Chapter 5

Nara.

Grudgingly, I stood up, fists clenched. Wait until we’re married, Nick. I’ll put you in your place so fast you won’t know what hit you.

I stepped outside, and of course — there they were.

The girl clinging to Nick looked like a model. Long chestnut waves, flawless skin, and legs for days, dressed in a skirt far too short for this hour. She laughed at something he said, tossing her hair over one shoulder.

I didn’t have to ask. I didn’t need an introduction. I just knew.

So this was Jane.

They didn’t even glance my way. No pause. No courtesy. Not even a flicker of guilt. They kept at it like I wasn’t even there, as if their world was too perfect, too untouchable, to be interrupted by the likes of me.

Pathetic.

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes on them. If they’re trying to prove a point, they can keep trying. Hell, if they want to f***k right here in the driveway, I still wouldn’t give a damn.

A few seconds later, Nick finally pulled away, a smug grin on his face. “This is Nara,” he said.

Jane smirked, giving me a once-over. “Isn’t she… too short?” she sneered.

Nick barely checked. He just threw an arm around her and went on, “Nara, meet the love of my life.”

Typical.

Jane made a show of tucking a strand of hair behind her ear — but it wasn’t about the hair. No, it was about the massive diamond ring on her finger, my ring.

I noticed. Of course I did. And in that moment, one thought ran through my head: Nick’s a jerk, and Jane’s a bitch. A match made in hell.

I rolled my eyes. “Seen enough? Are we through now? I’m tired.”

“Yes, you can go,” Nick said, waving me off like I was a delivery girl. Your real work starts tomorrow. Media rounds.”

“Wait — that early?”

And then, cue Jane with her fake little sob. “I wish it were me… I wish I was the one you were marrying, Nick. I’m so… sad,” she whined in a voice so fake it made me want to vomit.

Nick chuckled. “Don’t worry, babe. You know this is all fake. When it’s real, you’ll be my wife.”

I made a gagging sound, pretending to throw up. Couldn’t help it.

Jane shot me a glare, but Nick grabbed her face like she was some kind of doll. “Ignore her. You’re the one I love,” he said, then kissed her. Right there. In front of me.

Gross.

“Wait here,” he told her. “I’ll go get the car.”

“I’m leaving too,” I sighed, ready to be done with all of them.

But Jane wasn’t finished. “Wait. I need to talk to you,” she snapped.

Nick narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t start anything, Jane.” Then he left.

I folded my arms. “Well? Say it. I don’t have all day.”

She crossed her arms too. “It’s simple. Know your place. You’re just a fake wife. Don’t get any ideas about Nick. You don’t belong in our world.”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you finished?”

“Not quite.” She took a step closer. “No getting too close to him. No touching, no kissing, no private conversations. Got it? I’m the real one. See this?” She held up that ridiculous diamond again, shoving it in my face.

I smiled, slow and cold. “You done?”

“Yeah, I—”

“Well, let me be clear. Nobody tells me what to do. And you? You especially don’t get to provoke me. I don’t take kindly to people pushing me. I have a nasty habit of paying them back… in full.”

The car horn blared. We both turned to see Nick leaning out of his purple Lamborghini, waving her over.

I stared at the car, a weird feeling curling in my stomach. I’d seen that Lamborghini before… I was sure of it.

“This conversation isn’t over,” Jane hissed.

“Oh, yes it is,” I shot back. “I don’t waste my time on people like you. Especially ones I don’t like.”

She scowled but turned on her heel and stalked off.

I hissed under my breath, refusing to even spare them another glance. I was done here.

I stepped out to the roadside, waiting for a taxi — but like it was perfectly timed, that damned purple Lamborghini came roaring past me, kicking up a cloud of dust right into my face.

I coughed, waving the dirt away, and then it hit me.

That car.

It was the same one. The exact same purple Lamborghini that splashed water all over me yesterday while I was crying by the road.

My hands clenched into fists.

Oh, you both just signed your punishment. I don’t forget, and I sure as hell don’t forgive.

The next day, the circus officially opened.

Nick dragged me from one television station to another like I was some trophy he needed to show off.

Smiling, holding my hand, calling me his girlfriend like we didn’t both know this was the biggest joke of the year.

Everywhere we went, cameras flashed, people asked questions, and I played my part. I smiled so much my cheeks were sore. It wasn’t happiness — it was survival.

Radio interviews followed. Then social media appearances. And yes — TikTok.

This madness went on for a week. A whole week.

