After the car rolled to a stop and the headlights went out, Serena dashed over excitedly. "Hi there! Sorry to bother you, I'm kinda lost. Could you maybe drop me off somewhere I can catch a ride?"

Matthew smirked, the curve of his lips carrying a hint of mischief. "It'd be my pleasure, Ms. Dawson."

She instantly froze-the voice wasn't right. Under the dim porch light, she glanced sideways...and yep, it was Matthew.

Her first instinct was to bolt, but a hand caught her just in time. "Running away?"

"W-Who's running? I was just... just... walking the wrong way."

Matthew gave a low, teasing chuckle, stepping closer with a slow, easy confidence until she was backed against the wall, no exit in sight. He leaned down, eyes locked onto hers as she kept nervously avoiding his gaze. "The wrong way? You mean from the study window all the way to the side villa-like that's an accidental detour?"

Speechless, Serena stiffened like a board, shut her eyes, furrowed her brows and nodded firmly. "Yep. Totally got turned around."

"This whole area-ten miles in every direction-is Quinn property. As the lady of the house, you've got total freedom to get 'lost' anywhere you like."

Matthew straightened, leaned against his motorcycle, and casually lit a cigarette as he spoke.

Serena had barely caught her breath when that bomb dropped. "Wait... Wait, all of this... is your family's?"

He exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "Don't believe me?"

"No, no! I believe you! Totally believe you!"

Considering Quinn Corp's massive worth, and how the Quinn family had ruled Westbridge's wealth rankings for decades, Serena never doubted it for a second.

Internally though? She was berating herself for being so dense. 'Ten minutes of running and I thought I'd escaped the estate? Girl, wake up.'

The life of the rich really was another planet.

From the main villa to this side villa-she'd hobbled all the way on a bad foot, and she was still within the Quinn compound. Absolutely ridiculous.

Matthew put out his cigarette with a flick and let out a low chuckle. He reached out and tilted her chin up with one finger, his voice soft but unsettling. "Still planning on getting 'lost,' Ms. Dawson?"

"Nope. I... I've got the path memorized now."

He looked pleased.

"Good. Can't wait to see your upcoming performance, Mrs. Quinn. Or, I could always have the driver take you to your fifty-year-old fiancé."

Serena's face went pale the moment that number left his lips.

Clearly, he was already onto everything that had gone down today. He even knew about her and that old man.

Made sense, though. With the kind of security surrounding the Quinn mansion, there's no way Matthew would bring home just anyone to play pretend wife. He must've made sure she was someone with zero connections, who he could keep in check.

Had to be when she was changing at the hotel. He must've dug into her background then.

But all that in just a few minutes?

That thought gave her chills. Still, she forced out a bright, cheerful smile and turned on the charm. "Promise to deliver a stellar performance."

Matthew turned coolly, hopped on his bike, and looked back. "You getting on or not?"

She quickly slid sideways onto the seat behind him, tentatively tugged on the corner of his jacket-then immediately pulled back like she got burned. Now what? Where was she even supposed to hold on?

The bike suddenly jerked forward, and she lurched, smacking straight into his back with her chin and letting out a pained hiss.

"Hold on tight."

"Oh-okay, got it..."

Her hands trembled as she nervously wrapped them around his waist.

Being this close, she could catch a faint whiff of his cologne.

And with the way they were sitting... her cheeks started to burn.

The long rectangular dining table was packed with ten dishes. Matthew and Serena took their seats across from Vivian, sitting side by side.

Matthew looked totally at ease, casually filling Serena's plate with food with that gentle, caring manner of his.

Serena tried her best to hide how on edge she felt, putting on an innocent, slightly shy face.

She was seriously impressed by this broody CEO she'd just met. This guy sure knew how to put on an act-maybe he'd majored in drama or something.

Today had been absolutely exhausting. Thinking back on everything still felt surreal, like she was stuck in a dream she couldn't quite wake up from.

The dishes on the table looked and smelled amazing, and Serena had to fight the urge to just dig in like she hadn't eaten in days. She forced herself to eat slowly and politely, head down, keeping that lady-like image alive.

Then, out of nowhere, Vivian paused and looked at Serena with a smile. "Ms. Dawson, how long have you and Matthew been dating?"

Serena quickly swallowed the food she was chewing, then started coughing from having wolfed it down too fast.

Crap. Panic mode activated. Questions already?

She hadn't rehearsed for this. No script to go by. What was she even supposed to say?

Pulling herself together with a tight smile, she answered softly, "You can just call me Serena. 'Ms. Dawson' sounds way too formal."

Vivian laughed warmly. "Look at me! Getting old and forgetful. Don't take it personally, Serena."

"Of course not. You actually look more like Matthew's sister than his mom," Serena said, trying to dodge the earlier question smoothly.

Vivian caught the deflection instantly, and her suspicions about Serena and Matthew's relationship deepened a little more. But she sensed Serena was getting wary, so pushing further might be too obvious.

Switching topics casually, she asked, "So, do you and Matthew work together now?"

Feeling the tension ease just a bit, Serena responded in a clearer tone, "Oh no, I'm still in school-junior year at Veriton University."

