My Rival Faked Amnesia So I Took Him Home

Chapter 3

I tumbled off Ethan in a frantic scramble, barely keeping my balance. Clutching the bath towel around me for dear life, my heart hammered against my ribs like it was trying to escape.

Was that... Ethan's thoughts?!

Was I hallucinating? Or had some tech prankster hacked my brain?

Ethan sat up with infuriating calm, his shirt slightly open, water droplets still clinging to his collarbone. His face, though, stayed perfectly serious.

"You okay, Master?" he asked, all fake concern.

'Her waist is so slim...'

That voice—his voice—echoed in my skull again. My eyes widened. His lips hadn't moved an inch!

"Master?" He tilted his head, eyes all wide and innocent.

'Did I break her? Even her ears are blushing.'

"..."

Oh. Hell. No.

Holy crap, I could hear Ethan's thoughts!

"Where's—where's my milk?!" I stammered, jumping up to hide my panic behind volume.

Ethan pointed at the puddle on the floor. "Spilled."

"...Get me another one!"

"Right away, Master."

As he walked out, I stared at his back, my brain short-circuiting. So this jerk wasn't actually amnesiac? That whole obedient servant act? A lie? And the X-rated commentary he'd been mentally whispering this whole time—?!

My legs buckled, dumping me onto the bed. My cheeks flamed as his earlier thoughts played on repeat: 'So soft...' 'So fair...'

Five minutes later, Ethan returned with fresh milk. I snatched the glass, forcing my voice steady. "Out."

"Need help drying your hair?" He didn't move.

'Want to touch...'

"No! Now! Go—poof!"

Ethan raised an eyebrow but finally left. The second the door clicked, I grabbed my phone and frantically typed: Can people actually hear others' thoughts?!

The Internet's brilliant answer? Ads for 'Billionaire's Secret Listener.'

Just as I was losing it, another one of his thoughts slipped into my head—

'Why is she acting so strange today?'

My hand twitched, and I realized the door wasn't fully closed.

Through the c***k, I could see Ethan standing in the living room.

'Did she figure out I'm faking amnesia?'

I held my breath.

'Nah, if she knew, she'd have come at me with a knife by now.'

'...Or is she just embarrassed?'

My fists clenched.

Oh, you little schemer, Ethan—trying to pull a fast one on me?

...

The next morning, I slumped into my chair at the dining table with dark circles under my eyes.

Ethan brought over a plate of egg sandwiches, his tone gentle.

"Master, didn't sleep well?"

'Was she up all night thinking about me?'

I choked on my orange juice. "Who missed you?!"

He paused. "Did I say something?"

"..."

Crap. Slipped up.

Quick, I slammed the table and blurted—

"I meant, who said you could skip the scallions in the eggs?!"

Ethan narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer.

"So Master likes scallions?"

He was way too close...

'God, I want to kiss her.'

"Back off!" I yelped, nearly tipping my chair.

He chuckled and straightened up. "As you wish."

'Her ears are red again. So cute.'

A wicked grin curled my lips.

"Hey, Ethan, I just remembered—"

"Hm?"

"There are ten crates of water in the basement. Bring them up."

"..."

I lounged on the couch, munching on chips while supervising Ethan's water-hauling mission.

He made over a dozen trips.

His white shirt was drenched in sweat, clinging to his back and outlining his muscles.

'This woman is definitely messing with me.'

His mental whining hit me, and I bit my lip hard to stifle a laugh—my ribs were aching from the effort.

Serves you right, you amnesia-faking jerk!

"Master, I've finished moving them." Ethan set the last crate down, his breath slightly uneven.

I gave it a cursory glance. "Great. Now take them back down."

"..." His eyes narrowed dangerously.

With a scoff, I nudged his calf with my toe. "What are you just standing there for? Move it!"

But Ethan caught my ankle instead. The sudden warmth of his grip sent electric sparks up my spine, freezing me in place.

"Master..." His thumb traced slow circles around my anklebone. "Got a problem with me?"

'I wanna take a bite.'

"Y-You—how dare—!" I jerked my foot back like it'd been burned, my ears flaming red.

He gave a low chuckle before turning back to the crates.

...

That night, I double-bolted my bedroom door.

Yet even in the darkness, sleep wouldn't come. Ethan's filthy thoughts from earlier kept looping in my head. I burrowed deeper into the blankets, my heartbeat pounding loud enough to wake the neighbors.

Somewhere between dreams and reality, a soft click jerked me awake.

The door creaked open.

I stayed perfectly still, barely peeking through my lashes as a shadow glided toward my bed.

Ethan.