"Prisley, you don't have to go tonight." Heath said. His tone was deep with melancholy.
"Why not? You already agreed with Steve."
Heath drew her closer and tightened his embrace. "I just... don't want you to go." His gaze softened, showing a hint of vulnerability that was quite different from his previous icy cold.
Caught off guard by this rare display of emotion from Heath, Prisley felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Despite being together for four years, she had rarely seen this side of him.
She leaned against him, feeling Heath's firm chest. Just as she was about to comfort him, Heath suddenly released her. His eyes turned cold again.
"You can go now." He walked out of the office, leaving Prisley behind.
Heath felt an inexplicable anger. Just because Filla was back, Prisley wanted to leave him. And she seemed determined to do it, showing no signs of changing her mind.
Heath was in a bad mood. He wanted Prisley to stay with him tonight. Even if they just stayed in the same room without saying a word, he would feel comfortable.
But he never begged for things from anyone. He couldn't express his thoughts to Prisley directly.
Prisley was astonished. This man... who had been so tender and affectionate moments before, had suddenly changed into distant and cold again. She pouted slightly.
Steve drove with a cheerful face, with a broad grin on his face.
"Prisley, you've been with Heath for quite a few years now, haven't you?" he asked in a casual tone.
"Over four years," she replied.
"Aren't you tired of him yet? How about joining me? I really admire you." Steve wasn't as reserved as Heath. He was talkative and always had a smile on his face.
Prisley felt embarrassed. This guy... he clearly had ulterior motives.
"Thank you, Steve, but my job is decided by my boss. I can't make that decision for myself," she replied, trying to maintain a polite demeanor.
"Come on, being around Heath is so boring. He's a workaholic, always working and nothing else. If you were with me, I wouldn't make you work so hard. I would take you out a lot to have fun, enjoy delicious food, go skiing, sail yachts, and enjoy the good things in life."
Steve was also the son of a wealthy family, although his family's business was much smaller than Heath's.
He didn't want to return to the family business and insisted on co-founding Warner Tech with Heath. He also served as vice president at Warner's headquarters.
With his carefree attitude and penchant for luxury, Steve was always surrounded by luxury cars and beautiful women.
Steve was Heath's confidant, but how much did he really know about her relationship with Heath? Prisley wasn't sure. She didn't know how to answer him. So she forced a smile and looked out the window.
At the party, guests gathered in small groups, raising their glasses and chatting. Accompanying Steve, Prisley met several prominent people.
As a beautiful woman, she naturally attracted attention, Her excellent communication skills allowed her to engage everyone in pleasant conversation.
Later that evening, Prisley found a seat in a corner. Steve approached with two glasses of wine.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked.
Prisley nodded with a smile. Her opinion of Steve had changed. Despite his seemingly unreliable exterior, he proved to be quite adept at discussing serious matters. She finally understood why Heath had maintained a friendship with him for so many years.
"To our first collaboration. Prisley, you really impress me," Steve complimented. "I'll double your overtime pay for today."
"The finance department won't be happy," Prisley joked.
"I'll pay out of my own pocket."
"Well, my boss won't be pleased," Prisley chuckled.
"Heath? That vulnerable guy? If he dares to complain, I'll beat him up for you."
"How could he be vulnerable?" Prisley found it hard to believe. She had been with Heath for four years and always thought he had a tough personality and temper.
"You don't know, do you? Despite his tough exterior, he's not that strong inside. Otherwise, after Filla left..." Steve stopped himself in mid-sentence.
"Forget it. I shouldn't say more. Or he'll beat me up."
Steve wisely shut his mouth. Prisley rolled her eyes at him.
A glamorous woman walked past their table. The woman had a slim figure, wore an elegant dress, and had a strikingly beautiful yet somewhat familiar face.
"Hi, Filla, what a surprise to see you here!" Steve greeted her.
Filla?
Prisley's heart skipped a few beats. The face before her was unmistakably the one she had tried to imitate countless times from a photograph.
