Chapter 3The Knight and The Prince

We arrived a bit late to the engagement party.

Archer insisted I dress to the nines.

I really shouldn't have listened to him.

As soon as we appeared, almost everyone's eyes fell on me.

I was a bit uneasy. "Archer, why are they all looking at me?"

Archer curved his lips. "Because you're beautiful."

I wasn't used to such occasions and excused myself to the restroom.

As soon as I entered a stall, voices sounded outside.

"I can't believe Archer actually brought Hazel here. Isn't this blatantly embarrassing Lucas?"

"It was supposed to be Hazel and Lucas's engagement party. Who knows what kind of scene she'll make when she gets her memory back."

"What can she do? Lucas doesn't love her, otherwise he wouldn't have temporarily changed his fiancée."

"Blame Hazel's bad luck. Getting a head injury at this critical moment gave Chloe a chance."

"But why is Archer with Hazel? They've been enemies since childhood. Now that she has amnesia, they're together?"

"Who knows, maybe Archer is just playing with her."

"I guess so. Archer once said he wouldn't marry Hazel even if she was the last woman on earth."

"Alright, stop talking. Walls have ears."

Silence fell outside.

I stayed in the restroom for a long time.

When I came out, I saw Lucas.

His eyes were deep. "You just got out of the hospital, why didn't you rest at home for a couple more days?"

"Thanks for the concern, I'm fine."

I tried to walk around him, but he blocked my path.

"Hazel, did you hear anything today?"

"You mean about Archer and me being enemies? Enemies can bury the hatchet. Besides, I like him quite a bit now."

"You don't like Archer."

I was puzzled. "You're not me, how do you know I don't like him?"

Lucas realized he misspoke and tried to recover:

"That's not what I meant, it's because... before you lost your memory, you told me you didn't like him anymore."

"Hazel." Lucas's brow showed a hint of coldness. "You can't remember the past now. As a friend, I suggest you take this opportunity to break up with Archer."

Just as his voice fell, a scoff came from the shadows nearby.

"Lucas, that's not very nice of you."

Archer stepped out of the dark, his long legs bringing him to my side in two strides.

"Haven't you heard it's better to tear down a temple than ruin a marriage?"

Lucas: "You're not married yet."

Archer took my hand. "Sooner or later."

He checked the time. "We have other things to do, we have to go. Oh right, happy engagement. May you be together forever."

With that, he pulled me away quickly.

In the car, buckled up.

Archer said, "I'm taking you for a ride."

He just went.

Floored the gas pedal onto the highway.

I was tense all over, clutching the seatbelt, not daring to make a sound.

I should have known better than to get in his car.

Yet Archer didn't realize his problem, relaxed as if he were riding a bike in his backyard.

The car sped on the highway for an hour, finally slowing down and stopping on a beach.

I quickly pushed the door open and got out, gasping for air.

Archer walked to my side, smiling. "Carsick? Shouldn't be."

I ignored him.

He took two cans of beer from the trunk, sat on the sand, and waved at me.

I couldn't believe it. "You raced here just to drink?"

"Alcohol adds to the fun, didn't you know?"

After a moment of silence, I sat next to him.

Just as I reached for a beer, he snatched it away.

"You just got out of the hospital, you can't drink. I'll drink it for you."