She Agreed to Be a Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée… Then He Fell for Her for Real
Chapter 5
The truth came during a thunderstorm.
Emma couldn’t sleep.
She walked into the kitchen and found Alexander sitting alone in the dark.
“Can’t sleep?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked out the window.
“My father died when I was nineteen.”
Emma sat beside him.
“I didn’t know.”
“Most people don’t.”
“What happened?”
“Heart attack.”
Alexander stared at the rain.
“He left the company to my grandmother. She gave me control years later.”
Emma listened.
“My father always said money was dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes people stay for the wrong reasons.”
Emma understood.
“That’s why you don’t trust anyone.”
He nodded.
“After he died, everyone around me changed.”
“Friends?”
“Friends. Relatives. Employees.”
“Because of money.”
“Yes.”
Emma was quiet.
Then Alexander looked at her.
“That’s why this arrangement works.”
Emma frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t want anything from me.”
Emma laughed softly.
“I want the million dollars.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
She stood.
“Goodnight.”
“Emma?”
She turned.
“Thank you.”
“For listening.”
She smiled.
“Anytime.”
As she walked away, Alexander watched her.
He realized something terrifying.
He had started telling her things he had never told anyone.
The next morning, they attended a charity gala.
Hundreds of guests.
Cameras everywhere.
Emma wore a simple black dress.
Alexander couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’ve been staring.”
“I know.”
Emma smiled.
“You aren’t very good at pretending.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe I’m not pretending.”
Her smile disappeared.
For a second, neither moved.
Then a photographer shouted:
“Mr. Sterling! Kiss your fiancée!”
The crowd laughed.
Emma looked at Alexander.
The contract allowed it.
But suddenly, the kiss didn’t feel fake.
Alexander leaned closer.
Their lips met.
It lasted only seconds.
But when they separated, both looked shaken.
Emma whispered:
“We need to remember the rules.”
Alexander nodded.
“Yes.”
But neither of them said the truth.
They were already breaking them.
