Souvenir - Chapter 4.3

I whispered the only thing I could:

“It’s alright. I’ll protect you.”

Even as darkness closed in again, even as pain tore through me, I clung to her—until I lost consciousness.

I woke to a small, warm weight against my hand.

Slowly, my vision adjusted.

The first thing I saw was a pair of striking emerald-green eyes, gleaming like precious stones.

Golden hair shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the window.

The steady beeping of medical monitors, the faint antiseptic scent in the air—it all clicked into place.

I was in a hospital.

Memories flooded back.

I had been stabbed.

And the child gripping my hand… she was Vera’s daughter.

The realization settled in slowly, followed by a more practical thought—who had handled my medical expenses? Who had taken care of the paperwork? Would I have to testify in court about what had happened?

I had trained for countless legal cases, extracting testimonies from others. But I had never imagined I would be the one standing in the witness box.

I shifted slightly, trying to speak—only to realize how parched my throat was.

Before I could ask for water, the girl gasped, letting out a small, startled cry.

Then, without warning, she let go of my hand and bolted for the door.

A strange pang of loneliness settled in my chest.

I couldn’t remember the last time someone had held my hand for so long.

Her hand had been so small, so soft—cold on the surface, but warm inside.

Soon, I heard hurried footsteps. The girl returned, accompanied by a doctor in a white coat.

“You’re awake,” the doctor said, stepping closer. “How are you feeling?”

“My throat is dry…”

“You can’t drink water yet, but here—”

He handed me a damp cloth.

My mind was still foggy, likely from the medication. I felt exhaustion tugging at me again, but something wouldn’t let me rest.

Something nagged at the back of my mind.

Work.

There were cases I had been handling before the incident. Had my clients been taken care of?

Even after escaping death, I was still a workaholic.

But before I could dwell on it, a commotion broke out in the hallway.

A familiar voice.

Then, the door swung open with a loud bang.

Alex strode in.

“Well, well, Tommy. The moment I heard you were awake, I rushed over.”

“Alex.”

He exchanged a few words with the girl, who hesitated before glancing at me once more. Then she turned and slipped out of the room.

Alex took a seat in the chair she had just vacated.

“Well,” he said, stretching out his legs. “That was one hell of a mess.”

“No kidding.”

“But at least you made it out alive.”

I let out a slow breath. “I never thought my legal career would involve getting stabbed. I always assumed the worst that could happen was getting shoved around at a protest or having some irate client grab me by the collar.”

Alex snorted. “Yeah, well, the doctor said if the knife had gone just a few centimeters deeper, you might’ve never walked again. And if it had been aimed a little higher, it would’ve been fatal.”

“…Thanks for getting there in time.”

Alex waved a hand dismissively. “Please. But actually, I do owe you an apology.”

I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“Well… Jeff and I had a bet going.”

“…A bet?”

“Yeah. We were trying to guess whether you’d survive or not. If you died, I was gonna keep your car and watch.”

I sighed. “That’s so like you. And here I thought you already had better cars and watches than me.”

“Oh, I do,” Alex said with a smirk. “But I figured, if you kicked the bucket, I could take your place. Y’know—dye my hair black, grow it out all dramatic-like, and—”

I groaned. “Get out.”

Alex just laughed, completely unfazed.

And for the first time since waking up, I smiled.

Alex ran a hand through his slicked-back hair, tugging at the left side to muss it slightly.

Was my hairstyle really so effeminate to him?

I had always thought it practical—waxed back neatly, a professional look that suited the courtroom. I only ever stiffened it with extra product on days I had to stand before a judge. It had served me well in my career, and I had never questioned it.

But now, thanks to him, I couldn’t help but think about it.

I supposed it was a hairstyle common among Japanese businessmen.