Filla? Prisley's heart skipped a few beats. The face in front of her was indeed the one she had tried to imitate countless times from photos. Four years had passed, and she seemed more mature and seductive than in the pictures.
Meeting her here made Prisley wish she could escape the awkwardness as quickly as possible.
"You're Heath's assistant, right? I've heard of you," Filla said with a slight smile on her haughty face.
"Yes, how did you know?" Prisley asked, feeling a little uneasy.
"Heath is obviously still hung up on me. You look a lot like me. Well, a pretty good substitute," Filla said, eyeing Prisley up and down, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I think you might be wrong. Heath never intended for me to replace you," Prisley replied, her face pale as she struggled to control her inner turmoil.
"Is that so? But I heard you even dressing in my style."
"Let me tell you, a fake is always a fake. You'll never replace me."
"As long as I want, Heath will come back to me at anytime. He did come back. And he is still so hot in bed. You, the cheap fake, better know your place."
Steve was stunned. He didn't expect such a dramatic confrontation between the substitute and the original.
Prisley's face was rigid, her chest heaving. The arrogant woman was right- she was indeed a substitute.
"That's enough, Filla," Steve interrupted harshly.
"Did Heath tell you these things himself? If not, please don't make assumptions."
"I don't see much resemblance between Prisley and you."
"Hmph, believe what you want. She knows it best." Filla raised her head arrogantly and walked away.
Prisley's eyes dimmed, and she wished she could disappear. "I'm sorry, Steve. I want to go home."
"I'll take you home. I don't want to stay in this damn place either."
As soon as Prisley stepped out of the venue, tears began to fall. Her big eyes were filled with sadness, and her previously confident and radiant demeanor was gone, her shoulders slumped.
"I'm sorry, Prisley. I didn't know she was here, or I wouldn't have brought you," Steve murmured, apologizing sincerely.
"It's not your fault," Prisley replied. "Do I look like a clown?"
"No, no, you're beautiful and capable. And everyone at the party was nice to you."
Prisley shook her head, refusing to accept Steve's compliments.
"Don't worry about Filla... You are Prisley, not someone else," Steve comforted her.
"Thank you, Steve." Prisley tried to hold back her tears and nodded. Having Steve speak up for her was the greatest comfort she could ask for.
When Prisley got home, she kicked off her high heels and walked inside without turning on the light.
She had never imagined being in such an embarrassing situation, being ridiculed as a fake. She felt utterly miserable. Coupled with the abuse she had received from Heath during the day, all of her unhappiness piled up. She let the tears flow freely in the darkness.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her.
Before she could cry out, her lips were captured in a warm, familiar kiss. She realized immediately that it was him.
He pulled Prisley's pinned-up hair roughly, letting it cascade down like a waterfall. He held the back of her head and kissed her deeply. He opened her mouth, kissing her with fervor. His breath washed over her face, the heavy sound of his breathing echoing in her ears, igniting her desire.
Exhausted from her earlier grief, Prisley stood there in the dark, allowing his kisses to travel from her lips to her cheeks and neck. His hands caressed the sensitive areas of her body, sending electric shocks through her.
"Are you crying?" he asked.
