Mathias's lips curved into a faint grin. "I thought my wife had lost her memory and wouldn't let me touch her. Had me a little worried."

The corner of Mathias's mouth twitched, as if he were trying not to smile at me.

He let out a low chuckle. "How old are you?"

With that expressive face of mine, I sometimes looked like a teary-eyed child, much younger than I actually was.

I pulled out the forged county marriage certificate I'd prepared ahead of time and handed it over. "Amnesia doesn't mean you forgot how to read, does it?"

Mathias took it, studying the document. "I may have lost my memory, but I'm not an idiot. Of course I can read."

After scanning the marriage certificate, he looked back at me, slightly stunned. "You're only twenty-one?"

Yeah. Really young.

I nodded. "I just graduated from college this year."

Mathias shifted his attention to his own information.

Name: Mathias Thomas.

Age: 27.

"So we're from New York. What are we doing here?"

I had our backstory down pat. As I kept helping him freshen up, I explained, "My family owns a pharmaceutical company, and there's an old factory here. My dad sent me over for some hands-on experience. Since I came to Pittsburgh, you naturally came with me."

The first part was true.

Lucien, pushed by his current wife, had shipped me off to this dreary place for "experience."

But I hadn't wanted to go. I had little management experience, and I knew some of the company's old guard were in my stepmother's pocket. The whole thing reeked of a setup.

Then, ten days ago, everything tilted. When I learned Mathias was out for revenge, I packed up and slipped away overnight.

Somehow, we still crossed paths again.

I went on, "Last night, you probably got into some trouble and got mugged. Before you passed out, you said you didn't want your parents to worry, so you asked me not to tell them. Lucky for us, we're far enough away that word won't get back to them."

After all, keeping his injuries quiet had been Mathias's call, so I wasn't exactly lying.

Mathias frowned a little. "What did I do before?"

I looked into his eyes, trying to read his expression before answering carefully. "Our families are in the same industry, and you've been researching Mixed Hypersensitivity Syndrome."

Mixed Hypersensitivity Syndrome was exactly my mother's rare illness.

People who suffered from it were extremely sensitive to light, wind, water temperature, sound, and vibrations. Too much of any one of them could trigger a violent episode.

My mother had lived in a quiet countryside care facility for years. Every time I visited, I could only see her from a distance.

Thinking about my mother's years of suffering made my nose sting and my eyes burn, but I kept my voice light.

"You told me your research had made a major breakthrough—that you'd developed a cure. Once all the clinical trials pass, it'll be available on the market."

Mathias narrowed his eyes. "Mixed Hypersensitivity Syndrome?"

I pushed down the hope rising in my chest. "Does that ring any bells?"

After thinking for a moment, Mathias shook his head.

I hid my disappointment. "That's okay. Once you're better, it might come back to you. You said it was instinct—that you'd remember once you saw the documents."

Mathias didn't push. Instead, something else caught his attention. "So you're managing a company now?"

I beamed. "Impressive, right? Your wife's pretty capable!"

The conversation loosened, and Mathias's lips twitched into a smirk. "You're young and a woman. You think you can handle them?"

I sighed internally at his words.

I'd only been in Pittsburgh a few days, but I'd already run into plenty of trouble.

Most of the company's higher-ups were seasoned veterans over forty. They weren't about to bow to some young newcomer.

With my stepmother's allies stirring the pot, they constantly tried to undercut me.

But I hadn't come to Pittsburgh to fail. If I did, my stepmother would use my inability to manage a small company as an excuse to keep me out of the main office.

I needed everyone to know exactly who was in charge.

Even with all the stress, I kept my cool on the outside.

"The company belongs to my family. They wouldn't dare disrespect me. Managing them is a piece of cake!"

Mathias noticed my youthful bravado and chuckled. "Let's hope so."

I huffed, playing along. "Even if I'm still green, once you recover, I'll have you backing me up. You can whip them into shape!"

