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WHY DID I HAVE TO WIN
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2025-03-15 22:39:04
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PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â EVER PINE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Creed's POVSince everybody was in the lobby, I cleared my throat and addressed the team."For the meantime, everyone needs to rest," I told the room, scanning the faces. "We're heading to the resort later this afternoon. Our flight was overnight, so all of you need to recuperate first before anything else."There were agreements, as well as some tired yawns."Rooms are already booked," I continued, looking at my watch. "You all should have your key cards in your emails. Call the front desk if you need anything."And I dismissed them.I was not even that fatigued, but I went to my suite anyway, Zara trailing behind me.She was already talking by the time the door closed behind us."I still don't see why you chose this place," she sulked, letting her designer handbag fall onto the couch. "We could have gone to Switzerland. Or Japan. I could be shopping right now instead of being stuck here in this pit."I tuned her out, heading over to the minibar to fix myself a drink. The hotel wasn'
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-15PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â BE GONE
Yuki's pov "Mind if I join you for a swim too?" he asked, already pulling his shirt off.I gave him a bland look and sipped my drink. "I'm actually having some time to myself, but thanks for offering."It was the nice way I could say get lost.For a second, I figured he'd catch on, but he just smiled wider, no doubt believing my spurning was flirting."Oh, c'mon," he coaxed, moving in closer, "you can't just be here alone, looking allâ""I see you're having a good time.âThat low, unmistakable voice sent a brutal shiver down my spine.I jerked my head up.Creed.Oh, God.My heart slammed into my ribs. I didn't even have to look around to know I was trapped.I stiffened right away, panic scrabbling up my throat.It wasn't that I didn't like Creedânot at all.The problem wasâĶ Creed wasn't in my circle, he was a billionaire, a billionaire with a very angry girlfriend.Something about all of it was wrong, plus above everything else, I wanted to keep this job and every single time he was
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-17PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â DON'T FALL
Yuki's POVI have no clue who among my marketing co-workers doesn't like me, but apparently, someone does.That's the only explanation for why I am now standing in the midst of a winter wonderland hell, strapped to a death machine they call a snowboard, instead of lounging in my toasty, safe hot spring."This is a terrible idea," I declared, crossing arms and trying to will my co-workers away with stubbornness.Come on, Bunny, don't buzzkill me," Surf Broâalso Steve Blake, also my own personal nightmareâgrinned as he tightened the straps on my boots. "You've got to send it! Full send! Ever shred anything before?"I gave him a nasty look. "I have never, ever shredded a single thing in my whole life except cheese, and I intend to keep it that way."The marketing team erupted into laughter."Yuyu, you have to at least try!" one of them teased."Come on, don't you want to experience what skiing on snow is like?" another hinted."Yes," I nodded for effect. "I do. And that is why I watch ot
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-18PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â EXPOSED
Yukiâs POVI sprinted to my room like my life depended on it.My helmet was barely clinging to my head, my wig had shifted, and my entire body was screaming at me in confusion, frustration, and absolute panic.I slammed the door behind me, tearing my helmet off with such ferocity that it bounced off the ground. My hands tore at the idiot snowboarding gear that had let me down."Idiot board, idiot straps, idiot Creed and his idiotâĶidiot everything!" I snarled, biting at the boots first and nearly falling over as I kicked them off. The jacket was next, then the pants, andâThat's when I saw him.Jacob.Standing in the corner of my room.Holding a bouquet of flowers.Staring at me with wide, frozen eyes.Oh.OH FUCK.My wig was already halfway off, my bonnet hanging around my neck like some miserable scarf.And worseâMy, uh, somewhat unfortunate situation was still revealed.For a good five seconds, we just stared at each other.Then, I did the only logical thing.I screamed.A full, ma
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-19PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT NICE GUYS
