A PERFECT LIE

SERA

The first thing I noticed when I stepped into the room was the box.

It sat neatly on the middle of the bed, matte black, tied with a satin gold ribbon that shimmered against the sheets.

It looked so out of place, so deliberate, that I froze for a second, blinking at it like it might disappear if I looked away, and then I saw the card.

My name, written in Jared’s messy scrawl, sat right at the center of the box like a cherry on a cake.

I reached for it with hesitant fingers.

Sera,

I have a surprise planned for you tonight. Something just for you.

Put this on, I’ll come get you in thirty minutes. Let me remind you how much I love you.

• J

A soft sound escaped my lips. Something between a sigh and a laugh. God, Jared.

I slipped the ribbon off and lifted the lid of the box, and there it was.

The dress was breathtaking.

A soft, flowing number in deep emerald silk, sleeveless with a cinched waist and a low back, the kind that would glide over my body and cling in all the right places.

I ran my fingers over it, awed by how soft it felt like it had been made just for me. Of course it had. Jared always noticed the little things.

My favorite shades, the kinds of dresses I felt confident in. He was thoughtful like that.

The kind of man every girl dreamed of marrying.

My smile widened… and then dimmed. A slow, creeping wave of guilt began to rise in my throat, thick and bitter.

I sat down beside the box, dress still in hand, and stared at it like it might accuse me too.

He loves me.

Jared loves me.

And I love him too… God, I do.

He’s kind, and sweet, and stable. He remembers my coffee order, kisses my forehead every morning, talks to my mom like she’s his own. He tells me I’m beautiful even when I’m bloated or breaking out.

He sends me notes like this. Makes plans. Buys me dresses he knows I’ll feel beautiful in.

And I cheated on him.

I clenched the fabric tighter between my fingers, the weight of the silk now feeling heavier, almost suffocating.

I didn’t just cheat. I let his brother touch me. I let him ruin me against a bathroom wall.

All because Jared couldn’t satisfy me in bed.

What kind of woman did that make me?

Tears stung my eyes and I blinked them away before they could fall. No. No more self-pity. No more excuses. I’d made a horrible mistake, one I couldn’t take back, but I could stop it from happening again.

I still had a choice.

And I was going to make the right one.

I stood up and laid the dress across the bed, then walked to the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, haunted eyes, tense jaw, and shame written all over my face.

I could still hear Knox’s voice from earlier in the woods, low and sinful, coaxing moans from memories I had no business holding onto.

No.

I shook my head.

No more fantasizing. No more thinking about him. It was a mistake. A one-time thing. It meant nothing.

I muttered the words like a chant as I stripped off my clothes. Let the cold air bite into my skin as if it could burn the memory of Knox off me.

I stepped into the shower, let the water run hot until it scalded, hoping it would drown out everything I still felt.

Everything I still wanted.

By the time I came out and slipped into the dress, I looked perfect. Jared deserved that. Deserved me, all of me, not this version still secretly aching for another man.

As I fastened the last earring and smoothed the silk over my hips, I repeated the words under my breath again.

“It was a mistake. I love Jared. I’m lucky to have him. I won’t think about Knox anymore.”

Maybe if I said it enough, I’d finally believe it.

****

“Okay… don’t peek.”

Jared’s voice was warm against my ear, playful as his hands gently adjusted the blindfold over my eyes. I laughed softly, heart fluttering with nerves and anticipation.

“I feel ridiculous,” I said, swaying slightly as he guided me forward by the waist.

“You look beautiful,” he replied without missing a beat. “Ridiculous and stunning. The best combination.”

I rolled my eyes under the blindfold, grinning despite myself.

“Where are you taking me?”

“That ruins the surprise, babe. Just trust me.”

And I did.

I let him lead me slowly across the villa’s paths, the faint sounds of crickets and waves in the distance humming around us.

Every now and then, his hand would slip from my waist to squeeze my hand or brush a soft kiss to my temple, and I felt my chest tighten with something painfully sweet.

I didn’t deserve this. Not him. Not his kindness. But here he was still choosing me, and still trying.

“Okay,” he finally said, stopping me gently by the shoulders. “Ready?”

I nodded, biting my lip.

His fingers brushed the back of my head, tugging the blindfold loose. I blinked as he pulled it away, and when my eyes adjusted—

I gasped.

We were standing beneath a softly glowing canopy nestled in a clearing surrounded by swaying palms. Sheer white drapes billowed from the posts, lit up by dozens of tiny fairy lights strung overhead like stars.

The canopy opened into a scene straight from a dream, a private dinner table set for two, glowing with the flicker of tall candles nestled in crystal holders.

