The night Mathias Thomas—the old-money Thomas heir—mysteriously vanished from downtown New York, I, Yara, stumbled on a badly injured man on a quiet Pittsburgh side street.
"It's you... I finally found you." His voice was barely there, but his eyes burned with an unsettling intensity.
The moment I recognized his face, terror shot through me and I almost bolted. Ten days earlier, thanks to my scheming stepmother's manipulation, I'd ended up in a stranger's bed.
I'd assumed the guy was some high-end escort from a club and left him a generous tip. Then the rumors started—Mathias Thomas, the newly returned Thomas heir, was hunting for a woman. The payback people whispered about was ruthless enough to make my blood run cold. After I saw his photo, I realized the so-called escort was none other than Mathias.
And the woman he was desperately hunting for? That would be me.
I'd managed to keep my head down for ten days and never expected to run into him like this. Now here he was, barely clinging to life, asking for my help—past grudges and all.
"Help me..."
I hesitated. If I helped him, he'd definitely want payback once he recovered. If I didn't, the guilt would eat me alive.
Finally, I made my choice. Kneeling beside him, I aimed my phone camera at his face and laid out my terms.
"I'll help you, but whatever happened between us is forgotten. You can't come after me for it."
Mathias didn't answer. Instead, he mustered the last of his strength to grab my pant leg. "I'm... hurt... it has to stay quiet. Don't tell anyone, or else... or else..."
"You're seriously threatening me right now?" I frowned. "Why keep it secret?"
Mathias had already passed out, leaving me no choice but to drag him to the nearest private hospital. After a thorough exam, the doctor said, "Blunt force trauma to the back of the skull, seven stab wounds, severe blood loss. He needs a transfusion immediately."
A chill slithered down my spine. Injuries that brutal meant dangerous enemies. No wonder he wanted secrecy. Compared to this high-stakes nightmare, the mess with my stepmother felt like child's play. And remembering I'd mistaken this heir for a mere escort? That chill turned to ice. If Mathias hadn't been hurt when he came looking for me, I might be the one lying here half-dead.
This was my shot to smooth things over. I had to take it.
"Then hurry up and give him the transfusion!"
"He's AB negative. We're short on supply and need to get more from the city blood bank. That'll take at least an hour and a half—he doesn't have that kind of time."
My face dropped. Reluctantly, I offered my arm.
"I'm AB negative."
Since I'm on the slim side, donating a full unit left me so dizzy I nearly passed out. I glared at Mathias's unconscious body and muttered, "Now your life is in my hands. You should treat me like a saint. Whatever happened between us? Completely forgotten."
Once his wounds were treated, Mathias was moved to a private room, and I stayed by his bedside all night, afraid of what might happen.
He woke the next morning. With dark circles under my eyes, I greeted him with a relieved smile. "Good morning. How are you feeling?"
His dark eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me. After a long beat, his voice came out rough and confused. "Who are you?"
My attempt at playing nice froze. "What... what do you mean? You don't remember me?"
A giddy rush shot through me—if he didn't remember me, then he'd forgotten our night together!
Mathias's gaze stayed blank. Then he dropped the real bombshell. "Who am I?"
"Doctor!" I shrieked, jabbing the call button. Doctors and nurses rushed in.
"He seems to have lost his memory!" I stammered in disbelief.
The doctors ran a battery of tests and asked, "Do you remember your name?"
Mathias shook his head.
"Do you remember what happened yesterday, or how you got hurt?"
Again, he shook his head.
"And what about her? Do you recognize her?"
Mathias followed the doctor's gaze, his eyes settling on me for a long moment before he gave a faint nod. "I remember..."
"You do?!" My mind was spinning, flying up and down like a roller coaster. The clarity in his eyes nearly brought me to tears. "Wait—didn't you just say you didn't?"
The doctor explained, "His head injury caused a concussion, leading to temporary amnesia or memory confusion."
"So the amnesia is temporary, and he might eventually remember everything?" I asked, panicked.
The doctor sighed. "It's uncertain, but don't worry too much. His vital signs are stable. With continued observation and treatment, he might gradually regain his memories."
Honestly, it'd be better if he forgot everything.
