Chapter - Four
1592 Words
Aleena - POV
I held back angry tears, refusing to let them fall after my father stormed out. Caldwell was still in the room, standing there with that unreadable expression of his.
I went to shower. When I stepped out, wrapped in a towel, I headed straight for my clothes, ready to spend the rest of the day coding just to piss my father off. He hates that I still do it.
“Hey, sis.”
El walked in wearing one of her new trendy tops and a cute skirt.
“What are you doing walking around in just a towel?” she asked. “Did you forget you have company?”
I glanced over. Yep Caldwell was still here. He wasn’t looking directly at me, but I caught the side glance. I honestly didn’t care.
“It’s not like I’m naked,” I said casually. “And if he touches me, I’ll kill him.”
That made his green eyes flick to me.
El frowned. “Sis, your face. Who hurt you?”
Right. The mark from earlier. I should’ve put on some cream my skin bruises way too easily.
“I did,” I lied. “I was dozing off while coding and, you know, smacked myself to stay awake.”
“Liar,” she said immediately. “Dad hit you again, didn’t he?”
I stayed calm. “No, El. You’ve got it wrong.”
She looked unconvinced, but I couldn’t let her carry that weight. She’s never seen the worst of it. I’ve always made sure of that. If
Dad ever lost his temper with her, I made sure to step in to be the one he took it out on.
“If you say so,” she said, still clearly unsure.
“You working today?” she asked, eyeing my laptop.
“Yeah.”
“No, you’re not.”
I blinked. “Why the hell not?”
“Engagement photo shoot. Short notice.”
I groaned. “Who scheduled that without telling me?”
“Father.”
Of course. He never asks. Just commands.
“I’m here to help you look the part,” El added, smiling. That smile is the only reason I put up with any of this. She’s my peace in the middle of this chaos.
Eventually, Caldwell stepped out but only after El called Father and asked him to order it. That’s the only thing that made him budge.
I changed into the gown El picked: an off-the-shoulder yellow dress that shimmered like sunlight. Lace traced the bodice and skirt, catching the light just enough to feel magical. The whole thing flowed with every step quiet, graceful power.
“You look like a princess,” El said, beaming.
I smiled back. It was pretty, sure. But honestly? I preferred my nerd look. Hoodie, glasses, invisible to the world.
As I stepped out of my room, Caldwell was posted across the hall. His eyes flicked over me so fast I almost missed it but it was there. That blink of something behind the stoic mask.
I walked downstairs. At the bottom stood Nico, waiting.
He wore a soft beige suit, clean and relaxed, paired with a simple white tee and crisp sneakers. Understated but sharp like he didn’t need to try, and still had presence. Confident without showing off.
He looked up and stared at me really stared for a couple of seconds before reaching out his hand. El giggled beside me.
“Told you,” she whispered. “Switch up the vibe and all eyes are on you.”
I didn’t want eyes on me. Not after everything.
I pushed the thought down.
I placed my hand in Nico’s. The cameras were on us, and so were his eyes. There was warmth there, but I knew it was part of the show. His look told me what to do.
Play along.
So I did. Gave him the soft, fake smile the press would eat up. He held my gaze for a moment longer before switching back into performance mode.
I leaned in a little closer to him.
“You didn’t tell me there’d be an interview,” I said under my breath.
“My father’s last-minute idea,” Nico whispered, his tone calm, but I could hear the edge behind it. He was annoyed he just knew how to hide it. I didn’t miss it, though.
“Please take your seats, we’re about to begin the interview.”
The reporter gave a wide smile. “Oh where are my manners? I’m Lily Lopez.”
We sat down, facing the cameras.
“My first question,” she began with a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Who fell in love with whom? Nico Bellini has quite the fan base for his looks and Ms. Caruso, you’re adored too!”
She was forcing it. I knew it. She was lying, at least about me.
“I fell for my little nerd,” Nico said smoothly, flashing a warm smile in my direction.
The words caught me off guard, but I kept my expression soft and in-character. I played the part gazed at him like I was in love. He looked at me, green eyes full of fake warmth, but a flicker of something real was buried beneath.
“And you, Ms. Caruso?” Lily asked.
“Nico and I were friends,” I said, keeping my eyes on the camera. “I’m not sure when that friendship turned into love.”
Another lie, delivered with a practiced smile. I could feel Nico watching me, waiting for me to slip.
“Oh my, such a sweet story! The public’s going to fall in love with this romance,” Lily said with a giggle.
She kept the questions coming. Luckily, I knew enough about Nico to keep up the act. But the whole thing felt like an exam I didn’t sign up for. Each answer was another step through this carefully scripted farce.
Six months. That’s all I need. Just six months until El graduates, gets her freedom, and moves to London. After that, I can burn this whole lie to the ground. But not before. El wants to be a doctor more than anything. And I won’t let our father destroy her dream like he tried to destroy mine.
“You’re zoning out, Alee.”
Nico’s voice pulled me back. He was standing a little too close. I caught the subtle spice of his cologne, comforting in a strange, expensive way. His emerald eyes were softer than I expected.
“This is boring,” I whispered under my breath.
“I know,” he said. “Just get through today. After the drama, we’ll have a moment to breathe.”
I nodded. And strangely... it helped. For once, he wasn’t cold or dismissive. Just present.
We went through the motions. Posing for photos. Smiling. Laughing on cue. Then came the couple shots.
When Nico gently placed his hand on my back, I froze. Not because of him but because everything about this was fake. And yet... his touch was light. Not controlling. Not possessive. Just supportive.
Why did that bother me more?
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw El wiping away a tear, smiling like she truly believed I’d found love. I forced myself to smile back.
Then my gaze shifted Caldwell. Still. Watching. Those unreadable blue eyes locked onto mine. He wasn’t scanning the crowd. He was watching me. Always me.
Why? Isn’t he supposed to be guarding the perimeter, not studying my every move?
“Look at me, Alee.”
Nico’s voice dropped to a tone I hadn’t heard before. Low. Serious. It sent a shiver down my spine.
My eyes met his, and for once I couldn’t read him. It wasn’t fake. But it wasn’t clear either. I can usually read people like open books. But Nico and Caldwell? Both were pages sealed shut.
“We got a great shot!” the photographer called out.
“Next pose, please!”
I felt my whole body tense as the photographer explained the next pose.
A kiss.
I stiffened. Panic crept in. I had zero experience with this. Not because I didn’t want to but because life made sure I never had the chance. And now? With all these cameras? No. No, no
Nico looked at me, reading me. He saw it. The way I trembled. The way my hands curled at my sides.
Stay strong, Aleena. Don’t give in.
But the voice in my head wasn’t mine anymore.
“She just turned eighteen. Shouldn’t we break her innocence?”
That disgusting voice echoed in my mind, the one I locked deep behind every barrier.
“Alee.”
I heard Nico’s voice, but everything blurred. The lights, the room it all went fuzzy.
“I’m okay.Nico,” I tried to say. But the words never made it out.
Suddenly, strong arms lifted me. Not his. I was in someone else's hold.
Caldwell.
He carried me bridal-style, shielding me as I slipped into the dark. His scent clean, like fresh-cut grass hit me. Calming. Grounding.
“Breathe,” something about him whispered, even in silence.
Just as I was about to fade, I felt another presence Nico. The scent changed. Spice again. His voice cut through the air, sharp. I couldn’t make out the words, but the tension between him and Caldwell was ice-cold.
El was behind them, crying, trying to pull herself together.
Then the darkness took me completely.
- Writer
