CHAPTER 1: A banquet of betrayal

AUDREY

“What are you doing, standing there?” I said, resting my hands on my hips, “Go get the flower vase, now!”

“Yes, ma'am,” a maid replied and hurried off.

I stood halfway down the stairs, staring at the living room as the dazzling light of the chandelier poured across the marble floor of the Sinclairs' mansion.

A faint breath slid through my lips, carrying a smile with it. I watched the maids scramble, each one busier than the other.

This was going to be a grand dinner party to welcome my dad as he was coming into the country. And most importantly, he was going to meet my fiancé, Kevin, for the first time.

“Miss Audrey,” a maid startled me from behind, “Miss Claire wants to see you urgently,” She said,

My eyes rolled in disdain as I turned, giving her a dull nod.

“What does she want now?” I grumbled, dragging my feet down the hallway, towards Claire's room, but something felt odd.

From a distance, I could hear soft moans and giggles coming from her room, but there was another voice—masculine.

The moment I reached her door, the sounds became louder and more familiar, as if they belonged to Kevin. Without warning, I yanked the door open.

My jaw fell wide as I froze at the sight. My muscles weakened and soon, my phone slipped out of my fingers and crashed on impact, the same way my heart did.

Kevin flinched the moment he saw me and pushed Claire off him. His stare froze as they locked on me, but Claire didn't move a muscle.

My vision blurred, and in that moment, I walked out of the room, burying my face in my palms without saying a single word.

“Audrey, wait…” Kevin tried to speak as he jumped out of the bed and chased me down the hallway.

“Babe… please wait!” Kevin called out from behind.

I stopped, still sobbing but refusing to look at him. “Get out of my house!” I growled, my voice trembling.

“Babe, just… hear me out,” Kevin continued, shuffling toward me. “It's all Claire's fault… she wants to come between us. I swear I—”

“Claire?” I snapped at him, clenching my fists, “You cheated on me in my own house, with my little sister and now you're trying to play the victim?”

“It's not true babe,” Kevin said, stretching his hand to touch me, “You know I love you so much, and I would never—”

Rage surged in my throat that moment, and before he could finish speaking, I turned swiftly as my palm cracked against his cheek, the sound slicing through the silence. Kevin stumbled back, stunned.

“Don't you ever, in your miserable life, touch me again!” I thundered, my voice shaky but firm, “I gave you everything Kevin! Love, sex, money. What more could I have done? How could you do this to me?”

“Audrey please, I promise I'll make things right, please…” Kevin persisted, his eyes narrowing with remorse, but I couldn't stare any longer.

“Just… get out of my house and my life, Kevin! I never want to see you again!” I declared before storming out on him.

I went straight to the bathroom, ignoring him as he yelled my name. The moment I locked the door, I began bawling my eyes out. My heart ached.

A deep bellow escaped my throat as I ran my fingers through my brown hair, forcefully until I could no longer recognise myself. My breath hitched, each one heavier than the former.

‘Where could I have gone wrong and why would my own sister do this to me?’

Thoughts swerved through my skull like a tsunami and the more I tried to get rid of it, the more it hurt.

Soon, I heard someone yelling my name out loud, forcing me upright. I finally pulled myself together, after nearly an hour before ambling out of the bathroom.

A man wearing a red cap and holding a box of pizza followed Vickie, one of the maids upstairs, to where I was standing.

“What is this?” I asked them, ignoring my red eyes and messy hair.

“I'm here to deliver the pizza you ordered, ma'am.” The man smiled.

My eyes dimmed as I glared at him, puzzled. “I didn't order any pizza,” I said, turning to Vickie. “Who ordered pizza?”

“That would be me.” A soft yet mocking voice mumbled from behind—Claire. My face dimmed instantly as she cat-walked past me, her eyes locking into mine.

“What?” She sneered, giving me the side eye, “Why are you looking at me like that, big sis?”

Then Claire smirked and turned to Vickie, “Well? What are you still doing here? Is he your boyfriend or what?”

Vickie bowed and scrambled downstairs as Claire stared at her.

“Bitch!” She snorts, grabbing the pizza box from the deliveryman.

“Damn, you're quite handsome for a delivery guy, don't you agree, big sis?” Claire flirted as she turned to me.

My eyes burned with contempt, as Claire made jokes with the deliveryman right in front of me, as if nothing had happened.

My lips pressed into a thin, rigid line as I glared at her. My chest tightened, heart pounding in fury. It would make me feel much better if I could just smack her hard in the face, but she was my little sister, I couldn't hurt her.

“What's your name, pretty boy?” Claire asked, running her fingers down his arms.

“Richard… My name is Richard,” He replied reluctantly.

“Well, Richard, if your pizza tastes good, maybe you can get to taste mine too… You know,” Claire giggled and winked at him, but I didn't make a sound, still staring as my eyes burned red.

“Jesus Christ, Audrey! What is it?” Claire barked, her lips curling into a grimace, “You know, Dad will be home in the next hour, right? I don't think he wants to see you messed up like this.”

Claire walked to her room as I watched, humming a popular song. Even after breaking my heart, Claire showed no sign of remorse.

“Ma'am, are you okay?” Richard asked as he noticed tears dripping down my face. I wiped them quickly, forcing a smile.

“I'm fine, thanks.”

Richard nodded and as he descended down the stairs, my watch suddenly struck 8:00pm, which means that my dad must have landed in New York already. I scratched my scalp hard, completely drenched in thoughts

‘If I don't present my fiancé to him tonight, he might marry me off to some rich old guy and I can't let that happen.’

Suddenly, an idea flew into my head. I looked down and Richard was almost at the door, then I called out his name.

He froze and looked up, bewildered.

“Please come upstairs, I have something to tell you,” I said. Without hesitation, he turned back and came up to meet me, but before he could say anything, I dragged him by his hand to the other end of the hallway.

“Uhh… What are you doing?” Richard asked, a little too calmly.

“I'm sorry for dragging you like that,” I apologised as my heart began to pound fast, “I really need your help.”

“Sure,” Richard smiled, “What do you want me to do?”

A deep, long breath escaped my lips as I looked into his hazel eyes; he was indeed tall and very handsome.

“My dad just flew into the country and we're having a welcoming dinner party.” I began, trying to catch my breath.

Richard smirked, raising a single brow. “So… are you like, inviting me to the party?”

“Well, kinda,” I swallowed hard, “But I'm supposed to present my fiancé to him and unfortunately, my so-called fiancé is a jerk!”

“Really?” Richard gasped, stroking his short beard as he leaned on the wall, intrigued, "Tell me more.”

"So," I breathed, finally finding the words, "Can you pretend to be my fiancé for one night?"