The room fell silent.

Ivy stared like the walls were spinning. Chase’s jaw locked tight, hands curled into fists at his sides.

“Ash,” Chase said, voice low. “Can I talk to you. Now.”

Ash didn’t move.

Ivy stepped forward instead. “What are you doing?” she snapped. “This is insane.”

Emery blinked slowly, dazed on the outside but inside, fully present. Good. Let them show their cracks.

“She doesn’t even know what she’s saying,” Ivy went on, her voice shaking now. “She’s obviously confused. Maybe she hit her head on the water. She doesn’t remember me, and now you—”

“I remember him,” Emery interrupted, softly. “And I remember how he saved me when no one else did.”

Ivy’s mouth clamped shut.

Ash gave her hand the faintest squeeze. Emery felt it.

Frustrated, Ivy grabbed Chase’s sleeve and dragged him into a quiet hallway, her heels clacking against the tile.

The moment they left the hospital room, Ivy exploded.

“What the hell was that?”

She yanked Chase’s wrist, ignoring the nurses who turned to look. Her eyes were wide, glassy, wild.

Chase rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Lower your voice.”

“No, you don’t get to ‘calm down’ me right now.” Ivy’s voice shook. “She said she’s engaged to Ash. TO Ash.”

She emphasized every word with greeted teeth.

“Do you even hear me? That wasn’t part of the plan!”

“I know what she said.”

“She’s supposed to marry you, Chase!” Ivy hissed, nails digging into his arm. “She’s supposed to get her trust, you get the power, you get the Vale money, and I stay close enough to enjoy it. Everyone wins. That was the deal.”

“Keep your voice down,” Chase muttered, glancing around. “You’re going to blow this if you act like a lunatic.”

“She’s playing us!” Ivy said, gripping her head. “She’s playing you! And she’s doing it in front of everyone. If she marries Ash, that entire fortune goes out of reach.”

Chase’s jaw tightened.

“I had this mapped out,” Ivy whispered, almost choking. “Emery’s parents trust me. They never questioned me. I stood by her for years. And now she’s cutting me out for Ash?”

“She won’t go through with it,” Chase said. “She’s bluffing.”

“You better be right,” Ivy snapped. “Because if she doesn’t marry you, then neither of us gets a damn thing.”

She stepped closer, her voice lowering to a deadly whisper. “Fix this. Or I will.”

Back inside the hospital room, Emery sat upright, adjusting the bandage on her wrist. Ash stood at the window, arms crossed.

“So,” he said finally, “are you going to tell me what that was?”

She looked up at him. “What it looked like.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“I’m not confused, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Good,” Ash muttered. “Because I am.”

Emery smiled faintly. “I faked amnesia. I claimed you. That’s all.”

He shook his head. “That’s not all. That’s nuclear. You faked amnesia. You declared an engagement to someone you barely know. You’re about to set fire to your entire life. That’s not nothing, Emery.”

She tilted her head. “You’re right.”

Ash turned. “So why me?”

“Because I trust you more than I trust them.”

Ash blinked.

“That’s a low bar.”

“It’s still something.”

She continued, her voice low. “Everyone else stood on that deck and watched. Ivy cried. Chase froze. But you jumped. You didn’t hesitate. And I remembered that.”

Ash looked down.

“I could’ve played the victim,” she said. “Laid there and let them build the narrative. But that’s not me. And if I’m going to burn what they built, I need someone they don’t expect.”

“And that’s me?” he asked, skeptical.

Emery nodded, gesturing it is already happening as it is.

He studied her for a long moment. “And what do you get out of this?”

Emery smiled faintly. “My life back.”

Ash didn’t blink.

“You don’t play their game,” she clarified. “You’ve always been outside of it. Unbothered. Quiet. And now you’ve got my hand in yours and a front-row seat to chaos. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Ash’s expression flattened. “Fun isn’t the word I’d use.”

“Then pick another.”

He walked forward slowly. “You’re asking me to lie. To carry this thing with you like it’s real.”

“No,” Emery said, standing. “I’m asking you to stand still while I rearrange the pieces. You just have to hold my hand and nod when needed.”

Ash studied her face, like he was trying to find the crack in her armor.

But Emery wasn’t cracked.

She was sharpened.

He sighed. “This is reckless.”

“It’s justice,” she replied.

He looked at her for a long time.

Then nodded once. “Alright. Let’s make your ex sweat.”

By the time the discharge papers were signed, Ivy was gone, stormed out under the excuse of “getting air.”

Chase stood by the elevator, holding his keys, rehearsing his expression.

When he saw Emery and Ash approaching, he stepped forward.

“Hey.” His voice was soft. Gentle. A tone he’d used once before when he first said I love you.

“I’ll drive you home,” Chase said.

“No,” Emery said immediately.

Chase blinked. “It’s just a ride.”

“No, thank you,” she repeated.

“I don’t mind,” Ash offered, keeping his voice even.

“I insist,” Chase said, forcing a smile. “You’ve been through enough. Let’s not make this more complicated than it already is.”

Emery didn’t slow her pace.

“I don’t want you catching a cold,” Chase added. “I know hospitals freak you out. Let me drive.”

Emery stopped two feet away from him.

Ash stopped beside her.

She tilted her head. “You want to take me home now?”

Chase nodded. “Of course I do.”

“Where was that energy when I was underwater?”

Chase blinked.

Emery met his gaze.

“I asked Ash to take me,” she said coolly.

Chase’s jaw clenched. “You’re serious about this?”

She smiled, sweet but sharp.

“Why would I ride with a stranger… when I already have my fiancé?”

Back at her apartment, everything was silent, the kind of silence that made your ears ring. But inside her head, it wasn’t quiet at all.

