Chapter 4

ALLISON’S POV

I laid on the plush bed, with my phone held lazily in one hand as I played Candy Crush. It had been two weeks since I moved out of my parent’s house and into Ryan’s mansion. It was a whirlwind of a change, but I had to admit, I was loving every minute of it.

Most days, I’d wake up early, get dressed, and head to college from Ryan’s house. But some days, like today, I’d decide to stay home and study. Ryan’s mansion was a peaceful oasis, and I found myself getting more work done here than I ever did at home.

But despite the peace and quiet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Ryan was always watching me. He’d often appear in the doorway of my room, a small smile on his face as he’d ask me what I was up to. It was a little unnerving, but at the same time, it made me feel safe and protected.

My phone buzzed, disrupting my game. Ryan’s name flashed across the screen. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he wanted now. I sighed and answered.

“ What?”

Ryan chuckled deeply from the other end of the line. “ Is that how you respond to your fiance?” He teased.

I shrugged, feeling a little defensive. “ It’s not like this marriage thing is real, Ryan. It’s all on paper, and it’s just for us to act like couples in public. You don’t expect me to act all lovey-dovey with you when we’re alone, do you?”

Ryan chuckled softly, “ Anyway, it’s not like I’m asking much from you, Allison.”

“ Have you seen the tabloids?”

I shook my head, feeling a little curious.

“ No. Why?”

“ You’re going to classes today, right?”

I nodded, wondering where this was going. “ Yes.”

“ I’ll advise that after this call, you check it, before leaving for classes. Because you need to be mentally prepared for whatever attention and questions that’s gonna come your way.”

I frowned, feeling a little confused. “ I don’t know what you’re talking about, but anyway...”

I opened my phone, and my eyes widened as I saw the news headlines. “ Ryan West Officially Engaged to First Daughter of Genovese’s...”

I stared at my phone in shock, my eyes fixed on the news headline. “ Ryan West Officially Engaged to First Daughter of Genovese’s...”

I felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why did he have to announce it? Didn’t he know how much attention it would bring?

I quickly dialed Ryan’s number, my heart raced with anticipation. But to my surprise, he didn’t pick up. I knew he was seeing my calls, but he was deliberately ignoring me.

I gritted my teeth in frustration and dialed the secretary’s number instead. “ Hand the phone over to your boss, right now,” I demanded, my voice rising in anger.

The secretary hesitated, clearly taken aback by my tone. “ I-I’m sorry, Miss Allison. Mr. Ryan is in a meeting right now...”

But I cut him off, my anger boiling over.

“ Just give him the phone! Now!”

There was a pause, and then I heard Ryan’s voice on the other end of the line. “ Allison, what’s wrong?” He asked, his tone calm and collected.

But I was having none of it. “ Did you have to announce it?” I yelled, my voice echoed through the phone. “. Did you have to make it public? What were you thinking?”

“ Why did you announce it first before informing me?” I demanded, my voice shook with anger.

Ryan’s calm tone was starting to get on my nerves. “ I didn’t even think that we were going to announce it publicly,” I continued. “

Ryan’s voice came through with a brief pause. “ Hold on a sec, Allison. Do you think that you would be able to get back your mom’s company by keeping everything private?”

I felt a surge of frustration. “ Ryan, don’t forget the base of our relationship. You know that after all this is over, we’ll go our separate ways and get a divorce. It’s a contract marriage, after all.”

Ryan’s voice was smooth as silk. “ So, divorcing for stars isn’t something that’s uncommon...it’s normal and it’s nothing new...”

But I wasn’t interested in hearing his justification. “ I know I can’t refuse, but I don’t like the idea of just going with the flow of things,” I said, my voice firm.

Without waiting for his reply, I hung up and started getting ready for school. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Ryan’s games right now.

I quickly got dressed and headed downstairs, my mind still reeled from the conversation with Ryan. I couldn’t believe he had announced our engagement without even telling me first.

