Hired As His Fake Girlfriend

Chapter 8: Who’s Really on My Side?

My cheek still stung from the slap, and I felt like the ground had been yanked from under me. My mom, usually the person I could rely on most, stood there, furious. Her eyes were blazing with this mixture of betrayal and disappointment, and I couldn’t tell if it hurt worse than the actual slap.

“You didn’t even give us a chance to know what was going on, Lila,” she continued, her voice rising. “How could you?”

I was about to defend myself, but my dad, who’d been standing behind her this whole time, finally stepped forward. And his face? Oh man, I knew this wasn’t going to be good.

“What’s the meaning of this?” His voice was low, but there was a rage simmering beneath it. “You’re what, twenty-five? And this… this man is… forty-five?! What the hell, Lila? Do you even understand what people will say? What will the church say about this?!”

I wanted to disappear into the ground. He wasn’t wrong—there was an age gap, a huge one. But he didn’t know the whole story. No one did, except the dean, the bloody bastard and me. But at that moment, explaining myself felt impossible.

“Dad, it’s not like that!” I blurted out, my voice cracking.

“Then what’s it like? Because right now, it looks like you’ve thrown yourself into some sordid affair with a man twice your age. A married man, for all we know,” he snapped. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. “What’s next, huh? Everyone at church whispering behind our backs? The pastor giving us dirty judgmental looks every Sunday? Do you even care about what this does to our family?”

My eyes widened. Married? Oh, God. They were unaware of even half of the situation. This didn't involve an improper relationship - at least not in the manner they expected. This deal was purely a business arrangement, nothing beyond that. However, I couldn't find an opportunity to speak.

After being still as a statue for so long, Evan eventually made the choice to break his silence. "Mr. Weston, I can guarantee you that there is nothing improper happening between your daughter and myself. Our connection is strictly business.

”

“Professional?” My dad’s face was practically purple now. “That’s what you call it?”

“Yes, sir.” Evan’s voice was calm, cold. Unbothered. “Lila and I are simply… working together. That’s all you need to know.”

“Working together?” my mom finally chimed in, her voice softer, almost… interested? I looked at her with a sense of bewilderment. Her entire attitude was shifting, but not for the better. Although she remained upset, there was also a newfound curiosity present.

“Mom?” I asked, unsure of what she was thinking.

She didn’t look at me. Instead, she turned to Evan, her expression shifting from anger to something more curious. “What kind of… work are you talking about?”

Evan gave her one of his cold smiles. “I’ve made a business arrangement with your daughter. She’s assisting me in certain… personal matters, and in return, I’m ensuring her academic future is secure.”

My mom blinked, her eyebrows raising. “Academic future?”

“Correct. Lila’s scholarship was in jeopardy. I’m simply ensuring she continues her education without any financial worries.”

And just like that, my mom switched. A sudden change occurred in her mind, and she no longer viewed Evan as an older man exploiting her daughter. No, she perceived him as a man who was rich, influential, and—most significantly—assisting her daughter.

"Oh," she spoke with a noticeably gentler tone. "Well, I must say, Mr. Sterling, that is incredibly generous of you."

I found it hard to believe.

“Mom?!” I said again, more urgently this time. “It’s not like that.”

But she didn’t seem to hear me. Her attention was fully on Evan now, and she was giving him this almost… approving look? My stomach turned.

“I mean, it’s still… unusual,” she continued, her eyes darting to my dad, trying to gauge his reaction. “But if it’s for Lila’s education… well, that’s something we can’t just ignore, can we?”

“Janet!” my dad snapped, glaring at her. “Are you seriously buying this? Do you hear yourself right now?”

She shot him a look. “George, calm down. He’s offering to help our daughter. This isn’t some scandalous affair—it’s business. Right, Mr. Sterling?”

“Exactly,” Evan said smoothly, like he’d won some silent argument. “Your daughter’s future is important. That’s all I’m concerned with.”

My dad was fuming, his face a storm of frustration and anger. But my mom? She was practically glowing now, nodding like everything made sense. She had fully taken Evan’s side, just like that.

I stood still, sensing as if the ground beneath me was disappearing once more. What caused this? How did my mother transition from wanting to harm this man to... regarding him with admiration and pride in her gaze?

Prior to me being able to comprehend any of it, my father took hold of my mother's arm. "We're going," he spoke through clenched teeth. "We will discuss this when we get home."

"But, George—" my mom tried to object, but he was not willing to listen.

“We. Are. Leaving.” His tone left no room for argument.

With one last glare at Evan, my dad stormed out, dragging my mom behind him. She shot me a confused, almost apologetic look as they left, but I couldn’t even process it. I was too shocked.

The door clicked shut, and then it was just me and Evan.

Silence filled the air momentarily. I was still in shock from the recent event, struggling to understand how my mom had suddenly switched allegiances. It felt as if I were trapped in a nightmare.

However, Evan broke the silence when he spoke with his voice.

"Perhaps you're curious as to why I didn't disclose the complete truth," he remarked, speaking in a nonchalant tone as if we were talking about the weather.

I didn't reply. I simply gazed at him, my thoughts continuing to hurry.

He walked over to the window, looking out at the driveway where my parents had just left. “Your parents, they’re… interesting. But in the end, they’re just like everyone else. Easily swayed by power. By wealth.”

I clenched my fists. “Your point?”

“My point,” he said, turning to face me, “is that you’re here for a reason, Lila. And don’t you forget it.”

I glared at him. “Yeah, I know. I’m here because you blackmailed me.”

His smirk returned, that same infuriating look that made me want to throw something at his face. “No, Lila. You’re here because you need me. You’re here because without me, your future is nothing.”

“Shut up,” I spat, hating how smug he sounded. “You think you’re some kind of savior? You’re just a—”

But he cut me off, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t you ever, for once, think that anything will go on between us.”

My breath caught in my throat. What?

“You’re only here temporarily,” he continued, his voice dropping lower, like he was sharing some big secret. “Until Olivia comes crawling back to me.”

And just like that, the floor really did fall out from under me.

Olivia?

Who the hell was Olivia?