𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅

It was raining the night Dominic Wolfe forgot her.

The roads outside Rome shimmered under the downpour, slick and dangerous. Streetlights blurred against the glass. Windshield wipers moved like a ticking clock, steady and oblivious.

Inside the black sports car, it was warm. Golden. Safe.

And so unfairly beautiful.

Vivienne leaned back, the hem of her dress still damp from earlier. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips stained from wine. She looked out the window like the world beyond it could wait.

"This is beautiful," she said, her voice soft. "Everything about tonight feels like a dream."

Dominic glanced at her, one hand steady on the wheel, the other tapping the gear. "You sure you're not just tipsy on overpriced Italian wine?"

She smiled lazily. "Maybe. But mostly drunk on you."

He chuckled under his breath. "That's worse. I'm a very dangerous addiction."

"Tell me about it." She turned to him fully, her eyes reflecting the faint glow from the dashboard. "You ever think about what happens next? When we're not hiding in this little fantasy?"

His jaw tensed slightly. "No," he said. "I'm not letting real life ruin this yet."

She reached for his free hand, threading her fingers through his. "We did it, Dom. We actually ran off and got married. Can you believe that?"

"You're not regretting it, are you?" he asked, glancing at her quickly.

"Not even close."

His lips twitched. That rare smile-the one no one else ever got to see. It belonged to her alone.

"You're not who people think you are," she said, tracing circles on his palm.

"What? You mean I'm not a heartless, ruthless billionaire with zero moral compass?" he smirked.

"You're still grumpy. Still a control freak. But there's so much more underneath."

He raised a brow. "Because I'm soft with you?"

"Because you love me."

He didn't deny it.

Instead, his hand tightened around hers. "I don't do this with anyone else, Vi. Only you."

She leaned over slightly, brushing her shoulder against his. "I know."

A beat passed. The rain got heavier.

"I have something to tell you," she said quietly.

His eyes flicked to her. "You do?"

"Yes. But not yet... Keep your eyes on the road."

He gave her a look. "A hint?"

She bit her lip. "No."

"A kiss, then."

"Dom."

"Just one."

"You'll crash the car."

"I'll crash anyway if you keep saying no."

She laughed, trying to push his face away. "Idiot."

He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. "One day, I'm gonna be a boring husband who drives slow and argues about grocery lists."

"No you won't," she said. "You'll always be this reckless, infuriating man I ran away with."

His smile faded slightly, eyes softening. "Happy anniversary, Mrs. Wolfe."

"Happy anniversary."

Then-

A bend too sharp.

A second too fast.

And the world flipped.

His hands gripped the wheel. Her scream caught in her throat.

The tires lost control. The car spun, glass shattered-

Metal screamed against metal.

Darkness. Silence.

And just like that-

he forgot her.

Everything stopped for a minute and then a cold Silence.

The kind that wraps around you like water-thick, heavy, and suffocating.

Rain still fell. Steam hissed from the hood. Somewhere, a tire spun in place, useless.

Vivienne stirred.

Her fingers twitched against broken glass.

She gasped softly, the pain sharp and immediate-but not what she reached for.

Her hands moved shakily to her stomach.

Still there... please still there.

Tears stung her eyes as she dragged herself toward the driver's seat, blood smearing her wrist.

"Dom..." her voice was barely a whisper. "Dominic..."

He was slumped over the wheel. Blood on his temple. Eyes closed.

"No. No, no, no-" She touched his face with trembling hands. "Dom, please... look at me. Please."

He didn't move.

She leaned forward, forehead pressed to his shoulder, clutching him with everything she had left. "Don't forget me," she breathed. "Don't you dare forget me."

Then-

Darkness swallowed her whole.

---

Beeping.

Steady. Cold. Too clean.

Vivienne's eyes fluttered open to sterile white lights. The scent of antiseptic burned her nose.

A monitor beeped beside her. An IV was taped to her arm.

She blinked slowly. Swallowed.

Pain. Fog. A world she didn't remember stepping into.

"Dom?"

A nurse leaned over, adjusting the IV drip.

"Ma'am, please-try not to move. You've been unconscious for two days."

Vivienne's throat was raw. "Where is he?"

She struggled to sit up. "My husband. Dominic Wolfe."

The nurse froze. "I'm sorry... There was no one else in the vehicle."

Vivienne blinked at her. "What?"

"You were alone, ma'am. Paramedics pulled one person from the wreck. You."

"No." Her voice cracked. "No, you're wrong. He was driving. He was with me. He never lets me drive."

"Ma'am-"

"You're wrong! We were together. He held my hand. We kissed right before the crash-he was there."

The nurse stepped back slightly, trying to calm her. "Your car was registered in your name. There was no ID for anyone else. You were alone."

"That's not true!"

Tears burned down her cheeks. "He wouldn't leave me. He hates it when I'm not near him. He-he gets mad when I go to the bathroom without telling him!"

"Ma'am," the nurse said gently. "I know this is hard. But stressing yourself could affect your recovery. And the baby."

Vivienne froze. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.

"The baby...?"

"Still strong. Miraculously." The nurse smiled softly. "You're lucky."

Vivienne sank back, breath shaky. But then her brows furrowed. "No," she whispered. "No. Something's wrong."

She yanked the IV out with a hiss, ignoring the nurse's alarmed cry.

"Ma'am! You can't just-!"

But Vivienne was already up, legs trembling, hand pressed to her side. "Where's the computer? Where do you keep patient records?"

At the nurses' station, her voice was sharper.

"Dominic Wolfe. I need his room number. Now."

The nurse at the desk eyed her hospital gown and pale face. "Only family is allowed-"

"I am his family. I'm his wife. Look it up."

The nurse hesitated, then typed something. "Room 214. ICU. But I'm telling you-"

Vivienne was gone.

She reached the door, barely able to stand.

It was slightly open.

Voices inside. A soft laugh.

She pushed it open.

Dominic sat up in bed, bruised but alive. Bandages across his forehead. IV in his arm. Awake.

And beside him-

A blonde woman in designer clothes. Touching his arm, sitting too damn close.