A soft breeze carried the scent of jasmine and ocean salt, and petals, actual rose petals were scattered along the pathway and at the base of the table.

At the center, a low arrangement of white lilies and blush roses spilled over a mirrored tray, reflecting the candles in delicate flames.

I was stunned.

My throat tightened, and before I could stop myself, tears welled up in my eyes.

“Jared…”

He turned to me, eyes soft, hands cupping my face.

“Hey,” he said, brushing a thumb across my cheek, “you haven’t even seen the food yet. Don’t cry on the flowers.”

I laughed through the tears, leaning into him.

“This is beautiful. This is… God, Jared.”

And I cupped his face in my hands and I kissed him.

I didn’t care if my lipstick smeared or if the tears stained my cheeks. I kissed him deeply, fully, because this man… this man still wanted to sweep me off my feet even when he had every right to do nothing at all.

When we pulled apart, he pressed his forehead against mine.

“I’m sorry,” he said, voice low and sincere. “I know I haven’t really had your time since we got here. I’ve been trying to juggle everyone and everything, and I hate that I made you feel like you were second.”

“No- don’t say that,” I shook my head immediately, heart twisting painfully. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, smiling gently.

“This was supposed to be our time, Sera. To unwind. To enjoy each other before the craziness of the wedding kicks in, and I let myself get carried away. This is me trying to make it up to you.”

A fresh wave of guilt rose in my chest, hot and sharp. If only he knew. If only he could see how much I didn’t deserve this second chance.

But I wasn’t going to ruin this moment. I couldn’t. Not when he’d gone through all this trouble just for me.

“I love it,” I said quietly. “I love you. Thank you.”

“Good,” he said, eyes lighting up as he reached for my hand. “Because I pulled strings to make this happen, and I’m not above using guilt to get you to eat dessert first.”

That made me laugh, the heaviness in my chest loosening just enough as we walked toward the table.

I let myself enjoy it.

For the first time in days, I gave myself permission to just be present with Jared. To smile, to laugh, to lean into the safety of his arms and the warmth of his love.

The dinner was perfect.

Every bite, every glance, every soft touch of his fingers against mine across the table reminded me of why we worked. Why we were doing this.

Then the music started.

He stood and reached a hand out to me, that familiar boyish grin lighting up his face.

“Dance with me, beautiful?”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hold back my smile as I slid my hand into his.

“You always pick the slowest songs.”

“Because I like holding you,” he murmured, pulling me close.

And just like that, we danced barefoot under that glowing canopy, swaying to some old love song that neither of us could name but both of us felt. His hands rested on my hips. Mine around his neck. His cheek brushing mine.

This is it. This is where I belong. Nowhere else. I told myself

It was just past midnight when we finally returned to our room, our fingers intertwined, our laughter still trailing behind us like music.

Jared wrapped his arms around me from behind the second the door shut, nuzzling into the crook of my neck, the way he knew I loved.

“That was amazing,” I murmured, turning my head slightly to kiss his cheek.

“You’re amazing,” he said, voice low and playful as he kissed my shoulder. “But I think I’ve still got one surprise left for tonight…”

“Oh really?” I asked, already smiling.

“Mmhmm,” he said, his hands slipping lower. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Join me… unless you’re too tired to be spoiled some more.”

I laughed, pulling away from his grasp just enough to glance at him.

“I’ll be right there. Go warm it up for me.”

He winked and disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of water starting up a few moments later.

That’s when I heard it.

The sharp ping of my phone on the dresser.

I picked it up without thinking, still flushed from laughter… until I saw the number. Unknown. No name. Just a message.

But I knew who it was from as soon as I opened it.

I know he makes you smile, holds your hand, plans your future. I know you love him. But I also know how you look when I touched you… how you moan when you’re taken just right. I remember the way your pussy gripped me, the way you cried out my name when you came so hard you could barely stand. You were mine for those moments, Sera. Tell me you don’t ache to feel that again. Tell me… and mean it.

My breath caught. Heat rushed through me, low, dangerous, traitorous.

Knox.

God.

I stared at the message, my chest rising and falling faster than before. I could feel it, my body betraying me. A pulse between my thighs. A tremble in my fingers.

That damn ache again, waking up like it had only been sleeping, not gone.

He hadn’t even said much.

Just enough.

The water was still running. Jared was humming inside the shower. Oblivious. Sweet. Perfect.

And here I was, standing in the middle of our room, pulse racing, lips parted, and heart slamming against my ribcage because of one damn message from the one man I shouldn’t be thinking about.

I swallowed hard.

This has to stop.

Didn’t it?