"No wonder you look so young."

"Well... not that young. I'm twenty-one already," Serena said with a cheeky little tongue-out smile.

Vivian looked puzzled. "Twenty-one? And how long have you two been dating? I don't recall Matthew ever mentioning you before."

And there it was-the question she'd hoped to escape. Serena's nerves started buzzing again. How long had they supposedly been together?

As she scrambled for an answer, Matthew quietly tapped her foot twice under the table.

Two taps? What was that supposed to mean-two years?

That couldn't be right. A guy like Matthew, cold and calculating, dating someone for two years? Seemed way too unlikely.

But saying two days felt like a joke. Too fake.

Two months-yeah, that felt safer. That sounded just right.

Blushing a bit, she held up two fingers and smiled. "Two months."

And right then, completely wrecking her story, Matthew said without missing a beat, "Two years."

Serena wanted the ground to swallow her whole. She quickly tried to patch things up, her cheeks burning, "Well... technically, it's two years and two months."

Vivian let out this exaggerated laugh, "Oh wow, that long already? You two should seriously start planning the wedding. So, when are you two making it official?"

"Make it official?" Serena blinked, turning sharply to Matthew, who just kept eating like none of this phased him at all. Was he seriously playing this game all the way?

Vivian continued, "Yep. According to Matthew's father's will, 42% of Quinn Group's shares are temporarily under my name, and they'll only be transferred to Matthew after he gets married. The lawyers need to see the marriage certificate to make it official. He's been running the company for almost three years now without owning a single share-that's just not right. So, I've been pushing him to get married."

Serena gave a weak "Oh..." and fell silent, totally unsure how to respond.

If Matthew had originally agreed to marry Chloe, it must've been to lock in that chunk of the company.

So what made him cancel last minute?

Could it be he hadn't known until today that the shares couldn't be transferred without a marriage certificate?

These high-society power plays were starting to feel like a real-life soap opera. Way too complicated.

Serena felt a wave of regret wash over her-she'd just escaped one mess, only to fall into another.

"Damn it, Serena, what kind of messed-up luck do you have?" she silently complained to herself.

Vivian wasn't giving up. She kept smiling and staring at the pair, asking again, "So, when are you two planning to make it official?"

"Uh...well..."

Serena swallowed hard and cleared her throat awkwardly. Under the table, she gave Matthew a subtle nudge with her foot, hinting at him to say something.

Matthew calmly wiped his mouth with the warm towel on the table and answered coolly, "Within ten days, I'll take the marriage certificate to the lawyer and get it done."

Ten days?

Then, as if nothing had just shocked the room, he gently pulled Serena into his arms and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "You've got a sensitive stomach. Don't eat too much tonight. I'll have Susan warm up some milk for you later."

A thunderstorm of mental curses raced through Serena's head.

Excuse me?! Who said my stomach's bad? It's working just fine! I didn't eat all day, and if your mom hadn't been bombarding me with questions, I could've cleared all ten of these dishes by myself!

Noticing her silence, Matthew stood up, plucked the fork from her hand, and started wiping her mouth with a towel, mumbling as he did, "You've got food all over your mouth."

Vivian teased with raised brows, "Wow, can't believe this is the same Matthew I've known-so sweet and caring."

Serena could feel how over-the-top the act was getting-it was starting to spiral.

With a strained smile, she said, "I can do it myself."

Matthew, seemingly satisfied, sat back down and gave a subtle smile. "I'm taking Serena to Bali tomorrow morning."

Bali?

Now where did that come from? Was that improv?

Vivian paused, obviously taken aback. "Oh... vacation, huh? And get the license within ten days..."

"Set up a time to meet Serena's parents. Both sides can talk about the wedding-date, details, all that. Gotta hear what her folks want; can't skip the formalities."

Matthew, ever composed, didn't flinch. "Let's talk about it after she graduates. That's about two years away. There's no rush."

Vivian was stunned. She jumped to her feet. "Wait, you're saying the wedding's in two years?!"

Realizing how off-script this dinner had gone, Serena just wanted it over and done with.

Hearing Matthew say her stomach wasn't well and she shouldn't eat anymore earlier, she immediately clutched her belly, frowned, and let out a soft moan. "Matthew, my stomach hurts..."

"She's not feeling well. I'll take her back to her room so she can rest," Matthew said in a flat, dismissive tone.

Then, without warning, he picked Serena up in a bridal carry and started toward the elevator. "Susan, send up some stomach medicine and warm milk."

Wow, he's really going all in! Even got the medicine part down-talk about full-on commitment to the bit!

This dinner had Serena sweating bullets. It was a full-on brainpower and acting showdown.

She hadn't even gotten to really enjoy any of the food-now her stomach was rumbling loud enough to echo.

Frustrated, she thought, Seriously? A glass of hot milk is supposed to fix this?

As soon as they stepped into the elevator, Serena began to struggle. "Matthew, put me down right now!"

But the gentle act was gone now-Matthew's voice turned cold. "Stop moving."

Serena followed his sharp gaze and looked toward the elevator's glass wall. She could see Vivian watching them intently, a puzzled expression on her face.

Serena instantly went quiet.