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THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
Last Updated:
2025-03-02 03:55:21
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PRETEND PRINCESS UNWELCOME OBSESSION
Creed's POVI barely got any sleep over the weekend. Every time I closed my eyes, Yuyu haunted my thoughts—her face, her lips, her damn voice. The way she screamed in victory kept replaying in my head, over and over again.Lying sprawled on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, frustration mounting. What the hell am I doing?I grabbed my laptop, hoping work would serve as a distraction. But the moment I opened it, an impulsive thought crept in. Before I could stop myself, I typed her name into Estergram.A dozen profiles popped up, but none of them were hers.Huh. For someone so extra, she wasn’t plastered all over social media? That surprised me. And yet, I shouldn’t even be looking.I shut my laptop. This is ridiculous.3:44 AM. No man should be lying awake at this hour, unable to sleep because of another human being.Still restless, I made my way to the in-house gym. Stripping off my shirt, I slid on my boxing gloves and started on the punching bag, each impact sending it swinging viole
Last Updated : 2025-03-02PRETEND PRINCESS WHY ME?
Yuki’s POV"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Lily asked, grabbing her bag, her brows furrowed with concern.It was my fourth day working with Creed, and I officially couldn't feel my body.He had me organizing and reorganizing files, scheduling meetings, rescheduling them, preparing documents, answering emails, fetching coffee, booking flights, running errands that had nothing to do with work, sitting through his ridiculously long meetings, and—oh yeah—taking notes at the twelve meetings we had attended in the past four days.I just wanted to code. Was that really too much to ask?"Get some rest," Lily said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I'll come check on you tomorrow. It's Saturday, so you actually get to sleep in."I mumbled something incoherent, too exhausted to form actual words. My body sank deeper into the couch, and sleep claimed me within seconds.---The next time I opened my eyes, sunlight was trickling through the window.Morning.Shit.I jerked up so fast my
Last Updated : 2025-03-02PRETEND PRINCESS NOT SO EMPTY
Creed’s POVI ran a hand through my hair as I watched her scan the living room. I had hired one of the best home decorators in New York—someone who worked with A-list celebrities—and yet, under Yuki’s scrutiny, I felt... judged.“Oh, all your billionaire houses, I might just pee my pants,” she said, tilting her head dramatically.I shoved my hands into my pockets and turned toward her. “Don’t you like it, Miss Roman?”She glanced at me before letting her gaze roam again.“Not like it? How could I not like it? This place is...” She trailed off, sighing before finishing, “...everything.”I barely resisted the smirk threatening to form. Of course, she would think that. This place looked like everything—sleek, modern, pristine. But to me, it was a prison. Empty. Lonely. A constant reminder of how broken I truly was.“Let’s get to work,” I said, pushing away the thoughts. “Do you want coffee?”“Oh, yes, please,” she answered instantly, dropping onto the sofa in the least graceful way possi
Last Updated : 2025-03-04PRETEND PRINCESS UNEXPECTED PROXIMITY
Creed’s POVI sent off the final email for Evan Tech and leaned back in my chair. That should wrap up my work for today.I glanced up from my screen and froze.Yuyu was asleep.Her head had fallen back against the couch, her lips slightly parted. One arm dangled loosely over the side, while the other was curled up near her chest. Her laptop had slid dangerously close to the edge of the coffee table, threatening to fall.I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.I should wake her up.Instead, I found myself just… looking, admiring her features.she was not the basic Betty I'd tell you that,she looked feminine and yet masculine like a thin line waiting for one to cross over the other but now in her sleep she looked like a goddess that dropped from the sky She was usually so animated—smirking, arguing, rolling her eyes dramatically. But right now? She looked peaceful. Not annoying. Not stubborn. Just soft.I exhaled and moved closer, carefully reaching for her laptop. I saved her work and
