Chapter 1: A Failed Marriage

Amia only met her husband once—on their wedding day.

He was tall, handsome.

But after that, they each got busy with their own lives and never thought about their marriage again.

So much so that a year later, when George returned to the country, they ended up working in the same office.

Yet neither of them realized they were actually married.

A series of misunderstandings led them both to believe the other was already married. Even if they wanted to get closer, they felt they absolutely couldn't.

---

San Diego.

Standing at the entrance of a historic church, Amia was lost in thought, holding some documents.

She knew that coming to the church to marry another man was her grandmother's way of making up for her own guilt.

Three years ago, something happened that caused Amia to be ostracized by her family. Her grandmother, feeling remorseful but too old to take care of her, arranged for Amia to marry someone else.

In fact, three years ago, Amia had developed a fear of marriage.

And seeing those around her constantly divorcing made her even less inclined to get married.

But to fulfill her grandmother’s wish, she had come to the church.

"Miss Amia!"

A deep male voice interrupted her thoughts.

Amia turned around to see a man dressed in a clean, black suit.

She pulled out her phone and checked a photo, realizing this man was indeed the one she was supposed to marry.

So this was the person she had been looking for.

Her first impression was quite good—the man was very handsome, about six foot three, and well-groomed. Meeting him made Amia feel a bit happy.

Walking up to him, she said, "You must be Mr. George?"

George nodded, and together, they walked towards the church.

At that moment, Amia hesitated, stopping in her tracks, and looked at George curiously.

"Mr. George, are you sure you want to marry me? I can still give you a chance to back out."

Amia spoke seriously.

Marriage isn’t a game or something to be taken lightly; it requires careful consideration.

"I’ve already thought it over, no problem. Do you have a problem?" George glanced at her.

Amia had wanted to ask if George knew anything about her.

But then she thought that he was likely in the same situation as her, pushed into this marriage by his family, so she decided not to ask, feeling it would be pointless.

She shook her head, and the two of them went to the church’s registry office.

With the priest as their witness, they were married and exchanged tokens of love.

Afterward, George handed Amia a black credit card.

"You can use the money in this card however you like. The password is six ones. I’ll be very busy with work, so I won’t have much time to spend with you."

As Amia was about to ask more, George had already gotten into a car and driven away.

Holding the black card, Amia felt a mix of emotions. She worked at TekTech Company as a team leader.

She had never planned to rely on a man’s money for the rest of her life. She wanted to earn her own money through hard work.

Her dream was simply to marry, have children, and live a happy life. Everything else was just to appease her family.

But if George was willing to spend the rest of his life with her and be serious about their marriage, Amia was ready to give her heart to him.

After leaving the church, Amia sent a picture of their marriage certificate to her grandmother.

"Grandma, I’ve done what you asked. George and I are married now."

Amia informed her.

Her grandmother sounded very pleased on the other end, "Good, good. It’s good that you’re married. George is a great man; don’t disappoint him. May God bless you both!"

Then she hung up, but Amia still felt something wasn’t quite right.

In this society, while most parents aren’t overly strict with their children, marriage is still a big deal.

So they often push their children to get married. But Amia felt that even though she was married, it didn’t feel like she was.

After the wedding, George was nowhere to be seen for a year, and Amia started to feel like her husband had vanished into thin air.

If it weren’t for the few thousand dollars he sent every month, she might have thought she was a widow.

Over the course of a year, Amia’s outstanding performance led to her being transferred to the secretary department at TekTech Group.

One day, she and her colleagues received instructions that the company’s CEO was arriving, so they lined up at the elevator, waiting for the CEO of TekTech to arrive.

Soon, the elevator doors opened, and out stepped a tall man, about six foot three.

"Amia, that’s our CEO, Mr. Steve."

A colleague whispered.

Amia glanced at Steve, thinking he was quite handsome, though somewhat familiar.

"I didn’t expect Mr. Steve to be so handsome and manly."

