Olivia had always believed that pretending to be in love was the easy part.
It was just a performance. A well-rehearsed script. A role she could slip into and out of without consequence.
But somewhere between stolen glances, lingering touches, and the way Ethan looked at her—like she was something precious—she had lost control of the act.
And now, she didn’t know where the lie ended and the truth began.
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Denying the Inevitable
The bonfire was in full swing, laughter and music filling the night air. The Montgomery estate’s private beach was illuminated by the golden flames, casting long shadows over the sand.
Olivia sat near the fire, wrapped in a soft blanket, trying desperately to shake off the tension from earlier.
She couldn’t keep doing this.
Couldn’t keep letting herself f
