Christian’s POVThe man spoke before I could.“Babe,” he said lightly, nudging his girlfriend with a small laugh, “that’s not something you ask people like that. It’s obvious they’re in love.” I felt Zoey tense against me even before she tried to pull away. The woman did not back down; she looked at me directly now, her earlier softness gone, replaced with a sharper, more assessing gaze. She tilted her head slightly, lips curving in that polite-but-dangerous way some women had when they sensed a crack in the story.“So,” she said, eyes steady on mine, “are you really engaged… or is this just something you’re doing for tonight?”The question landed heavy and I felt it press against my chest. For a split second, I understood why Zoey had dragged me into that kiss, why she panicked, and why she hated being caught between truth and performance. I breathed in slowly, then I composed myself the way I always did in boardrooms, in negotiations, and in rooms full of men who thought money made
Last Updated : 2026-02-17 Read more