Amia muttered to herself, as this was her honest impression.

"Of course, he’s handsome. That’s why he’s the CEO. Unlike some people who just want to marry into a wealthy family without any real skills."

The speaker was Mike, who often made things difficult for Amia at work.

Mike had once confessed to Amia, but she had rejected him in front of everyone, so he was always angry with her.

"What are you all talking about? Come to my office."

Steve’s assistant, Marilyn, pointed at Amia and the other two.

Marilyn was leaving for another position, so they needed to select someone to be the CEO’s new assistant. The candidates were to be chosen from among Amia and her colleagues.

As they entered the CEO’s office, they were struck by its size.

There was a large floor-to-ceiling window, and the space looked very luxurious. A few small church sculptures were even displayed in the corner.

"Mr. Steve, I’ve brought the candidates for you."

Marilyn said as Steve scanned the group with his sharp gaze.

Feeling Steve’s cold stare, the group shuddered, not daring to meet his eyes.

Mike stepped forward nervously, "Mr. Steve, my uncle worked under you for ten years. He was your most trusted assistant."

Steve glanced at Mike but didn’t respond. He had little respect for people who used family connections to get ahead.

Then Steve looked at Amia, and as she took a closer look at his handsome, stern face, she felt an unexpected sense of admiration.

Steve’s face was cold yet handsome, with a high, sculpted nose like a statue.

However, Amia couldn’t shake the feeling that Steve looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before, though she couldn’t quite place it.

What Amia didn’t know was that Steve was actually George. He had changed his appearance slightly, so Amia hadn’t recognized him.

George had disguised his identity because he didn’t want anyone to know about his background.

Chapter 2: Returning Home to Make Amends

Steve scrutinized Amia with his gaze, completely ignoring her returned glance. Steve’s cold, handsome face had mesmerized countless women, but he himself was indifferent to it.

Seeing Amia frozen in place, Steve's assistant, Marilyn, nudged her. "What are you doing? Mr. Steve is looking at you."

Amia snapped out of her daze, pulled away from Steve’s captivating deep eyes, and quickly introduced herself, "Mr. Steve, my name is Amia. I’ve been working at TekTech Group for two years."

Amia was always serious about her work, so her tone was firm and confident.

"Amia..." Steve repeated her name, finding it somewhat familiar.

He glanced at her again, then sat back in his chair, saying, "She’ll do."

Marilyn nodded and led the others out of the office. She turned to Amia and said, "Gather your things and come to the office."

"Yes, Ms. Marilyn," Amia replied softly before heading off to pack her belongings.

Working closely with the CEO was a highly coveted position, with many people eager to get the job, not least because of the high salary.

Amia’s friend, Lux, who worked in the same department, felt a twinge of jealousy when she learned that Amia would be working with Steve.

Lux had put in a lot of effort to get close to Steve, only to have Amia beat her to it.

Still, Lux put on a smile and hugged Amia, saying, "Congratulations, Amia, on becoming the CEO’s assistant."

"Thank you," Amia replied, simply nodding.

But Mike, who despised Amia, couldn’t hide his irritation. With a sneer, he said, "Lux, just look at how some people with mediocre skills can still become the CEO’s assistant. It just shows that they’re either really good with words or know how to seduce people."

He expected Amia to stay silent as she usually did, but Amia was no longer the timid person she used to be. She shot Mike a glare and snapped, "Mike, not everyone is like you. Mr. Steve is not that kind of person."

Lux also chimed in, "Mike, you’re acting like a petty man. Why be so snide just because someone is more capable than you?"

Feeling humiliated by their words, Mike huffed and walked away.

Amia then made her way to the assistant’s office, where she found Marilyn waiting.

"Miss Amia," Marilyn began, "Mr. Steve selected you for this position not because of your looks, but because of your abilities."

"So I hope you’ll give it your all and do your best not to anger Mr. Steve."

"Also, let me tell you this: Mr. Steve doesn’t like people who play games, so be mindful of that."

