13 parts Ongoing His face immediately lit up. He lifted me in his arms and spun me around like a little princess. It was cute, but my focus wasn't on his grand gesture. The best part was that he had taken the bait. A laugh bubbled up from my chest at the sheer ridiculousness of the moment.
"So what now?" he asked, a wide grin on his face.
I froze.
What had I just done? It was an impulse, a moment where he had affected me so much I lost control. The terrifying truth hit me: he had a strong impact on me. I didn't want him to think I had accepted his confession or that I had real feelings for him. Attraction? Yes, maybe. But feelings? Absolutely not. My mind was set on one thing: getting free from my father and forging my own legacy. I had no time for distractions. But as I looked at him, he felt less like a distraction and more like a magnetic force, pulling me closer.
"That was a mistake," I began, my voice tight, looking down, trying to avoid his gaze. "I was just..."
"It's okay, I understand," he replied, releasing me from his embrace before I could finish.
My stomach dropped. I saw the disappointment and sadness in his eyes, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly bad. He had helped me with everything, and my only repayment was to give him false hope and break his heart. I was about to do something I never thought I would do, something that would surely lead to chaos, but I decided to do it anyway.
"Come here." I pulled him back in for another kiss. I needed to sell the lie, to make him believe it was real. I know using him is cruel but he would eventually see the monster I was and break up with me. It was the only way for him to get over me quickly.
