Shadows of the Forgotten Heiress

--- A Year Later ---

The steady hum of the machines filled the quiet VIP hospital room, punctuated only by the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor.

Suddenly, the beeps became erratic— sharp, insistent, alarming. The sound sent a ripple of urgency through the hallway. Within seconds, doctors and nurses stormed into the room, their white coats billowing as they rushed to the bedside.

"BP dropping!"

"We're losing her! Get the crash cart ready!"

A caretaker, her hands trembling slightly, grabbed her phone and quickly dialed a number. As soon as the call connected, she spoke, urgency dripping from her voice.

"Mr. Grantham, it's the patient— her condition is unstable. You need to come immediately."

Nicholas Grantham, who had been reviewing documents in his private office, froze. He clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around the phone. "I'm on my way." Without another word, he ended the call, grabbed his coat, and rushed out.

By the time he reached the hospital, the chaos had settled slightly. The medical team was still inside the room, stabilizing the patient. Nicholas paced outside, his expression unreadable, though tension radiated off him in waves. When the caretaker stepped out, he immediately intercepted her.

"What happened?" His voice was low, controlled, but edged with an underlying intensity.

The caretaker hesitated before answering. "We're not sure. She's been in a coma for a year, but suddenly she reacted— violently. It was completely unexpected."

Nicholas's gaze darkened as he turned toward the frosted glass of the hospital room. His grandfather had ensured that this woman, named Seraphina, received the best medical care possible. But why? What was it about her that warranted such secrecy and protection?

Moments later, the door swung open, and the lead doctor stepped out, pulling off his gloves. His expression was unreadable.

Nicholas stiffened. "Is she—?"

"She's stable for now," the doctor interrupted. "But there's something you should know."

A brief pause.

"We believe this might be good news. She's showing signs of response."

Nicholas narrowed his eyes. "Response?"

One of the other doctors chimed in, adjusting his glasses. "It's strange. She didn't just react physically— there was something else. According to the caretaker on duty, the only external stimulus at the time was the television. No one was in the room except for her. The caretaker had left the TV on, playing entertainment news."

Nicholas frowned. "Entertainment news?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes. It's possible that something she heard triggered a reaction. We compiled the headlines airing at that exact moment." He handed Nicholas a piece of paper.

Nicholas scanned the list:

A celebrity scandal: an actress exposed as a powerful man's secret mistress.

A new entertainment company rising to prominence overnight.

A fresh-faced newcomer receiving an award.

His grip on the paper tightened. Any one of these stories could have meant something to Seraphina— but which one?

Nicholas inhaled sharply. For the past year, he had done everything to uncover Seraphina's past. Yet every thread he pulled led nowhere, as if someone had erased her existence entirely. Her records were incomplete, her background a dead end. The only solid piece of information he had was her name.

Seraphina.

A common enough name. Too common.

When he had taken his concerns to his grandfather, the old man had given him only one response:

"Stop looking. Just wait for her to wake up."

Nicholas had obeyed— until now. Because Seraphina had reacted.

Nicholas entered the dimly lit room, the familiar medicinal scent thick in the air. He had grown used to it over the past year, visiting this room more times than he cared to count. The steady beeping of the monitors provided a somber rhythm to the silence.

He moved to the chair beside the bed and lowered himself into it, his gaze settling on Seraphina's still form. Her delicate features were unchanged, as if she were merely in a deep sleep.

Before, she hadn't needed an oxygen mask— she had been breathing normally on her own. But now, the thin plastic tube over her nose was a stark reminder that something had changed.

Nicholas exhaled, rubbing his temple before whispering, "Who are you, Seraphina? Why is my grandfather so concerned about you?"

The only response was the soft hum of the machines. The silence was frustrating, but expected. He lingered for another ten minutes, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against the armrest. Then, with a sigh, he stood up and moved toward the door.

Just as he reached for the handle, the door swung open to reveal Reginald Grantham standing there, an anxious expression shadowing his aged features.

"How is she?" his grandfather demanded, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "The caretaker didn't give me a clear response."

Nicholas stepped aside, allowing Reginald to pass. The elderly man, leaning slightly on his cane, hurried to Seraphina's bedside. He took her cold hand in his, his grip surprisingly firm.

"Child, wake up soon," Reginald murmured, his voice tinged with emotion. "How much longer will you sleep? You have a life waiting for you, so many things left undone."

Nicholas watched his grandfather carefully. There was something more than mere concern in the old man's voice— something deeply personal.

Deciding to probe further, Nicholas said, "Grandfather, Seraphina reacted to a news broadcast. Entertainment news, to be exact. Maybe you know something about it."

He handed his grandfather the list of headlines:

A celebrity scandal: an actress exposed as a powerful man's secret mistress.

A new entertainment company rising to prominence overnight.

A fresh-faced newcomer receiving an award.

Reginald's sharp eyes flickered over the paper, but he gave no immediate response. Instead, he asked, "Who was involved in the scandal? What is the name of the actress? And who is the CEO of the entertainment company?"

Nicholas had anticipated this and turned to his assistant, who had already compiled the relevant information. The man stepped forward, holding out an iPad. Reginald retrieved his reading glasses from his chest pocket, sliding them on before scrolling through the details.

"The celebrity scandal," the assistant began, "involves Juliette Sinclair. She was the anticipated winner of the newcomer award, but allegations surfaced that the judges had been bribed. As a result, the award was given to the individual mentioned in the third news piece. Then, in a shocking turn of events, Juliette was exposed as the mistress of a powerful man shortly after the award ceremony."

Reginald's fingers tightened subtly around the device. "And the entertainment company?" he asked.

"The CEO is Alistair Blackwood," the assistant responded, but hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Nicholas.

Nicholas caught the unease immediately. "What is it?" he asked, his voice sharpening. "Tell me the truth."

The assistant swallowed before speaking. "Sir… this man was your junior from the academy. And last month, you had a serious quarrel with him over a business project."

Nicholas's expression darkened.