I was only half joking, but Mathias surprised me by agreeing. "All right."

"Really?!" My eyes lit up with excitement.

Mathias nodded.

I could barely contain myself, bouncing on the spot.

The Thomas family had a long business lineage and had survived every kind of challenge. Anyone with the Thomas name was a force to be reckoned with. If Mathias really stepped in, he'd have the Pittsburgh branch under control in no time.

Mathias squinted. "Is it really that big of a deal?"

I nodded eagerly. "It means you're making a move, and I could get emotional!"

"With our combined strength, we'll turn this struggling factory around. My dad will let me into the main company. Then I'll hand over my shares and make you the boss while I trail behind and enjoy the rewards!"

Mathias watched me get lost in my daydream, smiling along. "Then show me the company's documents."

Having grown up around business dealings, Mathias naturally found corporate management fascinating.

I, however, shook my head. "Not now. You're still recovering. Wouldn't it be heartless to make you work?"

Mathias, bored lying there, tried to negotiate. "Just a quick look."

I put on my stern-wife act. "Not even for a minute! Your job right now is to rest. Once you're healed, you can dive in."

Mathias couldn't argue with that, so he settled for a compromise. "If I can't see them, can you at least tell me about it?"

Seeing how restless he was, I thought it over. "All right."

I'd already run into problems anyway. I could use advice from a business prodigy.

So I explained the general situation at the Pittsburgh company.

My family's business had started here and done well. Eventually, to expand, the core business moved to New York, though some operations and production lines stayed behind.

In recent years, the Pittsburgh branch had struggled, and Lucien had considered shutting it down. But some local company veterans refused to move to the New York headquarters or agree to the closure, dragging things out.

Mathias listened with his eyes closed, looking like he was resting. "Those old-timers just treat it like a retirement home."

I grew more agitated. "Exactly! The company relies on subsidies from headquarters. These old leeches don't generate any profit, but as shareholders, they still collect dividends from the main office. They're total freeloaders!"

Mathias said, "They're used to coasting. Now that you've suddenly shown up in charge, they'll try to push you out."

His words struck a nerve.

Even though I was officially the top manager, my authority was mostly for show. Everyone brushed off my efforts.

Ten days in, and I still hadn't even accessed the company's core data, let alone made any real progress.

Undeterred, I scoffed. "Me? Scared? I'll bring them to heel eventually!"

Mathias opened his eyes, intrigued. "How do you plan to do that?"

I boasted, "I have my ways! Just keep watching. Your wife is no pushover!"

Mathias smiled. "Want some advice?"

My eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I'm all ears."

Mathias generously shared his wisdom. "First, build a loyal crew. Second, make an example out of someone. Lastly, take down the biggest threat!"

My eyes brightened. "You totally get me!"

I'd actually been thinking about all this before, but I couldn't figure out how to even get started. Everything felt so chaotic—just way too overwhelming.

I sighed. "It's a shame I haven't found anyone I can trust yet."

I'd originally planned to spend the weekend getting to know all the employees and seeing if there was anyone I could take under my wing. But after running into Mathias, all my time went to the hospital, and work completely fell off my radar.

Mathias suggested, "Do we have employee files? Let's go through them together."

His idea hit the nail on the head, so I decided to drop my earlier vow not to lean on his help. Grabbing my laptop, I sat down beside him.

"I'll hold it while you look."

We sat shoulder to shoulder, and I started explaining the company setup with real enthusiasm.

"Here's how the company is structured. Before I got here, it was run by Howard Blake, a local who fought every change tooth and nail. Most of the department heads he appointed are locals too. Uprooting them is next to impossible, so finding an ally among the higher-ups isn't going to work."

Mathias listened closely, his expression turning serious. "It doesn't matter. Sometimes even the smallest player can make a huge impact."

I nodded, just as serious. "But I still don't know them well enough. I haven't found the right person."

Mathias went through all the employee profiles, eventually pointing to someone named Zoe Carter.