By the seventh day, I was ready to pack my bags and move to a cave in the mountains. But apparently, the fake-perfect-couple tour wasn’t enough to kill the scandal about Nick sleeping with a senator’s wife.

So guess what genius idea came next?

An engagement.

Yep. A fake one.

I swear this man is so dramatic, he could win an Oscar. He called me into his fancy restaurant like some mafia boss, a group of strangers sitting around like they were planning a war.

“These are the team that’ll plan our wedding,” Nick announced proudly.

I looked around and couldn’t stop myself. “Wow. A whole Avengers team.

A woman with pink hair giggled, and Nick shot me a glare like, Behave.

Their first mission: plan a fake proposal that would make the entire country forget Nick’s little bedroom adventures. It had to be big. Loud. Insane.

I sighed, leaning back in the chair. “Great. Can’t wait to fake-cry on national TV.”

Nick smirked at me. “Just try not to run away this time.”

I smiled sweetly. “Only if you don’t trip over your own ego.”

And that’s when he dropped the contract on the table. Literally. A thick, leather-bound monstrosity that screamed pre-nup meets hostage agreement.

“What’s this?” I asked, arching a brow.

“Our marriage terms,” he said smoothly. “No emotional attachment. Mandatory public appearances. No cheating scandals… unless it’s with each other.”

I blinked. “Wow. Romance isn’t dead after all.”

He slid a pen toward me. “Sign it.”

I pushed it back. “Not until you add my terms.”

Nick’s jaw tightened. “Which are?”

“An emergency escape clause,” I shot back, leaning in. “You keep your thing with Jane a secret while we’re married. If so much as a whiff of scandal comes out about you two, I get to walk — and do whatever the hell I want, no questions asked.”

The room went dead silent.

Even Pink-Haired Giggle Girl stopped breathing.

Nick’s stare was sharp, his smirk even sharper. “Deal.”

And just like that, the madness officially began.

I could feel it in my bones — this was going to be one hell of a disaster.

The day of the engagement.

We were at The Golden Grand Hotel.

And here I was, standing in a quiet hallway just outside the ballroom, trying not to strangle someone.

“Listen,” Nick said, straightening his tie and giving me that look, “don’t screw this up.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Relax, Romeo. I’ve got this.”

He wasn’t smiling.

“I mean it, Nara. This isn’t one of your cute little games. My father’s here. The press is here. And —” he sighed, “— Jane’s here too.”

Speak of the devil.

Jane came walking up in some sparkly silver dress, her heels clicking loud on the marble floor. She marched up, instantly clinging to Nick’s arm like a barnacle. “You better tell her not to overact,” she said, glaring at me like I was the problem. “And no deep kissing, Nick. I don’t want her slobbering all over you.”

I snorted. “Please. You act like I’d enjoy it.”

Jane scoffed. “I don’t get why your dad even choose her. I’m prettier, smarter, and taller.”

I raised a brow, smirking. “Oh, honey. You think being tall as a flagpole makes you hotter? Newsflash — you’re not my competition.”

She gasped like I’d slapped her.

“Nick!” she fake sobbed, pressing her hand to her chest. “Do you see how she’s talking to me?”

Nick sighed, hugging her like some exhausted father consoling his whiny kid. “There, there, baby,” he muttered, patting her back and kissing her forehead. Then he turned to me, his jaw tight. “Don’t talk to my girl like that. Can’t you see she’s hurting? Don’t you have a heart?”

I stared at him, deadpan. “Are you kidding? She started it.”

Jane stuck her tongue out at me like we were twelve.

“I don’t wanna hear it,” Nick grumbled, waving his hand. “Let’s get this engagement over with.”

Then he turned to Jane, lowering his voice like it was a secret. “Honey, I don’t want you coming inside. I wouldn’t want your fragile heart to… break.”

Jane’s eyes teared up like she was starring in a tragic drama. “Okay… but don’t make it too romantic.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, babe,” he said, pecking her forehead again before snapping his gaze to me. “Ain’t you coming?”

I rolled my eyes. “Like I have a choice.”

As I brushed past Jane, she grabbed my arm with a grip tighter than it looked. “Don’t get too excited,” she whispered, her lips curled in a bitter smile. “This is temporary. I’m still taking my place.”

I yanked my arm away so fast she stumbled a little.

“Just wait,” I smirked. “Once I’m Miss Gold, I’ll put you exactly where you belong. Watch me.”

Jane blinked, clearly not expecting that.

I flashed her a smile and headed straight into the ballroom — ready for fake love, fake smiles, and one very real diamond ring.

Let the show begin.