Mia plopped down on the couch in Nyx's office, covering her face with her hands as she tried to maintain her composure. Ashley's attending doctor had confirmed it—selective amnesia. It was the same diagnosis Nyx had suspected.

Groaning, Mia buried her face in her knees. Don't cry, don't cry, she repeated to herself. At least she's safe. But the thought of Ashley believing she was engaged to Vika was enough to make her blood boil.

Nyx sighed, glancing at Mia. She playfully crumpled a piece of paper and tossed it in her direction. "What's this? Are you planning to sulk all day?" she teased with a chuckle.

Mia lifted her head, a frown etched on her face. "I'm utterly irritated by that Vika—ugh! So irritating!"

Vera, who was seated nearby, chuckled. "And who's this Vika?"

"Vika..." Mia started, sitting up straighter. "She's Ashley's childhood friend. I met her back at Ashley's firm. She's pulling Ashley's tie, acting so familiar—it's infuriating!" Mia clenched her fists, clearly struggling to keep her irritation in check. "And now she's claiming to be Ashley's fiancée. Can you believe that?"

Nyx and Vera exchanged glances. "Why would she say that?" Nyx asked.

Mia rolled her eyes and leaned back against the couch. "Apparently, your great friend—who conveniently doesn't remember me—made a promise to Vika when they were seven years old." She leaned forward, her expression incredulous. "Do you want to know what the promise was?"

"What?" Vera asked, her curiosity piqued.

Mia threw her hands in the air. "If neither of them were married by the time they turned thirty, they'd marry each other. And now, tada! Vika's back in the picture."

Nyx burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Ashley did that? Oh my God, what an idiot!" She gasped for breath, still laughing. "That's hilarious!"

Mia glared at her. "You think this is funny, Nyx? I hope you choke from laughing so hard!" she snapped, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

Nyx wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, still catching her breath. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! But seriously, who even takes something like that seriously? It's long overdue, Mia. It's not like it's binding."

Vera smirked. "Maybe that's why Vika's here—telling Ashley they're engaged. But how would Vika even know about Ashley's amnesia? She'd have to know before Ashley woke up to pull something like that."

Mia froze, her gaze shifting to Vera. She pointed a finger at her, moving it up and down as though agreeing with her logic. "Wait. That's a good point. Back when Ashley was still in the ICU, Vika visited—along with Alysse, Azriel, and Natalie," Mia said, frowning as she tilted her head in thought.

"I noticed something," she murmured.

Nyx and Vera leaned in, their expressions serious. "What did you notice?" they asked in unison.

"Well, Vika kept clutching her abdomen, like she was in pain. And Azriel had bruises and abrasions on his face. You remember how the police said Ashley's attackers were two people?"

Nyx shrugged. "It could be a coincidence," she said, glancing at her wife.

"Go on, Mia," Vera urged, crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand.

"As I was saying, Ashley's attackers were two people, but the authorities haven't found any solid leads. The license plate on the getaway car was fake," Mia continued, her tone frustrated. "Maybe it's just a coincidence, like Nyx said, but something about this feels off. And now Vika's claiming to be Ashley's fiancée right after she wakes up?" She rubbed her temples, sighing. "I know it sounds crazy, but—"

"It doesn't sound crazy at all," Vera interjected, snapping her fingers. "Your observation makes sense. And now that I think about it, Ashley came to me about Vika and Azriel."

Mia and Nyx both turned to her, eyebrows raised.

"Vika Sione and Azriel Amosa—those are the names, right?" Vera asked.

Mia nodded. "Yeah, those are the names. Why?"

Vera sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I should've warned Ashley sooner."

"What's going on, wife?" Nyx asked, frowning in confusion.

Vera leaned back, biting her lip. "A couple of weeks before Mia and Ashley left for Samoa, Ashley asked me to look into Vika and Azriel. She didn't give me all the details, but she suspected something shady. I compiled the information, but I was waiting to hand it to her when she got back. Then this happened. Now... I don't even know if she'd remember asking me."

Mia's jaw dropped. "You mean you have dirt on them?"

Vera groaned. "Yes, and I should've sent it to her immediately. God, this is all my fault!"

Nyx's expression hardened. "No, it's not your fault, wife. But if those two were involved in Ashley's attack, they're going to regret it."

Mia's eyes narrowed. "They're not taking Ashley from me. Not without a fight."



Crossing her arms as she came to a halt, Mia chuckled, though the tension in her stance betrayed her irritation. Nyx and Vera stood silently behind her, their gazes fixed on the person in front of them—Vika. The smirk on Vika's face only fueled the fire burning in Mia's chest.

Oh gosh, I want to rip that smirk right off your face, Mia thought, clicking her tongue in annoyance.

Vika gave her a saccharine smile and walked past, but Mia's hand shot out, gripping her arm firmly. "Vika," Mia said sharply, her voice unwavering.

Vika stopped, glancing down at Mia's hand before shoving it off. She turned with a smug expression. "Yes, dear?" she asked, her tone dripping with mockery.

Mia tilted her head and chuckled, though the edge in her voice was impossible to miss. "You do know I'm Ashley's fiancée, right? So why are you claiming a position that isn't yours?"

Vika's laughter rang out, light and infuriating. "Oh, is that so?" she said, tapping a finger against her chin. "But sadly for you, Ashley doesn't even recognize you as her fiancée, let alone remember that the two of you had anything romantic."

Mia clenched her jaw, inhaling deeply in an effort to remain calm. "And is this your way of claiming what isn't yours? You're not only delusional but downright childish. For someone your age, you act like a grade-schooler." She clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "No wonder Ashley would never want to be with you. And when she does get her memories back—because she will—she'll be furious at the lengths you've gone to deceive her."

Vika took a deliberate step forward, her scoff cutting through the air. "As if her memories will return anytime soon," she said, her voice smooth but laced with malice. "You'd better work hard if you want to win her back, Mia. But judging by how things are going, I'd say you're running out of time."

Mia narrowed her eyes, fists clenching at her sides. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh," Vika gasped mockingly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Didn't I mention? I've already started planning the wedding. I figured, why waste any time?"

"What?" Mia's voice rose, disbelief and fury mingling in her tone.

Vika leaned closer, smirking. "I told you before, didn't I? I'm supposed to be Ashley's wife—not you, not anyone." She patted Mia's shoulder with an infuriatingly casual air. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have far more important things to do—like finalizing wedding preparations." She winked before turning on her heel, walking away with a wave of her hand.

Nyx and Vera exchanged wide-eyed glances before their attention shifted to Vika's retreating figure.

"Wow," Nyx muttered, shaking her head. "She's got some serious nerve—and a face as thick as a brick wall."

Mia groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "This is so frustrating!" she exclaimed. Her fists clenched as she silently screamed inside. Come on, Ash! Please come back to your senses already!