Marilyn went on at length, wanting Amia to understand that working here wouldn’t be easy.

Although Amia found Steve to be quite handsome—like a modern-day Romeo with unforgettable looks—she only admired him from afar. She had no intention of pursuing anything more, especially since she was already married. Her focus was on succeeding in her career.

"Thank you for the advice, Ms. Marilyn," Amia responded gently.

Marilyn, who naturally favored gentle types like Amia, spoke softly to her and even offered additional guidance.

Marilyn then assigned some tasks to Amia, effectively making her Steve’s personal assistant. Amia not only had to handle work-related matters but also take care of Steve’s daily life.

This meant she needed to know Steve’s preferences—what he liked to eat, what exercises he did, and so on.

Later that afternoon, Amia went to Steve’s office. After knocking, she heard his deep voice from within.

"Come in."

Upon entering, she saw Steve working on his computer, seemingly engrossed in something.

Amia approached and bowed respectfully. "Mr. Steve, we have a meeting with Lyle Corporation at three o’clock. There’s half an hour left."

"Got it."

Steve nodded without even glancing at her.

Half an hour later, Steve and Amia attended the meeting with Lyle Corporation.

Steve didn’t speak much; his subordinates did most of the negotiating. But whenever Steve did need to say something or required a document, Amia was always able to provide exactly what he needed, organizing everything perfectly.

Even Marilyn was surprised by how quickly Amia had adapted, considering she had just started.

After the meeting, they returned to the office, and Steve’s phone rang. He answered, hearing his grandmother on the other end.

"Grandma, what’s wrong?" Steve asked.

His grandmother, sounding weak, replied, "Steve, you need to bring your wife home. How can you let her live alone outside? If you don’t bring her back, I’ll die in this old place!"

Steve sighed, "Grandma, even if you hadn’t mentioned it today, I was already planning to go get her."

His grandmother grew excited, "If that’s the case, then go pick her up this afternoon. I’ll send you the address."

Steve suddenly turned to Marilyn and Amia and asked, "What do women like the most? Or what should I bring when I go to meet a woman?"

Curious, Amia asked, "Mr. Steve, who are you going to meet?"

Steve replied, "My wife."

This reminded him that a year ago, after getting married, he had to fly overseas due to some issues with his company. He had barely had a chance to properly see his wife before leaving.

In the past year, neither of them had contacted the other, as if their marriage was just a formality and then they went their separate ways.

Now, having returned home, Steve wanted to make amends for neglecting his wife.

Marilyn suddenly said, "Mr. Steve, that diamond ring worth a hundred million dollars that you bought in West Africa—was that for your wife?"

Steve nodded and then looked at the two of them, "Can you give me some concrete suggestions? I need answers now."

Chapter 3: Treating Her with Sincerity

Marilyn hurriedly said, "Mr. Steve, I think the diamond ring alone should be enough."

But Steve shot her a cold glance, and Marilyn quickly bowed in apology. Meanwhile, Amia realized that the CEO was already married.

She guessed that the CEO and his wife must have a very good relationship. Honestly, Amia’s admiration for this tall, handsome, and wealthy man, who seemed to value his wife so much, only grew.

Amia then suggested, "Mr. Steve, I’m sure your wife will love the diamond ring, but I think what women appreciate the most are romantic surprises."

"You could create small surprises regularly, like giving her a bouquet of flowers during a meal or hiding a ring among the flowers."

Hearing Amia’s words, Steve nodded, finding some sense in them, and said, "Alright, I’ll leave this task to you. Make sure it’s done well."

Amia then went to a flower shop and personally selected a large bouquet of pink roses, symbolizing their pure love. She also scouted several restaurants and hotels to find the perfect romantic spot for them.

After finalizing the flowers and the date location, she handed everything over to Steve and finished her work for the day. Once she got home, Amia collapsed onto her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Later that evening, Steve arrived at an apartment complex.

