I Agreed to Be Her Fake Fiancé at a High School Reunion — Then I Uncovered the Dark Secret She Was Running From
Chapter 5
Emma needed time.
Daniel gave it to her.
They went back to ordinary life.
Work.
Coffee.
Dinner.
Friendship.
But something had changed.
The fake ring remained on Daniel’s finger.
He hadn’t taken it off.
Emma noticed.
“You still have it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“I forgot.”
She laughed.
“You never forget anything.”
“Maybe I don’t want to.”
She smiled.
Then looked away.
Their relationship became complicated.
They had always been close.
Now every touch felt different.
Every silence meant more.
One evening, Emma invited Daniel to dinner.
She cooked.
Badly.
He laughed.
“You’re terrible.”
“I’m trying.”
“I know.”
They ate pasta that tasted slightly burned.
Emma smiled.
“Do you regret helping me?”
“No.”
“Even after all this?”
“Especially after all this.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I finally understand why you never dated seriously.”
She became quiet.
“You always thought you had to explain yourself.”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t.”
She stared.
“You can just be loved.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You make it sound easy.”
“It isn’t.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because someone should.”
She reached across the table.
Their fingers touched.
Neither moved.
Then she whispered:
“What if I don’t know how to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Trust someone.”
Daniel smiled.
“We can learn.”
That night, she kissed him.
Not because the reunion required it.
Not because they were pretending.
Because she wanted to.
The kiss ended quickly.
Both were nervous.
Emma laughed softly.
“That wasn’t fake.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Good.”
The next morning, Brad called.
Emma answered on speaker.
“You need to meet me.”
“No.”
“I have something you want.”
“Keep it.”
“You should hear me out.”
Daniel looked at Emma.
She shook her head.
Brad continued:
“I can make this disappear.”
Emma’s voice hardened.
“I don’t need you to.”
“You don’t understand what I have.”
“Yes, I do.”
She ended the call.
Daniel smiled.
“That was different.”
She nodded.
“I’ve been afraid of that man for half my life.”
“And now?”
“I’m tired.”
He reached for her hand.
“Good.”
She laughed.
Then her phone buzzed again.
A new message.
A bank transfer.
Brad had sent her $50,000.
The description read:
For your silence.
Daniel stared.
“He’s bribing you.”
Emma looked at the amount.
Then laughed.
“He’s desperate.”
They knew now.
Brad was running out of options.