"She's from New York. What made her stick around this small town for three years?"

I recognized Zoe Carter. "She moved here for her boyfriend, but two months ago he cheated on her and married some local girl."

Mathias thought for a moment. "Do you think she'd want to go back to New York?"

The lightbulb went off in my head. "She definitely would!"

Mathias gave a small smile. "She's in finance, so she probably has a good grasp of the company. Try winning her over."

That breakthrough lifted my spirits. "You're fantastic, darling!"

I was so deep in character that calling him "darling" felt completely natural—and kind of sweet.

Mathias just sighed.

I reached out and gently pinched his cheek like he was a cute kid, my eyes shining with affection. "How did I manage to snag such a clever husband?"

Remembering the rumors that Mathias was cold and ruthless, dancing on thin ice with him gave me a serious thrill.

Amnesiac Mathias was unexpectedly good-natured. He let me pinch his face for a while before finally catching my hand. "Okay, let's keep going."

Even if this was only for show, his warm, affectionate tone almost melted my heart.

I sighed happily and rested my head on his shoulder. "All right."

I felt him tense up when I first leaned against him, but he relaxed quickly.

It seemed physical closeness really could close the gap between two people fast.

What was supposed to be a quick ten-minute discussion turned into a two-hour deep dive without us even realizing it.

Yawning, I finally noticed how late it had gotten.

Reluctantly, I shut the laptop and lifted my head off Mathias's shoulder. "It's time to sleep."

I decided to stay overnight.

Not wanting to sleep too deeply and miss any of Mathias's needs, I pulled the hospital cot close to his bed so they were side by side.

"If you need anything, wake me up."

Since the night before, I'd only managed bits and pieces of sleep. Exhausted, I fell asleep almost immediately, holding Mathias's pinky. Even though he was awake, Mathias patiently listened to my snores.

The day's events had left me physically and mentally drained, and I drifted into a string of disturbing dreams.

In one, Mathias regained his memory and discovered that not only had I hired him for one night, but I'd also faked a marriage certificate to claim we were married!

I found myself tied up and trembling at the top of a skyscraper, facing a menacing Mathias.

"Yara, how dare you trick me? Prepare to meet your end!"

He shoved me off the rooftop, and I felt myself falling.

Then I dreamed about my mother not getting her medication in time, suffering beyond recognition before dying right in front of me.

My grip on Mathias's hand tightened painfully, waking him.

He heard me crying "Don't kill me" and pleading about "Mom," and he knew nightmares had me in their grip.

My exhaustion kept me from truly waking up.

Checking the time—just past five in the morning—Mathias frowned and watched me for a while. He shifted closer, wrapping one arm gently around me and patting my back soothingly with the other.

"It's all right. Everything's all right."

Eventually, my tense body relaxed and settled, and my sleep-talk faded away.

Mathias grabbed a tissue and wiped my sweaty forehead.

Since he'd slept most of yesterday, he wasn't tired now. He tried to piece together the past while continuing to comfort me until dawn.

A nurse came in to start the IV, speaking loudly. "Room 26..."

Mathias frowned and pressed a finger to his lips. "Shh."

The nurse noticed me holding his hand in my sleep and, smirking, moved more quietly.

"Three bags in the morning."

Despite the small disturbance, I woke up.

Peeking through sleepy eyes, I saw Mathias, and my mind snapped awake.

Taking advantage of my still-groggy state, I murmured, "Darling~" in a slow, loving tone.

I mentally congratulated myself on my flawless acting.

The nurse smiled broadly while adjusting the IV tube. "He didn't want to wake you and insisted I be quiet. He really cares about you."

I felt unexpectedly pleased by the quick feedback and smirked at Mathias. "Really? You care that much?"

The seemingly unattainable prince didn't feel so unreachable after all.

Mathias looked a little proud but refused to admit it. "Stop flattering yourself."

I laughed. "You'll be totally smitten with me eventually."

I freshened up and headed downstairs to grab breakfast.

