Austin offered no response. A quiet, mocking chuckle slipped from his lips instead.

He had never been interested in Abby to begin with.

Humiliation flooded Abby's face, burning so fiercely her eyes stung. Unable to recover from the disgrace, she abruptly rolled her eyes back and collapsed into a fake faint.

After the ridiculous scene finally came to an end, Rachael followed Austin back to their room aboard the yacht.

They were husband and wife now, yet this was the first time Rachael had ever been alone with him.

The cabin had never been spacious to begin with, but Austin's towering frame and the icy authority radiating off him made the air feel even more suffocating.

Rachael poured a glass of water and carefully held it out to him first. "Austin, thank you for what you did today. At least... you chose to believe me."

Keeping his arms folded across his chest, Austin made no move to accept it. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto hers without the slightest warmth. "Don't misunderstand. There's nothing between us. I didn't help you out of sympathy, and I expect something in return."

"I understand. Arranged marriages usually come with rules anyway." A faint smile tugged at Rachael's lips as she lowered her eyes, slipping neatly into the role of the obedient wife. "You don't have to worry. Whatever you choose to do outside this marriage is your business. I won't interfere. And I won't do anything that brings shame to our families."

A cold laugh echoed through Rachael's mind. If Austin thought he could fool around behind her back, then she could play the same game even better.

"Rules like that don't mean anything to me," Austin responded flatly. Before she could react, his hand closed around the water glass along with her slender fingers. With a subtle tug, he pulled her a step closer. "Brooks Group is moving into brain-computer interface technology. I've heard you're one of the top experts in the field. I want you working for Brooks Group and taking charge of the technical development."

Instantly, Rachael's guard shot up. She quickly released the glass from her grip, her fingertips trembling ever so slightly.

So that was his real objective. Did he seriously think a little casual touching would be enough to make her hand over her research?

His motives were written all over his face.

Keeping her tone calm and gentle, she replied, "My research is still in the experimental stage right now. I honestly don't have the time or energy to handle Brooks Group's technical development. I'm sure there are plenty of experts out there who are more capable than I am."

"If you turn me down," Austin said flatly, "I can just pay enough to lure every single person out of your lab and leave you completely on your own."

"Austin, have you lost—" Rachael bit back the curse rising in her throat and forced a strained smile onto her face. "As far as I know, we've never had any issues with each other."

A sharp, humorless laugh escaped Austin. "Drop the act. That weak, innocent routine might fool everyone else, but it doesn't work on me."

For years, Rachael had hidden behind that obedient, harmless facade just to survive in the Brown family without painting a target on her back. If not for the nightmare, she never would have let even a glimpse of her true temper slip out.

Feigning confusion, she blinked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Did I do something that gave you the wrong impression of me?"

Seeing how determined she was to keep pretending, Austin chose not to push any further.

Instead, he pulled a flash drive from his pocket and held it out to her. "The security footage from tonight is saved on this."

Before Rachael had the chance to respond, his cool voice cut in again. "After what happened tonight, I doubt this will be the last time you need someone covering your back. I'll give you until tomorrow to consider my offer."

Without another word, he turned and headed for the door.

Just before the door shut completely, his voice drifted in from outside. "Don't forget to lock the door."

"Look at you being so considerate, Austin," Rachael called out with a faintly mocking smile.

She almost winced at herself. He carried himself like some polished gentleman, yet he was clearly using her future safety as leverage to corner her into agreeing. What a complete hypocrite.

Exhaustion washed over Rachael, leaving her with no desire to think about Austin any longer. She collapsed onto the bed, and sleep claimed her almost instantly.

A tall man climbed onto the bed beside her. Skilled hands moved with alarming ease, slipping her clothes loose one piece at a time before he gathered the unconscious Rachael into his arms.

"Don't worry," he murmured softly. "I'll treat you gently."

Heat quickly tangled between them, leaving both of them slick with sweat before long.

