Chapter 4 Round two is Mine

I stared at the ceiling, blinking slowly, feeling strangely heavy, like someone had poured lead into my bones. My eyelids fell shut before I could fight them off, and within minutes, I drifted into sleep.

•••

Downstairs, Adrian sat stiffly, eyes fixed on nothing in particular while Helena, Damien, and Lucas exchanged quiet glances.

“She may have lost her memory,” Adrian said suddenly, “but she still remembers her novels. All of them.”

Lucas snorted. “Sometimes people forget faces, but not what they love. Sounds like she really, really loves reading.”

Damien crossed his arms. “She isn’t faking it. The amnesia feels real. And that girl? She’s too sharp to act this convincingly.”

Helena tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Adrian, get her a full bookshelf. Romance, mafia, CEO, whatever she's into. Make it feel familiar. Maybe it'll help her relax—or recover.”

Without hesitation, Adrian picked up his phone. “Warren. I want a custom bookshelf in my wife's room. Fill it with every top-selling romance, mafia, CEO and stalker-themed novel on the market. Get the ones she mentioned too. No delays.”

Lucas leaned back in his seat. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re warming up to her.”

Adrian didn’t reply.

•••

When I woke up, I felt like someone had glued my limbs to the bed. “Ugh,” I groaned, pushing myself up like I’d aged twenty years in one nap.

But then—woah.

Right across from me stood a massive bookshelf. Like, heavenly. Angels-singing, jaw-dropping, actual-mafia-heaven-level kind of bookshelf. Novels—rows and rows of glorious, colorful books, their covers glinting under the soft warm lights.

I blinked.

Wait…

I leapt out of bed (more like stumbled with grace), scanning through the titles. "Blood Roses and Broken Crowns," "CEO’s Sinful Secret," "His Mafia Bride," "The Devil You Know," and then—oh my God—there it was.

"The Mafia King’s Obsession."

My heart skipped. That was it. My most treasured novel. My everything. I hugged it to my chest like it was the last donut in the box.

Glancing at the clock, I shrieked internally.

9:00 PM?!

What the freaking hell? Did I just sleep from 1 PM to 9 PM like a full-grown panda? Was this body made of marshmallows?

But I couldn’t dwell on that now.

Grabbing the novel and hugging it like a firstborn, I dashed out the door, barefoot and determined, because nothing—and I mean nothing—could stop me from thanking whoever gave me this book. Even if it was the coldest man in existence.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I spotted them all downstairs—probably still having dinner or trying to wind down.

But there she was.

Sabrina.

That damn girl was glued to Adrian like bubblegum on a hot pavement. I froze.

Ugh, my excitement instantly deflated like a popped balloon.

Didn’t Helena say she wasn’t supposed to come today again after being chased away this morning?

My hands tightened around my book. Sabrina leaned closer, whispering something, and Adrian actually… smiled. Not the polite kind. A real one. The kind of smile that made my knees weak and my brain forget the alphabet.

My mouth opened. My heart dropped.

Why… why was I feeling like this? Was it me? Or was it the real Lia?

Whatever it was, the sharp stab in my chest wasn’t going away.

Then it hit me.

If I wanted to survive in this world—scratch that—if I wanted to have a little fun and mess with Cold CEO and Plastic Barbie, I had to be strategic.

Time to create chaos.

I gasped dramatically, making sure it echoed slightly. Perfect. Every head downstairs snapped in my direction.

Adrian's brows furrowed.

But before he could say anything, I turned on my heel and bolted like a misunderstood female lead in a K-drama, making a beeline for the room. As soon as I reached the door, I slammed it shut with a nice dramatic bang.

Then I grinned.

“Who said I don’t know how to act?” I whispered to myself as I tossed the book onto the bed and flopped down beside it like a satisfied villain.

If they wanted drama, I’d give them drama.

Let’s see how Adrian reacts now.

And Sabrina? Well…

Let the games begin.

Just as I opened my beloved novel to read, the softest knock knock echoed from the door. I froze mid-sigh, a slow, wicked smile curving across my lips.

Showtime.

Without wasting a second, I hopped off the bed and slipped into the bathroom. The tub was filled with warm water—courtesy of Helena's insistence that I bathe like a princess every day. It looked like a serene lake, still and inviting.

I knelt beside it, my hands gripping the marble edges. Leaning forward, I dipped my entire face into the water. It was soothing, cleansing... and cold enough to help me achieve my goal.

Seconds passed, and then I raised my face, letting the water stream down like a melodramatic movie scene. I looked up at the mirror.

Perfect.

My eyes were red, lashes clumped together, and water dripped down my chin like I’d just had a good, long sob session.

I grabbed the towel, patted my face dry just enough to stop the dripping, then gave myself a good shake, forcing a few artificial sniffles out. Satisfied with my performance, I stepped back into the room.

The novel went back onto the shelf—couldn’t have them thinking books make me too happy—and I returned to the bed. I sat with my legs tucked under me, shoulders hunched, and head slightly bowed like some poor little lamb abandoned by the world.

Then, just to put the cherry on top, I pinched my nose lightly, tilted my head, and forced tears to gather in the corners of my eyes. Thank you, drama club from middle school.

The door creaked open.

I didn’t look up.

“I said… get out,” I croaked, voice trembling like a wounded deer. “I don’t want to talk to anyone. Please… just leave me alone.”

Dead silence.

Then I heard the beginning of a scolding.

“Adrian, what the hell is wrong with you?” Helena’s voice was sharp and motherly, and oh, how I adored her in that moment. “Can’t you see how hurt she is? She's in tears! Do you know what that Sabrina girl did to her?”

Bingo.

I could almost hear Adrian’s silence. It had a weight to it. Cold. Conflicted.

Lucas spoke next. “Bro… you might need to get your act together. This is too much.”

“She was fine until you two were smiling like soulmates down there,” Damien added. “You really think that wouldn’t sting?”

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from giggling. I was having way too much fun for someone pretending to cry.

Sabrina’s voice cut through like a spoiled cat. “You all are overreacting. It’s not like I said anything rude. We were just talking. If she’s so sensitive—”

“Sensitive?” Helena snapped. “You’re not even supposed to be here, Sabrina. I told you to leave. Why are you here again?”

“I… I came to check on Adrian,” Sabrina muttered, her tone not as confident anymore.

Adrian finally spoke, his voice quieter, lower. “Sabrina, go home.”

Boom.

I didn’t need to see it to know her face must’ve crumpled like overcooked spaghetti. That was the second win.

“I said leave,” he repeated, his voice frostier than the ice cubes in a mafia boss's whiskey glass.

“I was just—”

“I don’t care.”

Footsteps. Angry heels clicking away from the door. Sabrina was gone.

I couldn’t help the small twitch of my lips.

Helena spoke again, softly now. “Lia, sweetheart… we’re sorry. Adrian… he can be cold, but he doesn’t mean to hurt you. You can take your time. No one will bother you again tonight, okay?”

I didn’t reply. I only gave a weak hiccup, then lay back on the bed like a crushed heroine from an old drama serial.

The door shut.

Silence.

I waited.

Five minutes.

Then ten.

Finally, I let out a breath and sat up.

I was alone again.

I rolled off the bed and tiptoed to the door. I pressed my ear against it. Nothing.

Perfect.

Back to my bookshelf I went.

I pulled down The Mafia King's Obsession, hugged it to my chest like a long-lost lover, then flopped back

onto the bed, all signs of tears gone.

“Round two goes to me,” I whispered, grinning like the devil himself. “Adrian Winters, you cold-hearted CEO… you just met your match.”