Her memories are back

Just as Alexander turned to leave, Anna suddenly clutched her head, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.

The pain was instant and overwhelming—as if a thousand needles were piercing her skull at once. A choked sob broke from her throat as she stumbled backward, her knees buckling.

"Anna!" Alexander rushed forward, catching her just before she collapsed. His strong arms wrapped around her trembling frame, his voice laced with panic. "What's wrong? Talk to me!"

But she couldn't answer.

Flashes of images, voices, emotions—all of them rushed into her mind at once, an uncontrollable tidal wave of memories that had been locked away for so long.

She saw herself as a child, laughing as she ran through a grand garden, a warm hand holding hers—her father's hand. He looked down at her with so much love in his eyes.

"My little princess," he said, picking her up and twirling her around.

The vision shattered into another—