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Yuki’s POVThe second I stepped through the door, I stormed straight into my bedroom, kicking off my heels and ripping the wig off my head.My heart was still hammering. My pulse had barely settled, and yet—I groaned loudly, running both hands through my hair before making a beeline for the bathroom.Hot. I needed a hot shower. Now.The water was scalding as it ran down my skin, but it still wasn’t enough to wash away the mortifying memory of what just happened.Creed had a boner.A very, very big boner.And it was my fault.Fuck.My fingers dug into my scalp as I scrubbed at my hair, trying to erase the image burned into my brain.The thick outline pressing against his sweatpants. The sheer size of it. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fucking fair.I clenched my jaw, leaning forward to press my forehead against the cold tiles.Why did he have to be that big? What was he feeding that thing? Steroids? Black magic? It was almost the length of an arm—who the fuck walks around packing something
Last Updated : 2025-03-05PRETEND PRINCESS CHAINED TO A RING
Creed’s POVBy the time I checked the time, it was already past three. I didn’t want to be late. Zara’s mother wasn’t the most patient woman, and I preferred to keep things smooth when it came to her.I slipped on my black button-down, pairing it with brown pants and a matching suit jacket. Simple, clean, respectable. Before heading out, I stopped by a florist and picked up a bouquet of roses. Mrs. Olive had a thing for flowers, and if I was going to sit through a dinner filled with her passive-aggressive comments, I might as well earn some points first.Zara had left early in the morning, probably to get ready. That woman could spend an entire day preparing for a dinner that would last barely two hours. It made me think back to the first time we met—there had barely been a proper introduction, just a passing glance, yet we had been tangled up in each other’s lives for over eight years now.When I arrived, I pushed open the huge white door. I had a key to this house—after all, I was t
Last Updated : 2025-03-06PRETEND PRINCESS DISASTROUS DAY
Yuki’s POVI stormed into the office, my black pants hugging my legs comfortably and my oversized yellow sweater adding a pop of color. A little bumblebee pin gleamed near my collar. My outfit screamed I am a ray of sunshine, even though my mood was anything but.Today was my last day working with Creed, and honestly, I was dreading it. The last time we saw each other, things got… complicated.Memories flashed through my mind. I had confided in Lily about it, hoping for some deep, life-changing wisdom. Instead, she laughed until she had to clutch her stomach. Horrible girl pal.Still, I wasn’t about to let anything shake me. I straightened my back, put on my signature smile, and stepped inside."Good morning, boss!" I greeted, voice bright as always.Creed barely looked up from his computer. "Step out of that hideous yellow accident and get started on these folders."I blinked. "Excuse me?"He finally lifted his head, his sharp gaze locking onto mine with the intensity of a firing squ
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Yuki’s POVI was determined to win.Jason and I were locked in a fierce battle—a high-stakes gaming bet where the loser had to go beg Madam Olive for a brand-new operating system.There was no way I was losing.The million-dollar system we had was slow as hell and could barely handle the million-dollar projects we worked on. My colleagues had spent the entire morning whining about it, and honestly, I wasn’t ready for another round of their endless complaints buzzing in my ear.Besides, I really didn’t have the energy to deal with Madam Olive, aka The Bull of Budgets.—I strutted into the office that morning, my outfit surprisingly toned down from my usual flashy Yuki style. Last night, I barely got any sleep.Creed was on my mind.What the hell had happened yesterday?What was so bad that it had ruined his mood for the entire day?I shook my head, focusing on the game in front of me. Jason was already grinning like a smug little gremlin.“You ready to lose, Yuyu?” he teased, cracking
Last Updated : 2025-03-06
Latest chapter
PRETEND PRINCESS HAPPY YOU'RE HERE
