Chapter 2

The group chat was named “Sophia’s Bachelorette Party Planning Group.”

Sophia dropped a bomb in the chat.

[Girls! He proposed to me!]

The chat exploded instantly, congratulations flooding in one after another. Someone asked who the man was, but Sophia only replied with a “secret” emoji. In the very next second, a video call popped up. I took a deep breath and answered it.

On the screen was Sophia’s flushed face, glowing with excitement. She lowered her voice like she was sharing the biggest secret in the world.

“Rachel, you’re the only one I’m showing this to!”

The camera suddenly turned to the driver’s seat. Victor was focused on the road, his jaw tight, his sharp profile looking like it had been carved out of marble.

Sophia leaned toward him and said sweetly, “Honey, say hi to my best friend in university.”

Victor didn’t turn his head. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curved at his lips. Then, he freed one hand, laced his fingers with hers, lowered his head, and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand. Even through the screen, I could hear the quiet, damp sound of that kiss.

My stomach churned. Victor didn’t realize that I was her friend from university. After all, he never expected me to go to university. Back then, he had always gently but firmly stopped me.

“If you want to study, I’ll hire the best private tutors for you,” he would say, with me wrapped in his arms, his chin brushing softly against my hair. “You know you’re my weakness. At a university, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

His voice would turn soft, laced with possessiveness, as he continued, “Besides, I want you to spend more time with me.”

However, I couldn’t let go of my dream and secretly enrolled anyway. That was how I met Sophia in the library. That day, a few guys were harassing her. When I saw her face, so similar to mine, I couldn’t just ignore it. I stepped in and drove them away. From that moment on, Sophia clung to me like a frightened deer.

As time passed, we realized we shared many of the same interests. Slowly, we became close friends. When we walked together, people often mistook us for sisters because of how similar we looked.

Once, she confided in me. “Rachel, there's this man who’s been pursuing me lately. He says it was love at first sight, but I heard he’s involved with the mafia. I don’t know what to do.”

I had encouraged her to be brave and take a chance on love, but now I knew that the man she was talking about was the same Victor who had once staged a fake marriage with me. It was a cruel joke straight out of hell.

Sophia hung up the call and then tagged me in the group chat.

[Rachel, do you think he’d like lace lingerie?]

I didn’t reply. I knew Victor preferred black.

[Oh my god, his body looks like a male model’s. Do you guys think he’s controlling in bed?”

I knew he was. He would tie my wrists with his tie, his kisses almost biting as he whispered commands in my ear, telling me to look at no one but him.

[Let’s just say he’s very well-endowed. I’m a little scared…]

Sophia kept talking, and the chat kept flooding with teasing and laughter. Every single sentence pierced straight into memories I knew all too well, and I couldn’t even cry out in pain. I stayed silent the entire time.

When I got home, I sat on the couch and stared blankly at the door, completely lost. At seven in the evening, Victor came back. He walked straight to me, kissed my cheek, and made a playful face.

“Why didn’t you reply to my message?”

I said nothing, so he turned me toward him, cupping my face and forcing me to look at him.

“Are you mad?” he asked with a smile. “I’ve prepared a surprise for you.”

Before I could react, he pulled me up and led me to the car, driving straight toward the coast. I leaned my head against the window, watching the streetlights blur into meaningless streaks.

“Victor,” I suddenly said softly, “is there anything you’re hiding from me?”

His hands on the steering wheel stiffened just for a moment.

“No.” He shrugged before reaching over to tap my nose lightly. “Don’t overthink it. I’d never lie to you.”

I turned and looked at him directly.

“Really?”

He stepped on the brakes. The car came to a stop by the sea. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over, trapping me between himself and the door. His hand brushed my cheek, his gaze deep and consuming, like he wanted to swallow me whole.

“Of course it’s true, Rachel,” he said, his voice full of affection. “I swear to you. If I’m lying, then may I never see you again.”

I didn’t respond, but in my heart, I answered him silently.

Fine. Victor, I’ll give you three chances.