The Lie That Made Me Love You

Chapter 4: Here's an Idea

Sophie

Karma is true and Karma has come for me.

I know this the moment someone shoves a microphone into my hands and demands I answer some ridiculous question about literary something-or-other, I know I'm doomed.

The brain freeze that followed? It was proof enough that karma wasn't done with me yet.

"Miss, can you share your thoughts on how literature influences modern culture?" the voice asks again, shoving the mic right under my nose.

I blink, staring at the crowd of expectant faces. Literature? Influence? My mind is blank. Completely and utterly blank. This is something I can answer if I really think about it, but right now, I'm bummed.

I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, the kind that starts from your chest and crawls all the way up to your face. My throat tightens as I stumble for words.

“Um… well, I think it’s, you know, really important,” I mumble. “Books are… uh, good? For the culture and preservation of…you know, oracrices. They, um, influence people in ways… I mean, they’re full of… stories?”

The silence is suffocating and I can hear my heartbeat racing in my chest. A few reporters exchange looks, and I want to disappear into the floor. Why didn’t I just stay quiet? Better yet, why didn't I just stay at home?

Before I can make things worse, Alisha swoops in like a superhero from nowhere and I almost hug her in relief. She gently takes the mic from my trembling hands and gives me a calm smile.

“Thank you for your thoughtful question,” Alisha says smoothly, flashing the crowd a practiced smile. “Sophie is passionate about the power of storytelling, which is why she’s here today, supporting the creative voices shaping our cultural landscape. As an influencer, she understands how important it is to connect with an audience, just like books connect with their readers. We’re both excited to be part of such a meaningful event.”

The crowd murmurs their approval, and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Alisha shoots me a reassuring smile as she hands the mic back to one of the event staff, steering me gently away from the press.

How did I even get here? One moment , I was sitting down on one of the chairs and I wanted to take a selfie for the vlog and before I knew it, I was standing up with a microphone on my face.

There's nothing interesting about this place; this would have to be one of the most boring vlogs recorded in all of history.

I sigh, defeatedly. Another fail.

I follow Alisha out of the conference hall and it is only when I'm about to ask her where we're going that I look up and see her weaving her way through a sea of people in the lobby, toward the one person I should not be meeting.

Julian West.

The man I torpedoed online.

Oh, God. Help me. This cannot be happening! You see what I'm saying about Karma?

My stomach knots as Alisha moves closer to him.

"This is Sophie Barnes," she's saying introducing me and I wonder if I look

starstruck. They couldn’t be more wrong. I’m absolutely terrified!

"—social media influencer."

I watch as Julian turns toward me, and for a brief second, I’m grateful I didn’t just faint. He’s… well. He’s sexy, but not in that traditional, charming way. He’s all edges and angles, like his whole body was carved from stone and he’s been standing in the cold for a long time. Personally, I think it's because he frowns all the time; I bet those edges would soften the moment he smiles.

Dark hair falls just above his brows, but not enough to hide the intense, icy flash in his gray eyes. They’re sharp and calculating, they feel like laser beams when he focuses them on you. His eyes have a slight slant and his eyelids are darker; like there's a thin layer of eyeliner on it.

Wow, I should not be thinking this.

He has a jawline you could slice bread on, set firm like he’s always seconds away from snapping at someone.

I mean, I get it. He’s brooding and hot—like the kind of hot that makes you feel a little breathless just standing too close—but there’s something dangerous about him. Like a storm about to break, and I’m caught standing in the middle of it with no umbrella. Wow, just standing close to him is making me poetic.

I snort inwardly at my very not funny joke. I shouldn't be this smug; it wouldn't be funny if these people find out I'm Mallory Ray.

Julian barely glances at me as he exchanges words with Alisha. I stay quiet, hoping to disappear into the background. Maybe if I don’t speak, he’ll never notice me. He doesn’t need to know that I’m the reason his life became an online circus.

Alisha’s going on about a plan, some strategic move to restore his image, but I’m only half-listening. My pulse is drumming in my ears as I try not to make eye contact with Julian.

Alisha asks me a question and I nod.

The tension is thick, the type you can feel crawling over your skin. I swear, his eyes flash in my direction for half a second, and my heart skips.

Then Alisha’s voice cuts through the fog in my mind. “Both of you get married.”

“What?” I blurt out, louder than I intended. Even Julian looks shocked, which makes me feel a little better. His brows draw together, and he gestures to the guy standing next to him, the one I assume is his manager, Henry.

“I’m leaving. If you’re not in the car in five minutes, I’m driving away.”

He’s pissed. I can feel the heat rolling off him as he turns on his heel and stalks off, shoving past a reporter with a glare that could melt steel.

I stand frozen as Henry follows behind him in a rush, leaving Alisha and me in an awkward silence.

Alisha grabs my arm and pulls me aside. “Look, I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out. This is exactly what we need. Julian needs to soften his image, and you—you need a boost for your brand. Fake marriage. It’s perfect.”

“I—” I start, then stop because words won’t come. “Alisha, no. This is insane.”

She lowers her voice. “Think about it, Sophie. You’re struggling right now, right? I know things haven’t been going well with your influencer status, but if you do this, it’s exposure—major exposure. You’ll be back on top.”

I bite my lip, my thoughts racing. Haven't I used Julian enough? Julian doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that I’m the one who started all this.

That comment. The one that said he called someone fat at a mall. I didn’t think it would get that big. I didn’t think it would ruin his career. But it did, and now I’m standing here, about to agree to a fake marriage with him to fix both of our reputations. Maybe this could be my way of helping him regain what I took from him.

“As long as he never finds out,” I mumble, half to myself.

Alisha raises a brow. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” I swallow hard.

“Fine. I’ll do it." Alisha smiles, clearly pleased with herself.

“Don’t worry. You’re going to pull this off. And when it’s over, you’ll both be in a much better place.”

I nod, but deep down, I know the truth. If I slip up, this is going to blow up in my face. Julia is smart; it will only be a matter of time.

I must keep this secret.