She Asked Me to Be Her Fake Fiancé at Her Ex’s Wedding… Then Kissed Me in Front of Everyone
Chapter 11
I didn’t answer immediately.
I looked at the ring.
Then at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“No family pressure?”
“No.”
“No trust?”
“No.”
“No cameras?”
She laughed.
“No.”
“Then why?”
She stepped closer.
“Because when everything fell apart, you stayed.”
I took her hand.
“I told you I would.”
“And you did.”
I put the ring on.
Then pulled her closer.
She smiled.
“This one actually fits.”
“You measured it?”
“Yes.”
“Without asking?”
“Yes.”
“You’re dangerous.”
“I’ve been told.”
We kissed.
The wedding happened a year later.
Small.
Private.
No family politics.
No business deals.
Just people we loved.
Daniel gave a speech.
He embarrassed Olivia.
Her mother cried.
My father wasn’t there.
But I felt him anyway.
Before the ceremony, I found a letter in an old box.
My father’s handwriting.
Ethan,
If you are reading this, then you found her.
I stared.
The next line:
The woman you have protected all your life is not the woman you think.
I laughed.
He was apparently incapable of writing a normal letter.
Then:
She will not need you to save her.
She will need you to stand beside her.
I folded the letter.
That was exactly what I wanted.
To stand beside her.
Not in front.
Not behind.
Beside.
Olivia walked down the aisle.
When she reached me, she whispered:
“You’re nervous.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because this time it’s real.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
The vows were simple.
I promised to stay.
She promised to choose me.
Not because of money.
Not because of a family.
Not because of a secret.
Because we wanted each other.
When we kissed, everyone applauded.
Daniel shouted:
“Finally!”
Everyone laughed.
Later, Olivia and I escaped to the garden.
She leaned against me.
“I have one more secret.”
I sighed.
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“When I first asked you to be my fake fiancé…”
“Yes?”
“I knew I was already falling for you.”
I stared.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Then why pretend?”
“Because I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of finding out it was real.”
I kissed her.
“It was.”
