CHAPTER 3:Fake Smiles
1879 Words
The room quieted once more.Then Ethan noticed something.A single sheet of paper protruded slightly from the contract folder resting on the nearby table.He reached for it absentmindedly.
Vivian’s expression changed instantly.
“Don’t touch that.”
Too late.
Ethan unfolded the page.
His eyes scanned the hidden clause.
And the air left his lungs.
Failure to maintain marriage agreement will result in immediate termination of debt assistance and legal seizure of remaining Vale family assets connected to unresolved medical liabilities.
Ethan stared silently at the paper.
His family would lose everything.
Vivian looked away.
Because she already knew.
The silence that followed felt colder than anything before.
Not anger.
Not resentment.
Fear.
Real fear.
Ethan folded the paper carefully and placed it back inside the folder.
“So that’s the truth.”
Vivian said nothing.
Beyond the windows, the city glowed beneath storm clouds and distant lights.
The contract had never been designed to protect him.
It had been designed to trap him.
And for the first time since entering the Laurent family’s world
Ethan finally understood how dangerous they truly were.
By the next morning, Silverwood University felt different.
Or maybe Ethan did.
The stares lingered longer now. Conversations dipped the moment he passed, only to rise again in hushed whispers behind him. Students pretended not to notice him while secretly lifting their phones for photos. Others watched openly, curiosity gleaming in their eyes like sparks before a fire.
At Silverwood, rumors spread with terrifying speed.
And nothing spread faster than news connected to Vivian Laurent.
Especially when romance was involved.
Ethan crossed the main courtyard with one hand tucked into the pocket of his coat, ignoring the attention as best he could. Winter wind swept dark strands of hair across his forehead while pale morning sunlight danced across the marble fountain at the center of campus.
He hadn’t slept much.
Not because of Vivian.
Because of the contract.
Because of the hidden clause buried inside it.
Because every direction ahead suddenly felt like a trap disguised as a choice.
“BRO.”
Lucas slammed into him near the library stairs with enough force to nearly spill coffee everywhere.
Ethan barely reacted.
“You sound emotionally unstable already,” he muttered.
Lucas grabbed both his shoulders dramatically. “You vanished after class yesterday, and now the entire university thinks you secretly married Vivian Laurent.”
Ethan blinked once. “That fast?”
“Someone saw you leaving in a Laurent family car.”
“People seriously need hobbies.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “So it’s true?”
Ethan kept walking.
Lucas followed immediately.
“Oh my God,” he whispered, horrified and delighted at the same time. “It’s true.”
“Can you stop sounding excited? My life is collapsing.”
“This,” Lucas said solemnly, “is not collapse. This is premium entertainment.”
Ethan sighed.
Students flooded the pathways around them, designer coats brushing past in waves of expensive perfume and cold air. Laughter echoed across the courtyard while giant digital screens flashed announcements for upcoming galas, student elections, and winter events.
Then, almost instantly, the noise softened.
Lucas looked ahead and physically recoiled.
“Oh no.”
Vivian Laurent walked across the courtyard surrounded by members of the student council.
As always, she looked unreal.
An ivory coat draped perfectly over a fitted black dress, the hem ending just above sleek knee-high boots that clicked sharply against the stone pavement. Elegant. Untouchable. Dangerous.
Her expression remained calm and distant
Until her eyes landed on Ethan.
A pause.
Small.
Barely noticeable.
Then something terrifying happened.
Vivian smiled.
Softly.
Warmly.
The entire courtyard seemed to stop breathing.
She walked directly toward him while dozens of students openly stared now, too shocked to hide it anymore.
Ethan already knew this was an act.
A performance.
But somehow, it still affected him.
Because her smile looked real enough to believe in.
“You left without saying goodbye yesterday,” Vivian said gently.
Somewhere beside him, Lucas made a choking noise.
Ethan studied her carefully.
Her eyes warned him silently.
Play along.
so he did.
“My mistake,” he replied smoothly.
Vivian stepped closer and adjusted the collar of his coat with effortless intimacy.
The movement sent a visible ripple through the watching crowd.
“You should dress warmer,” she murmured.
Ethan almost admired her acting skills.
Almost.
Because the moment she leaned closer, her voice dropped into something cold enough to freeze blood.
“If you embarrass me publicly,” she whispered, “I’ll bury you.”
Ethan smiled pleasantly. “Good morning to you too.”
To everyone else, they looked impossibly in love.
Nearby girls whispered frantically behind their hands.
“She touched him again.”
“I’ve never seen Vivian act like this.”
“Why him?”
One bitter voice muttered, “Probably money.”
Ethan nearly laughed at the irony.
If only they knew.
Without warning, Vivian slipped her arm through his.
The courtyard fell even quieter.
Ethan looked down at her.
She maintained that flawless smile while quietly saying, “The media club is filming.”
Sure enough, cameras pointed at them from the campus stairs.
Vivian leaned slightly against him, the picture of effortless affection.
Perfect illusion.
Perfect control.
But Ethan noticed something strange.
The second the cameras lowered
Her smile vanished.
Instantly.
Like someone had switched off a light behind her eyes.
Cold again.
Distant again.
The transformation happened so quickly most people would never have caught it.
But Ethan did.
And for reasons he didn’t understand, it unsettled him.
*****
The university cafeteria buzzed louder than usual.
Every conversation circled the same topic.
Ethan.
