Chapter 2

The next day, to celebrate that decisive “cooperation,” the family threw a grand victory banquet in the estate’s main hall.

When Leon led me in by the hand, the place was already buzzing. Crystal chandeliers flooded every face with a bright, almost blinding light.

Suits, gowns, jewels, cigars, and champagne blended into a glittering haze—like a carefully woven net, where every smile came with judgement.

Those so-called “nobles”—now better described as allies and representatives from every family—looked up the moment I appeared.

Almost instinctively, their eyes swung toward Gaius.

I followed their gaze—and froze.

Because Gaius had a face identical to Leon’s.

Only his aura was nothing like Leon’s. There was a restless, shallow impatience clinging to him, as if he could never fully settle into his own skin.

“Selena,” a voice as sweet as syrup came from beside Gaius. “Do you remember me? I’m your friend—Flora.”

She stood close to him with a champagne flute in hand, smiling like an innocent white rose.

I shook my head.

Leon didn’t give her a chance to come any closer. He drew me straight to his side and answered with flawless politeness:

“Sorry. She doesn’t remember.”

Flora blinked as if she didn’t mind at all.

“That’s okay. We can get to know each other again.”

As she spoke, she looped her arm through Gaius’s—intimately—and even leaned into his shoulder, like she was declaring ownership in front of the entire room.

If Gaius was truly my husband—at least according to what I’d overheard that night—then in the moment I “lost my memory,” she had moved to his side at the fastest speed. And she did it like it was only natural.

What's even more dazzling was the light in Gaius’s eyes—an excited spark.

He didn’t bother hiding it. Right in front of me, he flirted with her: the low laughter, the close whispers by her ear, the way his fingertips lingered at her waist.

And the entire room watched.

They were waiting to see if I would break. Waiting to see if I would suddenly remember something.

As the banquet neared its end, the alcohol pushed people toward dirtier amusements.

Someone suggested playing “games.” They called it entertainment, but it was really just an excuse to humiliate someone.

First came shooting—inside the estate’s indoor range. Black soundproof walls, harsh white lights. Gun oil and perfume mixing together in a way that made my scalp tighten.

Flora was the only one who claimed she’d “never even touched a gun,” so of course she lost without suspense.

By the rules, the loser had to take a punishment.

A man with a mean, gleeful smile—exactly the type who lives for watching public shame—swirled his drink and proposed:

“Pick someone—and kiss him for a full minute.”

Flora’s face flushed instantly, the perfect shade of embarrassed red.

All around us, the crowd erupted—claps, whistles, laughter blending into one loud tide:

“Kiss him! Kiss him!”

In the roar of cheering, Gaius pulled her into his arms and bent to kiss her.

It wasn’t a quick, light kiss. It was the kind of kiss meant to be performed—meant to be seen. Like he wanted to erase my existence in front of everyone.

By the time the minute ended, Flora clung to him with damp eyes, her cheeks red enough to bleed. Then she shot me a smug little look.

Gaius held her even tighter.

Next came snooker.

A pool table had been set up in the smaller hall off the main room.

I wasn’t familiar with the rules, and with all those eyes pressing on me, losing was almost inevitable.

By the rules, I had to take a punishment too.

But with “amnesia” as my shield, no one dared push too far—they only tortured me with looks, with smiles, with suggestive laughs.

That was when Leon let out a low chuckle beside me.

“Then why don’t you also kiss someone for a full minute?”

The second his words landed, the smaller hall went dead silent—as if someone had hit a mute button.

Everyone stared at me.

Curious who I would choose—would I lunge toward Gaius on instinct? Would I “return to him” in front of the crowd? That would be the best show of the night.

But in that same instant, Gaius looked away nervously, as if terrified I might actually choose him.

Even his fingers seemed to stiffen—not with anticipation, but with fear.

Leon sat beside me, his body tense too. He looked at me with something like expectation.

I looked at all of them—and then I smiled.

As if it were the most obvious thing in the world, I said:

“Of course I’ll kiss my husband.”