Just then, Avianna called again.

"Yara, I'm sorry I still haven't been able to get in touch with Mathias Thomas. But I heard his grandfather is pressuring him to get married and setting him up on dates. You've got a great profile, so I'll do my best to get you on the shortlist."

I paused, about to speak, but Avianna cut in. "I know you hate blind dates, but this is about getting close to Mathias to ask about the medication—not actually marrying him."

I didn't want to lie to a friend who had always had my back. I wanted to come clean, but remembering how Mathias insisted on keeping his whereabouts secret, I hesitated and stayed quiet.

"Avianna, I'll handle this myself. Stop stressing about me so much."

Avianna sighed. "If I don't worry, who will? I heard your sneaky stepmother is also trying to set her daughter up with Mathias. If they pull it off, she'll wrap him around her finger, and he won't lift a finger to help you. There's no time to waste."

I wasn't too concerned about my stepsister's attempts, especially since Mathias was with me. She couldn't possibly meet him!

I asked, "Mathias wouldn't be interested in her. Anything about the Thomas family that stands out?"

Considering Mathias had disappeared, the Thomas family had to be in turmoil.

Avianna sounded unsure. "There's always news, but anything especially juicy... Does him meeting five different dates in one day count?"

"Five dates?!" I was genuinely shocked.

Mathias was right here. How the hell was he dating?

Avianna went on. "Yep, that prince is really efficient, but he's rejecting plenty of them too. Apparently, he still hasn't found anyone he likes. His granddad's getting pretty frustrated."

Casually, I remarked, "Mathias isn't even that old. Why the rush?"

Avianna, well-connected and always up on the latest gossip, explained, "The old man is desperate for great-grandkids. Old-money families like theirs can get obsessive about carrying on the family line. I heard he promised ten million dollars in rewards for a great-grandchild!"

"How... much?!"

The amount was jaw-dropping.

Being this close to Mathias, I was tempted to claim the prize myself!

If I had ten million dollars, the first thing I'd do is get back at my stepmother and her daughter—repay them for every ounce of resentment I've bottled up over the years.

Avianna laughed. "Quite the prize, huh? If you marry Mathias and start giving his grandfather great-grandkids, you could retire before thirty. Talk about a family incentive plan!"

I let out a dry laugh. "Ten kids? Suddenly, that money doesn't sound so appealing."

We kept chatting until I reached the hospital room. Questions buzzed through my head. Who in New York is pretending to be Mathias on his dates? Is it a stunt by the Thomas family to cover up his disappearance? Or did Mathias have someone step in before he went missing?

But I pushed those thoughts aside for now. Mathias was there with me, so everyone else's games didn't matter. With a bright smile, I placed my hand on the doorknob.

"I'm back, sweetie~"

Mathias was in better spirits that day, more relaxed around me as he nibbled at the breakfast I fed him—a plate of pancakes and hash browns. "Tomorrow's Monday. Aren't you supposed to go back to work?"

"I'm not leaving until you're better, sweetheart."

He looked a little worried. "You just started there and haven't found your footing yet. Aren't you worried they'll use this against you?"

I shrugged, unfazed. "Let them talk. You matter more."

Mathias raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you all fired up about work last night?"

I just smiled and left it at that.

He studied me for a beat before his expression relaxed. "You're trying to make them think you're slacking off, so they drop their guard, right?"

I blinked at him, caught off guard. "Is it that obvious, or do we just have that married-couple intuition?"

Before, I stuck to the rules and showed respect to the veterans, but it never won me any allies. So I figured I needed a change in strategy—lay low and wait for the right moment. I didn't expect Mathias to catch on so fast.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "I didn't realize you were so cunning. Looks like I need to rethink my view of you."

Panic fluttered in my chest. I didn't want him to see me as scheming, so I rushed to reassure him. "I might have plans for them, but with you, I'm nothing but real. I couldn't fake it with you even if I tried. You're my favorite."