As he prepared to make a call, he realized that he didn’t even have his wife’s number saved in his phone.

This realization filled him with guilt; he hadn’t bothered to get his wife’s number when they got married.

But this time, he vowed to treat his wife a thousand times better.

After getting the number from his grandmother, Steve dialed it.

"Who’s this?" came a tired voice from the other end, sounding as though the woman had just woken up.

"It’s me, George."

Steve was still using his disguised identity for the call.

"Oh, it’s you. What’s up?"

The woman’s voice was lazy and relaxed.

"Baby, now that you’re awake, why don’t you take a shower?"

Suddenly, Steve heard a man’s voice in the background.

Steve immediately understood what was happening and silently hung up the phone. He returned to his car and instructed the driver to leave.

On the other side, Amia, who had just woken up and was still groggy, was completely confused, especially since she had no memory of anyone named George.

But since it wasn’t an important client, Amia didn’t think much of it.

When she fully woke up, she saw her roommates, Brooke and Jonia, in the kitchen making pasta.

"When did you two get back? Why didn’t you wake me? I could’ve come to pick you up," Amia said, stretching.

Jonia laughed, "We saw you were sleeping so soundly, so we didn’t want to disturb you. Come on, get ready to eat."

The three of them had been close friends since childhood, and after graduating from college, they decided to rent a three-bedroom apartment together.

Their relationship was very good, with clear boundaries that kept things comfortable and not too close.

Seeing the table filled with steak, Boston lobster, and pasta, Amia’s eyes lit up. "Wow, did you guys win the lottery? Why are we eating so well tonight?"

Jonia brought out a bottle of Lafite wine and said, "We’re celebrating you becoming the CEO’s assistant. We prepared all this just for you."

Brooke, however, leaned in close to Amia with a curious look and asked, "Amia, did you get to see Steve? I’ve heard he’s incredibly handsome, but there are no pictures of him in the papers."

Jonia chimed in, "Why are you so nosy? Whether he’s handsome or not, what does it matter? He’s a wealthy CEO, after all."

Amia chuckled bitterly, "You two can stop prying. Mr. Steve is already married."

Both Brooke and Jonia exclaimed in unison, "What? He’s married?"

"Yes, and he treats his wife very well. But I feel like I’ve seen Mr. Steve somewhere before; he seems familiar, but I can’t quite place it."

Amia frowned, deep in thought.

Jonia teased, "You better not use that as an excuse to get close to Steve. Remember, he’s a married man."

"I wish I could, but I don’t have the chance," Amia replied, mocking herself.

"Amia, you’re already married. Don’t even think about it," Brooke warned her.

"Hah, so what if she’s married?" Jonia jumped in. "Amia can’t even fantasize? Besides, where’s her husband? He’s practically a ghost."

"I can’t stand seeing Amia all alone. What’s the difference between being married and not?"

Jonia felt genuinely sorry for Amia, thinking she deserved better.

Before the wedding, Amia had hoped to build a life with George. But after the wedding, George disappeared, and even his grandmother stopped visiting.

As they continued talking, they finished their dinner together.

The next morning, Amia arrived at work half an hour early.

Now that she was the CEO’s assistant, she knew she had to give 100% to her job.

As she was about to enter the building, a silver Rolls-Royce pulled up at the entrance. Amia quickly walked over to open the door, saying, "Good morning, Mr. Steve. Please step out."

Steve nodded, getting out of the car, but his expression seemed off, as though something was missing.

Later that morning, Steve met with the CEO of Lyle Group to play a round of bowling. His mood seemed to improve slightly.

Marilyn noticed the change, puzzled by Steve’s fluctuating emotions. "Amia, what do you think is going on with Mr. Steve?"

Marilyn asked, genuinely confused since she had never seen Steve like this before.

Amia shook her head vigorously. "I’m sorry, Ms. Marilyn, but I don’t know."

Marilyn thought hard. The company hadn’t faced any major issues lately, so could it be something in Steve’s personal life?

