In the middle

As we settled into the lavish dining room, the atmosphere felt thick, almost suffocating. Conversations flowed freely around the table, laughter breaking through every now and then, but none of it reached me. I sat next to Jake, my hands folded tightly in my lap, feeling more like an accessory than a fiancée. His family was polite enough, but I could tell they didn’t really care about me. I was just the woman Jake had chosen to bring into their world for reasons they probably didn’t fully understand.

Jake was in his element, dominating the conversation with his usual charisma. He hadn’t bothered to introduce me to most of his family members, and I didn’t have the energy to try and make small talk. My mind was elsewhere, spinning with thoughts of how I had ended up here and what the next six months of my life would look like.

I felt out of place, like an actor in the wrong role, fumbling through a script that didn’t fit. Every glance from his family seemed to weigh heavier on me, every smile forced. I knew this dinner was just the first of many performances I’d have to put on, but the thought of keeping up the charade for six months was starting to feel impossible.

After picking at my food for a few minutes, I leaned toward Jake. "I need to use the restroom," I whispered.

Without even looking at me, Jake gave a curt nod. "Don’t take too long," he murmured, his attention already back on the conversation.

I stood up quickly, feeling a wave of relief as I stepped out of the dining room. The further I got from the table, the easier it became to breathe. The house was enormous, every hallway and room more grand than the last, but it all felt cold. Lifeless.

I turned down a quiet corridor, unsure where the restroom was but grateful for the brief moment of solitude. The silence was a balm to my nerves, giving me a moment to gather my thoughts.

Then I heard footsteps behind me. I paused, glancing over my shoulder, and my stomach clenched when I saw Liam approaching. His expression was serious, his steps slow and deliberate.

"Hey," he called softly as he reached me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded quickly, though I knew it was a lie. "I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine," Liam said, stopping a few feet from me. His tone wasn’t accusatory, but concerned. "Look, I know this is none of my business, but… why are you marrying Jake?"

The directness of his question took me by surprise, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. I opened my mouth, then closed it, unsure what to say. How could I possibly explain the mess I was in without giving away too much?

"It’s complicated," I finally replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Liam crossed his arms, leaning against the wall as he studied me. His gaze wasn’t harsh, but it was penetrating, as if he could see right through me. "I’m sure it is. But I can tell you’re not marrying him because you want to. You don’t even seem comfortable around him."

I swallowed hard, glancing away. My mind raced, trying to come up with an answer that would shut this conversation down without revealing too much. But the truth was written all over my face , threatening to spill out.

"Jake’s not the kind of guy who does anything out of the kindness of his heart," Liam continued, his voice soft but firm. "I’ve known my brother a long time. If you’re in trouble, there’s got to be another way. Whatever he’s offering you, it comes with strings."

"It’s not like that," I said quickly, but my voice lacked conviction. I knew Liam was right, at least about the strings. But what choice did I have? My mom needed surgery, and the medical bills were piling up. Jake’s offer, as twisted as it was, was the only lifeline I had.

Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. He wasn’t going to let this go easily. This is about money, isn’t it?"

I flinched. The truth was out there now, even if I hadn’t said it aloud. Liam could see through me, see the desperation I was trying so hard to hide. I opened my mouth to deny it again, but what was the point? He already knew.

"I’m not judging you," Liam said quietly, stepping closer. "I get it. If you’re in a tough spot, I’m sure this feels like your only option. But Jake’s not—"

"Liam," I interrupted, my voice trembling slightly, "I can handle this."

He hesitated, searching my face for something—maybe reassurance that I really was okay, that I knew what I was getting into. But I could tell he didn’t believe me.

Before Liam could say anything else, a cold, familiar voice sliced through the air.

"What’s going on here?"

I turned around, my heart sinking into my throat. Jake stood at the end of the hallway, his expression was dark, his eyes narrowed as he looked between me and his brother. There was no mistaking the tension that crackled in the air.

Liam didn’t flinch, though I could see his jaw tighten slightly. "Just having a conversation with Sophy."

Jake took a step forward, his gaze locking onto me with an intensity that made my stomach churn. "About what?"

"Nothing important," Liam said, his tone casual, but there was an undercurrent of defiance there, like he wasn’t afraid to stand up to his brother.

But Jake wasn’t buying it. His eyes flicked to me, his jaw clenched. "I told you not to take too long," he said, his voice low and tight.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his anger pressing down on me. "I was just… I’ll head back now."

Jake didn’t respond to me. His eyes were still on Liam, the tension between the two brothers palpable. Liam stood his ground, his hands slipping into his pockets as he met Jake’s gaze with a coolness that only seemed to irritate Jake more.

"Go back to the dining room," Jake finally said, his voice clipped. The command was clearly directed at me, though his eyes hadn’t left Liam.

I nodded quickly, my heart pounding in my chest as I slipped past Jake, my hands trembling slightly. The atmosphere in the hallway felt stifling, like I had walked into the middle of a battle I didn’t fully understand. As I hurried back to the dining room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were unraveling, and it was only a matter of time before everything fell apart.

When I reached the table, I sat down, my mind still spinning from the exchange in the hallway. Jake returned a few minutes later, his expression unreadable as he slipped back into his seat beside me. But I could feel the tension radiating from him, could sense the storm brewing just beneath the surface.

I forced myself to smile as the conversation at the table resumed, but my mind was elsewhere. Liam had seen through the cracks in the facade Jake and I had constructed, and I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before someone else did too.

This fake marriage was supposed to solve my problems, but now it felt like it was only creating more. And as I glanced at Jake from the corner of my eye, I couldn’t help but wonder how long I could keep up this act before it all came crashing down.