As the doctor left, he reminded me, "You gave him a substantial amount of blood. You need to rest. We don't want you collapsing before he recovers."
I thanked them and walked the medical staff out. When I came back, I handed Mathias a cup of warm water, my mind racing.
"So, you really remember me? Something specific?"
Please let it be that he only remembers last night—not New York.
Mathias took a sip, his gaze lingering on the bruise on my arm from the transfusion. His voice was still weak, but it didn't carry the cold edge I'd braced for. "The doctor said you donated blood to me."
I seized the chance to cash in some goodwill and nodded eagerly. "A full unit! You'd lost so much blood, you might be dead right now if it weren't for me."
"Thank you..." His eyes softened with genuine gratitude.
I blinked. "Wait, did I just hear that right? You're actually thanking me?"
Rumor had it the Thomas heir was moody, vindictive, and ruthless. Yet right now he was being perfectly polite—almost sweet. Could amnesia really change someone's whole personality?
Mathias frowned slightly. "You saved me and took care of me. Shouldn't I be grateful?"
I was beaming on the inside as I nodded. Feeling bold, I tested the waters. "So... do you remember me because I saved your life?"
Mathias met my gaze and slowly shook his head.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. "Then why?"
A teasing smirk played on his lips. "Because we... spent the night together."
My eyes went wide, and I clamped a hand over his mouth. "You're making that up!"
Was he secretly some kind of pervert? He forgot everything except the night we hooked up?
His breath warmed my palm as he whispered, "You have a red birthmark on your lower back."
My hand instinctively flew to the spot. "..."
He remembered.
Forcing myself to stay calm, I pulled my hand back and sat down beside him, studying his face. "What else... what else do you remember? Tell me everything."
Again, he shook his head.
I dug my nails into my palm until they left little crescents, fighting the panic. "So what do you think our relationship is?"
Mathias furrowed his brow and smirked. "What else would it be? We're obviously..."
My breath caught. My cheeks flushed as I watched him hover right on the edge of saying it.
"... a couple."
The answer took me so off guard I let out a massive sigh of relief.
My eyes sparkled with mischief as I nodded eagerly. "See? You do remember!"
Lovers were a hell of a lot better than enemies. Playing into his amnesia was my best move. Once his memory came back, whatever bond we'd built might keep him from going scorched earth on me.
Besides, fake-dating the rich, charming, dangerously capable Mathias Thomas? That cost me nothing.
But Mathias's brows pulled together. "But it feels... like it isn't just a simple relationship."
I wanted to beg him to just spit it out already—this stop-and-go thing was making me insane.
I stammered some kind of response while my brain scrambled through every possible scenario. The more I tried to think, the blanker I went.
Mathias watched me squirm. "Tell me about our past. It might help bring my memory back."
I had zero intention of helping his memory come back too fast. I dodged, "The doctor said you shouldn't push yourself. I'll fill you in later. Let me go take care of your hospital bill first."
I fled the room and slumped against the hallway wall, taking deep breaths and trying to figure out my next move when my phone rang, nearly scaring me out of my skin.
It was my best friend, Avianna. "Yara, I have amazing news!"
"You've been looking for an alternative treatment for your mom, right? Well, I have it on good authority that the Thomas Group has been developing exactly that. They're in phase three clinical trials. I'll get you connected with Mathias Thomas so you can get the drug. This could actually cure your mom!"
My mom has been battling a rare, incurable disease. The meds from our family's pharmaceutical company could manage the symptoms, but they couldn't cure her. Since the divorce, she'd gotten worse—sometimes even forgetting her own daughter. Her doctors warned that without a new treatment, her prognosis was grim.
Avianna's news sent a tremor of hope through me. "Wait—Mathias? Are you sure? He really has the medication?"
"Absolutely. My source is solid. But he's been overseas for years and only just came back, so getting in touch is tricky. Hang tight."
I stared at Mathias's door, then rushed back inside.
Facing him again, I put on my sweetest smile and made my voice drip with honey. "Love~"
"Love??!" Mathias practically shot upright, startled by the pet name.
I batted my lashes, completely unfazed by my own audacity. "Of course. You said it yourself—we're more than just a couple."
"Because... we're married!"
