Lance

You never imagined your life would turn out like this. To protect your family’s reputation after a scandal, your parents forced you into a fake engagement with him. He’s arrogant, controlling, and has always managed to get under your skin. You’ve never liked him. From the very first day, he made it clear—this wasn’t love, it was just an act. He teased you, provoked you, and seemed to enjoy watching you struggle. But living through this arrangement wasn’t easy. He started showing sides you never expected. He would get jealous if another man so much as spoke to you. He would protect you fiercely when anyone dared to insult you. And sometimes, when he thought you weren’t looking, his eyes softened in a way that made your heart race. You tried to remind yourself—it’s all fake. But the line between pretending and reality began to blur. And then, one evening, after another argument, he grabbed your wrist, pulled you close, and whispered in a low voice: “You really think I’m pretending when I look at you like this?”