Chapter 1

I was at a bar, spending time with male escorts, when my archnemesis Samuel Yates got into a car accident.

I rushed to the hospital, folding my hands in prayer. 'God, please, make him a fool,' I begged.

The next second, he opened his eyes, grabbed me tightly, and with red-rimmed eyes, called out, "Honey, you're here."

The doctor said he had amnesia and only recognized me.

His mom gave me a black card. "One million a day. What do you think?"

I smiled and said yes. Then I started playing the part of the sweet, loving, clingy girlfriend. I buttered him up, teased him, and got him wrapped around my finger. I wanted everything, the money and the hot guy.

He was clingy, obedient, and innocent, way too easy to fool. Like a loyal dog, he was always circling around me.

I thought I had it all, and thought I was the one in control.

But in the end, I realized he had me completely under his spell.

*****

When Margaret Lane called, I was still at the bar, picking out male escorts.

One stood on each side of me. The first was cool and reserved, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. The second was sweet and obedient, like a clingy puppy. Both were exactly my type.

The aloof one was kneading my shoulders, his warm fingertips brushing against the side of my neck. "Is the pressure okay, miss?" he asked.

The other one crouched at my feet, offering me a strawberry with a playful curve to his eyes. "Come on, honey, open wide."

For the first twenty-four years of my life, I never really figured out how to have fun. Shout out to my legendary best friend for putting me onto this hidden spot. Good times and hot guys, we shared everything. She really kept that promise.

I was about to sneak a hand over to the hottie's abs next to me when my phone's shrill ringtone cut through the air.

My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it, annoyed. But when I saw Margaret's name on the screen, my heart dropped. She was my mom's bestie, pretty much my second mom.

If she caught me here picking out male escorts and ratted me out to my mom, my allowance was as good as gone. I might end up grounded. I would be done for.

I hurriedly pushed the two hotties aside and squeezed out an apologetic smile. "Sorry, something urgent came up. Maybe next time."

Seeing the disappointment flash across their eyes really hurt. There went the hot prize I was about to have.

As soon as I picked up, Margaret's anxious voice came through. "Lily, you need to get to the hospital right now. Samuel's been in a car accident."

Samuel was my archnemesis since we were kids.

Back in kindergarten, he ruined my craft project, so I dumped a whole week's worth of pencil shavings all over his desk.

In middle school, he dropped a slimy, half-melted chocolate bar into my cup. That was why I let all the air out of his favorite basketball.

In high school, he kept topping me in every test, so I smeared super glue all over his chair.

Honestly, our payback never ended. That was how it was between us: archenemies for life.

And now he was in the hospital? This must be fun.

I felt no worry whatsoever. Instead, my heart was celebrating. I would have lit firecrackers on the spot if I could.

To be honest, my biggest wish as a kid was to watch Samuel crash and burn.

So I floored it in my Rolls-Royce Phantom, turning a forty-minute trip into twenty flat, and burst into the hospital.

The red light above the ER door was blinding.

Margaret was sitting on a bench, clutching the edge of her clothes, her eyes swollen and red from crying. When she saw me rush over, it was like she'd grabbed onto a lifeline.

I rushed over and patted her back, trying to comfort her. "Margaret, don't worry. Troublemakers like Samuel always live forever, you know?"

Margaret looked up at me with utter despair, her crying only getting louder.

"Wait, no, that's not what I meant. Good people always get blessed. He'll be totally fine." I scrambled to fix my words.

Not long after, the ER doors finally swung open.

The doctor came out and said, "He's out of danger, but he took a serious hit to the head and is still out cold. There's a chance he could end up with amnesia."

Seriously? A car crash, and he only got a bump on the head? He was so lucky.

Without thinking, I pressed my hands together and sent a desperate prayer toward the ER. 'God, please, turn Samuel into a complete fool. Make him so clueless that he can't remember his own name. That way, he'll never get one over me again.'

