Semua Bab Pretend To Be Mine; Bound To My Brother's Bestfriend : Bab 1 - Bab 10

CHAPTER 1Zendaya's POV I wheeled myself up the driveway of Derek's house, my heart pounding with an excitement I hadn't felt in three years. My fingers gripped the wheels of my chair tightly as I maneuvered toward the front door, imagining the look on his face when I told him the news. When I showed him that I could finally walk again.Dr. Patterson's words still echoed in my mind. "You can walk, Zendaya. Your legs are strong enough now."I'd stood in that hospital room, trembling but standing, and the first person I'd wanted to share this miracle with was Derek. My fiancé. The man who'd been by my side through these difficult years, who'd promised to love me no matter what.Well, that's what I'd believed anyway.The front door was unlocked, which wasn't unusual. Derek often left it open when he was home. I pushed it open and wheeled myself inside, calling out, "Derek? Baby, are you home?"No response.I frowned, moving further into the house. Maybe he was in his study. He often wor

Chapter 3Zendaya’s povThe rest of what happened was a blur. All I could remember was Adrian’s cold voice warning them to stay off me. With their curious eyes still watching us and their mouths to the floor, Adrian carried me in his arms to his car. An hour later, I sat in Adrian's living room, my wheelchair positioned near the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. My brother handed me a cup of tea, his expression tight with concern as he settled onto the couch across from me."Tell me everything," he said quietly.And I did. The words came pouring out between sobs I couldn't control—how I'd gone to Derek's house excited to see him, how I'd overheard him with Vanessa, every cruel word they'd said about me. About how I was a burden, an embarrassment, a cripple not worth loving."He only stayed because Vanessa told him I was going to inherit Dad's company," I choked out, wiping at my tears with the back of my hand. "He thought I'd make him rich. And when he found out you

CHAPTER 5Zendaya’s povThe next two days were torture.I tried to avoid Malachi, I really did. But living under the same roof made it impossible. Every turn I made, every room I wheeled into, he was there. In the kitchen making coffee in the morning. In the hallway carrying files to Adrian's study. In the living room reading through contracts with that intense focus that made my stomach flip.And every time our eyes met, the air between us crackled with tension."Good morning," he'd say, his voice carefully neutral."Morning," I'd reply, wheeling past him as quickly as I could.But I could feel his eyes on me. Could feel the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us like a storm cloud ready to burst.The worst part was during meals. Adrian insisted we all eat together—breakfast and dinner at least. He was so happy to have both of us there, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension that made every bite of food stick in my throat."So Zendaya, I've scheduled your first board meetin

CHAPTER 7Zendayas POV Victor's face had gone from red to purple, his carefully controlled mask slipping."This is absurd!" Victor's voice cut through the silent chaos. "Convenient doesn't even begin to describe this. An engagement announced at the exact moment she's about to lose her position? You expect us to believe that?""I expect you to believe the truth," Malachi replied calmly, his hand still resting on my shoulder. The weight of it felt both grounding and terrifying."Then prove it," Victor challenged, crossing his arms. "When did this engagement happen? Why keep it secret? Why announce it now?"Malachi didn't miss a beat. "We've been in a relationship since college. We broke up and came back together about a month ago. Long-distance for only a short amount of time while I was in Europe completing my education and working for my father's company. We kept it private because of the distance and because Zendaya was focused on her recovery from the accident."I sat frozen in my

CHAPTER 9Zendaya Adrian left the office to make some calls, leaving Malachi and me alone.The silence felt suffocating.I gripped the armrests of my wheelchair, my knuckles turning white. The anger I'd been holding back while Adrian was in the room came flooding out all at once."How dare you," I said, my voice shaking. "How dare you make such a huge decision without consulting me first?"Malachi leaned against Adrian's desk, his expression infuriatingly calm. "We've already been through this, Zendaya.""Why?," I snapped. "You stood there and told Adrian it was for him, that you did it to help your friend. But what about me? What about what I want? You just trapped me into a marriage, Malachi. A fake marriage that I never agreed to.""Trapped you?" Malachi's eyebrow rose, and a smirk played at the corner of his mouth. "That's what you think this is? A trap?""What else would you call it?""I'd call it a solution to a problem," Malachi replied, pushing off the desk. "But if you want