Chapter 3 - Will you marry me?

Selena's Pov,

The look on Fred's face when I emerged from the car was all the confirmation I needed that my makeup artist and stylist had outdone themselves.

"You look amazing," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Thank you," I replied, giving him a knowing smile. He took my hand as we walked towards the banquet hall, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. I looked and felt like a million bucks.

In all my life, I had never seen a more opulent mansion than the one that belonged to the Leonard family. It was like a palace on earth, resplendent with marble floors and crystal chandeliers. The dignitaries who had been invited added to the sense of grandeur, their presence adding a touch of class to the already luxurious surroundings.

As Fred and I approached the table, a woman in her forties approached us, her smile wide and warm. "That's my aunt, George's mother," Fred whispered in my ear.

"Hello, my darling Fred," she said, pulling him into a tight embrace.

There was something artificial about the way they greeted each other, and I couldn't help but feel like there was more going on than met the eye.

"Hello, Aunt Lyra," Fred replied, a false warmth in his voice. It was clear to me that there was some tension between them.

"How long has it been?" she asked, a note of wistfulness in her voice.

"It's been about nine years," Fred replied, his tone casual, as if the time apart had been no big deal.

But his aunt's face hardened, and she said, "And you didn't miss your favourite aunt at all, huh? Or were you too busy trying to become the CEO?" Her tone was sharp and sarcastic.

Fred gave his aunt a strained smile and quickly changed the subject. "Aunt Lyra, this is my girlfriend, Selena."

His aunt turned to look at me, her eyes raking over me with a critical gaze. "You certainly know how to keep things simple, don't you, Fred?" she said, her tone cold and dismissive.

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I felt like I was being judged and found wanting.

"All that matters is your happiness," Fred said, pulling me close to him. "Right, baby?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

"Of course," I replied, not quite sure if I meant it. But his touch was comforting, and I leaned into him, feeling a little less exposed.

"I'm glad you're happy," his aunt said, her voice lacking any real warmth. "I'll go find George now." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving us alone.

"Don't let her get to you," Fred said, his voice soft and reassuring. "She's always been the black sheep of the family, and she just loves to stir up trouble. Chloe's mother and Chloe have never attended a party she's hosted, and they never will."

I smiled at his attempt to make light of the situation, and I felt a little bit of the tension melt away. I was still a bit rattled by his aunt's behavior, but his words were comforting.

As we sat down to eat, the tension was palpable. Everyone was making small talk, but I could tell that it was all forced, a façade.

I could see the jealousy and resentment simmering just below the surface, and I wondered if this was how the wealthy lived their lives. Always trying to outdo each other, always wearing masks.

I couldn't help but miss the simple meals I used to share with my grandmother and my sister. There was no pretense there, just honest conversation and real affection.

As the meal came to an end, a slow and melancholic song began to play in the background.

I found myself humming along to the tune, lost in my own thoughts. But then, I heard a voice, and I looked up to see Fred standing on the podium.

He was singing the song, his voice rich and soulful. I was transfixed, unable to look away. I had no idea he could sing like that. It was truly a sight to behold.

I never would have thought that the arrogant and proud Fred Leonard had a romantic side. The way he sang with such passion and emotion was truly unexpected. As the song ended, the room erupted into applause, and I couldn't help but join in. He had truly surprised me. Perhaps there was more to him than I had thought.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Fred said, his voice ringing out clear and confident. "May I ask you all to stand?"

We all rose to our feet, and I turned to him, a puzzled look on my face. I had no idea what he was up to. He had never mentioned any plans for the evening, and now I was starting to feel a bit nervous as he walked to where I was.

The hall was suddenly bathed in a soft, glowing light, and a romantic song began to play in the background. As I looked around, I realized that the spotlight was on me. Fred began to speak, his voice full of emotion.

"Sophia Gardener," he said, "these past months with you have been wonderful, and I don't want to go another day without making you my wife." With that, he sank to one knee, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

I knew this was all just a show, a charade, but in that moment, it felt so real.

I felt like I was in a fairytale, and I was the princess at the center of it all. I wanted to stay in this moment forever.

I looked down at Fred, and he was gazing up at me with such sincerity, such love. I could see that he was truly committed to this charade, and I wondered if he was enjoying it as much as I was.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly as he produced a diamond ring from his pocket.

I didn't need to be a jeweler to know that it must have cost a fortune. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I stared at the glittering stone.I didn't want to ruin the moment by breaking character.

"Yes," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I will marry you."

The room erupted in applause, and I could see the relief on Fred's face. He stood up, and we embraced, the emotion of the moment overwhelming us both.

It felt like we were truly engaged, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.

Without a moment's hesitation, we came together in a passionate kiss. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my body as the media snapped photos of the moment.

I could hear the flash of their cameras, but I didn't care. All I could focus on was Fred and the feeling of his lips on mine. It was a moment I would never forget.

"Congratulations, son," Mr. Richard said, embracing us both. Just then, I heard a familiar voice from behind us.

"Did I miss anything?" the voice asked, and we all turned to see who it was.

"George!" Mr. Richard exclaimed, pulling his grand son into a warm embrace.

I felt like I couldn't breathe as the realization of who George was hit me like a ton of bricks. He was my boyfriend, and we had been dating for over a year. We had met on social media and his name was George Parker. I had no idea he was related to the wealthy Leonard family.

To make matters worse, George had told me he was coming back to New York so we could finally meet in person after FaceTiming and chatting for over a year.

And just the other day, I had blocked him from all my social media accounts because I had agreed to play the part of Fred's fiancee.

I had been so caught up in the possibility of making money that I hadn't even paid attention to the photo of Fred's family that he had shown me the other day.

If I had, I would have seen George's face and realized who he was. But I had been too focused on the money, and now I was in way over my head.