May's eyes widened in shock, darting between Carter and Ian. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Ian stepped closer to her bed, his movements smooth and controlled. "I understand this must be confusing for you," he said, his voice soft but firm, "but I assure you, we are engaged to be married."
Carter's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Ian, this isn't the time—"
"On the contrary, cousin," Ian interrupted, never taking his eyes off May. "I believe this is exactly the time."
What did he mean by that? May`s head was spinning. First there was a lover, and now a fiancé popped up. Would a husband also drop by later?! What the hell had she been doing before her accident?
May's gaze flicked between the two men, her heart racing. The air crackled with unspoken tension, making her feel as if she was caught in the middle of a silent battle.
"I... I don't understand," she finally managed to say, her voice still a little hoarse, full of doubt. "How can I be engaged to you when Carter just told me we were together?"
Ian's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something—anger? frustration?—passing over his features before his expression smoothed out again. "I see my cousin has been filling your head with nonsense," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "The doctors warned us that you might suffer some amnesia. It is only temporary. Once your memories return you will know the truth. In the meantime, don't take Carter too seriously. "
Carter scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Don't try to use her memory loss to drive a wedge between us."
Ian shot his cousin a sharp glare before turning back to May with a forced smile. "I understand this must be overwhelming for you, but it is the truth. Our engagement was decided by our parents, before yours passed away. They saw how well we got along as children and thought it would be a good idea for us to marry. And I plan on keeping that promise."
So that was why Carter had referred to himself as her lover? Because she was technically engaged to his cousin? And Ian didn't seem too surprised about the fact that Carter had feelings for her. Did he know all along?!
"Let me be honest with you," Ian continued, pulling up a chair and sitting down next to her. "We haven't always seen eye to eye, there have been moments where we've clashed. Our feelings for each other were slow to develop, but now I am determined to marry you."
Despite not making any physical advances towards her, Ian's intense gaze and serious demeanor put even more pressure on May than Carter's close behavior had. She felt trapped between these two cousins, unsure how to react.
"There's nothing to this engagement of yours. You haven't even held hands, let alone kissed," Carter interjected.
Ian shot him a deadly glare. "Oh, and you have?"
"O-Of course," Carter stammered, his face turning beet red.
"Are you sure that wasn't just your imagination?" Ian retorted. Turning to May, he continued, "I'm not sure what he's told you about your relationship, but don't believe him too easily. He's been in love with you for a long time without the courage to confess. Who knows, he might be using this opportunity to build castles in the air. Aren't you worried about her anger once her memories return?"
Carter clenched his fists, barely keeping his composure. "Don't project your own behavior onto others. You're lying to her about sudden feelings between you two. You hated each other to the core. Every time you met, you'd quarrel—and I don't mean playful teasing, but the kind where dishes flew across the room. I've been by her side for years and know her best. We're a couple now—can't you accept that?"
"I can't accept what doesn't exist," Ian countered. "And even if it were real, I'm willing to fight for May." he stated unwaveringly.
Carter smirked. "Your sudden passion for May wouldn't happen to have anything to do with your company's planned merger, would it? Are you sure you're approaching May with feelings rather than calculations?"
Ian fixed him with an icy glare. "I don't need you to assess my feelings. Let me assure you, the company is doing well enough that I don't need to use my lifelong happiness to help it."
May sat frozen, her eyes darting between Ian and Carter as they argued. Their words swirled around her, each claiming to know her best, to love her most. But she felt like a stranger to both of them, lost in the fog of her amnesia.
"Stop it!" she finally shouted, her voice cracking. "Both of you, just stop!"