Lines we can’t cross
988 Words
By the third day, pretending was starting to feel too real.
I hated that.
“Smile more naturally,” Adrian said beside me as we stepped out of the car.
I turned my head slightly toward him. “Stop acting like you’re in charge of me.”
He didn’t even look bothered. He adjusted his sleeve and replied, calm as ever, “In situations like this, I am.”
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself not to react.
Today was another public appearance. Another event where we had to stand side by side, answer questions, and act like everything between us was normal. Like we weren’t two people who used to argue over the smallest things.
The cameras were already waiting when we arrived.
Flashes went off the moment we stepped out.
“Adrian! Over here!”
“Can we get a photo?”
“Is this relationship official?”
The questions came from everywhere at once.
I kept my face steady, offering a small smile the way we were told. Adrian, on the other hand, looked completely comfortable in the spotlight. He even moved slightly closer to me, his presence strong and distracting.
“Relax,” he murmured under his breath.
“I am relaxed,” I replied quietly.
He glanced at me briefly, like he didn’t believe me.
We walked through the entrance together, surrounded by staff guiding us inside. The noise slowly faded as we moved into the main hall.
Inside was calmer, but the pressure was still there. People watching. Whispering. Observing every move we made.
At one point, a reporter stepped forward during a short interview session.
“So, how long have you both been together?” she asked, looking between us.
I opened my mouth slightly, unsure what to say.
Adrian answered before I could think.
“A while,” he said smoothly.
I shot him a quick look, but he didn’t glance at me.
“Would you say this was planned?” she continued.
There was a brief pause.
Adrian reached for my hand and held it—not too tight, but enough to look natural.
“Some things are better when they’re not rushed,” he added.
I stiffened slightly at the contact, but forced myself to stay calm.
The interview continued, questions flowing one after another. I answered some, Adrian answered most, and together we gave the exact impression they wanted.
A perfect couple.
When it was finally over, we were escorted to a private room to wait before the next part of the event.
The moment the door closed behind us, the atmosphere changed.
I pulled my hand away immediately.
Adrian noticed, but he didn’t comment.
Instead, he sat down across from me and loosened his tie slightly.
“You’re getting better at this,” he said.
“At what?” I asked.
“Pretending.”
I frowned. “I don’t need to pretend. I’m just doing what I have to do.”
He studied me for a moment, then nodded slightly.
“Same here.”
There was something in his tone that felt… different. Not sarcastic this time. Not defensive. Just honest.
Before I could think more about it, the door opened again.
A man stepped in holding a file.
“There’s been an update,” he said.
My stomach tightened immediately.
Another one?
He placed the file on the table and continued, “Your families have reviewed the agreement. There are new conditions.”
I exchanged a quick look with Adrian.
He already looked annoyed.
“What now?” he asked.
The man didn’t hesitate. “You will both be required to move into the same residence.”
Silence.
I blinked.
“Move in… together?” I repeated slowly, making sure I heard correctly.
“Yes. For the duration of the contract.”
I let out a short laugh, more out of disbelief than humor. “This is getting ridiculous.”
Adrian stood up almost immediately. “This wasn’t part of the original agreement.”
“It has now been added,” the man replied calmly.
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, clearly holding back something.
“So we’re expected to live under the same roof and still pretend this is fake?” he asked.
“Yes.”
I looked at him, waiting for him to argue further. To reject it. To say no.
But instead… he stopped.
And that worried me.
Because Adrian never backed down that easily.
After a few seconds, he spoke again, his voice steady.
“Fine.”
I turned sharply toward him. “You can’t be serious.”
He finally looked at me. “We don’t have a choice.”
That line again.
I didn’t like how often I was hearing it.
“Not everything has to be accepted,” I said quietly.
He stepped closer to me this time, lowering his voice so only I could hear.
“Then tell me how you plan to walk away from this without losing everything.”
I opened my mouth… then closed it again.
Because I didn’t have an answer.
The man cleared his throat, signaling that the discussion was over.
“I’ll have arrangements made,” he said before leaving the room.
Once we were alone again, silence returned.
This time, it felt heavier.
More real.
Adrian picked up his jacket.
“Get ready,” he said simply.
“For what?” I asked.
He looked at me briefly, his expression unreadable.
“For the part where this stops being just a contract.”
And then he walked out.
I stood there, staring after him, my mind spinning.
Living together.
More time together.
More rules.
More expectations.
This was no longer something I could mentally separate myself from.
Because slowly… without realizing it…
This arrangement was starting to blur the line between what was fake…
And what was not.
And I had a feeling the next phase was going to change everything.
- Writer
