He added casually, “I’ll give you a fifty million. You know what to say and what not to say. Don’t embarrass me.”
I let out a small laugh. I didn’t even know why I was laughing anymore.
The Montgomery family always cared about reputation and rules. I learned that early.
When Argus’s grandfather found out his feelings for Celine weren’t normal, he sent her abroad without even discussing it. Just like that. Gone.
After that, he kept arranging blind dates for Argus, one after another.
And somehow, Argus noticed me.
Not because of who I was.
Just because I looked like her.
That night still felt like a blur I couldn’t wash away. My drink tasted strange, my head got heavy, and everything spun. I remembered his hands, his voice, the way I couldn’t even push him away properly.
One person needed love.
The other needed money.
So it became… this.
Something ugly. Something I could never name out loud.
...
The car stopped, and I snapped back to reality.
The old house stood in front of me, quiet and imposing.
The moment the door opened, Celine ran straight into Argus’s arms. “Argus, I missed you so much,” she said, clinging to him like she belonged there.
His expression changed instantly.
Soft. Gentle.