Vivian.
Marriage rumors.
Secret relationships.
Conspiracy theories.
Lucas nearly died laughing while scrolling through social media posts.
“Listen to this one,” he wheezed. “‘Cold Queen Vivian finally falls for mysterious broke pretty boy.’”
Ethan looked exhausted already. “I hate this school.”
“You’re trending.”
“That’s somehow worse.”
Across the cafeteria, students openly stared at him now.
Most of them girls.
Ethan ignored it.
Mostly.
A blonde student suddenly approached their table, visibly nervous.
“Um… Ethan?”
Lucas immediately sat up straighter, entertained.
The girl smiled shyly. “I just wanted to say… congratulations.”
Ethan blinked. “For surviving?”
She laughed softly.
Cute laugh.
Lucas kicked Ethan hard under the table.
“What my emotionally unavailable friend means,” Lucas interrupted smoothly, “is thank you.”
The girl smiled again before hurrying away.
Lucas stared at Ethan in disbelief. “How do women still find you attractive when you talk like a divorced father paying child support?”
“Natural talent.”
Before Lucas could answer, another figure appeared beside their table.
And the atmosphere changed instantly.
Daniel Mercer.
Tall. Wealthy. Irritated.
Several nearby students immediately fell silent.
Daniel looked directly at Ethan. “So the rumors are true.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair calmly. “You’ll survive somehow.”
Daniel ignored the sarcasm. His expression hardened slightly.
“You think marrying into money changes who you are?”
Lucas muttered into his drink, “Ah. Rich boy insecurity. A timeless classic.”
Daniel stepped closer. “People like you don’t belong in her world.”
Ethan’s expression barely changed.
But something colder entered his eyes.
“Funny,” he said quietly. “She said something similar.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You should listen.”
Lucas immediately started to stand, but Ethan lifted one hand slightly.
Not yet.
The tension thickened between them.
Then a calm female voice cut through the silence.
“Daniel.”
Vivian stood nearby.
No one had seen her approach.
Her face remained perfectly composed, but the temperature around her felt suddenly lethal.
Daniel straightened immediately. “Vivian.”
She glanced once at Ethan before looking back at Daniel.
“Is there a problem?”
“Just conversation.”
Vivian’s gaze sharpened slightly. “Then improve your conversational skills.”
Several students nearly choked trying not to react.
Daniel forced a stiff smile before stepping back. “Of course.”
The moment he left, the cafeteria slowly returned to life.
Lucas leaned toward Ethan dramatically. “She just saved your life.”
Vivian ignored him completely.
Her attention remained fixed on Ethan.
“You attract trouble.”
“You attract emotional frostbite.”
“You’re still alive.”
“Barely.”
For a brief second, the corner of Vivian’s mouth lifted.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But real.
And then it disappeared.
Ethan noticed anyway.
Strangely, that almost-smile stayed with him far longer than it should have.
****
By late afternoon, dark clouds gathered above the city.
Ethan exited the library carrying a stack of books against his chest while icy wind swept through the empty walkways.
His phone buzzed nonstop.
Notifications.
Messages.
Unknown followers.
Someone had already edited romantic videos of him and Vivian online using dramatic music and slow-motion clips.
Humanity had gone too far.
As he rounded the administration building, nearby voices caught his attention.
Girls talking quietly beside the fountain.
“…She definitely looks unhappy.”
“Maybe her family forced her into it.”
“I heard the marriage is political.”
Ethan slowed slightly.
“She never smiles like that naturally,” one girl continued. “Did you notice how fast her expression changed afterward?”
Another nodded. “It felt fake.”
Ethan kept walking.
But their words stayed with him.
Because they were right.
Vivian’s smiles were beautiful.
Convincing.
Perfect.
And somehow completely empty.
Like pretending had become second nature to her.
The realization bothered him more than expected.
*******
That evening, the Laurent Estate hosted a formal charity gala.
Which meant Ethan’s suffering continued professionally.
A stylist adjusted the collar of his black suit while staff members rushed around preparing the ballroom downstairs.
Ethan stared at his reflection in the mirror awkwardly.
He cleaned up well.
Too well, apparently.
Several employees kept staring at him when they thought he wouldn’t notice.
An older woman fixing his tie smiled warmly. “You and Miss Vivian look beautiful together.”
The automatic response nearly escaped him.
We hate each other.
But he stopped himself just in time.
Because no one here could know that.
A knock sounded behind him.
Vivian entered.
And Ethan genuinely forgot how words worked.
Her silver gown flowed around her like liquid moonlight, exposing one shoulder while diamonds shimmered softly against her skin beneath the chandelier glow.
Beautiful wasn’t enough.
Tonight she looked devastating.
Vivian noticed him staring immediately. “What?”
Ethan recovered slowly. “Do you always dress like you’re about to ruin someone emotionally?”
She rolled her eyes. “Do you always speak before thinking?”
“Unfortunately.”
A servant entered nervously. “The guests have arrived.”
Vivian inhaled slowly before looking toward Ethan.
For the briefest moment, something unreadable crossed her face.
Nervousness?
No.
Impossible.
“Remember the rules,” she said quietly. “Smile. Pretend happiness. Avoid scandal.”
“Sounds romantic.”
She ignored him.
But before leaving, her fingers brushed lightly against his wrist.
“Don’t leave my side tonight.”
The softness in her voice caught him completely off guard.
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