Pretend to be mine tonight (GXG)

Chapter 1

Alexandria's POV

I reached for my phone and tapped the screen to silence its relentless beeping. Groaning, I buried my face in my pillow, cursing the harsh morning light that seeped through the curtains. I instantly regretted not closing them more securely last night.

It was 5:30 a.m.—my usual wake-up time. I allowed myself a minute to linger in bed before starting my morning routine. With a weary groan, I dragged myself to the kitchen for a bottle of water and then headed out for my run.

By 6:30, I was back home, taking a cold shower to help clear my foggy mind. I let the water run over my face a few extra moments, hoping to cool my racing thoughts. Wrapped in a towel, I headed to my bedroom, acutely aware that I was running a few minutes behind schedule.

I quickly dressed in black pants and a white button-up shirt, tucking it in and adjusting the collar. My mother's favorite watch adorned my wrist, and I let my curls cascade freely down my back. After a final glance in the mirror, I headed out, bracing myself for the long day ahead, which I wasn't entirely prepared for.

Since my parents' death, I had lived with my uncle David and his wife Angela. They loved me like a daughter and tried to mend my strained relationship with my grandfather, but to no avail. My grandfather only seemed interested in having me settle down, start a family, and take over the company.

Vieria was a prestigious brand known for its high heels, and my grandfather envisioned me as the future CEO. But I had different plans for my life.

Last night, David called, asking me to come over at dawn. He sounded panicked, and I could already guess what the conversation would be about. I wasn't ready to hear it, but I couldn't turn him down. I didn't want to hurt him, but I knew I couldn't agree to his proposal. I pulled up to his house and turned off the ignition, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. There was no point in delaying the inevitable, so I got out and walked to the front door.

David greeted me with a strained attempt at cheerfulness. "How are you, Alex?" he asked, his voice trembling. I observed his nervous body language.

He cracked his knuckles and looked away, clearly anxious.

I sat on the couch, crossing my legs and waiting for them to speak. I would have started the conversation, but I wasn't sure what to say. I usually only spoke when necessary, which was often rare.

After an awkward silence, they sat down opposite me. Angela offered a weak smile, which I met with a challenging glare, daring them to broach the topic of marriage once more. She nudged David, signaling him to start.

David cleared his throat. "We missed you. Are you excited about your new job?" he asked, trying to make small talk. I rolled my eyes, expecting him to get to the point.

"Alexandria," Angela said, rubbing the back of her neck and looking away.

"No," I interrupted, uncrossing my legs and resting my hands on my knees.

"You don't even know what you're saying no to," Angela muttered, displeased.

"No. I will not marry just to please your father-in-law. I refuse to sacrifice my life because he thinks he can control me," I said, trying to remain calm despite my rising anger.

"Alex, we know it's unfair to you, but he's threatened to take away our house and my job..." David pleaded, as if that would change my mind.

"Really? You want me to marry someone I don't even know to save the mansion you're living in and your job? That's selfish. This is your problem, not mine. Your house for my life?" I snapped, making both of them flinch. Normally, I would have felt guilty, but not today.