Chapter 4

I pulled out all the stops for that wild carp, which was worth a fortune. I didn't even get a bite myself after it was done, but I had no doubt it tasted incredible.

Austin took a bite.

He frowned a little, looking at me with anticipation in my eyes. "Did you forget the salt?"

I replied, "I did add salt."

He glanced at me. "Didn't you say you put too much salt in the fried fish the first time you made it for me?"

I was supposed to bring back those fond memories for him, but I couldn't bring myself to ruin such a pricey fish.

I hesitated. "Should I sprinkle some salt on top?"

He fell silent.

Maybe the fish was too good. Austin didn't let me add any more salt. Before he left the table, he handed me a card.

I froze for a second.

"This card has no limit. Buy whatever you want," he said.

From his expression, I could tell what he really meant.

He wanted me to quit staring at things like I couldn't afford anything.

After the girl left, Austin slumped onto the couch, looking exhausted.

He'd always avoided physical contact with others, but the feeling of her hand in his lingered in his mind. He found himself reluctant to let go the moment he touched her.

He wondered how things ended up like this. He felt that maybe he was overthinking things.

*****

To help Austin remember Helen sooner, I decided to replay every bit of romance she'd shared with me in her notes.

Maybe the unlimited card he handed me had brought us closer.

I wasn't so guarded around Austin anymore. As a way to repay him, I was even more eager to help him recall those memories he'd lost.

Too bad Austin was always busy, leaving early and coming home late. He wasn't like those overbearing CEO webnovels where the guy had endless time for romance.

Only Piers, Yvette, who came by to cook our meals, and I were in the villa.

I was bored out of my mind, so I started helping Yvette in the kitchen.

Yvette was in her fifties, always with a gentle smile. When she saw me rolling up my sleeves to help, she kept waving me off, insisting I didn't need to.

"Miss Shelton, I'm only cooking for you. It's really no trouble," she said.

I sighed, "I'm so bored."

Yvette couldn't help but laugh, and finally let me help out.

Yvette was an amazing cook, so I asked her how to cook those fish, planning to whip them up for Austin soon.

She was delighted and told me every recipe she knew. I realized that I could cook a single fish in several different ways.

I opened my phone and started jotting everything down, and asked Yvette what Austin liked best.

I was so focused on taking notes that when I looked up, Yvette was smiling proudly at me.

"Miss Shelton, it really warms my heart to see you care so much about Mr. Glover," Yvette said.

I gave her an awkward smile, feeling a pang of guilt. "Oh, please, you and Piers do way more for him than I ever could."

Yvette shook her head. "Mr. Glover had it tough. We've been by his side for years, but we're just servants.

"You're different, Miss Shelton. You're the one who can actually reach his heart."

I glanced away, guilt flickering in my eyes. Yvette didn't know the truth. I was here for the money, same as them.

Yvette and I talked for a while, and I learned that Austin had moved out of the Glover Manor when he was twelve.

Yvette and Piers had been looking after him ever since. No wonder Yvette always looked at Austin with that motherly warmth. She'd watched him grow up.

I couldn't help but wonder. The Glover family was loaded. I didn't know why they would leave a kid that young with two people who weren't even family.

I wondered if this was what rich folks would do for elite education.

Yvette sighed, "It's no secret. Mr. Glover lost some of his memory as a kid after something traumatic happened.

"Mrs. Glover hired some so-called expert to read his fortune, and he said the Glover Manor was jinxing him, so they made him move out and live on his own."

Yvette pursed her lips. "Seriously, who'd believe that? Not me, anyway.

"If moving out of the Glover Manor was supposed to keep him safe, then how did he end up in that car accident? It's all superstition..."

I was lost in thought all afternoon. It turned out this wasn't the first time Austin had lost his memory. Over a decade ago, he had already lost his memory once.

*****

That night, I kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep. When I got up for a drink, I heard a bunch of clanging and banging coming from downstairs.

The villa's security was solid, so I worked up the nerve to turn on the lights and take a look. It turned out that the one making all the noise was Austin.

The ever composed Austin now had his tie loosened halfway, head tilted back as he slouched on the couch, his long legs stretched out.

Probably startled by the sudden light, he raised his arm to shield his eyes, his arm casting a small shadow across his chiseled jaw.

There was a bottle of red wine on the marble coffee table, already halfway gone.

A wine glass lay on the carpet, knocked over.

I figured that he was drunk.

I called out softly, "Austin?"

"Yeah," he replied.

"Want me to get you some water?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

He was still so cold and distant even when he was drunk.

I couldn't help but smile and went to fix him some honey water.