Lily's POVIt had been almost a week since Yuki had departed for Japan. I was still not used to it. We had not been communicating on a regular basis, not since the craziness with the job, the farewell, and all that lay in between. But saying goodbye to him that day had marked my heart. It felt like something irreversible. Like something had ended. I could not say the words, but part of me felt abandoned.Dan had been trying his best. I liked him—I really did—and today we were going to catch up at last the way we were meant to. A genuine date, a sit-down dinner at our favorite Italian place on Twelfth and Granville. We hadn't had anything romantic in weeks. Work, life, Yuki leaving, Grandpa Roman. everything had just made things complicated.Grandpa Roman.The notion tugged at me again. I had finished my hospital shift at three. My plan had been simple: go on over to the nursing home, see Grandpa Roman, and then catch up with Dan at five. But as I stepped into the old folks' home, rain
PRETEND PRINCESS NOTHING LIKE I'M USED TO
Yuki's POVTo think that no one would prepare you for culture shock. It's not the major things that catch you. It's the little stupid, sorta terrifying details. Like public transportation. Like buses.I was standing in front of what I thought was the right bus stop, blinking at the brightly colored sign in Japanese. There were arrows. There were times. But there was also this little voice in my head going over and over, "Yuki, you're probably in the wrong place."Guess who was right? Not me. Absolutely not me.By the time I knew the buses here wouldn't stop unless you flagged them down like you were drowning, the one I was waiting for flew by with grand disdain. I was standing there like I was committing a dramatic anime opening with my white fur coat shining in the sunlight like I was out of a cosplay magazine. Wind cue. Panic cue inside.I was late to work. Not "fashionably late." Not "five minutes, still cool" late. Actual late. Like-the-office-was-already-roaring-already late.An
PRETEND PRINCESS CHEERFUL WORKDAY?
Yuki's PovThe scent was the first thing that hit me when I entered the building. Cool, lemon air freshener with a hint of cinnamon. The lighting was soft, not harsh, the floors clean but not sterile. If warmth had a form, it was here. My white fur coat billowed behind me as I moved, heels clicking on the tiles. I looked down at myself—black trousers, white boots, no wig, no disguise. It was strange, unreal. Almost as though I'd just stepped off a long, exhausting play. A six-month performance of someone who was never quite myself.The receptionist's chair was empty briefly before a round lady with puffy cheeks and bright blush waddled towards me like an overactive panda. Her eyes twinkled behind her spectacles, and her smile nearly reached her ears."Oh my God! My name is Sue!" she said, grasping both of my hands in hers. "You're Yuki, right? We're so happy you're here! Come, come, come, your desk is here."She didn't let go of my hand when she led me down the hallway, past some glas
PRETEND PRINCESS I MISS YOU
Creed's POVI stormed into the office.No. That wasn't it either.I walked in.Calm. Too level. The kind of level that came after a tsunami had destroyed a whole city. Nothing left to agitate. Nothing left to feel. Just ash and silence.The door slammed shut. The sound echoed like a gunshot inside my head. I didn't blink.I walked past the reception. My staff barely looked at me anymore. Some ran. Some whispered. Some stared with suspicious, questioning eyes. It didn't matter.I opened the door to my private office and entered the air-conditioned mausoleum of my kingdom. Neat. Quiet. Smelling of leather, citrus, and my last application of cologne. A fragrance I hadn't deemed worthy of wearing in four years.I dropped my briefcase. It landed on the floor with a thud that was louder than it should have been.I sat down. Carefully.There was no rush.There was no anything.My fingers wandered to the keyboard out of habit. Not intent. I stared at the screen for too long without registerin
PRETEND PRINCESS NOT WHAT I WANTED
Zara's POVZed was over at my place again.He made himself way too comfortable, sprawling on the couch in my room like he owned the place.Tonight, he brought over some weird Mexican something.I didn't even catch the name. He said it twice. Maybe three times. But it just sounded like sounds to me.He kept trying to feed it to me, holding a forkful in front of my mouth like I was some stubborn kid with medicine to swallow.I shook my head so hard."I don't want anything to do with that," I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest.Zed glared at me, still chewing.I could tell he didn't get it.Not the food.None of it."I don't know why you're upset," he said, setting the container down on the coffee table."You got what you wanted. The imposter was exposed. You should be dancing. Celebrating."Celebrating?Celebrating?I let out a panted laugh, a laugh that did not sound anything like a laugh."This wasn't what I wanted," I whispered.Zed blinked, confused."You wanted the truth—""