Then, an unsettling thought crossed Marilyn’s mind: Could it be that Steve’s wife isn’t satisfying him?

Chapter 4: The Power Behind

Amia had no idea what was going on. After all, how could someone in her position, just doing odd jobs, know about such matters?

But Steve's unusual behavior was indeed strange. Amia glanced at Steve, noticing how gracefully he bowled, effortlessly hitting a strike every time, while the Lyle Group’s CEO, struggling, failed to knock down all the pins despite multiple attempts.

Seeing this, the Lyle Group CEO’s secretary rushed to serve him tea and water. Observing this, Amia decided to mimic the gesture by wiping Steve's sweat and offering him water.

Meanwhile, the Lyle Group CEO, Will, turned his gaze towards Amia. Dressed in a standard business uniform—a white blouse and a knee-length skirt—Amia's outfit perfectly highlighted her figure. Her neat ponytail further accentuated her refined makeup and appearance.

Will couldn’t help but stare, nearly drooling, but he kept a smile on his face as he spoke to Steve, "Mr. Steve, you’re truly fortunate. Your assistant is not only beautiful but also has a great figure. I envy you."

Steve, expressionless, responded calmly, "Mr. Will, you have a way with words."

Will then turned to Amia, "Miss, do you know how to bowl?"

Before starting work, Amia had bowled a few times, but she knew that in this setting, she shouldn't join in. So she shook her head and casually said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Will, but I don't know how to bowl."

Sensing Will’s suggestive gaze, Amia felt deeply uncomfortable.

"Miss, if you don’t know, I can teach you—hands-on," Will said as he wrapped his arm around Amia’s waist and gave it a squeeze.

Instinctively, Amia forcefully pushed Will’s hand away. Will’s expression darkened as he looked at Amia with displeasure.

Realizing the potential trouble she had caused by offending a business partner, Amia looked nervously at Steve, fearing she might face consequences or even lose her job.

As Amia worried, Steve suddenly said, "Mr. Will, please respect yourself. Miss Amia is with me."

Steve stared at Will, his eagle-like eyes exuding a cold aura.

Understanding the situation, Will quickly nodded, "Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Steve. Please don’t take it to heart. I will pray to God for forgiveness."

Though Will apologized, his eyes lingered on Amia, still unwilling to let her go. He mistakenly assumed Steve was just another playboy who wouldn’t give up a woman he hadn’t had his fill of, so he was willing to wait.

"Mr. Will, I’d like you to apologize to my assistant," Steve said, still toying with the bowling ball in his hand, his face betraying no emotion, making it impossible to tell if he was angry or pleased.

Will hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile, "Mr. Steve, we’re business partners. This woman is just a means to an end."

A means to an end...

Hearing those words felt like a knife to Amia’s heart, reopening old wounds and dirty memories she’d tried to forget. Despite all her hard work and dedication, despite her focus on earning her place through merit, she was still belittled just because she was a beautiful woman.

No longer concerned about Steve’s reaction, Amia, now furious, glared at Will, "Mr. Will, what do you mean by that? If you’re calling me a means to an end, then are your mother and sisters the same? Why do you equate women to mere objects? Is that how you prove your worth?"

Amia spoke with confidence and determination, standing her ground.

Even Marilyn, standing nearby, couldn’t take it anymore. "Mr. Will, our company doesn’t need business partners like you. We respect all our employees."

Realizing he had crossed a line, Will finally understood he was in deep trouble. "I’m sorry, Mr. Steve. I shouldn’t have said that about your assistant. I apologize to you, Miss, and to you, Miss Marilyn."

Will quickly apologized, just as Steve threw the bowling ball with such force that it knocked down several pins, one nearly hitting Will in the head.

Terrified, Will’s legs went weak, and his body broke out in goosebumps. "Mr. Steve, I know I was wrong. But there’s no need for this."

Ignoring Will’s apology, Steve turned and walked away, with Amia and Marilyn following closely behind.

