lf constantly grappling with the growing tension between the public persona she w

in Lucien's world, the harder it became to separate the man from the image, the business mogul from the m

he wasn't accustomed to pretending, had stayed with her. What did it mean? Was it a cra

here for the money, for the temporary escape from her financial struggles. Nothing mor

gotten out of bed. The red dress, the press, Lucien's cold demeanor, it all felt li

e hesitated for a moment, then walked to a

aid, her voice

ession unreadable as usual. He was dressed in a sharp suit, as if a business meeting h

he said, his tone

but stepped aside to le

nce. It wasn't a luxury apartment by any means, but it had always felt like hers, small, cozy, with mismatched furniture

. "But I need you to step up your performance. We've got another event th

dying breath. "I've been doing what you asked. You'

t being seen together. It's about convincing the people who matter that we're the real

at he wanted from her. Wasn't that the whole

ing his gaze. "And what exactly do

er. "I mean I need you to stop acting like you're doing me a favor. Stop keeping your distance. You're supposed

ething deeper than what they had agreed on? Was he askin

care about you?" she asked,

ing to be convincing, you need to make peopl

ed in the room,

siness-like detachment that came with his calculated nature. But this? This was different. He was asking for something that felt more p

lf that this was just a contract. This

pretending to care about

" she asked, keeping her voice steady, even though

e how to phrase his response. "No. I'm not asking you to fall in love with me. I'm

. The stakes were higher? What did that me

ration, of confusion. The lines between what was real and what was fabricated were b

ing on the coffee table. She picked it up without thinking a

y. Please make su

ting pressure. She knew she had to make the payment soon, but the money

ar removed from this world Lucien inhabited. He lived in an entirely different sphere, one where money wa

sla muttered, more to herself than to Luc

understanding in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came. I kn

the media, they expect a certain image. A

was right. She had no choice

't quite explain. Was this just about the contract? Or

t a pawn in his game. But even as she thought that, she felt a small twinge of doubt. Could it be possible th

t time, she

alk more later. I'll have a car sent for you tom

of everything pressing down on

e window, staring out at the city below. She had always believed that survival was all that mattered. But