Chapter Six

Back at her apartment, Lydia sank into her couch, still reeling from Scott’s proposal. The surreal conversation kept replaying in her mind. A fake marriage? With Scott? It sounded like something out of a romance novel—only this was real, and the stakes were high.

She took a deep breath, trying to sort through her emotions. On one hand, she barely knew him. What if this arrangement complicated things beyond her control? There was her job, her own life to consider, and the fact that she had only met him a few days ago. The risks loomed large.

But on the other hand, Scott had been sincere, almost desperate. She could see the weight of his family’s expectations pressing down on him, and part of her couldn’t help but sympathize. She understood what it was like to feel cornered, to feel like there was no way to move forward without meeting other people’s demands. He’d even assured her that it would only be temporary, a simple contract marriage to appease his family.

Why me? she thought, brushing her fingers over her forehead, still in disbelief. There was something humbling in the way Scott had spoken to her, like he truly saw her as a good person and trusted her character. She wasn’t used to that kind of faith from someone, and the thought left her feeling both flattered and burdened.

Could she do it? Could she pull off pretending to be someone’s wife, even if it was only for a short time? Her life had always been fairly simple, and this would mean diving headfirst into Scott’s world—a world of wealth, family pressure, and scrutiny. She didn’t know if she was ready for that, but at the same time, there was something about Scott that made her want to try, to help him if she could.

She sighed, staring out the window as evening fell. Her coworkers’ warnings played faintly in her mind, a reminder to be cautious. But she sensed something genuine in Scott. He wasn’t asking her out of manipulation or for his own amusement. He seemed as caught in his family’s expectations as she felt trapped by her own worries.

With her mind made up, Lydia pulled out her phone, her heart pounding as she sent a quick message to Scott.

“Scott, I’d like to talk more about the… arrangement. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

As soon as she hit send, she felt a nervous thrill. She was stepping into unknown territory, but something told her that this strange path with Scott might lead to something unexpected. And she was ready to see where it might take her.

~

Scott sat in his office, leaning back in his chair as he replayed his meeting with Lydia over and over in his mind. He hadn’t been able to shake the look on her face—the mix of shock, uncertainty, and maybe, just maybe, a glimmer of curiosity. He’d half-expected her to laugh, or simply walk out, but instead, she’d listened, as if she were genuinely considering it.

Now, staring at her message on his phone, he felt a strange combination of relief and tension. She’d agreed to meet again to discuss the arrangement, but he had no idea what she was thinking. Had she found his request absurd? Or maybe she thought he was using her. It was impossible to tell, and the thought kept gnawing at him.

He had never thought he’d find himself in a situation like this—sitting in his office, strategizing not about a business merger but about a possible contract marriage. What’s she thinking? he wondered, drumming his fingers on the desk. Lydia had a warmth and honesty about her that was rare in his world. She wasn’t someone who could be easily swayed or impressed by status or wealth, and that made him feel… vulnerable, in a way.

Scott’s gaze drifted to the large windows of his office, the city lights twinkling against the evening sky. His family’s ultimatum weighed heavily on his shoulders, and yet, his mind kept drifting back to her. He was almost certain she’d had doubts, but she’d still messaged him—maybe out of curiosity, maybe out of kindness, or maybe… because she understood the pressure he was under.

The more he thought about her, the more he felt a growing respect for her. She wasn’t from his world, yet she hadn’t judged him. She had only asked questions, her eyes filled with a cautious empathy he hadn’t expected. That look had stayed with him, giving him hope that maybe, just maybe, she might be willing to help him.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, feeling more uncertain than he’d been in years. Whatever happened next, he knew he had to be careful. If Lydia agreed, he wanted to make sure she felt safe and respected. After all, she was about to step into his complicated life—and in that moment, Scott made a promise to himself that he’d do whatever it took to protect her, not just for his family’s sake, but because, deep down, he already cared about her more than he’d realized.