Yuki's pov Jacob did not take my hand.Didn't even draw breath."âĶThat's a man's name," he said finally, his voice quieter than it had been."Yep."He swallowed convulsively. "S-So youâĶ You're actually aâĶ?"I nodded.Silence.Jacob's eyes flitted downward brieflyâAnd then he went pink.Oh, great.".So," he croaked, voice miserably high. "When weâĶ umâĶ I mean, that time weâuhâ"I crossed my arms. "Spit it out, Jacob."He looked anywhere but at me. "S-So all those times IâIâumâ"I arched an eyebrow. "All those times you what?"He flinched. "IâI told the guys you were the prettiest girl on the team."There was silence.I smiled. "Well, you're not wrong."He covered his face with his hands and groaned. "Oh my God.""Relax, dude. I take it as a compliment."".So when you hugged meâ?"I deadpanned. "Bro. It was a hug. I wasn't going to take you on a date."He groaned even louder. "I TOLD MY MOM ABOUT YOU!"I choked. "You WHAT?!""She wanted me to settle down! IâI thought you were nice! She
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-20PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â AGAINST COMPANY POLICY
Creed's POVI was enraged.Not irritable. Not annoyed.I was the kind of angry where blood ran hot in my veins full of fury, fists clenched and bricked, jaw so tight it could shatter skulls,to the extent that I couldn't even convince myself otherwise.And yet, instead of turning around like a sane human being, I was following them.Yuyu and Jacob.They walked in together, conversing like old friendsâtoo familiar with one another for my comfort. I followed behind close enough to notice them enter Jacob's resort room, only a few turns down the hallway.I didn't hear what they were saying, but I could see them.And YuyuâĶ she smiled.Not her friendly, teasing smile she gave me when she was trying to playfully tease me.No.Something else.Her lips curled, speaking words that I could read effortlessly:"I love you, but if you faint on me one more time, I'll drop you like a bad habit."Jacob grinned, tracing the back of his own neck as he spokeâsomething sweet, something true. Something tha
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-21PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â I CAN'T HELP IT
Yuki's povI looked around the room. Just in case.Because the last thing I needed was another episodeâlike Jacob showing up in the corner again with those big, innocent eyes, ready to ask more stupid questions while I was actually going crazy.I checked under the bed. The closet. Even the freaking bathroom.No one.Just me.I took a shaky breath, locked the bathroom door for safety, and stepped into the shower, cranking the handle to full blast.The cold water hit my skin, but it was not enough to put out the flames burning through my body.Creed's voice was still resonating in my mind.What are you doing sleeping around with a co-worker?His lips, oh God, his lips had been so rough, so demanding, like he was angry that I was kissing someone else and not him.The way he pushed me against the wall.The way his tongueâI groaned, pushing my forehead against the cold tile, but it did nothing to ease the ache between my legs. I was already hard. Painfully, ridiculously hard. I circled
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-22PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â TRAPPED WITH YOU
Yuki's pov Listen! It was a heat of the moment thing, okay?! And now I don't know what the fuck to do!"Lily was wheezing for real. "Oh myâoh, this is gold. This is better than any of my dramas!""Lils, I called you for help, not to be a laughingstock!""Oh honey, you were already a laughingstock."I groaned. "You're useless.""Oh please, you love me. Now, aside from your terribly messy sex lifeâ""I don't have a sex life.""âHow's the trip? And before you say anything, Grandpa and Suzu are doing great. Roman actually remembered me today. Whole two minutes before he asked where you were."My heart constricted. "He did?""Yeah. Said he had a dream about you running around in a dress or something."I paused. "Uh. weird.""Mmmhmm. And Suzu? He peed in my shoes. Again."I snorted. "Atta boy."Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. But seriously, Yuyu, what's your plan?"I sighed. "I don't know, Lils. I really don't.""Well, whatever you do, don't fall for him.""âĶYeah. Of course not.""Yuyu.""Goodnig
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-22
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PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â 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 truthâ""
PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â 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 PRINCESSÂ Â Â 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 â almost four â 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 â 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 PRINCESSÂ Â Â GOOD BYE
Lily's POVThe ride to the airport was too short.I continued to sneak glances at Yuki beside me, soaking him inâhis 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 PRINCESSÂ Â Â 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 â you'd just have to visit him before you go."Her words sliced through me more deeply than I cared to ackn
PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â CURSED
Creed's POVI slammed the office door shut so hard that the walls vibrated. The secretary outside yelped as if she thought the damn ceiling was going to come crashing down."Get me the quarterly reports," I barked. "Now."She rushed out of her seat, almost falling over her own feet. Pitiful.I paced in front of my office like a wild animal in a cage, blood pumping hotter each passing second. All of this was pissing me off every day now. The terrible coffee. The creeping elevators. The godforsaken interns' breathing out in the corridor.Five weeks. Five weeks since I let go of that imposter, yet my heart clenched at the thought of herâĶof him !Anger boiled in my veins over and over but today a particular anger took over me, one o couldn't explain but already had ties to That imposter I didn't need him and I wasn't gay!There was no going back for me. And I felt the whole office knew that from the very moment I resumed, a week ago Besides they couldn't blame me for their incompeten
PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â NOT WHO I REMEMBER
Lily's POVToday became tomorrow.Tomorrow became next week.Next week became three endless weeks.And somehow, despite all the promises I made to myself, I still hadn't met Yuki.I don't even know how it all tightened up like that â how every small detail became so hard. Between caring for Grandpa Roman, going back and forth to the hospital for meds, doctor appointments, dealing with his therapies â life had gotten tangled around my neck with no mercy. I didn't have space to catch my breath, didn't have time to think. And amidst all of this, something gnawed at me:Yuki trusted me.I had been entrusted with Grandpa Roman â with one of the only people he loved â and deep, way down deep inside me, I knew I didn't want to let him down.But today. today was different. Today was the day. I was really going to fix all of it.I was going to go see him, apologize for whatever stupidness drove us apart, tell him about what he'd seen that day with Dan, tell him everything.Dan.He officially m
PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â AGAIN
Zara's POVThere's regret.There's pain.And then there's anger â thick, bitter, wild anger.I didn't deserve this.I was the last person in this damn world that deserved this.He wasn't supposed to push me away.He wasn't supposed to treat me likeâĶ like I was nothing.I was supposed to be by his side.I was supposed to be the one to fix him. To save him.I paced back and forth in my chamber, my hands in my palms, trying to contain the storm raging inside me.The walls were closing in, the air heavy, and my mind was filled with his face. His eyes. His lips. His voice when he'd instructed me to leave.I hated him.I loved him.God â I loved him.I couldn't take it anymore."Call Zed," I barked at one of my servants.She stopped. "Now, ma'am?""Now!" I screamed.My hands were trembling. My heart thudding. I was unraveling, going crazy and I didn't give a damn anymore.Within minutes, Zed arrived.Tall, dark, as calm as ever.He always had been.The man who took orders quietly, who had a
PRETEND PRINCESSÂ Â Â ALL ALONE
Yuki's POVTwo weeks.That's 20,160 minutes. Twenty thousand, one hundred and sixty minutes of pure torture.I'd texted Creed so much. Too much, really. Sorrys I couldn't phrase correctly first, things I didn't have the courage to tell him out loud before, little things I knew he didn't want to hear. I texted anyway, hoping for a crumb of a reply.But there was nothing. No dot. No word. No fucking breath.So I made up my mind. I'd made it up the day everything went wrongâthe day everything went in the opposite direction of my plans, like some sick cosmic joke. I was leaving New York. Done. Finito. Finished.Lily hadn't called me for two weeks either. It was as if my world had burst wide open, and I stood in the middle of a great emptiness. Grandpa RomanâĶ two weeks of nothing from him too. Two weeks of not hearing his shaking, bewildered voice, of not chasing after him when he got me mixed up with my mother. Two weeks alone, tearing myself apart, living on my own regrets.I was complet
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