Chapter 244

Latisha took the pills and swallowed them obediently. Clifford watched her, his gaze intense. As if sensing his scrutiny, Latisha looked up and met his eyes. She saw a flicker of confusion in them, though she couldn't understand why. She simply offered him a faint smile.

Suddenly, he leaned in, their faces inches apart. He seemed to be searching her features for something, some hidden clue.

Latisha pursed her lips and raised a hand to touch his cheek. Then she signed, *I have a cold. I don't want to get you sick.*

"I'm not afraid," he murmured, his eyes locked on hers.

At that, she leaned forward and gave him a fleeting kiss, light as a butterfly's touch, before pulling away.

Clifford's lips tightened into a thin line. He took her hand in his but said nothing more, just continued to look at her, his gaze deep and probing. Latisha didn't look away. She met his stare with her own clear eyes, the fear and distance she'd shown during the day completely gone. It was like a long time ago.

And that was the source of Clifford's confusion. Could Latisha act? He didn't think so. Her face was an open book; he could always tell when her emotions were genuine.

After what felt like an eternity, he leaned in to kiss her again. The moment their lips touched, Latisha closed her eyes.

But just as quickly, he pulled away and told her to get some sleep. She lay down as he walked out of the bedroom. As he went to close the door, he glanced back. She was lying quietly on the bed, her head resting on her hand, her eyes still fixed on him. Something unreadable flashed in his expression before he pulled the door shut.

The medicine began to take effect, and Latisha's eyelids grew heavy. Sometime in the dead of night, she jolted awake. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes wide and vacant.

Nikita had gone abroad... She had left Etherea City a month ago, a pawn in a scheme orchestrated by Santino and tacitly allowed by Clifford. She had forgotten something so critically important!

...

The next morning, Clifford was gone. The rain had finally stopped. Latisha sent a message to Clifford, telling him she was going to the hospital because she still felt unwell from the fever.

Not long after, Dr. Harmon arrived.

"Ma'am, are you still running a fever? Let me have a look." He put down his medical bag and moved to take her pulse.

Latisha pulled her hand back and instead typed a message on her phone for him to read: *Dr. Harmon, why do I keep forgetting things recently, only to remember them later on?*

She had forgotten minor things before, but when she eventually remembered them, she hadn't given it much thought. But yesterday's conversation with Nikita had been a wake-up call; she had forgotten something major.

Dr. Harmon's expression turned serious as he read the words on ber phone, He studied Latisha for a long moment before asking. Are the

things you forget random, of are

they mostly recent events?"

Latisha shook her head and typed: *I don't know. Some things I forget and then

remember. I haven't really been paying attention.*

Dr. Harmon was quiet for a moment.

"Alright, for the next two days, I want you to pay close attention. Write down anything

you remember forgetting. We need to see if there's a pattern-if it's random or recent."

Latisha typed: *What's the difference?*

"If it's random," Dr. Harmon explained, "it could be a form of intermittent amnesia

caused by a brain injury. But if it's primarily recent memories..."

Latisha stared at him, her heart pounding as she waited for him to finish.

Dr. Harmon seemed to struggle with the words. He took a breath and forced himself

to say it. "If it's recent memories, then it could very well be..."

Latisha held her breath.

"Alzheimer's disease."