanding smile. "I completely understand your eagerness to take her home—it’s only natural. However, we would like to keep her under observation for at least twenty-four to forty-eight more hours. This is to ensure her memory remains stable and to rule out any delayed complications such as neurological symptoms or sudden setbacks. If she continues to improve and shows no concerning signs during that time, we can proceed with discharge."

My mother processed the timeline with a small sigh but nodded in acceptance.

"Overall, Mrs. Herman," Dr. Aris added reassuringly, "her recovery is very promising. Cases like this don’t always resolve this smoothly. She will need your support, patience, and a peaceful environment, but I can confidently say she is on the right path."

"Thank you so much, Dr. Aris," my mother said, her voice thick with gratitude.

"You’re very welcome." He paused, glancing between us. "By the way, why didn’t Mr. Flemington join us? It’s important for the family to be present when discussing results like these."

My mother hesitated, her eyes flicking toward me briefly. "Oh... he’s with his grandfather right now."

I frowned slightly, a strange unease settling in my stomach. His grandfather’s ward?

Before I could ask, my mother continued, her tone careful. "Something happened to his grandfather."

The way she said it—guarded, almost reluctant—made my pulse quicken. Something felt off.

"What happened to his grandfather, Mom?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

She took a slow breath, her hand tightening around mine. "He was shot, Octavia. He’s in a coma now." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The words landed like a physical blow. My stomach churned violently. My heart did a painful backflip, and for a moment, the room seemed to tilt. I stared at her in disbelief, the weight of yet another tragedy connected to Franklin crashing down on me. Shot? In a coma? Because of everything that had spiraled out of control since I entered his world?

The haunting voice of Franklin’s secretary faded into the background, replaced by a new wave of shock and quiet dread.