Valerie's POV
As Julien guided me out the door, his hand firm on my shoulder, I couldn't shake the feeling of Liam's eyes burning into my back. My mind was racing, tangled with a mess of emotions I didn't know how to sort out. The kiss with Liam had completely thrown me off—it had been... unexpected, electric, and, damn it, real. But now here I was, wrapped up in Julien's embrace, pretending like none of it had happened. It felt wrong. This whole situation felt wrong.
Julien's grip was too tight, like he was trying to assert some kind of control, trying to make a point. I knew the game he played, with his smooth talk and practiced charm. But deep down, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I was just another thing for him to possess, another pretty piece on display to fit into his perfect life. I hated it. I hated that he didn't really know me, didn't give a damn about who I was or what I wanted. Hell, I was starting to think he'd never even asked.
"Can we just get in the car?" I muttered, barely able to mask the annoyance creeping into my voice.
He shot me a sharp look. "What's with the attitude, Val? I'm just trying to be a good fiancé. I came to surprise you, remember?"
I forced a smile, knowing I had to keep up appearances. "Yeah, thanks for the 'surprise,'" I replied, barely keeping the sarcasm out of my voice.
Inside, I was screaming. This whole thing was a sham, and now, after that moment with Liam, it felt even worse. Julien's touch felt like a chain, a reminder of everything I was supposed to be, everything I was expected to do. But I didn't want that life, damn it. I wanted something real.
As we drove, I found myself spacing out, replaying the kiss with Liam in my mind. I'd felt alive in that moment, like I was finally breaking free from the suffocating routine that was swallowing me whole. And the way he'd looked at me afterward—it was raw, intense, like he saw me in a way no one else did. But now, here I was, pretending everything was fine when it was anything but.
"Are you even listening to me?" Julien's voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.
I blinked, realizing he'd been talking about his work, some bullshit about a business deal. I had no idea what he'd been saying, and honestly, I didn't care. "Yeah, sorry. Just tired, I guess."
He sighed, his tone filled with frustration. "Look, Valerie, if this marriage is going to work, you're going to need to be more present. This isn't a game."
The nerve of him. He didn't get it. He never would. "Yeah, well, maybe I don't give a damn about playing by your rules, Julien. Maybe I'm tired of pretending like everything you say matters."
He looked at me, surprised by my outburst, but I didn't care. I was done keeping it all bottled up. Done with being the perfect little fiancée he paraded around like some trophy.
"Valerie," he started, but I cut him off, my patience worn thin.
"Just shut up, Julien. I don't want to hear it," I snapped, crossing my arms and looking out the window, ignoring him for the rest of the drive.
Finally, we reached his place, and the second the car stopped, I bolted out, not waiting for him to open my door like he usually did. I needed space, air, anything to clear my head. But even with him gone, my thoughts spiraled back to Liam. To that kiss. To the way he made me feel alive.
A voice in my head, loud and clear, asked me what the hell I was doing. Why was I wasting my time with Julien when every part of me was telling me to take a chance on something real?
As I stood there, I knew what I had to do. I couldn't keep playing this game, couldn't keep pretending to be someone I wasn't. My mind was made up. And, damn it, I was going to find a way out of this mess, even if it meant walking away from everything I'd known.
Because life was too short to waste on someone who didn't see me, didn't care about the real me. I wanted something raw, something real—and I was done waiting around to find it.