PRETEND PRINCESS MY HEART HURTS
Creed's PovIt was past midnight.The bottle that I held was almost empty, but I did not mind. I was not drinking to be joyful. I was not even drinking to forget. I was drinking because it was the only way I could make the silence that greeted me endurable.I reclined slumped on the couch in my living room, the sole item of furniture that was more like a cell than home. There were shadows everywhere. The clock chimed out so loudly it sounded like a hammer in my head.And still.Still, I couldn't stop thinking about Yuyu.Fucking Yuki.With that goddamn smirk and those fuckin' sparklin' bright eyes and the way he looked at me like I was something, anything when he had no idea who the fuck I even was.I hated him.I missed him.I hadn't the fuck idea what I was feelin' anymore.Was I gay now? Did I swing this way? Did I just FUCKIN' happen to be feelin' desperately for someone, anyone, to look at me like I weren't a damned monster?Jesus Christ, no.I tipped the bottle to my lips again,
PRETEND PRINCESS NEW BEGINNINGS
Yuki's pov The flying part wasn't scary.I wasn't terrified of airplanes.I wasn't terrified of turbulent flight or height or any of that.I was terrified of beginning again.Terrified of seeing myself.For three weeks — almost four — I had done nothing but rot. Fault myself. Cry. Break things. Apologize to specters.That was enough.I couldn't keep going on like that.Mom wouldn't have wanted me to go on like that.Grandpa wouldn't either, even if he didn't always recall me.I stared out the plane window, clouds streaking across the horizon like wet paint, my chest aching.Memories ripped at me — Creed's voice, his smile, then the shock in his eyes.Grandpa's laugh, the way he used to call me his "boy."Lily's hugs.Small shattered pieces of my life slipping further and further away from me as the plane flew east.I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.No more tears.No more pity parties.I can do this.This is my new start.Mom would be proud.I hugged myself hard, wrapped the th
PRETEND PRINCESS GOOD BYE
Lily's POVThe ride to the airport was too short.I continued to sneak glances at Yuki beside me, soaking him in—his dark, messy hair, the nervous drum of his fingers against his jeans, the nervous bounce of his knee.As if if I stared long enough, I could burn the picture of him into my head and never forget.He caught me staring and smiled weakly. "What?""Nothing," I said quickly, attempting to smile. "Just. don't chicken out."He grinned, but it wasn't natural. "Too late to run now, huh?""Way too late," I taunted softly.The problem was, I wished he would run.I wanted to bang the car doors closed, drive us somewhere a thousand miles from here, and wish he wouldn't be going.But I couldn't.He had to go.He needed this new start.Even if it killed me.We pulled up to Departures. Yuki opened his backpack, fiddling with the straps like they were the most fascinating thing on earth.I pulled up and turned off the engine.We sat there, neither of us moving, for a moment.Then Yuki le
PRETEND PRINCESS TAKE CARE OF HIM FOR ME
Yuki's POV"You're leaving today."Lily's voice was gentle, but it hit me like a punch.I crouched at the foot of the bed, staring at the carpet. My fingers tapped on the frayed cuff of my jacket, pulling at loose threads as if I could somehow roll back time and stay here in this cramped safe room, stuck forever.I didn't look at her. I didn't move."Yuki," she said once more, coming to kneel beside me. Her hand lay lightly on my knee. "Then I think it's time you saw your grandfather."I shook my head."No, it's not," I grunted. "I'm not ready."She let out a tired, aching sigh, the kind you do when you don't want to cry. "You've been here for a month. You're better now. You're stronger, plus do you really plan on going halfway across the world and not seeing him before you go.""Stronger?" I laughed roughly. "I'm still a mess.""You're recovering," she amended. "And you have to — you'd just have to visit him before you go."Her words sliced through me more deeply than I cared to ackn
