Aaron’s voice, laced with amusement, reached my ears.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a paid day off.”
Alright, fine.
It wasn’t like I had any urgent work anyway–hah!
Wait, no.
My mind snapped awake.
1/3
Chapter 15
“Hold on, Mr. Ford, do you remember we’re just faking our relationship?”
How could fake couples sleep together like this?
This wasn’t right!
A hand reached over and covered my mouth.
Huh? He wouldn’t even let me speak the truth?
So much for catching up on sleep.
+25 BONUS
It turned out one of Aaron’s insufferable friends, having heard he was “off the market,” had organized a gathering behind his back. They picked tonight–conveniently when he was free–and insisted he bring me along.
While driving there, I noticed Aaron’s expression was pitch black.
I laughed. “Mr. Ford, I didn’t know you’d be so angry about being waked up.”
Aaron shot me a calm sidelong glance.
“You’re calling me the wrong name again.”
I wasn’t falling for that this time.
“Well, actually, it’s perfectly normal for couples to still call each other formal names. Don’t you think, Mr. Ford?”
“Is that so? Then, should I call you darling?”
“Alright, fine. Shut up. I’ll call you Aaron, then,” I thought
The venue turned out to be a bar with bold, punk–inspired decor.
“This must be the future Mrs. Ford!”
A guy grinned as he shook my hand.
>
2
“Hello, Mrs. Ford! Nice to meet you!”
The group immediately joined in, teasing and laughing.
“Didn’t expect Aaron to secretly start dating without saying a word.”
“Haha, and with such a grand gesture, no less!”
Even a quieter girl couldn’t help but tease with a smile.
“I thought this ice block would never melt.”
The group, a mix of men and women, were apparently Aaron’s old teammates from university. They had started a business project together and were still close, according to him.
Aaron watched me quietly as I got swept into the noisy crowd, his expression calm.
“Don’t go overboard, Claire’s shy,” he finally said.
I gritted my teeth and forced a smile.
“Shy, my foot,” I thought.
I was putting on an Oscar–worthy performance here.
–2/3
+25 BONUS
Chapter 15
Still, as I watched this boisterous group, a realization hit me.
Aaron was two years younger than me–a junior–and only twenty–two years old now.
Yet the weight he carried on his shoulders far surpassed what someone his age should bear.
By the time the gathering was halfway through, Aaron had already been pushed to drink quite a bit.
From their conversation, I finally pieced together what had happened. Back in university, they’d made a bet about when Aaron would start dating.
At the time, Aaron had coldly and dismissively declared he would never like anyone.
Well, now the tables had turned, and it was a slap in the face for him.
So, tonight’s gathering had been arranged as part of the bet and Aaron hadn’t said anything–he just brought me along.
It turned out he was fulfilling the wager.
I noticed the faint flush at the corner of Aaron’s eyes, his gaze slightly unfocused from the alcohol. It dawned on me that I should probably step up and play the part of the “girlfriend.”
But before I could move, the quiet girl who had teased Aaron earlier sat down in front of me.
“Claire.”
I froze for a second.
“You know me?”
The girl smiled mischievously.
“It’s not just me. Everyone here who’s friends with Aaron knows about you.‘
I was taken aback, unsure of what she meant.
“Well, to be exact, they didn’t know who you were specifically. But they knew Aaron had been secretly in love with a senior for nearly three years. From his first year of university, not long after classes started, all the way to his fourth year- he never let it go.”
“What are you talking about?” I was completely stunned now.
“I knew it. That stubborn fool wouldn’t tell you himself.”
A guy flopped down casually beside us. “This guy, tough on the outside but timid inside, liked you and didn’t dare confess. Back then, our bet was whether he’d end up with you someday or miss his chance and slowly forget you before finding someone else.”
“And in that bet, he’s the winner.”
She grinned. “So, tonight isn’t a punishment–it’s a celebration.”
