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The woman repeated softly, as if clinging to the sound itself,
"Claire… Claire…"
The name echoed weakly in the cold air, as though it were the only thing anchoring her mind.
"Do you have any impression?" Jack asked carefully, his voice deliberately gentle. "Wife?"
Claire shook her head slowly. Confusion clouded her eyes.
"No… I don't. I can't remember anything. Who are you?"
"I'm your husband." Jack's brows knit together, his face filled with visible distress. "How could this happen? You really don't remember anything at all?"
The White Queen stepped closer and examined Claire carefully. Her gaze stopped at Claire's lower abdomen, where a red mechanical spider-like device clung tightly to her body.
"This device," the White Queen said, "can control a person's mind."
"Then let me remove it." Jack reached toward Claire.
"Don't touch me!" Claire cried out, instinctively backing away.
"Wife, calm down." Jack placed his hand gently against Claire's abdomen. Though the touch itself was careful and restrained, Jack's expression was serious and focused. "I'm helping you."
The red mechanical spider suddenly tightened its grip, its six metal legs clamping down as if resisting separation.
"It looks like I'll need to use a bit of force." Jack's pupils shifted subtly.
With a sharp movement, Jack grasped the mechanical spider. The device struggled for a moment, then loosened its legs and was pulled free.
Jack held it up and frowned.
"How did something like this end up on your body?"
Claire shook her head weakly.
"I don't know… I don't know what it is."
"Wife…" Jack sighed deeply. His face was full of apology. "This is all my fault. I couldn't stay by your side, and you ended up suffering so much."
Claire looked at him hesitantly, searching his face.
"Are you… really?"
"Naturally." Jack answered without hesitation.
Claire then turned her gaze toward the White Queen.
"Who is she?"
Jack replied smoothly, "She's a little girl we rescued from an Umbrella Corporation branch base. A pitiful child. You can call her the White Queen."
The White Queen remained silent. Under Jack's subtle but unmistakable warning glance, she could only nod.
Claire lowered her head for a moment, then asked quietly,
"Can you tell me… what happened?"
"Of course." Jack nodded and began speaking slowly, carefully crafting each word.
"We were a happy husband and wife. Life was peaceful… until one day, a virus swept across the entire world."
"Humans turned into zombies," he continued. "Together, we formed a convoy, searching for survivors."
"We found dozens of people. We traveled everywhere, searching for food, fuel, and safety."
"Later, we heard news that Alaska was not infected—no zombies, no virus." Jack's voice grew steadier. "So we led the convoy toward Alaska."
"But unfortunately," Jack paused briefly, his expression darkening, "a powerful company noticed us. Umbrella Corporation."
"They set a trap. Our convoy was destroyed. In the end… only a few survived."
Jack stopped speaking for several seconds. His face was filled with sorrow, as though he were reliving the pain. His clenched fists trembled slightly, fully immersed in the story he was telling.
Claire clenched her jaw.
"And then?"
"Then we had to take revenge." Jack's voice hardened. "Those people couldn't die in vain. We found an Umbrella base in the desert and infiltrated it."
"But too many had already died." Jack continued. "So I decided to carry this hatred alone."
"You refused to leave me. I had no choice but to knock you unconscious and send you to Alaska by helicopter."
"I destroyed the Umbrella base. I survived. I didn't die." Jack's eyes burned with determination. "I had to find you."
"Finally, I arrived here." He slammed his fist lightly against the ground. "But this wasn't the paradise I imagined. You ended up like this… and the others who came with you were gone. What exactly happened here?"
The White Queen watched silently from the side. Even she, with her massive data-processing ability, couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief. His ability to lie with such confidence and detail was astonishing.
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know… I can't remember…"
Suddenly, she cried out in pain.
"Ah!"
Jack immediately caught her as she staggered.
"Don't think about it. If it hurts, don't think." His voice softened. "Wife, I don't want to see you suffer."
Claire was held tightly in his arms. She could feel the warmth of his body and the steadiness of his breathing. For reasons she couldn't explain, the tension in her chest eased slightly.
Deep inside, she believed most of what he said. Not all—but enough.
"Can you… let go of me?" Claire said softly.
Jack released her at once.
"I'll untie you now. Earlier, you weren't willing to listen to me. I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Claire shook her head. "My memory hasn't returned yet. Being called 'wife' still feels strange."
Jack smiled faintly.
"You'll get used to it. But if you're uncomfortable, I'll call you Claire."
"Mm."
Jack untied the rope.
"Alright, Claire."
Claire stood up slowly and looked down at herself.
"I need to take a bath. Do you have clothes?"
"There are clothes in the helicopter," Jack replied. "But there's no place to bathe here."
"The beach is ahead. There's seawater there."
"Claire, the water here is very cold," Jack said with concern.
"I can endure it." Claire replied calmly. "Since you're my husband… you should believe me."
Jack smiled gently.
"Husband believes you."
Claire snorted softly.
"Call me Claire." She turned toward the White Queen. "Bring the clothes later."
She walked toward the beach, her figure gradually disappearing into the cold wind.
The White Queen watched her go, then turned to Jack.
"Jack, you're really shameless. Deceiving someone who lost her memory."
Jack's expression grew deep and unreadable.
"This isn't deception," he said slowly. "She lost her memory, yes. But I'll give her happiness."
"Don't you think that makes me great?"
"I only think you're the most evil and shameless person."
Jack smiled faintly.
"Little White Queen, your courage has grown. Speaking like that to your uncle… looks like I haven't taught you enough."
The White Queen trembled slightly and immediately said,
"I'll go deliver the clothes to Claire."
She turned and ran.
Jack lifted his gaze toward the distant sky. A small red aircraft was approaching rapidly.
"She's here…" Jack murmured. "Alice."
The red aircraft descended slowly, gliding across the field before coming to a stop.
Alice stood on the wing, scanning the surroundings. Her gaze finally locked onto the helicopter Jack and the White Queen had arrived in.
She picked up her weapon and began walking toward it. When she was about ten meters away, she slowed her steps, caution and suspicion written clearly across her face.