Seconds ticked by. Yet, Winston continued to stare nkly into Alyssa''s reddened eyes. Confusion and shock were evident on his face, but the tender affection once etched into his very being was nowhere to be found.


    "Who... are you?" he asked.


    In that instant, Alyssa''s world went dark. Her vision swam, her mind spinning violently. She refused to believe it. She refused to ept that her father, the man who had loved her most in this world, had forgotten her.


    Herposure was shatteredpletely. She grabbed Winston by the shoulders and shook him frantically, as though he were a malfunctioning electronic device at home-desperate to jolt his memories awake.


    "Dad, I''m Alyssa... I''m your favorite Lyse! Take a good look at me... How could you forget me?"


    "My dear... Stop shaking... me... I feel sick..." Winston stammered, difort twisting his features.


    Everyone rushed forward at once. Jonah wrapped his long arms around Alyssa''s trembling shoulders, pulling her tightly into his embrace. He kept murmuring words offort in his hoarse, gentle voice, yet her body continued to shake uncontrobly in his arms.


    With tears pooling in his eyes, Liam stepped closer. "Lyse, we understand how desperate you feel, but Dad just woke up. He won''t be able to take this."


    "No... No!" Panic surged through Alyssa. She broke downpletely, sobbing as tears streamed down her face. "Winston Taylor, I am your daughter. Your daughter! Take a good look at me. You''re not allowed to forget me. You''re not!"


    Jasper had already forgotten her. Even recalling that agony now felt like torture. If Winston had also forgotten her, it would be no different from tearing her soul apart. If she lost the reason to keep going, how was she supposed to live on?


    "Daughter... Daughter? I cannot remember. My head hurts so badly..."


    Pain slowly crept across his face as his eyes closed once more.


    L stepped forward, her eyes bloodshot, and spoke gently, "Calm down, Lyse. Let''s not push Winston right now. Give him some time to rest. Perhaps his memories might return gradually."


    It was obvious that Colene had also been crying. Still, she steadied herself and added softly, "L''s right. Many patients are disoriented when they first regain consciousness. He''ll likely recover once the healing process progresses."


    They had all chosen to be with Winston. In the darkest and most desperate times of their lives, he had reached out to them. He gave them shelter, supported their families, and ensured they lived without worry.


    Winston owed them nothing. Even if he forgot them entirely, they would not resent him.


    But Alyssa was different. She was his favorite child-the one who carried the bloodline of the woman he loved most. In truth, Alyssa was his greatest source of motivation and meaning in this world.


    How could he forget Alyssa?


    He couldn''t!


    Axel took a deep breath. Though he kept his expression under control, his voice still trembled faintly. "Let''s have Dad undergo a brain scan first. Even it''s amnesia, there has be a reason behind it


    Agony and fury burned in Ss'' eyes. His hands clenched into fists as he suddenly roared, "Get that bastard Justin over befe right now! What the hell did he make Dad take? How


    could Dad lose his memory just like that?"


    A cold sharpness shed through both Jonah''s and Axel''s eyes.


    Back on Rose Ind, Jasper had swallowed the pills Jameson provided to save Alyssa''s life. As a result, the nerves in his brain had been damaged, severely affecting his emotional capacity.


    Now, Winston''s brain had also been affected after taking Justin''s medication, exhibiting clear signs of memory loss.


    The parallels were impossible to ignore. It forced them to suspect inevitably-that Justin''s actions had been deliberate.


    Winston was swiftly wheeled into the neurology department for aprehensive examination.


    Meanwhile, Alyssa contacted Justin. Despite his injuries, he rushed to the hospital without hesitation.


    Half an hourter, Abel emerged from the treatment room.


    "How is he?" Alyssa asked urgently, gripping the hem of Abel''s coat, her eyes burning with hope. "Is it just short-term memory loss? He''ll recover fully... right?"


    "About Mr. Winston-"


    At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Justin and Sheryl, followed closely by several subordinates, strode toward Alyssa from the far end, their expressions tense and urgent.