All Chapters of The CEO's Fake Girlfriend : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

"What? I swear, I didn't—""I know." Maya swallowed hard. "Or I should’ve known. But I was too hurt and I did so many stupid things. Edmund said things that—" Her voice cracked. "It stopped me from talking to you like a decent human being. I took it out on you instead.""You were hurt.""That's not an excuse." Her eyes welled up, and I thumbed her tears away. "You're my best friend. My sister. And I threw you away over a guy who was twisting everything."I pulled her in again, both of us shaking. "I forgive you. Of course I do.""I don't deserve—""Yes, you do. Because I love you, you short brown witch. We're fine."That made her laugh, watery and messy. We clung to each other until Mama Cortez’s warm voice cut through the moment."Enough tears, girls. Come eat."We broke apart, and I went straight to Mama Cortez, hugging her tight before she spoke softly into my hair."I saw your letter, dear.""Please don’t mention it." I felt myself shrinking inside my clothes. "I was too embarrass

Lucien’s POVThe call came at 7:42 AM.I was still in bed, Camila curled against my side, her hair spilling across my chest. I’d spent the last twenty minutes watching her breathe.My phone vibrated on the nightstand. Rafael.I slipped out carefully, tucking the blanket around her before stepping into the hallway.“This better be important.”“Harrington pulled out,” Rafael said. “Statement went out ten minutes ago.”A cold weight settled in my stomach. “Forward it.”The email loaded instantly. Cold but apologetic in the way corporations were when they'd already made up their minds.Reputational concerns surrounding current leadership... Harrington Group to pursue alternative partnerships... Wish Hayes Corp continued success...Reputational concerns. They couldn’t even say her name. Two billion gone because of lies told by a woman who’d rather burn everything than stop hurting her daughter.“Fuck.”Behind me, a door opened. Camila padded into the hallway, barefoot, drowning in my shirt

Camila's POV"I still think you're lying about the color.""It's black, Camila. Very clearly black.""Your other suit was black. This one... maybe emo-black. Blackish."Lucien's sigh came through the phone, exasperated but amused. "There's no such thing as blackish.""Sure there is. It's the color of your suit right now.""Well... Is that bad?""No. It’s just another reminder you're leaving."There was a pause. His voice dropped a little. "Camila…" His voice softened. "If I could push this back—""But you can’t. I know, I know." I curled into myself. "Two days isn’t that long, right?""Feels long to me." Something rustled on his end. "Rafael’s not coming with me either. He has things to handle here.""So it’s really just you? Alone with a bunch of old European businessmen?""Apparently."Something in his tone didn’t sit right."Lucien—""Switch to video."I blinked. "What?""Video. Now. I want to see you."I switched. His face appeared seconds later.He stood in his bedroom, phone pro

The door clicked shut. Rafael's footsteps faded down the hall. I stood there frozen, his words echoing in my head."He hired the hitman who shot you."My legs gave out. I slid down the wall until I hit the floor, hands trembling so hard I tucked them between my knees.It couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t.But the pieces lined up too easily.I lifted my shirt. The pale, puckered scar sat there like a quiet accusation. I touched it, remembering the sting of antiseptic, the cold air of the hospital, the way every breath felt like glass.And Lucien—his face every time I winced, the way he held my hand through every exam, every painful shift. That fear couldn’t have been fake. No damn way it was.But he'd also kept my phone from me. All through recovery, I'd barely touched it. He'd said it was for rest, and I believed that, not control.My mind moved to the beginning: how I'd known he was playing games, how I let myself fall anyway, and how every wall I'd built had crumbled under his touc

"No." She was shaking her head. "No, that's not—" She collapsed onto the floor."Victor bailed me out of a lawsuit three years ago." I settled into the couch across from her, savoring the moment. "Cost him twenty-five million dollars. Quite the debt. So I joined his operation. Trafficking pays better than film, as it turns out."Her lips trembled before she pressed them tight."You were supposed to be one of many. A simple transaction." I leaned forward. "Your mother sold you for fifty thousand dollars. Did you know that? Fifty thousand. That's all you were worth to her.""Shut up.""But then you grabbed that knife." I smiled. "Stabbed Victor twice, which was quite impressive for someone your size.""I said shut up!" Her voice cracked."The moment I found you, covered in his blood, shaking and trying to lie your way out of it—I knew you were special. Not just another product. No, you were something better." I watched her eyes widen. "It won't work." She lifted her chin despite the ex