Author POV:
The next morning felt unreal.
Zoey sat on the edge of her bed, hair still damp from the shower, watching her phone screen light up with new messages from Alex’s PR team. Phrases like “control the narrative,” “joint statement,” and “photo release schedule” filled her inbox, all perfectly polished words for something that didn’t feel perfect at all.
She still couldn’t believe she’d said yes.
Not out loud, not exactly. But the look she’d given him last night, the quiet nod as they stood under the rooftop lights,had said everything she couldn’t.
Now it was official.
A fake marriage to save them both.
Her phone buzzed again.
Alex: Car will be there in 30 minutes. We’ll announce it together.
She exhaled slowly, fingers trembling slightly as she typed back. This is happening.