Margaret caught sight of me praying and quickly grabbed my wrist. "Lily, the doctor said he's out of danger. You don't need to pray for him."

I snapped back to reality. "Huh? No, I didn't pray."

Stepping into the VIP suite, I glanced at Samuel sprawled out on the bed.

He had a tall, elegant nose that caught the light in a clean arc. His brow was sharp, and when his lashes cast a shadow, he looked more calm. His jawline was strong and defined, with every angle on point.

Putting aside everything that made me hate him, Samuel's face was a genuine pleasure to look at. Even that pale, sickly skin only made him look more like a fragile pretty boy.

Before I knew it, I'd drifted a little closer, standing by the bed with my arms crossed, feeling smug. 'Ha, serves you right for all that swagger. Now you're lying there, ready for me to roast you,' I thought to myself.

Suddenly, his eyelashes quivered. He was awake.

I straightened up instantly, putting on my coolest, most badass face.

Samuel slowly opened his eyes, his gaze foggy and lost as he scanned the ceiling, the walls, and the window. Finally, his eyes locked onto me.

He frowned a little, like he was really trying to remember something.

He swallowed hard, and his voice came out hoarse and weak, but every word was clear, said one at a time. "Honey, you're here." Then he gave me this silly, genuine smile, his eyes practically overflowing with love.

I completely froze. Everything went quiet for three seconds. I thought I was hearing things. Honey? Samuel called me honey? The guy who had been my sworn enemy since we were kids. He woke up, and the first thing out of his mouth was honey?

What was wrong? I wanted Samuel to turn into an idiot, not get tangled up in this mess.

Margaret, standing nearby, let out a little snort and covered her mouth, her eyes practically gleaming with playful mischief.

I finally snapped out of it, my face blazing red as I pointed at my nose and shouted, "Samuel, did that crash really mess up your brain? I'm Lily, your archnemesis, not your honey. Call me that one more time and I'll knock you out!"

Samuel was stunned by my outburst, his eyes going watery with hurt, looking like he might cry any second.

He struggled to sit up, wincing from the pain, but kept his eyes locked on me, clinging to my sleeve like his life depended on it.

"You're my wife. I remember you. Don't leave me..." he said and looked all sad and needy, his voice shaky.

My fists were itching to swing, but I couldn't do it.

He'd gotten his brain scrambled in a car crash. If I hit him now, he might lose his memory again, and then I'd be doomed to babysit him forever.

Margaret jumped in, grinning like she'd won the lottery. "Lily, look at him. Even with amnesia, you're the only one he remembers. It must be fate bring you together."

I was losing my mind. "Margaret, this is wrong."

I tried to reason with him, ticking off my complaints on my fingers. "You trashed my craft project back in kindergarten, kept beating me for first place in high school and snatched my scholarship in college.

"You were always out to get me. We're mortal enemies. Do you get it?"

Samuel shook his head, looking completely lost, gripping my hand even tighter and gently resting his head on the back of it. "I don't remember. I only know you're my wife. You're the only one I know."

Trying to reason with someone who'd lost their memory? Yeah, good luck with that. I gave up. Let him be. I wasn't playing along.

But finally, thanks to Margaret and my mom, I'd actually agreed for the money they promised.

Once they understood the situation, that Samuel only remembered me, thought I was his girlfriend, and refused to let go, they discussed it over the phone and decided that I would be the one stuck taking care of him.

I was absolutely not on board.

But the cash they dangled was insane. They promised me a million bucks a day for staying with Samuel.

Who in their right mind would turn down that much money? Seriously, it was a no-brainer.

So yeah, I "reluctantly" gave in. Like I could ever say no to that kind of cash.

After Margaret left Samuel in my care, she answered her phone. "Hello? The doctor said it's nothing serious, so don't worry. Missing one for cards? Yeah, I've got time. I'll be right there. Wait for me."

With that, she walked out, leaving behind nothing but a cold, hard black card.