"Thank you for standing up for me earlier, Mr. Steve," Amia said, catching up to him.

Steve, standing at an imposing 6'3", naturally exuded a sense of security. Walking behind him made Amia feel much safer.

"Let me tell you now: no matter what harassment or bullying you encounter in the future, stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid, because you have the backing of Tech Group."

Hearing Steve’s words warmed Amia’s heart. Knowing she had the support of Tech Group gave her a great sense of security.

"Thank you, Mr. Steve. I understand," Amia said, her eyes brimming with tears. Steve noticed she was on the verge of crying.

"Just remember, working under me means you represent me, Steve. So don’t be afraid of anyone bullying you," Steve said gently.

"I understand!" Amia nodded vigorously.

This made her think back to the times she was bullied before. If someone had stood up for her then, maybe she wouldn’t have ended up in her current situation, unable to go home.

"I think you handled it well," Steve added.

Amia was deeply moved, and Marilyn spoke up, "Mr. Steve, I’ve already instructed all departments to cancel our partnership with the Lyle Group."

Tech Group had been developing chips, and while they had made good progress, their technology was still not fully mature. The Lyle Group had a more advanced chip technology, so canceling the partnership would mean some losses for Tech Group.

Amia understood that Steve’s actions were meant to protect the reputation of Tech Group.

To be able to work under Steve was indeed a great fortune for Amia.

Chapter 5: Choosing a Gift

For now, Tech Group needed to find another reliable chip manufacturer. Over the next few days, Amia and Steve continued searching for a new chip supplier, and finally, they found one and sealed the deal.

Since their flight to San Diego was scheduled for the following day, Amia decided to buy some local specialties in Caroya State. Concerned about Amia being alone, Marilyn asked, "Amia, would you like me to go with you? It can be dangerous for a young woman in an unfamiliar place, especially at night."

Then Marilyn turned to Steve, "Mr. Steve, would you like to buy some gifts for your wife as well?"

At that moment, Steve recalled the mysterious man’s voice he had heard on the phone that night. Was he being too paranoid? Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding. Nodding, he agreed to let Amia and Marilyn go shopping.

"Mr. Steve, I think it would be more meaningful if you personally chose a gift for your wife," Amia suggested, immediately regretting it. After all, shopping alone with Steve felt a bit awkward.

Since the parking lot was full, Marilyn drove off to find a parking spot, leaving Amia and Steve behind. Given Steve’s status as a CEO, Amia assumed he would want to buy high-end luxury items, though she herself preferred more affordable, practical options.

To accommodate Steve’s image, she led him to a luxury store. However, Steve kept walking without stopping to browse, as if he was just strolling around.

Feeling concerned, Amia suggested, "Mr. Steve, perhaps we should go into a store and have a look."

Steve agreed and walked into a nearby shop, but they were immediately stopped by the staff at the door.

"Sorry, sir, you’ll need to wait in line," the staff member said.

Steve was surprised—he wasn’t used to waiting in line since anything he wanted was usually brought directly to him. Amia quickly presented their company’s Super VIP card, which instantly changed the staff member’s demeanor. Smiling, they were ushered into the VIP room.

The staff quickly brought out several handbags worth tens of thousands of dollars. "Sir, ma’am, please take a look."

When the staff called her “ma’am,” Amia felt a wave of embarrassment and quickly clarified, "Mr. Steve is my boss."

Though Steve was often the subject of rumors due to his good looks, he didn’t want to be misunderstood. He explained, "She’s my assistant, helping me pick out a gift for my wife."

"Sorry, sir, ma’am," the staff member apologized, realizing their mistake. They had assumed Amia and Steve were a couple because they seemed so well-matched.

Steve, unsure of his wife’s preferences, decided to buy all the handbags, spending nearly $50,000. Amia and Steve then went to a jewelry store, where the clerk presented a gold and diamond necklace.

"Sir, ma’am, this necklace is a limited edition, newly arrived and very beautiful," the clerk said.

