Zara's POV

I let out a low sigh. "Be honest with me, what kind of man is Cassian, really?"

She hesitated. "He's ambitious... and good looking," she said carefully, as though choosing her words with precision.

"Nana," I pressed, leaning forward, "be honest."

Her lips tightened. "The last time I was honest with you, you nearly got me fired," she said, a forced smile flickering across her face.

I gave a small smile. "I'm sorry about that, Nana. That won't happen this time. I need to know the truth before I get my memory back."

She studied me for a moment, then sighed. "He's charming, polite, but underneath? There's something else. Honestly... he's very ambitious. And when I say very, I mean he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants."

I scoffed lightly, almost bitter. "Tell me about it," I muttered.

My mind went back to Cassian when he mentioned investing in my restaurant and helping bring in other investors, I didn't want it to seem like I was relying on him for everything.

I told him I wanted to contribute something too, and he said that was great, but suggested I give a larger amount so it would 'show commitment.'

My 100,000 dollars. Every last dollar I'd worked so hard for. I'd built my life piece by piece, avoiding any shady investments that even smelled like a scam. I invested wisely, earning little by little, until Cassian's honeyed words made me believe.

I thought I was investing in my future. All I had left was ten grand. Ten! After years of saving, hustling, scraping every cent for that restaurant.

Yes, he's rich, but he did that to cripple me. Without money, I couldn't file a lawsuit, or fight back. He knew once the news of his engagement broke, I'd want to sue him. So he made sure I couldn't.

But then I remembered something, some realtors were circling my space, offering to buy the property, but I refused. Then it clocked, that's what he was after from the start, maybe meeting me at the restaurant wasn't fate. It was calculated.

He never loved me, he wanted my space, that was all. It wasn't about me, it was never about me, and to get what he wanted, he murdered me.

"That bastard," I whispered. My voice, burning with rage.

"What was that?" she asked, brow furrowing.

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Please, go on."

She exhaled, her shoulders relaxing a fraction. "I've watched how he is around you," she said quietly. "I can't help but feel that he's here... not because of love, but because it's good for business. Like he's playing the part of the perfect suitor, but it's all an act."

How could Aria have chosen Cassian over Sterling? Sterling seems different. Unapologetically powerful. How could she have been so blind? The engagement was nothing but a strategic play, and even here, Cassian is playing Aria.

"So it was supposed to be a love marriage, not a contract," I whispered, if it was a contract at least it'll expire after the term.

Nana's eyes softened with sympathy, but her voice was firm.

"If you ask me, Cassian is just waiting, biding his time until your father hands over the company to you when you turn thirty. Be careful, child," she said, rising from the bed and smoothing her dress.

I nodded, a sigh escaping my lips. "Thank you, Nana. I'll keep that in mind."

For the rest of the day, I couldn't stop thinking of Cassian's betrayal and how I'd get back at him. But I couldn't help my thoughts from drifting back to Mr. Sterling Blackwell, those intense eyes.

He liked me; I felt it in every stolen glance and lingering look, but of course, he was Cassian's uncle. The line was already drawn, no matter how powerful the attraction felt, I was his nephew's wife. Or at least pretending to be.

I remained in my chambers trying to process the sheer scope of this world I'd been thrust into.

That evening, a gentle knock on my door pulled me from my restless thoughts. Nana stepped in calmly.

"Your manager is here to see you," she said softly.

Before I could process the words, a cheerful woman with bright eyes swept in, her scent of citrus and something expensive filling the room. She moved with the ease of someone who belonged here, her smile wide as she took my hand.

"How are you feeling? I came as soon as Mr. Everhart allowed me," she said, her voice warm and bright.

"I'm sorry... who did you say you are?" I asked, my voice soft.

She looked momentarily stricken. "It's me... Tessa. Your PA," she said, her voice gentle.

"You're her manager," Nana corrected with a small smile.

"It's the same thing," Tessa said with a shrug and a conspiratorial grin.

"Aria has temporary amnesia," Nana explained. "But we'd like to keep that out of the media or press."

"Ohhhh, I understand," Tessa nodded, her gaze shifting thoughtfully. "Nico wanted to come, but Mr. Everhart wouldn't allow it. He asked me to extend his greetings."

"Nico?" I asked, confused.

"Your fashion stylist," she said lightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I raised my eyebrows. The words felt surreal, almost laughable. My own personal assistant? A fashion stylist? Just days ago, I'd been scrubbing dishes in a tiny restaurant kitchen, struggling to make ends meet. And now there were people managing my life, names and roles and expectations I couldn't begin to comprehend.

"Can you take some time off? Maybe a week," I suggested.

Tessa's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you suspending me?" she asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and alarm.

"No," I said softly, shaking my head. "I just... I need a break. Or rather, I have a different job for you."

A flicker of curiosity passed across her face, but before she could ask, I pressed on.

"Back in the house do I share a room with my... husband?" The word felt foreign on my tongue. The idea of sharing a space, let alone a bed, with the man that tried to kill me sent a cold shiver down my spine.

"Yes," she nodded.

"Can you get me a separate room? Preferably very far from his," I said quietly. "Move my things there."

Tessa was silent for a moment. Then, a small, almost triumphant smile curved her lips.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this. Consider it done."

I blinked in surprise, a thousand questions swirling in my head. Why was she so pleased? What did she know that I didn't?

Before I could ask why she was so happy, a sudden pain exploded in my skull. My vision blurred, and a shrill, high-pitched noise filled my ears. Nana and Tessa's worried voices were swallowed by the sound.

