Under the dim lighting, a charged, intimate tension flowed quietly between us.

My cheeks grew warm. The tips of Grayson's ears flushed red.

To Ethan, the sight was almost unbearable. As if acting on impulse, he stepped between us.

"The Meyer family is hosting a private dinner tomorrow. You should both come."

Grayson frowned slightly, about to refuse, but I spoke first.

"Okay."

I wanted to see just how badly Ethan could play out this farce.

The next day, we arrived as promised.

The moment we stepped into the banquet hall, we saw Ethan with Sarah held tightly in his arms.

When Sarah looked at me, the provocation in her eyes was unmistakable.

I let out a soft laugh.

In truth, I had noticed long ago that something between her and Ethan was far too intimate—something wasn't right.

But when I confronted him, he had only laughed it off.

"Lisa, you're overthinking it.

"She's alone in this city with no one to rely on. I'm just looking out for her.

"Sarah is a simple girl. Don't be so hostile toward her."

He had denied everything back then. And now, taking advantage of my "amnesia," he had the audacity to bring her openly into the spotlight.

I ignored them completely and tightened my grip on Grayson's hand.

A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes before he pulled me into his arms.

With Grayson present, no one dared speak out of line to me. They only gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves.

When Ethan saw us, he walked over, still holding Sarah's hand.

"You two are holding on pretty tightly. Afraid you might lose each other? I have to say… I didn't expect your relationship to be this strong."

His tone dripped with mockery, but I replied calmly, "Of course. We're engaged—naturally, we're close."

My words left him speechless, and the air turned instantly cold.

His gaze lingered on me, his expression dark and stormy.

Seeing him like that, I found it almost laughable.

He was the one who pushed me toward Grayson—so what was he so upset about now?

Sensing the awkward tension, someone suggested drawing lots to choose dance partners.

Sarah stepped forward first and drew Ethan.

As the music began, the two of them, dressed in formalwear, moved together in a lingering, intimate dance.

From time to time, Ethan glanced my way—only to find me completely indifferent, standing beside Grayson with a faint smile.

His expression darkened.

Suddenly, he pulled Sarah close and kissed her passionately in the center of the dance floor.

The heated display sent the room into an uproar—champagne was splashed, and cheers erupted.

And I stood there, calm and unmoved—not even a flicker of discomfort crossing my face.

Though he knew I had "lost my memory," my composure seemed to irritate him deeply.

In the next round of drawing lots, Ethan ended up picking me.

People around him shot him meaningful looks.

Awkwardly, he walked toward me, about to extend an invitation—when Sarah's eyes suddenly reddened.

Clutching his arm, tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Darling…"

His heart softened instantly. He let go of his intention without hesitation.

"I'm not interested in dancing with you. I'm not going to upset my girlfriend over a dance."

I gave a slight nod, my tone composed.

"That's fine. I wouldn't want to make my fiancé unhappy by dancing with another man, either."

With that, I turned naturally toward Grayson and gently took his hand.

My response made Ethan's expression sink.

It seemed he couldn't accept that the woman who once had eyes only for him now felt nothing at all.

Just as he was about to speak, Grayson took my hand and led me onto the dance floor.

We moved in perfect harmony, every step effortless—our presence rendering Ethan and Sarah's flamboyance dull by comparison.

When the music ended, Grayson steadied me, his voice laced with concern.

"This party shows you no respect."

Before I could respond, he had already wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me toward the exit.

"Let's go home."

"Grayson!"

Ethan chased after us, urgency filling his voice.

"Don't get too carried away with the act!"

Grayson's hand trembled slightly in mine.

"What act? I don't know what you're talking about."

He tightened his grip on my hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"My love for Lisa has never been an act. I'll say this again—anyone who dares disrespect my fiancée is making an enemy of me."

The moment his words fell, the room went silent.

Ethan was stunned at first, then seemed to arrive at some conclusion of his own. He probably assumed Grayson was covering for him.

With a scoff, he looked at me, his eyes laced with mockery.

"Lisa, do you really think your fiancé loves you? You must've forgotten how he used to treat you."

Before he could finish, Grayson took me away.

Back at the villa, I watched Grayson busy himself taking care of me, my confusion deepening.

I looked at him quietly and asked softly, "Grayson… do you really love me?"

He didn't hesitate. His gaze was earnest, burning with sincerity.

