pte

Of

a's

e as though I had sprouted horns overnight, each gaze judgmental, especially from my mother, deadly curiosity from Sisi, and of course, indifference

to defend myself, but I was tired. So tired to do

and sharp. "Do you in anyway realize what you've done? Do you k

say something reckless. Instead, I

azy man just stormed in here to play knight in shining armor

m,

ng! The Graham family with their reputation like this will never forgive us for this scandal. Do you

lways been about appearances. My happiness or

him. "I think we're finally done here," he said flatly. "Amara,

ade his way out, his footsteps vibrating like

to face me, her face greatly contorted with rage. "You better find a way and fix

a dramatic sigh, shaking her hair with exaggerated no

ashed out with no control, my

sleepover with a stranger," she said, sneering triumphantly. "Honestly, Amara, you're

ike it was nothing and sauntered out of the room, her heels n

e one I shared with my family. The sun was not that high in the sky, bu

e away from them. My thoughts were already messed up by anger, shame, and c

h mor

rious sleek black car parked at the curb. He looked annoyingly too composed,l for someone that just

u doing here?" I ask

re perfectly okay

mber asking f

agreed, packing the car and walking toward me.

mehow, the right words refused to form, my throat going dry.

didn't lie. I only told them nothing happened, which i

exactly wh

just say I don't fancy bullies in my corner. And just a sing

nd caught off guard by the un

's what I should say," I mu

, after a pause, he added, "But I'm somehow curi

runk on my engagement night, then accidentally ended up

hat happened that

king my head. "People for reasons best k

was clear he was trying to work out some puzzle from my

use

arrative. If you don't find a way and fight back,

supposed to do? March back in there and declare my inno

e their minds," he sai

d and confused. "Why do you even care?

like underdogs," he

a joke

serious. "In fact..." He paused, as if weighing the weight

peated, skeptical of wh

ed. "Reasons that while carefully analyzed, require a certain... image.

y are you su

d we're together, though it's going to be temporarily, of course. It'll definitely shut your

onfused, my mind reelin

out of this?" I asked su

some ugly scores," he said

nd shut off my mother's rage, Victor's cold and unfriendly dismissal, and most importantly,

e kind that makes your pulse race for all the wrong reasons. Damian

he said, his voice very lo

certain I did misheard w

e a win-win. You're already caught in this unimaginable mess, and I need a w

head at him, and hoping he would tell me

seri

he said it like it was a foregone conclusion. As if I wo

d come up with such idea. "I don't know what kind of women you're interested in, but I

g about yourself, how your family treats you. Do you really have the thought they'll let this go? With me, yo

eechlessly. "I don't need even remember t

owning," he shot back, h

ut I refused to let him see it. "If I'm drowning, I'

at life doesn't generously hand you second chances often. Think hard about it, a life with no more interfering

ing. The picture he painted suddenly was ve

ached. You obviously don't want a wife, Damian. You only desire a che

r, or disbelief, maybe even real hurt. Wha

now becoming icy now. "Because once I

y resolve the sam

ched, and I could see his hands curling into fists at his sides. He wasn't

said finally, his voice cutting. "

eft, his retreating figure

and ay least explain, but I never did. I couldn't do it, but I should have. Perhaps, he may be righ