Accidentally Yours: Became His Christmas Fake Fiancé

Smile while you can, April

Cesar’s POV

The moment I stepped across the threshold of Astellian estate, a coldness settled in my chest, more piercing than the winter air outside. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to turn back. April was the personification of everything I despised: arrogant, shallow, and consumed by her own reflection.

I never would have let our paths cross, let alone our names be linked, if not for the pathetic burden of a promise. My mother’s misplaced loyalty to a childhood friend had backed me into a corner, forcing me to play the role of April’s "fiancé".

My stride faltered, my shoes clicking to a halt on the marble floor as I saw her. April stood at the center of the foyer, draped in a gown of shimmering white, as if this were a wedding rather than a forced agreement.

Hell, no. The sight of her made my jaw tighten until it ached. I wasn't going to marry her, not ever. This cheap engagement was merely a temporary cage, and I was already counting the seconds until I could tear it all down.

"Oh, Cesar is here!" Nancy, April's mother, chirped with enthusiasm. She practically fluttered toward me, her arms wide as she pulled me into an embrace that smelled too strongly of expensive perfume. I managed to fix a strained, polite smile on my face before gently disengaging.

"Good evening, Aunt Nancy. It’s a pleasure to see you again after so long," I lied smoothly. My gaze shifted to April’s father, Mikael. He greeted me with a firm handshake and a warm smile that seemed far more genuine than his wife's, guiding me toward the velvet sofa.

As we settled in, my mother practically pushed April down onto the cushion beside me. I could feel April peeking at me out of the corner of her eye that calculating look I knew all too well. It was the same look she wore in our school days right before she'd find a way to disturb me.

"Cesar, tell us, how does April look tonight?" my mother, Olivia, asked, her eyes shining with hopeful expectation.

I turned my head slowly, forced to acknowledge the girl at my side. I noticed her fidgeting with her fingers, a nervous tic that felt entirely out of character for someone so usually self-assured. A dry, humorless chuckle escaped my lips.

"She looks fine," I said, my tone flat and indifferent. To me, no amount of white silk could mask her sharp tongue or the history of headaches she'd caused me.

"Just fine!?" my mother remarked, her voice rising in a bright, corrective tone. "Son, April looks as radiant as a princess today."

I saw April beaming at my mother, soaking up the praise, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. The performance was nauseating.

"Well, we should get on with the engagement," my father, Raynold, suggested, his voice booming with authority. "The formalities and celebrations can follow."

The room erupted in swift agreement. Amidst the nodding heads, I caught April’s expression, she was wearing a triumphant smile, looking as though she’d been waiting for this exact moment her entire life. She looked victorious, like she’d finally trapped her prize.

As the velvet ring box was brought forward, I felt the cold weight of the situation settling in. I looked at her polished, expectant face and made a silent vow to myself.

'Smile while you can, April,' I thought. 'I will make sure you’re the one begging to back out of this engagement long before a wedding ever happens.'

~~~~

Leila's POV:

I was struggling to maintain the facade, but the weight of the lie was becoming unbearable. If I slipped now, everything would crumble. Being forced to sit beside the man meant for my sister made my stomach churn with an anxiety I couldn't suppress.

The worst part? April hadn't shown up. How could she leave me to face this alone? I regretted the moment I had ever agreed to her desperate plea. I had been living a peaceful life, far removed from April's chaotic messes and this suffocating family dynamic, until I foolishly brought this ruin down on myself.

To make matters worse, Cesar was dissecting me with his gaze. His eyes were like shards of ice, devoid of any warmth or kindness. He wasn't just looking at me; he was judging every breath I took.

"April, why are you so still? Say something," my mother’s voice pierced through my panic.

"Huh?" I blinked, snapping back to reality. I realized the velvet-lined boxes had been placed on the table before us, and every eye in the room was fixed on my face, waiting for a reaction.

"Do you like the ring, dear?" Olivia asked, her voice brimming with a hope that made my guilt intensify.

"Yes," I managed to whisper, nodding in sheer reluctance.

The moment the word left my lips, I heard it. It was a sharp, derisive snicker from Cesar. He knew something was off, even if he couldn't put his finger on what.

"Extend your left hand," my mother instructed, her voice laced with an excitement that made my skin crawl.

I did as I was told, my breath hitching as Cesar’s cold fingers brushed against mine. There was no tenderness in his touch, only a frigid pressure as he slid the ring onto my finger. I stared down at the sparkling diamond, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I couldn't believe this was happening—that I was now officially bound to this dangerous, imposing man who clearly despised the woman I was pretending to be.

With trembling hands, I reached for the ring meant for him. It felt heavy, like a shackle. I managed to slide it onto his finger, my vision blurring slightly from the stress of the moment.

The room erupted in applause. Our parents were beaming, our mothers already lost in a tearful embrace, celebrating the union of their families.

"Mom, Dad, can April and I spend this holiday season together?"

Cesar’s sudden demand halted the celebration abruptly. My head snapped toward him, my eyes wide with alarm. What was he playing at?

He leaned in closer, his shadow falling over me as he lowered his voice, though his words were clearly intended for the whole room. "Before we marry just before Christmas, I want April to stay with me in my apartment. Now that we’re engaged, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to spend some quality time together under one roof."

He looked right into my eyes, a predatory glint in his gaze that told me this wasn't about "quality time". It was a death trap for me and I had no idea how to escape it.