Chapter Five

The senator's wife gaped stunned at Killian's declaration. She gazes straight into my eyes, searching — maybe for definition. Confusion. Disagreement 

It was all a game, and the winner goes home with the highest price, and failure was not an option on my plate 

Time stood still, and in the den of power-hungry elite donors, I could feel their gaze on me, curious. Jealousy. Pity.  

And we are all part of the game — I guess 

Killian's hand on my shoulders was firm, warm, shielding me from the younger elite women nearby, their gaze was sharp with unspoken envy 

“Fiancée” 

As a wave of silence hung in the air, his words echoed in my ears like a foreign language, and my sensory system highlighted at their overwhelming gaze on me, the blossoming scent of orchid thickened, mixed with freshly printed money 

This was the plan for a fake engagement but the plan wasn't fully formulated. Maybe it was but I wasn't aware. Yes, we had agreed to a fake engagement, but not today. Not here 

There was no plan for a declaration or a statement. There wasn't even a plan for this display— lovey dovey

My face heated up really quickly at the continuous stares I received. The senator's wife's gaze was fixed on where Killian's hand was on my shoulder. I instinctively took a step away from him, but he tightened his grip on me. 

“Offering more services?" Killian asked, his voice deep and cold carrying something dangerous. His eyes created invisible holes in the senator's wife's face. She gave a tight smile before awkwardly mixing in the sea of the elite 

My knees were nearly giving out, but I refused to bend. 

I knew what it meant to be in this world. 

What happens when you crack— I knew.

What happens when you bend— I knew 

How hard it is to get here and,

How easy it is to fall 

And I refused to crack. I stood tall.

Killian leaned closer to me, his hands suddenly sliding down from my shoulder slowly to my waist. I felt his warm breath on my ear sending shock waves down my spine.

“Smile," he continued, his voice lower and softer. “They smell fear." 

I frowned, staring at him.

" I know, but try harder.”  

I focus on a tight smile, one that I have nurtured throughout my years with Tobias, trying to be the perfect wife. The smile felt more natural than my actual happy smile.

Happy? The word tasted bitter. Strange. Distant 

A smile was no longer a thing of joy but rather an armor 

One I had used to his my fear, my sadness, my loneliness and my fear 

Happiness now felt so foreign 

Camera men and women can flash their lights like a small explosion. A series of questions was thrown at us, and I smiled sugar-sweet at the camera

“What was that about?" I asked my lips barely moving while keeping my smile 

I stared at him like we were a lovely couple for the camera but between the two of us, something lied beyond those lovey dovey eyes 

He closed the gap between us, his face was so close to my face, like he was about to kiss me. My face heated up. My heart was pounding like it was eager to leave my rib cage.

The camerawoman screamed. Grasp followed. But it all felt like a whisper to me— drowning beneath the sound of my heartbeat. All my attention was on Killian anticipating for what refused to come.

I was surprised at my own thoughts and tried to shift backward but a traitorous side of me continued to lean towards him enjoying his attention.

 A part of me was really proud that I was moving on fast — not dwelling on my falling out with Tobias and his unforgivable action— using me as a shield for the media while he continued his ungodly act with his supposed ex wife 

He said I was an easy target I still remember his words 

I clenched my fists, my jaw tightened as flashes of memories of his last act flooded my thought 

Killian's lips curved into a smirk. “What are you talking about?" he asked, faking innocence  

I wanted to scream at him, slap him, step on him hard, or even throw the champagne on his face for making me look stupid 

“The engagement," my voice tight. I stepped on his shoe hard. His face twisted, he shot a glance at me, and I gave a triumphant smile 

He took a deep breath." It's for your protection,” he replied. His voice carried something dangerous  

“You blindsided me.” 

“You are welcome.” 

"I didn't ask for it" 

He scanned the room like a predator who was sizing up his next kill. “but you need it." 

I open my mouth to disapprove, but I know he was right 

Without him, I was exposed naked. Open like a sheep in the wolf den with no defense. I would be with just a fragile shield that would break without a sword— he was my sword 

The moment he called me his fiancée, the gossiping stopped, the mockery stopped. No one called me a homewrecker. The other woman. The unwanted third wheel.

No one dared to talk about my falling out with Tobias— that he had used me, worn me out, and discarded me right straight into the dumpsters just like trash.

I was now chosen by Killian Wolfe. I was no longer a slander. Not a homewrecker but the Queen just like he promised 

And I suddenly hated how much I needed his protection, and I hated it more that he knew that I needed it 

“Fine," I said, my voice sharp but quiet, "if we survive the night, then we talk.”

His gaze shifted to me, his cold eyes held something else beyond them. Not power. Not controlled. Not arrogance. Not dominance 

Desperation, tenderness, his eyes soften but it vanished as quickly as it came 

He sighed, taking a deep breath, “After dinner,” he said, " not before.”