She hadn’t slept.

She stared at the wall, unmoving, her legs curled under her on the couch like a statue of herself. Not a single photo of Chase remained. She’d cleared them out before the sun rose. One by one. Swipe, delete. Swipe, delete. Gone.

But she left one message unread, just to look at it.

CHASE (12:04 AM)

Please. Let me talk to you. Ivy didn’t mean it. Just let me fix it.

Fix it?

She almost laughed.

Instead, she stood up. Walked barefoot to the bathroom. Looked in the mirror.

Then said out loud to her reflection, “I’m marrying Ash Redmond.”

Her mouth didn’t even flinch at the lie.

Because maybe it wasn’t one.

Not anymore.

The next morning, the Vale family dining room smelled like heritage and power.

Heavy wood. Polished silver. Decades of tradition.

Emery stepped inside wearing ivory trousers, a pearl-buttoned blouse, and no makeup. Her skin was pale, but her expression was clear.

Her parents were already seated. Her father, Gregory Vale, with his reading glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose. Her mother, Alina, sipped from a bone china teacup like nothing had gone to hell in the last 48 hours.

Chase was there too already seated, pressed navy suit, every hair in place. As if that changed anything.

And Ivy.

Ivy sat beside him, too close, wearing pastel like she was mourning someone else’s life. Her eyes darted up as Emery entered, eager, but scared.

“Emery,” Alina greeted warmly. “Come sit.”

Emery nodded, walking slowly toward her chair at the end of the table. The one she’d always had, since she was seventeen. The “good daughter” spot.

She took her seat. Folded her hands. Waited.

Her father cleared his throat.

“I trust you’re feeling better.”

“I’m alive,” Emery said. “That counts for something.”

Her mother smiled gently. “How are you feeling, darling?”

“Still a little foggy,” Emery replied. “But better.”

Her father wasted no time.

“Your mother told me you’ve lost some memory,” he said carefully.

“Yes.”

“How much?”

Emery shrugged. “Enough.”

Gregory leaned forward slightly. “Do you remember being engaged to Chase?”

Chase looked up immediately. His eyes were soft. Practiced.

“I remember… a ring,” Emery said slowly. “But not him.”

Her father pressed. “You understand why this matters, don’t you? The wedding arrangements. The trust. The families. There are expectations. Commitments.”

“I understand,” Emery said. “But it’s hard to make commitments when you don’t even know who you are to someone.”

Gregory narrowed his eyes. “So you’re saying the marriage is… uncertain?”

“I’m saying I’m uncertain.”

“Em,” Chase said gently, “I know you’re shaken, but you and I, we’ve been together for three years.”

“I’m sure we were,” Emery said coolly. “But I don’t feel it.”

Chase frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You watched me drown,” she said suddenly.

The room went quiet.

“What?” Gregory asked.

Alina stiffened.

Emery didn’t look at Chase. “When I fell into the water, it was Ash who jumped in. Not Chase. Not Ivy. Just Ash. So if I’m supposed to trust someone with my life…”

Her voice turned colder.

“I chose the man who didn’t hesitate.”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “You’re seriously saying you’d marry Ash?”

“I’m not saying it,” Emery said, standing slowly.

“I’m announcing it.”

A silence stretched, until Ivy stood abruptly, smoothing her dress.

“Emery,” she said with a soft, practiced smile, “can I speak to you privately? Just for a minute?”

Gregory raised a brow. “Is that necessary?”

“I think it’ll help,” Ivy said. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. She trusts me.”

Emery nodded slowly. “Okay.”

The door clicked softly shut behind them. Ivy’s voice dropped low the second they were alone.

“Em,” she began, reaching for her hand, “this is a lot. I know. But I need you to listen to me, like you always have.”

Emery stared at her, letting her hand be held. “Go on.”

“You and Chase have been together for years. You’re in love. You just don’t remember because of the trauma. The fall. Everything’s scrambled.”

“I guess that makes sense…”

Ivy smiled too fast. “Of course it does. I was there, remember? I helped with the wedding planning. I picked out centerpieces with you. We FaceTimed about veil styles for two hours, remember?”

Emery blinked like she was trying to recall it.

“You trusted me,” Ivy whispered. “I’m your best friend.”

“I know.”

“And I wouldn’t lie to you, would I?”

Emery gave a small, innocent nod.

“So you’ll tell them it’s Chase.”

“I will,” Emery said softly.

Ivy squeezed her hands like she’d won.

“Thank you. Thank you. You’re doing the right thing.”

“I’m glad you reminded me,” Emery said. “I’d be lost without you.”

Ivy hugged her like she owned her again.

Back in the dining room, Ivy slid back into her seat beside Chase with a syrupy smile. She leaned close, lips grazing his ear as she let her fingers trail under the table to his thigh.

“It’s handled,” she whispered. “She’s going to say yes to you.”

Chase barely concealed his grin. He reached down and laced his fingers with hers under the table.

“I knew you’d fix it,” he murmured back.

At the head of the table, Gregory straightened. “So. Emery.”

Everyone turned to her.

She didn’t sit.

She looked at every face in the room like she was studying a chessboard.

“I had some clarity just now,” she said, voice even. “Thanks to Ivy.”

Ivy smiled proudly, leaning back.

“So I’ve made my decision.”

Gregory nodded. “And?”

Emery took a breath.

Then she met Chase’s eyes dead-on.

“I’m marrying Ash Redmond.”

She let the words settle. Let the air tighten.

“The one who saved me when no one else did.”

She glanced at Ivy. Then at her parents. Then back to Chase, slowly.

“I will marry Ash, my fiancé.”