"Yes. I always have."

There was something in his eyes—too open, too real—that made my heart tremble.

Over the next month, he set aside all his work to stay by my side. Our days were simple, yet filled with a quiet happiness. His gentle, thoughtful care seeped into every corner of my life, bringing me an unfamiliar sense of peace.

One day, I casually mentioned that I wanted to go to an amusement park. He immediately set aside what he was doing.

"If you want to go, I'll take you."

The park was lively, filled with laughter and bright sunlight.

But not long after we entered, we ran into Ethan and Sarah.

Ethan had always loved extreme sports, despite his weak heart. In the past, I never let him go near anything dangerous—yet he always complained that I was too controlling.

Now, he had finally broken free from my restraints and found someone like Sarah who indulged him.

I used to beg him to come to the amusement park with me for photos, but he always brushed me off, calling it childish.

Now, for Sarah, he was willing to break every rule.

When Ethan saw us, he walked straight over.

Looking at me, his tone carried deliberate showmanship.

"Sarah wanted to play, so I rented out the whole place. If you want to join, you're welcome."

I said nothing, my expression calm.

Grayson suggested taking me to another park, but I shook my head.

"Since your buddy is treating us, we should accept."

The two of them got on the roller coaster. As it slowly climbed to the top, rose petals and balloons suddenly rained down from the sky.

With his arm around Sarah, Ethan kissed her openly, as if no one else existed.

Gasps and cheers rose from the surrounding crowd as people snapped photos—the scene was extravagant and romantic.

I remained expressionless, as though watching a performance that had nothing to do with me.

After they got off the ride, Ethan looked especially pleased—perhaps delighted at how he could juggle two women at once.

He walked over, lifting his phone slightly.

"I'm planning a birthday party for Sarah. You should come."

I glanced at it and replied evenly, "Sure."

Before his expression could soften, I turned to Grayson beside me.

"Darling, why don't we go pick out our wedding outfits before the party?"

Grayson froze, his eyes instantly flooding with excitement and joy.

"Of course. I'll get you the most beautiful wedding dress—make you the most stunning bride in the world."

The smile on Ethan's face stiffened at once. He probably believed I would always be the woman who could never live without him.

But what he didn't know was that the moment he chose to deceive me, I had already decided to replace him.

Grayson and I exchanged a smile. He slipped off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

"It's getting a little chilly. Let's go home. The jewelry and clothes I had custom-made for you overseas have arrived. We can try them on this afternoon."

Ethan stared at us, fury churning in his eyes.

"Ethan… be gentle, that hurts…"

Sarah frowned, her voice soft and coquettish as she clung to him.

He immediately released her hand and grabbed Grayson instead.

"I need to talk to you."

Curious, I followed them quietly.

At a secluded corner of the amusement park, Ethan forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Grayson, what exactly are you playing at? I only asked you to pretend to be Lisa's fiancé so I could have a little freedom before the wedding. And now you're acting all intimate with her—are you trying to humiliate me on purpose?"

Grayson shook off his grip, something long suppressed flickering in his eyes.

"From the very beginning, I was never acting for you. I like Lisa. I've liked her for a long time. I stayed by your side as a friend just so I could see her whenever I wanted."

At the mention of me, his gaze softened.

"The distance I kept before wasn't because I disliked her—it was because I didn't dare get close. I was afraid my feelings would be exposed… that it would bring her gossip and trouble. I thought that as long as you treated her well, I could stay in the background forever and never interfere."

He lifted his eyes to Ethan, anger burning within them.

"But you trampled all over her heart. And now that you've pushed her into my arms with your own hands, don't blame me for taking her from you."

Ethan was so stunned he couldn't speak. After a long pause, embarrassment twisted into anger.

"Then you're wasting your effort. Lisa has been with me for years—everyone knows how much she loves me! She's only close to you now because she's lost her memory. Once I tell her the truth, she'll come back to me!"

Grayson started to respond, but fell silent. The light in his eyes dimmed. He knew Ethan wasn't lying. All these years, he had seen with his own eyes just how deeply I loved Ethan.

I caught that shift in his expression clearly and stepped forward.

When they saw me, a flicker of panic crossed their faces.

Ethan rushed toward me, pointing at Grayson.

"Lisa, do you know—"

Before he could finish, I cut him off.

"Ethan, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I never lost my memory."