Warmth trickled from my nose. When I touched it, my fingers came away red. Blood. My breath caught, was my soul trying to leave this body? Was this some twisted price for stepping into a life that wasn't meant for me?

All I could do was cling to the fragile thread of consciousness, hoping, praying, that whatever this was would pass. That I would still be me when it did.

Zara's POV

Amid the confusion and throbbing headache, a memory flashed vividly before my eyes.

Aria stood before a grand mirror, her hands trembling. Her reflection was pale and haunted. Suddenly, she snatched up her car keys and turned.

Then, just as quickly as it had come, the noise in my head stopped. The pounding headache vanished, the blood stopped.

Nana had rushed to the door to summon Mr. Everhart.

"I'm fine, Nana. Just... just a flashback," I said, my voice still a little shaky.

"Really? Does that mean your memory is coming back?" she asked, hope flickering in her eyes.

"No... not exactly."

Nana sighed but managed a small smile. "Well, that's good news. I'm sure the rest will come flooding back in no time."

Tessa, who had been watching, nodded encouragingly. "That's right. And don't worry about your obligations, I'll handle everything until you're ready to return."

"Thank you, Tessa," I said, my smile forced but grateful. "Just do what I asked. If there's anything else, I'll let you know."

"Of course," she said. "In the meantime, I'll be updating your social media accounts and handling minor events in your name."

"Perfect. Thank you." I watched her leave, Nana left too.

That memory, it seems to be the day she had the accident, why was she in that state? I felt her fear. It's weird that I'm having her flashbacks, it scared me a little. Maybe my time in her body was limited.

Nana returned shortly after. "It's time for dinner, Aria. Your father has requested that you dine with him upstairs."

I nodded and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. The third floor was where my room was, but tonight, I would ascend to the fourth floor, Nana led me there.

As I reached the grand dining hall, my breath caught in my throat. Crystal chandeliers sparkling above an enormous mahogany table. Silver-domed platters concealed steaming delicacies. For a moment, I almost asked if we were expecting guests.

The chefs, clad in pristine white uniforms, moved with precision before disappearing. My hands brushed the dark velvet of my dress.

Mr. Everhart arrived shortly after. He took his seat at the head of the table. I wasn't sure whether to greet him or sit in silence, but he spared me the awkwardness.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice steady, almost impassive.

"I'm much better, thank you," I said softly.

He gave a curt nod and turned his attention to his meal, slicing into his steak. The silence that settled over the table was almost oppressive. I wondered why he treated Aria this way.

He finished his meal without another word and left. Once I finished eating, I returned to my room and took the medication the doctor had prescribed.

My mind wandered to Raina. She must be looking for me by now and worried, but then I realized, I didn't have a phone. My original phone had slipped when Cassian shot me, and Aria's phone... I hadn't seen it since I woke up. Maybe it was still in that house, or perhaps Tessa had it.

Whatever the case is, I have to get to Raina. Maybe just maybe, if I found my phone in Cassian's possession, I might be able to have him arrested. I hadn't even seen him since I woke up, odd.

My mind spiraled, dragging me back to some moments Cassian and I had shared. The late-night phone calls. The soft laughter. The abrupt mood swings I brushed off. One day, he was cold and unreadable, the next, a hopeless romantic.

I remembered when he first started to pull away. I asked him why, and he claimed he'd seen me hugging someone outside my restaurant.

It had been an old friend who travelled, someone I hadn't seen in months. The hug had been exciting and harmless, but Cassian saw something else, and no matter how many times I explained, he refused to believe me.

Until, eventually, he said he did. He gets upset over the tiniest thing and becomes distant, I'm always the one seeking to resolve our problems.

"How stupid of me," I scoffed.

A day passed without an event, I remained in my chambers. The next day Late evening, Mr. Everhart called me out to the balcony, his expression unreadable as I joined him in the cool evening air.

"I've made arrangements for you to travel to India," he said abruptly. "There's a renowned doctor there who specializes in cases like yours, amnesia."

Panic flared in my chest, though I kept my face calm. My problem isn't exactly amnesia, it's the entire web of lies I'm tangled in. If I went to India, it would be exposed.

"I'm doing... pretty okay, Father," I said, forcing a small smile. "I'm already starting to have flashes of memory."

He studied me, his gaze sharp, probing. "As the president of the company, you have responsibilities. Are you sure you're up for it?" he asked. "If you make a mistake, even very little, it could ruin everything."

"I promise I'm feeling much better," I said softly, choosing my words with care. "Flying to India seems unnecessary right now."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if weighing my every word. I felt my palms go clammy under his scrutiny, and I looked away, focusing on the glinting lights of the city beyond the balcony.

"You seem different," he said again.

My heart lurched in my chest. "What?" I forced a nervous giggle, hoping to mask the sudden surge of fear.

He studied me for another beat, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "Aria, are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded quickly, maybe a little too quickly. "Yes, Father," I said, my voice steady but my pulse thundering in my ears.

He didn't look convinced, but he let it drop. "I'll give you some time," he said at last. "But if your memories don't come back soon, I'll have no choice but to send you to India. You can go now."

With a small nod, I rose from my seat and walked away, my steps measured even though my heart was pounding. Someone was bound to notice sooner or later that I wasn't really Aria. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fully become her.

Before Mr. Everhart put the pieces together, I knew what I had to do, return to my own house, where I could at least control the narrative.

The first act, amnesia, was done. Now it was time for the second. I didn't know exactly how I would do it yet, but I would find a way to tear down the perfect facade Cassian built, and reclaim my own life in the process.