I walked into the kitchen and found Maria, the maid, busy making breakfast. She smiled at me and asked if I wanted some pancakes or eggs. I shook my head, still feeling a bit upset. “Just coffee, please,” I said.

Maria nodded and handed me a cup of steaming hot coffee. I took a sip, feeling the caffeine kick in and clear my head a bit.

As I drank my coffee, I couldn’t help but think about Ryan’s words. He was right, of course. Divorcing for stars was nothing new. But that didn’t mean I had to like it. And it didn’t mean I had to go along with everything Ryan wanted without questioning it.

I finished my coffee and headed out the door, feeling a bit more determined.

I couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises Ryan had in store for me.

As I walked out of the mansion, I was immediately surrounded by an entourage of bodyguards.

I felt a little self-conscious about the fuss, but I knew it was all part of being engaged to Ryan West. He was a high-profile celebrity, and his fiancée was bound to attract attention.

The bodyguards escorted me to the car, a sleek black SUV with tinted windows. I slid into the backseat.

As we drove to college, I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. I was still getting used to the idea of being part of Ryan’s world, and it was a lot to take in.

The bodyguards were discreet, but I knew they were always watching, always waiting for any sign of trouble. It was a little unnerving, but I knew it was all part of the package.

As we arrived at college, I could feel the eyes of my classmates on me. They whispered and pointed, no doubt speculating about my engagement to Ryan.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, my head held high. I was determined to navigate this new world with confidence and poise.

The bodyguards fell into step beside me, their eyes scanning the crowds as we made our way to my first class. I felt a little like a celebrity, but I knew it was all just part of the show.

As soon as I stepped into college, my best friend and roommate, Cathy, walked up to me with a huge grin on her face. “ Oh my God, are you really the one I saw on the news? Like, you’re all over the news, girl!” she exclaimed.

I sighed tiredly and shook my head.

“ Cathy, I’m too stressed for any of this right now.”

But Cathy was undeterred. “ Have you checked the group chat?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “ No, I haven’t.”

Cathy let out a loud squeal. “ There’s absolutely no way you just got married to every girl’s dream man!”

I felt a flutter in my belly at her words, but I acted all tough outwardly. “ Yeah, it’s nothing to be excited about,” I said nonchalantly.

But Cathy was not buying it. “ Girl, you should be careful. There are lots of girls who have a huge crush on your fiancé. And your life is going to be even tougher than usual.”

I shrugged. “ There’s nothing they can do. Nothing physical, at least. They’re all aware of the backing I have now.”

Cathy squinted her eyes at me. “ Your confidence needs to be checked.”

We both burst into laughter, and for a moment, I forgot about all the drama and stress that came with being engaged to Ryan West.

As I walked out of my last class of the day, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. I was looking forward to heading back to Ryan’s mansion and just relaxing for the rest of the day.

But as I turned a corner, I was confronted with a face I hadn’t seen in a while. Carter, my ex-boyfriend and his clique of friends, standing in front of me, a smug look on his face.

I felt a surge of anger and hurt, and I quickly turned away from him, muttering

“ Bastard” under my breath.

I walked over to my locker and started putting away my books, still feeling Carter’s eyes on me. I ignored him and tried to walk past him, but he reached out and grabbed my arm.

I spun around, my eyes flashing with anger. “ What are you doing?” I demanded.

Carter’s eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the possessiveness and obsession still burning in them. “ We need to talk,” He said, his voice low and urgent.

I shook my head, trying to pull my arm out of his grasp. “ We have nothing to talk about, Carter. And shouldn’t you be with your fiancée? I heard she’s pregnant.”

Carter’s face darkened, and he pulled me into a corner, away from Cathy and the other students. “ This isn’t the time for this, Allison.” He growled.

I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest. “ And this isn’t the time to bug me,” I shot back.

Carter’s eyes flashed with anger, and he took a step closer to me. I could feel his breath on my face, and I knew I had to get out of there before things escalated.