Chapter 3

I could practically see Gaius exhale in relief.

I turned to Leon at my side and asked lightly, like it was nothing more than a casual question:

“Is that okay?”

Leon looked at me, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. He nodded.

I raised my arms around his neck and rose onto my toes.

Leon leaned in. One hand locked firmly around my waist and pulled me into him—then his mouth came down on mine.

Deep. Rough. Like a man who’d been holding back for too long and finally found an exit.

At first, whistles and laughter rang out around us.

But it didn’t take long before the sound cut off abruptly.

The room fell into a stunned, total silence.

I didn’t have time to wonder why, because Leon’s kiss was scorching.

He chased my tongue with a hungry urgency, crushing the last scraps of clarity I’d been trying to hold onto.

When the minute ended, I finally pulled back from his arms.

The air felt knife-cold. The lights stung my eyes.

I lifted my gaze—and saw Gaius’s face, dark and frighteningly grim.

This “punishment” meant to humiliate me had turned into something else entirely: me choosing Leon in public, leaving Gaius standing there like a joke. A slap across his face.

Even more absurd was the fact that the man who’d just been kissing Flora like I didn’t exist now looked like he’d been bitten back.

Leon lifted his hand, slow and gentle, and wiped the dampness from the corner of my mouth—so tender you’d never believe how aggressive he’d been seconds ago.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, feigning confusion, like I truly didn’t understand. “Wasn’t I supposed to take a punishment?”

Flora finally found her chance. She smiled like she was enjoying the show:

“Even with amnesia, your ‘feelings’ for Leon haven’t faded at all. You kissed him like you meant it.”

Her tone was pure fuel, making Gaius’s face look even worse.

So I added my own match, lifting my brows and saying lightly:

“Maybe it’s because… this kind of love is carved into the bones. Not something you need memory for.”

For some reason, the moment I said it, the smile on Leon’s face deepened.

A flash of possessiveness slid through his eyes—so fast it was hard to catch.

Then, as if he’d suddenly remembered manners, he murmured that he needed the restroom and turned away.

But he was gone for a long time.

The sticky, hungry stares in the hall made my chest feel tight, so I went outside for air.

I headed down the stairs—and accidentally caught a low conversation in the stairwell.

“Leon,” Gaius’s voice was ice-cold, packed with restrained fury. “Why did you kiss her? You crossed the line.”

Leon’s reply carried a lazy laugh, light and deliberately provoking:

“It was just a game. She’s got amnesia—were you going to make her stand there watching you hold Flora, and then have her kiss you too? Don’t you feel disgusting?”

Gaius’s breathing sank, heavy and obvious. His voice dropped lower:

“You’re not allowed to mess with Selena.”

He paused, like he was swallowing rage—and like he was issuing an order.

“If you can, stay away from her.”