Then a frantic pounding erupted outside the door, stirring Rachael awake.

Her eyes snapped open, and she slowly traced the bare body beside her upward—only to freeze when she saw a completely unfamiliar face staring back at her.

A voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Rachael. Open the door."

Austin was standing outside the door.

Then who the hell was the man lying in bed with her?

A violent chill shot through Rachael's chest. She trembled as panic crashed over her.

With a sharp shove, she pushed the stranger away and stumbled out of bed, her weak legs barely able to support her as she desperately tried to escape.

Her body jerked violently, as if she were falling off the bed, and she jolted awake.

Rachael was still lying exactly where she had fallen asleep earlier, fully clothed, untouched, and completely alone.

So it had merely been a dream.

But after her previous dream turned into reality, she couldn't bring herself to brush this one aside.

Why would she dream about ending up in bed with another man?

"Rachael." Another sharp knock rattled the door, and this time impatience was unmistakable in Austin's voice.

Only then did Rachael realize the knocking hadn't been part of her dream at all. It had been happening in real life the entire time.

Flustered, she hurriedly straightened her wrinkled clothes, ran a hand through her messy hair, and rushed to open the door. "Sorry. I was exhausted and ended up sleeping too deeply. Have we arrived already?"

Austin gave a brief nod. "The driver is waiting downstairs. You're coming with me to the hospital."

This marriage had never been welcomed by the Brooks family. Other than the Brown family and Austin's grandfather, Harold Brooks, almost no one in the Brooks family had supported the union.

Recently, Harold's already fragile health had taken a turn for the worse, and a sudden heart episode had left him in the ICU. Part of the reason the wedding had been arranged so quickly was to lift his spirits.

As for the rest of the Brooks family, every relative had conveniently found an excuse to skip the ceremony aboard the yacht.

Rachael understood perfectly well what it all implied, but she had no desire to involve herself in Austin's complicated family affairs.

Without drawing attention to themselves, she and Austin quietly left the yacht and headed straight for the hospital.

Once the elevator doors slid shut, Austin glanced at her and asked, "Have you thought about what I brought up yesterday?"

Rachael had barely opened her mouth to brush him off with some vague excuse when a hand suddenly jammed between the closing doors. A man hurried inside at the very last second.

Dressed in a simple white lab coat, he kept his head lowered as he caught his breath. "Sorry, I'm late for my shift and—Rachael?"

Recognition flashed across his face almost instantly. His tone lifted with surprise as his fingers wrapped around her wrist.

Slowly, Rachael looked up and met his eyes.

She recognized that face immediately.

It was the man from her dream—the same man who had been in bed with her. Now that he was properly dressed, she had almost failed to recognize him.

He seemed even softer and more approachable than he had in her dream—the kind of man who could win trust with nothing more than a warm smile and gentle eyes.

"I'm sorry," Rachael responded calmly. "Have we met before?"

"Back when I first entered university, the school held a fundraising drive. You were the biggest donor," he explained, excitement flickering across his face as gratitude filled his eyes. "I was one of the students who received help from that money. My dad had just died, my mom was seriously ill, and I honestly thought my life was finished."

Dead father. Seriously ill mother. Poor student saved by her kindness. What a beautifully crafted little tragedy.

"It wasn't a big deal," Rachael replied casually. "I can barely even remember it anymore."

Looping her arm through Austin's, she added with a faint smile, "My husband and I are in a hurry, so we'll be leaving now."

A soft ding echoed through the elevator.

As the doors slid open onto the top floor, Rachael walked beside Austin toward the VIP room waiting at the end of the hallway.

"One of the guys chasing after you?" Austin asked, his voice dropping. "As long as we're married, I expect you to remember exactly where the line is."

"No need to worry," Rachael replied lightly. "I know how boundaries work."

A faint, cold chuckle escaped Austin's lips. "You'd better."

They had barely rounded the corner when angry voices cut through the hallway ahead, sharp and bristling with hostility.