CRYSTAL.
Everything spiraled so fast it felt unreal, like I’d been shoved onto a moving train without warning.
One minute, I was trying to survive dinner. The next, I was wearing a ring in front of cameras, my parents’ expectations, Valerie’s satisfied smile, and Jaden’s barely-contained fury.
I hadn’t seen it coming. But, turning down Noah's fake proposal in front of the press when the entire point of tonight was damage control, when saying no would instantly confirm every rumor, hand Tessa fresh ammunition to use against me, and make me look like the unstable mistress they were already painting me as, was something I would never do.
I could already hear Tessa’s laughter in my head if she found out this was all fake.
So I said yes.
Besides, all of these would only last until n
