The arrangement

As soon as the second twin disappeared down the hallway, I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Lia was still by my side, her hand resting on my arm as if trying to keep me tethered to the moment. But my mind was already racing, imagining what my life was about to become. I had agreed to something insane. A fake marriage to a man I didn’t know—a man who made me feel like a disposable pawn in his business game.

"Are you really sure about this, Soph?" Lia asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.

I shrugged, trying to appear calm, though my heart was still pounding. "What other choice do I have?"

Lia frowned, clearly not convinced. "We could still figure something out. Maybe there’s a loan, or we can raise money somehow."

I shook my head, the weight of the decision sinking in. "There’s no time, Lia. The surgery is next week, and my mom needs it. This… this is the only option I have."

Lia sighed, clearly not happy with my answer but knowing she couldn’t change my mind. "I just don’t want you to regret this."

Regret; The word hung in the air between us like a heavy cloud. How could I not regret it? But sometimes life didn’t give you the luxury of better choices. I had to do this, even if every instinct in my body told me to run.

"I’ll be fine," I said, though I wasn’t even sure I believed it. "It’s just a temporary arrangement. I’ll be out of it before I even realize it."

Lia nodded, but the doubt in her eyes told me she didn’t believe that either.

---

The next few days passed in a blur. I barely had time to process what was happening before I found myself driven away in a black car, escorted to an upscale hotel where I was instructed to meet the second twin—his name, I learned, was Jake. The drive was quiet, my hands twisting in my lap as I tried to calm the growing pit of anxiety in my stomach.

When I arrived, I was ushered into a lavish penthouse suite. The marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting, and everything about the place screamed wealth. But despite the beautiful surroundings , I felt cold, like I didn’t belong.

Jake was waiting for me, standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows, his silhouette outlined against the city lights. He turned as I entered, his gaze as piercing as ever.

"You’re on time," he remarked, his tone flat.

I nodded, my mouth dry. "I didn’t think it was wise to be late."

A smirk tugged at his lips, though his eyes remained cold. "Good. I like punctuality." He motioned for me to sit down at a small table near the window, where a contract was already laid out. "Let’s get this over with."

I swallowed, glancing down at the papers. The contract outlined the terms of our "marriage"—a purely business arrangement that would last for six months. In exchange for pretending to be his wife, I would receive enough money to cover my mother’s surgery and my overdue rent, plus a generous bonus if I played my role to his satisfaction.

It was all so clinical, so detached. I felt like I was signing away a part of myself.

"Is there anything you want to change?" Jake asked, his tone almost bored.

I looked up at him, surprised. Did he really expect me to negotiate? What would I even ask for? More money? Less time? It didn’t matter. The deal was already more than I could have hoped for, and I wasn’t in a position to demand anything.

"No," I said quietly, picking up the pen. "It’s fine."

With a deep breath, I signed my name at the bottom of the contract, feeling a strange mix of relief and dread wash over me. This was it. I was officially entering into a fake marriage with a man I barely knew. A man who looked at me like I was nothing more than a tool to be used.

Jake signed his name next, then pushed the contract aside. "You’ll move into my house tomorrow. We’ll make the necessary public appearances to sell the story. After six months, we’ll quietly dissolve the marriage, and you can go back to your life."

I nodded, feeling a strange numbness settle over me. "And what happens if someone finds out this is fake?"

Jake’s smirk returned, sharper this time. "No one will. As long as you play your part, everything will go smoothly."

I didn’t respond, too tired to argue. This was my life now, whether I liked it or not.

---

I have to get use to it in other to survive, cause I’m all alone in this . I went back home, putting my luggages together. A new life is set ahead for me tomorrow.

The following morning I woke up pretty early, I guess my anxiety was taking the best of me. I took a shower and got ready, after some hours a car came to pick me up again, and soon I found myself pulling up to Jake’s house—a sprawling estate nestled in the hills, far removed from the bustling city. It was the kind of place you only saw in magazines, with perfectly manicured lawns and towering gates that made it clear who held the power here.

The driver helped me with my bags, though it didn’t take long. I had packed light, knowing this wasn’t a permanent move. Just six months. That was the word I kept repeating to myself and assuring myself. It’s only six months and won’t take that long.

Jake was waiting for me inside, dressed in a crisp suit, as always. He barely glanced at my bags as I stepped into the grand floor, his focus already elsewhere.

"Your room is upstairs," he said, his tone businesslike. "We’ll be going to a dinner tonight, so be ready by seven."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Dinner? With who?"

"Family dinner " he replied; We need to start selling the story, and that means making appearances together and making my family believe it.

I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my head around how quickly things were moving. "Right. I’ll be ready."

Jake’s expression remained unreadable as he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of his luxurious home, feeling more out of place than ever.

That evening, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the woman who barely resembled me. I wore a sleek black dress that Jake had bought for the dinner, I needed to look classy ;he had said,but it felt foreign against my skin. My hair was styled perfectly, my makeup flawless—but none of it made me feel any more comfortable.

Jake appeared at my door just as I was finishing, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "You look presentable," he said, though his tone wasn’t exactly complimentary.

"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing my purse and following him out the door.

We got to the apartment a house well furnished with maids working about doing their jobs.

As we walked in I saw a man I think I’ve seen before, he looked like Jake

But as we got closer I recognized him immediately; Liam was his twin brother….