VANESSA POV

I crossed my legs on the couch, my white dress shifting softly with the movement as I tapped my fingers nervously against the armrest. I could feel Emily’s eyes on me—watching, observing, judging.

My hand instinctively moved to my neck, brushing over the spot where I knew the hickey was. I hadn’t meant for things to go that far… but I had gotten lost in Kay’s kisses—so intense, so consuming—that I had let him mark me. Something I had never allowed Jake to do. My neck had always been off-limits, too sensitive, too personal.

And yet… with Kay, I hadn’t stopped him.

When I thought back to the Ferris wheel, my chest tightened slightly. It had been intimate—dangerously so. The kind of tension I had never felt with Jake. Not even once.

I closed my eyes, the memory pulling me under.

“Shhh… let me kiss you, my love,” Kay’s voice had murmured against my skin, low and intoxicating as his lips trailed along my neck, leaving marks in their wake. His hands had already slipped beneath my dress, warm, possessive—

And then the Ferris wheel had stopped.

Forcing us to pull apart. Forcing us to breathe. To remember where we were.

My eyes snapped open, my cheeks burning as the memory settled over me.

How had I lost myself like that?

Here? Of all places?

“ I’ve never seen you this happy, Vanessa.”

Emily’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp despite the sweetness she tried to layer over it.

I turned slightly toward her, careful—always careful.

“It truly suits you,” she added, though the bitterness in her tone was impossible to miss.

I forced a small smile. “Thanks, Emily.”

My voice came out strained, but steady enough.

At least, I hoped so.

Before she could say anything else, the kitchen door opened, and relief washed over me instantly.

But I didn’t even get the chance to stand.

Kay was already beside me.

Before I could react, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms.

“W-We’re going back to our room,” he said calmly. “If you need anything, it can wait until tomorrow.”

I blinked at him in surprise, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck, knowing there was no point in protesting. He wasn’t going to let me walk.

As we moved toward the stairs, his breath brushed against my ear.

“My love… should we resume where we left off in the Ferris wheel?”

My entire body heated instantly.

Why did he do that to me?

I buried my face in his neck, trying to hide my reaction. “Stop teasing me, Jake…”

At least this time, I didn’t slip.

He chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver through me.

“Then stop making it so easy for me to tease you,” he murmured, a grin evident in his voice as he carried me up the stairs.

I didn’t respond.

I couldn’t.

I knew I would stutter if I tried.

By the time we reached the bedroom, he gently placed me on the bed, his movements unexpectedly careful.

“Right, I’ll bring you water so you can take your pills,” he said.

I nodded, watching him leave.

The moment the door closed, I stood quickly and went to take a shower, changing into my pajamas afterward. I had a feeling Jake or Emily would try to talk to him—and I didn’t want to be there for it. I had already seen the jealousy in their eyes when we walked in.

And I wasn’t sure how much more of it I could handle.

Sitting on the bed, I pulled the blanket over my legs, my thoughts spiraling.

What if all of this… the closeness, the touches, the intimacy… only made things worse for me?

Before I could think further, the door opened.

Kay walked in, locking it behind him.

He looked tense—bothered—but the moment his eyes landed on me, something in his expression softened.

“Here, my love,” he said, handing me the glass of water.

I took it, swallowing my pills before placing the glass on the nightstand.

“Did someone upset you?” I asked softly.

He sat beside me, his fingers slipping gently into my hair before pressing a light kiss against it.

“Hmm… just Jake and Emily throwing a fit because I care about my fiancée,” he said lightly.

I knew that wasn’t the full truth.

But I didn’t push.

I could already imagine what had been said.

“Don’t worry about it, my love,” he added.

I nodded, offering him a small smile as he stood and walked into the bathroom.

The moment he disappeared, I leaned back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling.

My thoughts drifted back to the morning.

To the pictures the officer had shown me.

I needed answers.

I needed the truth.

But how was I supposed to find it without putting myself in danger?

Kay was always around. Watching. Protecting.

If I tried to sneak around the villa, he would notice.

He would question me.

The only way…

Was to tell him the truth.

That I hadn’t actually lost my memory.

That I remembered enough to know someone had tried to kill me.

But—

What would he do if he found out I had been lying to him?

Before I could spiral further, I felt the mattress dip beside me.

When had he come back?

I turned my head.

He was shirtless.

Again.

“What are you thinking about so deeply, my love?” he asked.

I forced a small smile. “Nothing important… just thinking about the strawberry cake you bought me.”

I hoped it sounded believable.

“Did you like it that much?” he asked, watching me closely.

I shivered slightly as I felt his hand slip beneath my pajama shirt.

Wait—

When did he—

I hadn’t even noticed.

I really was out of it today.

“Y-Yeah… I liked it a lot,” I stuttered, mentally cursing myself.

His fingers traced slowly upward, stopping just beneath my lace bra.

“I can buy you more tomorrow if you want,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my neck again.

And just like that—

My thoughts scattered.

Completely.