Chapter 3

Honestly, after all the thoughtful care Quentin had shown me lately, I'd pretty much come to terms with being married to him.

He knew me so well. From my work habits and life goals, down to the fact that I'd only drink iced water, couldn't sleep without hugging a pillow, and couldn't stand cilantro or onions—he knew every little thing about me.

Unless we had grown up together and fallen deeply in love, there was no way he could know me this well in such a short time.

"Alright, alright. We'll finally get those photos done when we have the time," I mumbled, scooting closer into his arms and settling in comfortably.

Quentin pulled me into his embrace tighter and pressed a kiss on my forehead. "Okay."

Curled up in his arms, I still couldn't shake this tiny knot of doubt in my heart.

Like I said, he knew me inside out, treated me flawlessly, and every affectionate move he made just felt so natural, like he had done it a thousand times. And honestly, I did feel a weird sense of closeness and familiarity with him, like my body remembered him more than my mind did.

But no matter how sweet he was or how close we got, I just didn't feel that swoony, head-over-heels, heart-racing, cheek-burning kind of vibe people always read about in romance stories.

Was it because of my amnesia? Did my love for him get wiped out along with my memories?

But wasn't love supposed to be something etched into people's bones? Even if one forgot everything, he was supposed to fall for them all over again, wasn't he?

But I knew for sure that I didn't have that wild, heart-pounding feeling for him. It was just that instinctive shyness and a bit of awkwardness one may get when being close to a handsome guy. Honestly, if it were someone else holding me—some other attractive, successful stranger, I'd probably react the same way.

It was honestly kind of strange.

I kept feeling like he was hiding something from me.

What if there was no real love between us, and this was just some kind of family alliance? However, my family's background wasn't anywhere near the Oliver family's. Quentin's a university professor, and his family had that whole old-money, scholarly vibe going on.

Or maybe it was a contract marriage just to get our families off our backs? But the way Quentin pampered me, the way he acted so devoted—it was almost too real. Seriously, he deserved an Oscar for this performance.

No matter how much I thought about it, I just couldn't make sense of it. The more I thought, the more my head hurt. In the end, it was only Quentin's steady breathing that finally lulled me to sleep.

Even though Quentin wanted me to stay home and rest for a few more days before thinking about work, I was way too eager. The moment I felt up to it, I rushed back to the office.

Honestly, staying home was just way too boring. Plus, being around Quentin all the time, I was never quite sure how to react to all his care, and there was always something nagging at me.

But going back to work sounded way better. Maybe being in a familiar place and chatting with my coworkers would help me remember something I'd forgotten.

Quentin couldn't say no, so in the end, he just let me go.

Like I said before, the only gap in my memory was anything to do with Quentin. I remembered everyone else and everything else just fine. Even with my amnesia, most of my work came back to me as soon as I glanced at the workflow. So yeah, the first couple of days were a bit messy, but I got the hang of it fast, and everything went back to normal.

Right before the end of the day, my phone buzzed with a message.

Quentin: [What time are you done? I'll come pick you up.]

Me: [Almost done. Ten minutes, tops. Will it be a hassle for you to come over? If it's not convenient, I can take a cab home myself.]

Quentin: [I'm your husband. I'm coming to pick you up, no matter what.]

When I read his message, I didn't get the swoon-worthy, romantic kind of happiness. Instead, it just felt weird. It was like he was laying it on a bit thick, almost as if he was trying to make a point.

I chalked up this weird feeling to my amnesia. Yeah, it must be my memory loss. That was why his sweet words just didn't hit the way they should. Once I remembered everything, I was sure it would all feel normal again.

Once I'd packed up my things, I figured I'd head downstairs and wait for Quentin outside the office.

But the moment I stepped out of the elevator, I came face-to-face with someone I really didn't want to see.

I instinctively tried to slip away, but he was sharp and had already caught sight of me.

"Maggie!" Jeremy Green called out, striding over and blocking my path.

Jeremy was a coworker from another department, and out of all the guys who chased after me before my amnesia, he was hands down the most stubborn and the biggest headache.

He was kind of over the top, just wouldn't give up, and his relentless pursuit seriously got on my nerves. The very first time he confessed, I turned him down flat.

But he never listened. He was like a bad rash, always showing up whenever he saw an opening.

"Jeremy," I said, taking a deep breath and doing my best to keep my voice calm, "I've already made it very clear. I don't like you, and I won't be with you. Please, leave me alone from now on."