Spencer’s condition had continued to improve—faster than anyone had expected.Each day, he recovered more fragments of memory. Moments he had shared with Prisley began to return to him, like pearls rising from the depths of a once-lost sea.The doctors were optimistic. They said he would soon be discharged and could begin his rehabilitation at home. Hearing that, Prisley finally allowed herself a sigh of relief.That week, Heath suddenly told her he’d need to travel abroad for a few days—an important business negotiation, he said.Prisley, though reluctant to see him go, was so preoccupied at the hospital that she didn’t question it. She simply kissed him goodbye and wished him luck.Two days later, to her surprise, Heath showed up at the hospital. After a brief visit with Spencer, he turned to Prisley.“I have a dinner event tonight,” he said with a soft smile. “Something quite formal—I’d like you to come with me.”Prisley was taken aback but nodded. She picked out a pale lilac gown
Days melted into weeks, and everything seemed to be progressing smoothly.Spencer continued his anti-cancer treatments, and with Prisley's devoted help, poring over photos together and listening to her shared stories, he began to retrieve small fragments of his memory.This steady progress brought a newfound lightness to both Heath and Prisley's spirits each day.While Prisley's focus remained entirely on Spencer, Heath's secretly planned proposal ceremony and grand wedding were nearing completion.To ensure perfection, Heath had consulted all of Prisley's colleagues and close friends for their input, with Jennifer being his primary confidante.Of course, Prisley remained blissfully unaware.She only knew Heath was busy every day, but no longer being with the company, she chose not to inquire further.One day, Prisley wore an old dress from years ago to the hospital to visit Spencer.The moment she stepped in, she noticed Spencer's gaze fixed on her, brimming with excitement."Good mo
Days passed in a quiet, uneventful rhythm.Prisley continued her daily visits to the hospital, accompanying Spencer through his treatments, chatting with him, and helping him with his memory recovery.At the office, Heath wasn't particularly engrossed in his usual work.Instead, a constant stream of different individuals came and went from his office, delivering various proposals and samples.At a glance, it was clear these weren't related to the company's typical market procurement.Steve pushed open the door, a look of suspicion on his face, to find two salespeople meticulously presenting something in Heath's office.Several display boards, adorned with various renderings, stood beside the desk.The expansive desktop was covered by open design catalogs, and beside them, an open jewelry box held dazzling, glittering gemstones.Heath stood before the renderings, examining them intently while listening to the salespeople's presentation.Noticing Steve, Heath dismissed the salespeople.
Spencer stared at the doorway, a quiet anticipation building within him.Doctors and nurses moved in and out, a constant stream, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint who it was he longed to see.A persistent feeling told him someone significant was missing.Their image remained a blur in his mind, but he knew, instinctively, that they were important.He strained to recall, but the memories refused to solidify.Spencer sighed, the doctor's words echoing in his head: his memory truly was gone.Just then, Dr. Scott approached, a reassuring smile on his face."Spencer, you're looking well," the doctor said, holding some charts a nurse had just handed him. "All your vitals are better than we'd anticipated."Spencer relaxed slightly. "So, the tumor in my brain – is it all gone?"The doctor chuckled. "The surgery was a complete success, and the tumor hadn't spread at all. I was able to remove it completely. However, it did affect some of the surrounding functional areas.""That's why I feel like s
The phone's ringtone interrupted Heath and Prisley's tender moment.Heath frowned as he answered. "What is it?... Alright, I understand."Hanging up, he wrapped an arm around Prisley, his face apologetic. "I'm so sorry, but something urgent's come up at the office. I need to go back right away."Still basking in his warmth, she murmured, "What's so urgent?"Heath reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "There's been a change in a new project. I need to personally oversee it. You rest up here first, and I'll go with you to the hospital later."He kissed her deeply on the lips. "Don't overexert yourself. I'll be back soon."Outside the company conference room, Steve met Heath the moment he arrived."The technical specifications for the new project have changed drastically," Steve explained, handing Heath a thick stack of folders. "Our existing solution is basically back to square one."Heath's brow furrowed as he flipped through the documents."No other way around it.
Hours later, Spencer was finally wheeled out of the operating room.Prisley and Heath rushed forward. Dr. Scott pulled off his mask, his face etched with exhaustion."Doctor, how is he?" Prisley's voice was tight with anxiety.The doctor massaged his stiff neck, letting out a long, weary sigh."We did everything we could. As it stands, we believe we've minimized the damage. His recovery from here on will largely depend on his own will."Prisley's tightly wound nerves finally began to loosen. "Thank you, Dr. Scott," she murmured.Heath squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It'll be alright. Spencer's a fighter; he'll pull through.""The patient will be in the ICU for a few days for observation," Dr. Scott added. "If there are no major complications, he should be moved to a regular room soon. After that, there's a rather long and potentially difficult period of rehabilitation ahead."Prisley nodded silently. She knew the road ahead was long, but at least the most dangerous hurdle was behind