Steve simply instructed, "Wrap it up nicely."

The clerk was thrilled by how straightforward Steve was and turned to Amia, saying, "Ma’am, your husband is very generous. Would you like to try on the necklace?"

"He’s not my husband; he’s my boss," Amia responded, feeling exasperated. Why did these clerks keep making the same mistake? Was it really that easy to mistake their relationship for something more? She was just Steve’s assistant, and Steve was a wealthy CEO who could easily replace her if he wanted.

Looking at Steve, Amia noticed his expression had changed—he seemed a bit displeased. Wanting to smooth things over, she bought the necklace, adding another $20,000 to the bill. With nearly $70,000 spent, Amia felt like her heart was breaking. She had worked hard for years but still couldn’t afford a decent home, while others could spend her life savings on a few handbags and a necklace.

As they left the store, Steve asked, "Did you get what you needed?"

Amia pointed to a small supermarket not far away. "I need to buy something from that store—it’s more affordable."

Steve nodded and walked away, leaving Amia to follow behind, struggling with the many shopping bags. For some reason, after the store clerks had mistaken her for Steve’s wife, she felt like Steve was angry with her, becoming more distant. Perhaps he didn’t want to be misunderstood or thought she had ulterior motives.

Regardless, Amia had to admit she respected Steve for being conscientious as a married man. After a few minutes of walking, they reached the small supermarket Amia had mentioned.

"Mr. Steve, I’ll just buy my things in here," Amia said.

"Go ahead. I’ll wait here," Steve replied.

Knowing she couldn’t keep Steve waiting outside, Amia quickly bought gifts for her roommates, Jonia and Brooke, and grabbed a few items for herself. However, as she browsed the small, charming trinkets, she couldn’t help but take her time, admiring each one.

Steve, meanwhile, had little patience for waiting and hated being kept idle. If Amia hadn’t helped him choose gifts for his wife, he would have left long ago.

He stood outside, smoking a cigar, watching Amia as she browsed. She seemed genuinely happy, particularly interested in the small items she picked up. Were all young women fond of such things? Steve wondered if his wife might like them too.

After finishing his cigar, Steve stubbed it out and walked into the supermarket. Seeing a delicate stuffed toy, Steve imagined his wife holding it, looking adorable. Unfortunately, he could barely remember what his wife looked like, only recalling that she was beautiful and fair-skinned.

When the image of Amia’s face suddenly flashed in his mind, Steve quickly shook his head, trying to dispel the thought. He didn’t usually pay much attention to a woman’s appearance, so his memories of her were vague.

"Mr. Steve, are you thinking of buying a stuffed toy for your wife?" Amia asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Chapter 6: Steve's Charm

Steve furrowed his brow and replied, "The problem is, I’m not sure if she’d want this."

Amia smiled and reassured him, "I think as long as it’s a gift from you, your wife will love it. You care about her so much; she’ll definitely be happy."

"Maybe…" Steve muttered, still unsure. After all, he didn’t even know his wife’s contact information or clearly remember her appearance.

But the thought of having abandoned her for over a year now gnawed at him. Buying just a stuffed toy wouldn’t suffice; he needed to choose more gifts to make up for it. However, Steve wasn’t sure what women liked, so he turned to Amia and said, "Buy everything you think a woman would like."

Amia was speechless. Although Steve had the means to buy out the entire store, it seemed wasteful. Despite Amia’s attempts to persuade him to buy less, Steve ended up picking out so many gifts that they could barely carry them all.

Amia regretted asking Steve to come shopping. Now they’d have to buy an extra suitcase just to fit everything.

The next morning, they boarded a flight back to San Diego. They sat in business class, with Amia and Steve in one row and Marilyn in the row behind them.

A flight attendant approached and asked, "Sir, ma’am, would you like something to drink?"

