Olivia’s POV

I stepped out of the bathroom and found the healer waiting at the door. Our eyes met, and I swallowed hard. I couldn’t tell if he truly believed I’d lost my memory or if he knew I was lying and was simply playing along.

“How are you feeling today?” he asked.

I swallowed again, maintaining my charade, even though a voice deep inside told me it was unnecessary. “I’m… fine,” I whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

He nodded and glanced at Nora and Lolita. “Could your handmaids give us a moment?” he asked.

I blinked, confused. Why did he want them to leave?

“Is there a problem?”

The healer shook his head. “No… I just want a private session with you. That’s what I told the Alphas.”

I still didn’t see any reason for Nora and Lolita to leave, but I respected his request. I gave them a small nod, and they quietly left.

The door clicked shut, and an eerie silence settled between the healer and me. He didn’t speak, just stood there, watching me with eyes far wiser than I’d initially assumed. I sat motionless, my heart pounding.

He finally stepped forward, placing his satchel on the bedside table but not opening it. Instead, he faced me directly, his expression unreadable.

“I’ve been a healer for over thirty years, Luna Olivia,” he said calmly, folding his hands. “Do you really think I wouldn’t recognize when someone is acting?”

My heart sank.

“I… I don’t know what you mean,” I whispered, my voice dry and lifeless.

He smiled faintly, not unkindly. “You’re good. Very good. Most wouldn’t have noticed. But I’ve watched countless faces—real pain, real confusion, real trauma—and yours?” He paused, tilting his head. “It’s practiced. Controlled. Too deliberate. I knew the moment I examined you… you hadn’t lost your memory.”

I gasped, my fingers curling into the bedsheets.

“Then why…” I finally whispered. “Why did you go along with it? Why didn’t you tell them?”

The healer’s expression softened.

“Because I believe you have your reasons,” he said simply. “And more than that… I saw everything, Olivia. Everything that happened to your family. Your father’s arrest… you and your mother demoted to omegas.”

I blinked, my vision blurring. My throat tightened.

“I was there that night,” he continued. “I saw the pain in your eyes when your father was sentenced to life imprisonment… I saw everything, and I knew he was innocent, but I had no proof.”

Tears welled in my eyes. It was a relief to know someone besides my mother and I believed my father was innocent.

He took a step closer. “I wished I could have helped then, but I couldn’t. So when you woke up pretending to remember nothing, I saw the eagerness in your eyes, that spark of someone with a plan. And I decided… if you were trying to survive, the least I could do was not get in your way.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks, and I didn’t bother wiping them.

“You have no idea how much that means to me,” I whispered.

He offered a slight smile. “I think I do. Just… be careful, Olivia. You’re not surrounded by fools. The moment your act slips, the wrong person might see it—and that could end very badly.”

“I know,” I murmured.

He opened his satchel and produced a small brown bottle. He placed it carefully in my hand.

I stared at it, confused and curious. “What is this?”

“It’s a memory-confusion potion,” he said in a hushed voice. “A very rare brew, nearly impossible to find these days without raising suspicion. I made this myself, specifically for you.”

I looked up at him sharply. “What does it do?”

The healer sighed, lowering his voice further. “If the Alphas ever doubt me—if they call in another healer to examine you—take this a few minutes beforehand. It will affect your mind temporarily. Your responses will become sluggish, your attention will drift, and your emotions will seem detached. To any trained healer, it will look exactly like someone who has suffered trauma-induced memory loss.”

I held the bottle tighter, as if it were my lifeline. “Will it hurt?”

He hesitated. “It won’t cause physical pain, but it may disorient you. For a few minutes, you might genuinely forget where you are or who you’re with. But it won’t last long. Just long enough to fool the observer.”

I nodded slowly. “Why are you doing this?” I asked, more from emotion than curiosity.

He smiled faintly. “Because I couldn’t help your father. But I can help you.”

He looked away for a moment, his jaw clenched, as if still haunted by the memory.

More tears gathered in my eyes.

“Hide the potion well,” he warned gently. “Only use it if absolutely necessary. And if it ever runs out… tell your handmaid to call me. I’ll make another.”

I nodded, carefully tucking the bottle beneath the mattress.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He bowed slightly and moved to the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. “I’ll still play my part. I’ll tell them your headaches are worsening, that your emotional state is deteriorating. I’ll make sure they see what you want them to see.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Thank you… for trusting me. For helping.”

He nodded, opened the door, and left.

The moment the door shut, I buried my face in my hands and let out a long, shaking breath.

“Thank you, Moon Goddess… things are falling into place,” I whispered.

The door opened. Lolita and Nora entered and closed the door. They looked concerned, but I reassured them with a smile. “He knows, but he’s helping me,” I said.

They sighed in relief and approached.

“That’s good news, but we have bad news to share…” Nora said, worried.

My brows furrowed. “What is it?” I asked, already apprehensive.