Careful What You Fake

I'd already made peace with my situation.

Since there was no escaping this arranged marriage, I might as well commit fully to a life of taking it easy.

As for who Kayla loved, that was none of my business. I had no interest in getting involved in someone else's relationship.

After seeing Kayla off, I headed toward our bridal suite out of curiosity. As I passed a decorative mirror, I casually washed off the allergy medication covering my face.

I stared at my reflection and muttered, "How am I ugly? Yuvan's just jealous."

A woman's voice suddenly answered from behind me.

"You're right. You're not ugly at all. He's blind, so his opinion doesn't count."

Before I could react, a beautiful woman, Selena Langley, grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bridal suite.

-

By the time the clock struck noon for the sixth time, I finally staggered out of the room with trembling legs.

The Sinclair family had called earlier to say someone was coming to deliver something.

Rubbing my sore waist, I couldn't help sighing. Last night had been nothing short of paradise, but it was exhausting too.

I hadn't even seen the visitors yet when Yuvan's thoughts reached me first.

'That engagement ring is the symbol of Kayla's husband. I have to get it. Kayla loves me more than anything. As long as I ask, she'll put it on my finger herself.'

I immediately had a pretty good idea what the Sinclair family had sent over.

The moment Kayla opened her mouth to speak, I tactfully declined before she could say anything.

"I'm a grown man. I don't really care about things like that..."

Unfortunately, I'd spoken for nothing.

They hadn't planned to ask for my opinion in the first place.

Yuvan didn't even need to request it. The ring was already on his finger.

Awkwardly, I tried to save face.

"I'm allergic to that material. Yeah, allergic."

Kayla looked at me, clearly confused.

Then Yuvan's excited thoughts exploded in my ears.

'Kayla really does love me the most. What does Benjamin even have that can compare to me? I'm wearing this ring to the banquet later. It'll make everyone's eyes pop. So what if Benjamin has the title of husband? Wherever Kayla goes, I'm still the one she takes with her!'

I glanced down at my still-shaking legs.

Perfect.

I didn't want to go anyway.

All I wanted was to get some rest.

Just as I was about to make an excuse to leave and give the two of them some private time, making it clear that I had zero interest in interfering with their relationship...

Kayla's cold voice stopped me from behind.

"Wait."

'What's she doing? She can't be planning to take him to the Golden Anniversary Gala, can she?'

For once, Yuvan's thoughts matched mine perfectly.

Yuvan immediately smiled.

"Kayla, you promised you'd take me to the gala. You can't go back on your word."

His thoughts kept running.

'I have to stop this. Benjamin absolutely cannot go to the gala. Looking like that, he'll make people question Kayla's taste. I'm the one who's truly right for Kayla. I need everyone to know that even if I'm not her husband, I'm still the person she loves most.'

I looked at him, speechless.

Which part of me looked like I wanted to go?

Instead of answering him, Kayla handed me a hotel key card.

"Don't hold back. Go have some fun."

A giant heart was printed right on the card.

If I understood correctly, she was telling me to take Selena and enjoy myself. In other words, she wasn't interested in me, and she was warning me not to get any ideas about her either.

That had to be it.

Feeling reassured, I accepted the card.

I couldn't help thinking that my arranged-marriage wife was surprisingly considerate.

Before leaving, I glanced at the hand Yuvan had possessively wrapped around Kayla's arm.

To show that I understood her intentions, I smiled and said, "You too. Have fun."

Not wanting to waste her kindness, I immediately left with Selena.

The moment Selena learned that Kayla had given me the key card, the smile on her face vanished.

Her fingers tightened around it until her knuckles turned white, as if she were angry about something.

A second later, she tossed the card back at me with a look of disdain.

"The room's already booked. It'd be a waste not to go."

So we spent an entire week enjoying ourselves.

A week later, I was lying comfortably by the sea, enjoying the ocean breeze and deciding what to have for dinner when I unexpectedly received a call from the Sinclair family's main estate.

The Sinclair family's elders had gotten wind of Kayla giving her engagement ring to Yuvan and parading him around at the Golden Anniversary Gala. They were now ordering me back home to answer for it in front of the entire family.