hite sheets she had ever touched. The curtains were thick and heavy, keeping out the morning sun. The air smelled like l

hing came r

in the living room. And the most ridiculous thing of all is his proposa

sheets over her head. "What did I

up in public with him, smile for cameras, and help him save his spotless reputation after a messy bre

't feel sim

a page from a magazine with marble counters, shiny silver appliances, and not a crumb

ine. Early meeting.

he was too busy for full w

. "God forbid the billion

ch, dark, and perfect, just like everything else in this penthouse. She

etending to be someone's fian

aunt's tired smile every time they counted coins. She nee

za stepped out, wiping flour off her hands. She'd spent the day b

longed on a movie poster: gray suit, silv

she said, glanc

in flour," he

er dress, cheeks flus

mell like cin

imbed into the car and folded her arms across her chest. The ride to th

e're going to La Couronne. It's a pla

And I'm just your pretty

alm after the storm. Peopl

ve

eed them to

him. "You're very ho

"Lying takes energy.

walked in together, her arm linked through his. She felt like everyone was wat

her slightly. "Re

rst. Then more naturally

s is Eliza," he'd say, and they would all smile polit

es that looked like art.

the table. He held a camera like it w

od, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small black box. Eli

d enough for the whole room

ze. This wasn't the plan. Not now. Not here. Sh

ed through his perfect fake s

hard. Her hear

ely more than a whisper at fir

ra clicked. Grayson took her hand and slid the ring onto her fin

omething almost like ki

mbushe

s nece

or more photos, sipping wine, pretending like th

he car, she yanked h

ld've wa

real. You being

sed! I nearly

you d

r the streetlight. It sparkled li

" she asked quietly. "The fake

his jaw tighte

not an

nly one you

e window and thought about the bakery. About Aunt May. About the rent t

penthouse, she walked ahea

he said suddenly

ut w

just a prett

m slowly. "Is th

get use

red at her hand. The ring looked perfect. And somethi