He led me forward, finding his way through the sea of guests in the ballroom effortlessly with grace. He gave short nods to some familiar faces, shook hands with some acquaintances, and sometimes laughed at a few well-timed jokes. To everyone, we looked in love. Magnetic. Effortlessly dangerous 

But inside, I was screaming, eager to leave their watchful eyes — my feet ached 

Even though they no longer call me names, I felt every compliment was like an insult wrapped with a golden ribbon— laced with infected needle 

Every smile from a once-called friend was now twisted with betrayal — it hurt, but…

My feet ached more. My face burned. My hands trembled—but I kept going, and Killian never let me go, not even for once 

We stopped beside an ambassador and his lovely jewelled wife, he introduced me smoothly to them, and he rested his hands on my waist lightly. Occasionally, he would whisper sarcastic jokes into my ear, refilling my champagne glass whenever it was reduced in quantity. He would nod lightly whenever I said something vaguely intelligent about economic equity, it was like we had rehearsed it a thousand times beforehand. 

To everyone, we were — real. In love. Inseparable 

To me, it felt like I was drowning.

At every ticking of the clock, I felt everything multiply— more exposed. More watched. I knew I was wearing a new role, one I hadn't planned for, but I also felt more powerful but it was worth it — I guess 

Because when I looked into their eyes, I no longer saw disgust in them anymore. 

The women who once scoffed at my presence now had a sugar sweet smile plastered on their faces like that the smile never left

And men now gave a light nod acknowledging my presence — calling me Mrs Wolfe at given opportunity, trying to get my attention to gain favour from Killian 

I saw envy. Curiosity. Respect, and it was terrifying, even more than their mockery but I still felt it was better than their mockery 

I wasn't sure if I was cut out for this role, if I truly belonged there, but I knew what it would cost to give it and I had no intention of giving it up

The night was long.

There was an auction, Killian bid on a painting I knew he didn't like and wouldn't put up for display, just to outdo a rival. Then came the speech from the host. Halfway through the speech, Killian left for some business-related matters.

I stayed alone and lonely, but I still had to pretend to be interested in the speed of the education reform address. I laughed, pretending to find some unfunny jokes funny from someone who had once told Tobias that I wasn't classified under the category of “wife material,” pretending my hands weren't shaking or my feet weren't aching to leave or my back wasn't aching 

I could no longer hold it in, I needed answers— and I needed the answers from him 

I slipped away, my heels clashing softly against the marble floor. I tried as much as possible to escape their curious envy gaze and murmurs, but my gown whispered with every step I took, drawing attention back to me as I walked past the sculpture gallery and into the east wing corridor, where the light was lower and the air colder. 

And there he was, standing alone on a private balcony. He leaned against the edge of the balcony, staring into the darkness like it owed him something.

He didn't look my looked my way as I approached 

“You enjoy playing God, don't you?" I questioned 

He stood straight, his voice came out quiet and steady, "Wouldn't you, if everyone expected you to be the devil?” 

I folded my hands, taking two steps forward, closing the gap between us. “Why did you do it, Killian?” I asked 

“I told you. To shut them up. It was all for you — for your protection”

" You didn't warn me. You didn't ask me. You just… You just did it.”

His gaze on me turned cold, colder than the wind that rushed past the balcony's edge 

“Because asking only implies that you have a choice, which you don't. Not tonight" 

I flinched at his words 

" You are unbelievable,” I scoffed 

" And you are vulnerable,” he shot back, "you stepped in here alone, they almost ate you alive. I came to your rescue like your prince charming, and they paused. They can and might continue. But not if they believe you are mine.” 

“You could have told me still." 

He stepped forward, and I instinctively backed into the balcony's edge.”

“If I had," he asked, his voice low but sharp, his gaze on me, piercing into the very core of my soul, “would you have played along?” a half smile grew on his face 

I didn't answer because we both knew the truth 

“That's what I thought" 

His hands reached out to my curl from my face, his hands lingered on my cheek, then it drifted down to my jaw, then to my shoulder my breath turned disorganized and heavy. His touches weren't soft. They weren't rough. They were firm. Possessive

There was something other than cold, distant in his eyes— there was tenderness and it was dangerous but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

He leaned in, whispered to me, “You are mine now," his warm breath against my skin. " Play your part well… else… everything would burn.” 

I stared at him, searching 

I understand what he meant, I knew what was at risk. His reputation. My safety but still I was searching 

What was I searching for? I don't know 

For the truth.

A lie

Or even a crack in his armor. 

But all I wa

s was fire.

At a distance, somewhere within the ballroom, came the sharp sound of glass shattering.

A grasp.

A voice raised. 

And then silent.

Someone had seen us, and someone wasn't happy