Amia waved her off, "Just bring us some bottled water, please." She knew Steve had very particular tastes—usually drinking only glacier water or coffee made from beans flown in from abroad. The plane wouldn’t have those, so she just requested water.

But the flight attendant didn’t leave; she kept staring at Steve, clearly captivated by his good looks. "Sir, would you like coffee? Or perhaps a different drink?" she asked, trying to engage him.

Steve, however, didn’t even glance at her. He turned to Amia and said, "Make sure to book the restaurant in advance for tonight. I’m taking my wife out to dinner."

"Of course," Amia nodded.

She then noticed the flight attendant’s awkward smile—it was an embarrassingly tense situation. To ease it, Amia added, "And could you bring me a newspaper?"

With no internet access on the plane, Amia often turned to newspapers for news. As she flipped through, she noticed a headline about the Lyle Company.

**"Lyle Group CEO Will Under Investigation for Embezzlement, Loses Right Leg in Car Accident While Fleeing."**

Amia turned to Steve and asked, "Mr. Steve, did you hear that Mr. Will was in a car accident?"

Steve raised an eyebrow, keeping his eyes closed as he replied, "He should be thanking God for sparing his left leg."

Steve’s calm demeanor, paired with his indifferent tone, sent chills down Amia’s spine. The rumors about Steve being ruthless and decisive seemed more credible now.

Thirteen years ago, Steve had been seen as an inexperienced young man, someone not taken seriously. But he quickly proved everyone wrong by cleaning house at Tech Group, taking out the old guard in just a decade, and bringing the company back to global prominence. Since then, his name had struck fear in the business world.

Suddenly, Steve opened his eyes and gave Amia a cold, piercing look. "Are you scared?" he asked icily.

Amia shook her head, though she couldn’t quite meet his gaze. "No, I’m not scared," she insisted.

Steve smirked, clearly unconvinced. Despite his cold and ruthless reputation, Amia couldn’t deny that Steve was a man who genuinely cared for his wife, carefully choosing gifts for her, protecting his company’s interests, and standing up for his subordinates.

Amia was Steve’s assistant, his closest aide—not his enemy. There was no reason to fear him.

Afterward, Amia tried to nap, but a voice woke her up.

"Do you really think I’m the type of man who can be easily controlled by anyone?" Steve’s cold voice cut through the air.

Amia opened her eyes to see the same flight attendant turning away in embarrassment. It seemed she had been staring at Steve for too long, and he had finally snapped.

Amia was surprised. Not only was Steve rich and handsome, but he also wasn’t easily swayed by temptation—a rare quality in men of his stature. Amia found herself wondering what kind of woman Steve’s wife must be to inspire such loyalty and self-control in him.

When they arrived in San Diego, they returned to the office. Amia had to arrange Steve’s dinner plans, including ordering flowers and reserving a restaurant. She put extra effort into it, wanting to lift Steve’s spirits.

After a long day, Amia was about to hail a cab home when a message popped up in their group chat from Brooke.

"Amia, we’re roasting a turkey tonight. Can you grab some turkey sauce from the store on your way home?"

Amia replied with a simple "Okay."

Meanwhile, Steve was on his way to Amia’s place when his grandmother called again.

"Grandson, you’re being far too neglectful of your wife. You’ve left her alone for over a year! Do you expect poor Amia to just endure that? If you don’t bring her back tonight, I might just die of anger right here!"

Steve was shocked. "Grandma, what did you just say my wife’s name is?"

His grandmother, now furious, shouted into the phone, "Are you trying to drive me to my grave? You don’t even know your wife’s name? It’s Amia! Did you hear me? Amia!"

"Amia…" Steve repeated, the name ringing in his ears as his mind flashed to his assistant, Amia.

No wonder she had seemed familiar from the start—they shared the same name as his wife.

Steve chuckled, "Don’t worry, Grandma. I’m on my way to her place right now. I promise I’ll bring her to see you."

His grandmother, now relieved, replied, "Remember, you better bring her back. Amia is a wonderful girl—you take good care of her."