Chapter 3

POV: Arielle Brooks

I was halfway through sketching when I heard the softest knock on the guest room door.

I froze.

Please don’t be him.

“Are you still awake?” Xavier’s voice came through, low and rough.

Of course it was him.

I didn’t answer. But I didn’t move either.

There was silence, then the sound of him walking away.

Good. Let him walk.

I wasn’t ready for another round of mind games tonight.

Especially not after what he said earlier.

“I shouldn’t have ripped your sketchbook.”

Part of me wanted to believe he meant it.

The other part knew better.

Next Morning – Knight Mansion

I woke up to the smell of eggs, toast, and… bacon?

Was this a dream?

I slipped out of bed and padded into the massive kitchen, half-expecting to find a chef or a maid.

Instead, I found Xavier.

Flipping pancakes.

In sweatpants.

Barefoot.

“What… what are you doing?” I asked, stunned.

He didn’t even glance at me. “You don’t eat before school?”

“Not usually.”

“Well, today you are.”

Okay, what alternate universe was this?

“Why?” I asked cautiously, sitting at the marble island.

“Because my dad’s assistant is taking pictures in twenty minutes,” he muttered. “They need ‘proof’ of the happy couple.”

Oh.

There it was.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a plate anyway. “So this is all fake breakfast for a fake marriage?”

He smirked. “Fake or not, those pancakes are fire.”

I hated how right he was.

Later That Morning – At School

I should’ve known better than to think a quiet day was possible.

By lunch, everyone had seen the new photo Xavier's dad's team posted on the mayor’s campaign account:

“Our beloved son enjoying a peaceful morning with his lovely bride-to-be, Arielle Brooks.”

Bride-to-be?

The caption nearly gave me a heart attack.

I was now officially Empire High’s most hated girl.

“Are you actually engaged to him?”

“Did he pick you from a charity raffle or something?”

“She looks so basic.”

I ducked into the girls' restroom, my head spinning.

I splashed cold water on my face and stared at my reflection.

This wasn’t me. This wasn’t my life.

I never asked to be anyone’s fake fiancée. Especially not to the school’s walking nightmare.

But the universe clearly hated me.

Because the second I opened the door to leave, Bianca was standing right there, arms folded.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the little homewrecker,” she said, blocking the doorway.

“I’m not in the mood,” I muttered, trying to walk past her.

She pushed me back.

“You think Xavier actually likes you? You’re nothing but a political stunt. A prop.”

“I don’t care what you think,” I snapped.

She leaned closer. “You should. Because when I ruin you, no one will save you. Not even him.”

I clenched my fists but didn’t react.

Bianca stormed out.

I waited until she was gone, then stepped into the hallway, only to bump right into Xavier.

“What happened?” he asked, noticing my pale face.

“Nothing,” I mumbled. “Your little fan club just declared war on me. Again.”

He looked away like he didn’t want to deal with it. “Ignore them.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah, well, so am I,” I shot back. “I didn’t sign up for any of this.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but then a loud voice interrupted:

“Xavier! There you are!” A tall redhead came skipping over in heels too high for a school hallway.

She looked like she’d walked straight out of a magazine. Gorgeous. Confident.

She ignored me entirely.

“I heard the engagement rumors,” she cooed. “Tell me it’s not true.”

Xavier didn’t flinch. “It’s true.”

Her face fell. “But… she’s not even in your league.”

I wanted to disappear.

Xavier slid his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, well, maybe that’s the point.”

Her jaw dropped.

Mine did too.

She stormed off, heels clicking angrily.

I turned to him. “What was that?”

He glanced down at me. “Damage control.”

“I don’t need your pity defense.”

He rolled his eyes. “You want me to let her insult you?”

“I want to not exist in your drama!”

He stepped closer, voice low. “Too late for that.”

I stared at him.

He was too close.

Too calm.

Too…

No.

Don’t fall for it.

That Evening – At the Mansion

I sat in the living room, scrolling through hate comments on my latest picture. The campaign team had posted another one — me and Xavier on the front steps, fake laughing.

God.

I looked like I was enjoying this.

Xavier walked in, flopped down beside me on the couch, and saw my screen.

“Don’t read that crap.”

“It’s literally everywhere.”

“They’ll get bored eventually.”

I sighed. “What if they don’t?”

He looked at me then, really looked at me.

Something softened in his face. “Then I’ll handle it.”

My breath caught in my throat.

For a second, the real Xavier peeked through. The boy behind the arrogance.

But then he ruined it.

“Besides,” he added, “I can always say you begged me to marry you. They’ll believe that.”

I blinked.

“You’re such a jerk,” I muttered.

He smirked. “Takes one to know one.”

I threw a pillow at his face.

He caught it, laughed, and tossed it back gently.

For a second, I forgot we hated each other.

Next Morning – School Gate

Mira finally showed up at school and ran straight toward me.

“Girl, I’ve been dying to talk to you! Everyone’s talking about your engagement!”

“I know,” I groaned.

“Do you like him?”

“What?! No!”

“Because it looks like he kinda likes you…”

I turned red. “He doesn’t.”

Before she could press further, a crowd of girls screamed behind us.

Xavier walked in, slow and casual.

He looked toward me.

Then nodded.

In front of everyone.

Gasps echoed.

“What the… did Xavier just acknowledge her?”

“Oh my God…”

I looked at Mira.

She stared at me, wide-eyed. “He never does that.”

Lunch Break – Rooftop

I went up to escape the noise. The only peaceful place in this whole school.

But peace never lasts.

Xavier showed up five minutes later.

“I figured I’d find you here,” he said, dropping beside me.

“Don’t you have a fan club to babysit?”

“I told you to ignore them.”

“I’m trying.”

We sat in silence for a moment.

Then he said something I wasn’t expecting.

“My mom left when I was seven.”

I looked at him.

“I hated the press. The fake smiles. The forced interviews.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I whispered.

“Because you’re the first person I’ve met who doesn’t want anything from me.”

I blinked.

Wow.

“I didn’t ask for your secrets,” I said softly.

“No,” he agreed. “You just married them.”

I almost smiled.

Almost.

Later That Day – After Class

I was heading toward the front gates when Xavier pulled me aside.

“Bianca saw the campaign pictures.”

“So?”

“She’s threatening to go to the press if I don’t deny the engagement.”

My chest tightened.

“She’s bluffing.”

“Maybe.”

Then he looked at me seriously.

“If she talks… everything goes public. The real contract. My father’s plan. You.”

I stared at him.

“What do we do?”

He hesitated.

Then, slowly, he step

ped closer.

“People already believe we’re together,” he said quietly.

My heart beat faster.

“What are you saying?”

He looked down at me, eyes burning.

“I’m saying… we give them something to believe in.”

My breath hitched. “What does that mean?”

Then came his next words.

The ones that flipped my entire world upside down.

“Kiss me… or I’ll talk.”