CHAPTER 5: Façade

Kyros quickly scrambled for an excuse. “Don’t overthink it. Her dad helped me in the past. I simply want to return the favor.”   

If he had said this before, I might have believed him. But at this point, only Royal, the administration, and Stella herself knew about her situation. Maybe Stella was pressuring him now, which would explain why he wasn’t wasting any time.   

“Kyros, I’ll be the one facing consequences in the sorority. I already told them my dad cut off his support—I can’t keep helping Stella. It’s not right for me to cover someone else’s expenses with money I don’t have. What would your family think of me?”   

His frown deepened. “Just do this once, Gazelle. I’ll be covering the cost. Why must you be so stubborn about this?”   

The moment his voice rose, he tensed, uneasy with his outburst. I met his gaze with indifference.   

“I… I’m sorry. You’re right.”   

Without another word, he left the villa, undoubtedly rushing to console his mistress. 

Pain twisted in my chest, but I refused to break. 

*** 

“Stella’s annual funds came from your fiancé’s office, but he still put them under your name,” Royal informed me as soon as I met her at her office.   

Of course, he did.  

“You know how fast gossip spreads in the sorority. My cheating fiancé wanted to save her face.” I dragged both hands down my face, trying to quell the frustration bubbling inside me.   

Royal’s expression darkened. “I can’t believe it. Everyone knew Kyros was madly in love with you. What businessman or socialite wasn’t familiar with your relationship? Stella was fully aware of this and still deliberately pursued Kyros?”   

“And that’s exactly why his betrayal hurt so much.” My throat tightened. “Roy, you know what happened two years ago when my dad married Cristina.” 

Her lips compressed into a tight line. She had to know. After all, Cristina wasn’t just anyone—she had been my friend.   

My family had built its empire in the petroleum business. Cristina had been my university classmate, someone I’d trusted enough to let stay at our mansion. I had even secured her position in the Sinclair corporate college program, using my family connections to help advance her future. 

After my mother’s passing, Cristina revealed her true character. Barely a month following my mother’s funeral, my father announced their marriage. 

That was when Cristina finally admitted the truth: she had deliberately seduced my father while my mother was still alive, determined to marry into our family. She confessed it so easily as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She even laughed as she recalled how she had gotten my father into her room—under our roof.   

She didn’t try to hide how envious she had been of my life.   

The thought of my father doing something so unforgivable shattered me. Cristina was my age—he had married a woman who could have been his daughter. 

I exhaled sharply. “If Kyros truly loved me as he claimed, he wouldn’t have betrayed me.”   

Royal hesitated. “Are you sure they have a relationship? I mean… perhaps there’s another explanation.” 

Even Royal struggled to believe that Kyros, who was always so devoted to me, could betray me like this. 

My stomach clenched as last night’s memory resurfaced. “I saw it with my own eyes, Roy. I came home and caught them.” My voice hardened. “I’m not making baseless accusations.”   

Her frustration toward my fiancé was evident from her stiff posture and clenched jaw.  

“Then what are you going to do? If your engagement dissolves, your family could face significant consequences. The Ferreros and the Sinclairs have business ties, don’t they?”   

It wasn’t my obligation. But I understand my father’s capability to manipulate circumstances until I have no choice but to proceed with the Ferrero alliance. 

“I know! That’s why I can’t just break things off recklessly. I have to be strategic,” I insisted.   

Royal tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her desk. “If you want to keep the business ties between your families, you could marry his brother instead. That way, the alliance stays intact, and you can free yourself from Kyros.”   

I frowned. Maximus? He was a pervert—a control freak.   

He used to write me letters that sent chills down my spine! 

Every time we crossed paths, he undressed me with his eyes, making my skin crawl. I avoided him as much as possible at family gatherings or social events.   

I remembered the last time I saw him—five years ago. I had been barely nineteen when Maximus cornered me at a charity gala and whispered, “When you eventually decide to leave Kyros, inform me immediately. I’ll arrange our marriage without delay.” 

I had brushed it off then. Maximus had always felt like a predator lying in wait, ready to pounce. Being around him made me uneasy, and I was convinced his offer was nothing more than a twisted game—another way to get back at his brother, Kyros, considering their strained relationship.   

Royal’s expression suddenly brightened. “Before I forget—the Department of Health has requested the sorority’s participation in the RuralCare Foundation initiative. Given your overwhelming wedding preparations, I didn’t burden you with this information. However, if you’re interested in traveling to Northwindbrook, I could draft a formal letter to your hospital director requesting your involvement.”   

“I’ll go,” I said without hesitation.   

“But it’s up north, Gazelle. It’s freezing out there. Won’t that be a problem for you?”   

“It undoubtedly will,” I admitted. “But at this point, I’d rather be anywhere but here. I can’t stand how easily Kyros lies to my face. This trip gives him and Stella the perfect opportunity—and I need you to help me gather proof of their affair, Roy.”   

*** 

A week passed, and Kyros and I set off for his family’s nearest farmhouse. Along the way, we decided to stop at a nearby diner for a meal. But as we ate, I couldn’t ignore how Kyros fidgeted, his unease palpable.   

His phone illuminated with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen with a poorly concealed alarm before hastily declining it. 

When the device rang for the third time, I gave him a curious look.   

“Aren’t you going to answer? It could be something important from the office,” I prompted.   

“You’re right.” He sighed in relief, glad I had given him an excuse. “I’ll just be a moment.” 

He picked up his phone, quickly kissed my forehead, and stepped outside.   

I followed discreetly, positioning myself behind the glass door where I could observe him. He stood with his back to the entrance, completely unaware of my presence. 

“What are you trying to do?” he asked in a low, frustrated tone. “Have you ever considered how Gazelle might take this the wrong way?”   

A pause followed as he listened to the person on the other end.  

“We agreed to this setup clearly… You don’t have the right to be hurt… Please don’t cry… I’ll return soon, I promise.”   

A server passed by, casting me a puzzled look, probably wondering why I was eavesdropping. Without a word, I slipped her a fifty-dollar bill—just to ensure her silence.   

She grinned. Satisfied, I returned to my seat and sipped my milkshake, feigning indifference. But inside, I already knew. I knew precisely what Kyros was up to.   

So, when he finally returned and laid out his excuse, I played my part.   

“I’m sorry, babe,” he said with a regretful sigh. “Dad assigned me an urgent business trip. I have to head back to Bryston City right away.”   

I allowed my shoulders to slump slightly. “That’s truly disappointing. I thought we’d finally have quality time together, especially since work keeps us busy.”   

“I know. I’m genuinely sorry about this,” he said, reaching for my hand. “But the company has approved an extended leave for our honeymoon. When that time comes, my attention will be exclusively yours.”   

I smiled, forcing warmth into the expression, even as disappointment and betrayal twisted like a knife in my chest. 

‘You’ll come to regret treating me this way, Kyros.’