BE MY OBSESSION

CHAPTER 20

•SHELBY•

There was no way for me to escape this situation. The decision had already been made, the reporters had arrived, and the ring was back on my finger.

All I could do was stand beside him, wearing a forced smile, pretending to be happy and in love.

Love? 

How could I pretend to feel an emotion I had never truly known? It was something foreign to me, something I had never experienced in my entire life.

I had never been in love or had someone show me what it meant. Even my parents were skilled actors, pretending to know what love was when they didn't have a clue.

I called it fake love, and now I had to play that role in front of these people who had been observing my every move and documenting everything about me.

I glanced at my father, standing in front of the podium stand, delivering his speech to the reporters seated before us. My mind wandered, losing track of his words as I tried to process everything. Each camera flash brought me back to reality.

It was all happening too fast, and I couldn't keep up. I had no choice but to go along with the plan and wait for two weeks until the merger ceremony was over.

I turned to look at William, standing next to me. He seemed composed and relaxed, wearing a genuine smile.

I hate him. I wanted to wipe that smile off his face. I blamed him for causing all of this to happen.

If he had any respect left for me, he would have asked my father to wait until I arrived so we could discuss the matter together. But he did the complete opposite, and now I had to be cautious of his actions. Who knows? His next move might be my downfall.

He caught me staring at him and smiled. But it didn't reach his eyes, so I looked away. Suddenly, his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I tried to hide my surprise while maintaining my smile.

"What the hell do you think are you doing?" I snapped at him through clenched teeth.

"I'm playing my part. Now stop glaring at me and do yours," he retorted.

I scoffed and attempted to move away, but his grip remained tight.

"So, you expect me to act like I'm actually in love with you? Go to hell."

"Watch your tongue, Shelly. If you want Mr. Nakamura and others to believe that we're a couple and salvage our reputations, stop being difficult and do as you're told," he warned, his tone threatening, all while wearing a charming smile for the reporters.

"As soon as the merger ceremony is over, this whole charade is done. I want nothing to do with you," I declared.

He chuckled, his fingers digging into my skin through the thin fabric of my dress.

"That won't be a problem. I don't want to be a part of this any longer than you do. So don't think I'm actually enjoying being your fake fiancé."

I glanced at him, smirking. "Aww, is it because you're already losing half of your fangirls?"

"Exactly," he replied promptly. "At least they were way more fun than you are."

Annoyance coursed through me, and I clenched my jaw.

"Why, you little-"

"Give a round of applause to the future Mr. and Mrs. Fontane," my father interrupted, announcing our engagement.

The reporters clapped, cameras flashing, and I plastered a huge smile on my face. With William's arm still around me, we stepped forward, facing the crowd of reporters eager to capture the moment.

"Miss Falcon over here!"

"Miss Falcon, how does it feel to be newly engaged?"

"Miss Falcon, show us the ring!"

Ignoring the questions that irritated me, I held up my hand to display the ring, and the reporters buzzed with excitement, frantically snapping pictures.

"See, that wasn't so difficult," William commented by my side.

"Shut up," I replied.

He chuckled, amusement evident on his face. 

"You can at least put some effort into that smile. Act like you love me, Shelly. It shouldn't be that hard, considering you used to be head over heels for me."

His words swayed me, and it was challenging to keep smiling, especially when anger was bubbling inside me.

"You're not entirely wrong, but that was a long time ago, so don't get ahead of yourself. I can play the perfect fiancée you want me to be and still plan to kill you in your sleep."

He looked at me, smirking from the corner of my eye, while I faced the reporters.

"Hate is one thing, but violence doesn't suit you, babe. Perhaps you should consider therapy to sort out your issues," he dryly remarked.

A humorless chuckle escaped my lips. 

"The only time I'll consider therapy is after I've successfully got rid of you from my life, for good."

I finally looked at him, and our eyes locked in an intense gaze. Then, as if on cue, we both shifted our attention back to the reporters and resumed the act, appearing excited and deeply in love, with fake smiles for the cameras.