9. With all the facade

“I didn’t ask for this,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “You think I want to be part of this ridiculous game? If it were up to me, I’d be gone in a second. But I have a role to play, just like you do.”

Isabel’s eyes flared with anger, but I caught a flicker of uncertainty beneath the surface. She wasn’t used to being challenged, especially by me. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy the attention,” she snapped. “I see the way you look at him. You like the idea of being his wife, even if it’s all fake.”

Her words stung, but I stood my ground. Maybe there was some truth to what she was saying. Maybe part of me *did* get caught up in the idea of being with Ivan, even though I knew deep down it wasn’t real. But I wasn’t about to let her twist that into something ugly.

“You’re wrong,” I said firmly. “I’m not here for Ivan. I’m not here for any of this. I agreed to the marriage because it was part of the deal, but that’s it. So if you have a problem with the situation, take it up with