Faking Forever With The Billionaire

  The moment Aiden carried Alina out of the grand hall, the room exploded with whispers, gasps, and flashing cameras.

  In no time, the internet went wild.

Clips of Aiden and Alina, kissing, and him carrying her out, were everywhere. Alina's face was barely visible, hidden against his chest, but that didn't stop the rumors from spreading.

  The lighting was dark, the camera angles unclear, so no one could say for sure who she was. Still, everyone was talking.

  Comments flooded in:

  "Is that Aiden?! Who's the girl?"

  "Wow, finally a scandal! Took him long enough."

  "Whoever she is, she's lucky."

  Some praised the rare display of emotion, others debated whether it was a publicity stunt. Either way, it was blowing up online. It quickly became the most searched topic.

 Meanwhile, Jennifer nearly crushed her phone as she scrolled through the feed. Her jaw was tight, her eyebrows pulled together in frustration.

She read the comments again and they only made her feel worse.

  "She must mean a lot to him."

  "Aiden looked serious... Did someone bullied his woman?"

  "I hope this is real. They look... intense together."

  "That kiss, damn."

  Jennifer's fingers trembled with fury. It wasn't just the scandal...it was the praise. The admiration. The idea that someone else, someone like Alina, had touched a part of Aiden "she" had spent months trying to reach.

  She ran outside in anger, but by the time she got there, Aiden's car was already disappearing down the road. Her brows furrowed in anger, her lips slightly parted. She had just witnessed something she never expected; Aiden Blackwood had kissed Alina her own step sister... a low life like Alina. He had kissed her in front of everyone and carried her off like a scene from a romantic movie.

  She stood frozen, mind blank, disbelief washing over her. Her chest tightened as her hands slowly curled into fists.

  Staring at the road where the car had vanished, her mind raced with questions. Why did Aiden do that? What's so special about Alina?

  Months ago, she had done everything to get close to him, attended the same parties, wore the finest clothes, and smiled every time he glanced her way. Yet, he had never paid her attention.

  She was upset, but more than anything, she was confused. "How did that good-for-nothing girl end up in Aiden Blackwood's arms?" she muttered in frustration.

  Just then, a calm, mocking voice interrupted her thoughts.

  "Well," Lorraine said, coming to a stop beside her, "I guess Alina turned out to be luckier than we thought."

  Jennifer didn't respond. Her eyes were still fixed on the empty road ahead. Lorraine raised her eyebrows and gave a small smile.

  "Well..." she continued, casually brushing imaginary dust off her jacket, "maybe you think Mr. Blackwood will turn out just like shitty Kelvin."

  Jennifer snapped her head in Lorraine's direction.

  "Yeah... dating one woman and trying to use her to get closer to another." She tilted her head slightly, a pointed look in her eyes. "But Aiden Blackwood isn't like that. He doesn't seem like someone who settles for leftovers... or chases after girls who act like unrecyclable trash willing to cling to anything that gets tossed their way."

  Jennifer's eyes widened. Her mouth parted in disbelief, but Lorraine had already turned away.

  "Anyway..." Lorraine turned back and snatched Alina's phone from Jennifer before forcing a smile. "Goodnight, and enjoy the party." She gave a careless wave and started walking toward the street to catch a cab.

  Jennifer stood there, heart pounding, cheeks burning with rage and humiliation. She stomped her foot hard on the ground, the sound loud in the quiet night.

  Then, a voice called her name but this time, it sounded irritating to her hearing.

  "Jennifer."

  Without sparing him a glance, she started walking toward the parking lot, her heels stabbing into the ground with every furious step.

  "Jenny," he called again.

  But she didn't stop until he gently caught her wrist.

  "What?" she snapped, finally turning to face him, her eyes cold and filled with frustration.

  "What?" Kelvin repeated, frowning.

  "Take me home." She walked past him and got into his car.

  Kelvin watched her for a moment before pulling out his phone to text his friends that he was leaving with her, then joined her in the car.

  Jennifer sat with her arms crossed, her thoughts spinning. She felt a surge of anger at the image of Alina in Aiden's arms.

  *****

  A young woman lay on her bed, scrolling through her phone when she suddenly sat up, eyes wide.

  "Aiden? In a scandal?" she gasped, the phone slipping from her hand in shock. She quickly scooped it back up and leapt out of bed. "No way!"

  She dashed out of her room, taking the spiral staircase two steps at a time.

  "Mom!" she yelled breathlessly, her voice echoing through the room as her socks slid slightly on the floor. "Mom."

  In the grand sitting room, her mother looked up from her laptop, startled.

  "What is it, Mandy?" she asked.

  "Aiden... Aiden got into his first dating scandal!" Mandy announced, eyes wide with disbelief.

  "What?"

  "He kissed a girl," she said, waving the phone in the air like a victory flag.

  Her mother's brows raised as Mandy handed her the phone. "What do you mean kissed a girl? Aiden?" she repeated, tapping the screen with narrowed eyes.

  "What's happening in this house?" came a gentle, curious voice.

  Mandy turned, eyes lighting up. "Grandma! You're not going to believe this...my brother got into his first dating scandal."

  "That can't be true." her grandmother said as she slowly made her way over, adjusting her glasses.

  Mandy held out the phone and watched as her grandmother's lips parted in shock. "It's him, isn't it?" She said.

  They all stared at the blurry image of Aiden, his figure unmistakable even with the grainy quality, holding a woman in his arms.

  "That looks like my son," Jessica, Mandy's mom, whispered. "But..."

  "But he can't even stand to be near a woman," Grandma added, eyes still fixed on the screen.

  Jessica frowned. "Maybe it's fake... Photoshopped or something."

  Grandma sat down slowly, still speechless.

  Mandy flopped onto the couch with a stunned grin. "I don't know who this mystery woman is," she said, "but she just made history in this family."

  " I need to meet her," Grandma mumbled, almost to herself. "The woman who somehow managed to get my grandson's attention."