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I don’t know this woman at all and I have no real stake in this beyond wanting them to believe Daniel and I are engaged, but something compels me to comfort her. I reach out and grasp her hand, squeezing. “I believe you.”
Lily looks up, her eyes watery and her mouth pressed into a line.
“I really do love him,” she says, though the words are barely a whisper. “I’ve loved him since I was ten years old. Marc and Dan... They had a tough childhood, as I’m sure you know. They’re not easy to reach.”
“I’m seeing that.” Every time I try to ask questions about Daniel’s life, it’s like pulling teeth. He’s suspicious, waiting for an ulterior motive to reveal itself.
“The press hounded them when their father split. Imagine that? Asking two teenage boys what they thought of their father having an affair and leaving them.”
No wonder Daniel is so guarded. “That’s awful.”
“It took me proposing to Marc three times before he said yes.”
I blink. “Youproposed to him?”
“Sure, why not?” Lily lifts one shoulder into a shrug and despite the tense situation, a cheeky smile blossoms on her lips. “I’m an independent woman who knows what she wants. I don’t need to wait around for him to ask me.”
“Amen to that.” I reach for my wineglass and hold it up in salute before taking a sip. “Good for you.”
“To be honest, Ineverthought Daniel would get married. He’s been vocal about it for years and I know he was worried about Marc and me when we tied the knot. So, you must be pretty special.” Lily touches my shoulder. “I’m glad he’s found someone like you. I can tell you have a big heart.”
My stomach churns. I’m categoricallynotspecial, not when sitting next to a woman with a body fit for modelling lingerie and bikinis. And especially not for a man like Daniel, whose opinions won’t be changed by anything. The fact that we’re in this outrageous scenario is proof—who would be comfortable faking an engagement, except a person who didn’t believe in the sanctity of marriage?
I’m a means to an end. Nothing more.
But does that stop me being utterly intrigued and fascinated by him? Does it stop me wondering what it might be like to be loved by someone like him?
“Thank you.” I barely manage to choke the words out. Guilt churns like sea foam in my stomach, whipped up by the storm of my emotions.
I’m lying to these people. I’m lying to my own family. My friends. It’s not right.
But before I have a chance to dwell on it too long, Daniel storms back into the room looking like a god about to enter battle. His eyes are blazing chips of onyx and his jaw is granite hard.
“We’re leaving,” he announces, and doesn’t break his stride on the way to the opulent house’s front door.
I exchange a glance with Lily and she reaches in to give me a quick hug of solidarity. Something tells me it’s going to be a long night.
CHAPTER TEN
Daniel
THEENTIREWAYhome I don’t say a word, and neither does Ava. I’ve shown her the worst side of my family tonight—the ugliest, darkest parts I’ve worked my whole life to hide away. The parts I’m ashamed of.
But my brother is a fool. He claims to have seen a photo of Lily and me kissing—a photo that I know cannot exist. Either he’s lying...or someone else is lying. All I know is that I never laid a hand—or any other part of me—on his wife.
By the time we make it home, I’m all but shaking with anger. I need a shower and then I need a stiff drink.
“I’m sorry you had to be party to that,” I say as we enter my apartment.
Ava grips her bag against her stomach like she needs a shield. I can’t say I blame her. “All families have baggage.”
The apartment is dark. The huge windows show a view of Melbourne at night—lights reflecting off the rippling river, cars trickling along the streets. The sky is a blanket of navy velvet and for some reason, I think of the ring on Ava’s finger.
I shrug out of my jacket and sling it over the back of the couch. “Even yours?”
She lets out a hollow laugh. “Uh, yeah. My mother thinks the only way I can live a decent life is to find a man to support me, and my father is a ghost.”
“What does that mean?”
