Proving a lie.

SUMMER’S POINT OF VIEW.

“What?!”

Mother was the first to scream, nearly passing out while Clarissa tried to hold her up.

Cold eyes flashed at me, voices murmured and whispered all around. Everything seemed to be happening at once, but I kept my gaze fixed on one person—Maximilian.

He needed to accept and go along with this. I was desperate, helpless, and exhausted from being chained to decisions I didn’t want.

And I was willing to do anything to escape Alessandro—even if it meant a fake engagement.

Alessandro tried to speak. “Summer—"

“—She’s right,” I was relieved to see Max step in, his muscular figure approaching me as I faced the crowd, my fingers fidgeting. “Tonight is our engagement.”

I smiled in relief, my heart pounding as I struggled to stay composed. Max reached where I stood, and I saw his steel-green eyes piercing into mine, burning with questions.

He leaned in closer, and I stepped back to retreat, unsure of what he wanted.

We were so close I feared he could hear my heart pounding. His scent filled my nostrils, and I almost melted as I felt his lips whispering in my ear.

“You’d better have a good explanation for this, Miss Foster."

*

“How did this happen?"

I didn’t know how to answer. It just happened. I didn’t expect it.

My lips quivered as I tried to respond to Father. “I—I don’t know. I wanted to tell you for a while, but… it just slipped my mind.”

He didn’t believe my story. I saw his eyes burn with the fire of anger, his whole face clouded with rage.

He was losing control.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?” I didn’t care, but he didn’t either, practically lashing out at me with his fingers just inches from my face. “Alessandro’s family isn’t going to be happy about this."

“I don’t care!” It was the first time I raised my voice at him, but I was tired of being pushed around. “I don’t want to marry Alessandro; he’s not the right man for me.”

“There’s NO man for you, Summer," My eyebrows rose at how stern my mother sounded. “Have you forgotten? No man wants to be with you.”

They kept saying that, like it was my fault the incident three years ago happened. But they forgot they played a part in it.

I scoffed, gritting my teeth as I forced down a swallow. My parents were my biggest haters who couldn’t care less about anything except their reputation, their empire, and forming alliances.

I was the glue that held everything together. The ball used by the players.

“Well, guess what, Mum? You’re wrong,” I made sure she saw the defiance in my eyes and the confidence that exuded from my voice. “Maximilian is my fiancé.”

There was no ring to prove it, but…

“But you hate him,” she retorted, with my father silently explaining something on the phone that was brought to his attention. “You’ve been rivals since when? Third grade?”

She was partially right, and partially wrong.

I rolled my eyes, massaging my forehead that was starting to ache before responding.

“Yes, he was my rival and enemy. But that was years ago before we got to know each other and fell in love. And it was in eighth grade, not third."

Silence fell for the next few minutes as we just looked at each other.

Clarissa entered the room, her lips curled into a sneer, trying to join a conversation she clearly wasn’t part of.

“You’re making a big mistake, Summer,” I stared irritably when she said that, my face scrunched up as she approached, supporting my mother who had returned to her dramatic state. “Alessandro is heartbroken right now.”

That lying conniving bitch.

This wasn’t the time to expose them—I’d do it later, in the most humiliating way.

“Please talk to her,” I shot my brows up at my Mother supporting her with fake tears that refused to fall. “Summer, why can’t you be like Clarissa? She’s in a perfect relationship secretly but still handles things the way her Father wants.”

Perfect relationship, my foot.

Did she tell them she was sleeping with the same Alessandro they wanted me to marry?

Alessandro strolled through the door, his eyes red and puffy, like he’d cried for hours, his sleeves all rumpled.

I didn’t need to guess—he’d been with another woman before coming to face me.

“I need to talk to you, Summer,” he said hoarsely. “Right now."

*

"I made my decision and I’m sticking to it.”

He grabbed my wrist as I tried to walk away, his grip unyielding.

“Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you.”

“Get your hands off me, you monster.”

I slapped his hands off, the wind blowing a few strands of hair in my face. We were back in the party hall, yet Alessandro wasn’t even ashamed of acting that stupidly in front of the crowd.

He was mad that I’d broken off the engagement. His breath had a stench of strong alcohol that was a mixture of whiskey, brandy, and vodka.

“Summer, just… stop, okay? You can’t leave me because I cheated.”

I scoffed, staring at him because I wasn’t sure he’d heard what he said.

Wasn’t it valid to break up?

Was cheating not a good reason?

I stood squarely to face him, ignoring the pitiful look in his eyes that almost compelled me to stay back, have a rethink, and hold him.

“You cheated on me with my cousin,” I drew the words out with my teeth, making sure it sank into his empty brain. “And you humiliated me in front of her. Cheated on me with different women. Even hit me multiple times. What else do you want as a reason? Until my dead body is right in front of you?”

His ego deflated seeing me act fiercely. He’d broken me alongside my family, and now? It was time to stand up for myself.

“That doesn’t mean you can get engaged to him,” he said, raking his fingers through his hair. “I mean, it’s not even real. You don’t have any relationship with Maximilian—"

“—Is that what you think?"

He strode in, his alluring voice cutting through Alessandro’s words like a blade.

I turned around to stare at him, my eyes twitching and heartbeat racing like it always did when he got close.

I whispered. “Max…”

“You think we’re faking our relationship?” He sounded stern and confident, his eyes blazing at Alessandro who scoffed.

My throat turned dry. I didn’t know what was going to happen now that both men were standing there and staring at each other like they were about to fight inside a boxing ring.

I tried to reach for him. “Max, let’s go.”

“Prove it,” Alessandro’s voice cut through my whisper, halting me abruptly in my tracks while Max remained unshaken in his position. “If you’re really serious about your relationship and engagement tonight, then prove it in front of everyone.”

No, I began to panic.

I hadn’t thought about that. How could we possibly prove it?

I couldn’t…

I’d barely had the chance to think when I felt Maximillian’s strong hands grab me. My muscles tightened, and I felt frozen for the next few seconds.

Without thinking twice, he leaned his head closer, his hands wrapped firmly around my waist to pull me into his warmth.

Our noses touched each other’s, and I felt his hot breath on my face. I could barely look into his eyes, and my neck instantly coiled after I felt his lips brushing through my ear.

“Let’s give them what they want, Summie.”

Forget about the nickname he’d always called me since middle school. What was he trying to do?

I knew it, felt it, and I shut my eyes for the moment. I felt his lips tasting mine, and slowly, he kissed me— passionately.