He arched a brow. "Why so nervous? Are you hiding something?"

"Absolutely not!" I said without missing a beat. "I swear, I'd give my life for you. How could I ever deceive you?"

He seemed to have mentioned it only in passing, because he didn't push it. "Finish your breakfast. We'll get back to those documents after."

I realized I'd said too much earlier and silently promised to be more careful from then on.

After breakfast, I showed Mathias my mother's medical records, hoping something might jog his memory, but nothing clicked. He only asked a few basic questions, and I tried not to feel too disheartened.

Maybe even if the Thomas family was tied to that kind of research, they wouldn't need Mathias to be deeply involved. He was probably just one name in their huge network. If I wanted access to the real operation, strengthening our relationship was still my best shot. Once he returned to the Thomas family, I'd naturally get closer to his research team and learn more about the medication.

A doctor came in to change the dressings. The sight of his brutal wounds made me hold my breath. I'd always been squeamish around blood, so I gripped Mathias's hand tightly, more shaken than he seemed.

"Does it hurt? Who did this to you? If I get my hands on him, I'll tear him apart." My eyes stung with tears I refused to let fall.

The injuries were severe—some of the stab wounds dangerously deep. Mathias held still, but the pain was written all over him. Noticing my reaction, he gently covered my eyes with his hand.

"It doesn't hurt. Don't look."

My long lashes tickled his palm as they brushed against it. His voice wavered, but he was the one suffering. "You're lying," I whispered.

The doctor, busy with the bandages, teased, "You seemed so calm when he first came in. Why so worried now that he's on the mend?"

My mind screamed a warning, but I recovered fast. "I was in shock back then. Completely numb. I couldn't even cry."

The doctor nodded. "That's true. In extreme fear or grief, people often don't react at all."

Crisis averted again.

When he finished, the doctor advised, "His legs are okay for light movement, but avoid anything strenuous so the wounds don't tear."

I walked the doctor out, then turned back to Mathias. "Up for a walk?"

He'd been bedridden long enough, so he agreed. "Sure thing."

I grabbed a wheelchair and helped him settle in. "It's nice out. Let's go to the garden."

In the elevator, just the two of us, he caught my red-rimmed eyes in the reflective walls and teased, "Crying over a simple bandage change, little crybaby."

I pouted. "Only because I care about you. And now you're making fun of me?"

His chuckle was soft. "Even your crying is pretty."

The words caught me off guard. "You've changed."

His smile faltered. "What?"

"You weren't this talkative before. And you never complimented me."

The Thomas family heir was supposed to be cold—nothing like the playful mood he was in that day.

Mathias's lips curved slightly. "Really? So which do you prefer? The old me or the current me?"

"I like both. Cold or sweet, young or old." The words came out effortlessly.

Mathias seemed thrown by my shameless affection and chose silence over a response.

We wandered through the garden, the calm broken only when a stray leaf slipped down the back of his shirt. I stopped and reached for it.

As I fished around for the leaf, Mathias frowned. "Are you seriously messing around in broad daylight?"

I fired back, "Hold still. It'll itch later."

Unfazed, I lifted his shirt to snag the leaf, giving me a shameless view of his chiseled six-pack.

Mathias didn't seem to mind, lounging in the wheelchair with an easy posture. "I can manage here alone. You should head to the office tomorrow."

He cut off as I suddenly leaned in, leaf in hand, closing the space between us until only a breath separated our lips.

"Don't move!"

Confused, Mathias started, "I knew it, you—"

I whispered fast, "It's Howard Blake!"

At the mention of Blake—the cunning old head of the company—Mathias's eyes sharpened.

Then, in one quick move, Mathias's hand grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap, his lips crashing into mine before I could react. My brain went blank. What started as a fake embrace became a real kiss, and I froze, completely stunned.

Mathias didn't hold back. One hand pinned my wrist, and he kissed me like he meant it, turning me—usually so bold—into a shy, flustered mess from the sudden intensity.