All Chapters of The Man I Shouldn't Want: A Game of Seduction & Lies: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

“Hayley Murphy's Funeral: Mike Cooper Jones Clashes with Grieving Father.”The headline is accompanied by a photo of Mike standing stoic in the doorway while Hayley’s father is mid-shout, his face twisted with grief and rage. The article paints Mike as the calm figure in a storm of accusations, and Hayley’s father as a grieving man consumed by his emotions. Then, a brief mention of me: “Natalie Jones made a fleeting appearance, notably quiet and distant amid the chaos.”I sigh, setting the phone aside. The picture of me, staring blankly at the funeral’s entrance, is burned into my memory. They don’t know what I was really there for. Hell, I barely know myself. I’m sitting at the kitchen table in my penthouse, waiting for Ric. He said he’d be here soon, and the thought of his presence calms the chaotic mess in my chest, even if just for a moment. I push myself to move, heading to the kitchen to cook a quick meal. The motions are automatic — open the fridge, slice the vegetables, h

Ric comes home when I’m already done replaying the recording at least a dozen times. He knows at once that something is wrong — maybe it’s clearly written on my face. He simply offers a smile, his eyes softening before he wraps his strong firm arms around me. The hug allows me to breathe steadily once again, dissolving the creases that have formed on my forehead. At one point he thinks I’ve had enough and tries to let go, but I throw my arms tighter around his frame. Ric buries his face into my neck, and I feel his smile against the nape. He hooks his arms around my hips and picks me up effortlessly, taking me to the bedroom. Placing me softly against the edge of the bed, he gets on his knees. Now, I try to let go, withdrawing my arms, but a groan of protest erupts at the back of his throat as he snuggles into my chest, pulling me close against him. A sigh escapes my lips as I place my chin on his head, running my fingers through his hair, that’s somehow still soft despite some of

“Well, what the hell are you doing here, Dad? Finally come to check in on your only living child?” I counter with a venom-filled voice.He flinches, shaking his head subtly as he walks towards me. His cruel eyes study my face. “So it’s true then… all those vile rumours.”Then without a warning, he slaps me across my face. "You whore!" he barks as his hand connects with my cheek. The impact throws me off my feet, sending me tumbling into the carpet on the floor. I taste the faux fur against my lips, mingled with the taste of blood.A growl erupts, and Ric jumps at my father, pinning him to the floor. “How dare you hit her?” he snaps, one his hand curled into a first, hanging mid-air, ready to throw a skull-cracking punch. The other hand tightens around my father's neck, threatening to suffocate him.I gulp hard, blinking the tears that fill my eyes as I get back to my feet. Blood trickles down my slip lip as I watch the two.My father chokes through Ric's grip. “It’s true. You bastard!

Anya doesn’t blink. “You’re going to fake date Chris Matthews.”The words hang in the air, freezing the space between us. “Excuse me?”I turn to Meera with a gaping mouth to make sure I heard right, and I find her with her head lowered in guilt. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you warn me before?”Meera swallows. “At least hear her out—”“No!” I cut her off, snapping my head back at Anya. “What is this, some sick joke? Fake date Chris? In what world did you think I’d agree to this?”Anya’s face is unchanged, a mask of stone as she simply mutters, “Take a moment and think about it. You’re smart enough to figure that out. Or at least, I hope you are. Ric hasn’t turned your brain all to mush yet, has he?”I glare at her, but push down the anger that threatens to bubble up. Anya is calculative, she has always been the smartest in the room with the most cunning ideas. It’s why she is so good at her job. She knows how to get her hands on things and twist them so they work in favor of whoeve

Ric’s brows knit together in a slight frown, and his arm tightens around me, as though bracing himself for whatever I’m about to say.“It’s about Chris,” I continue, my throat dry. The words feel like shards of glass scraping their way out. “Anya set up this entire PR thing… to improve my image. And part of it involves—” I hesitate, swallowing hard. “Fake dating him. For the cameras, for the media. To sell the story of our movie.”The silence that follows is deafening.Ric’s eyes darken, his jaw tightening. He doesn’t speak immediately, and that’s somehow worse than if he had exploded. “For the cameras,” he repeats, his voice controlled, but with an unmistakable edge.“Yes,” I say quickly, trying to get ahead of the brewing storm. “It’s not real, Ric. It’s all calculated. Just appearances for the sake of publicity.”His gaze locks onto mine, unrelenting. “And you agreed to this?”I hesitate, and that pause makes him sigh. “I don’t want you to see this—” I begin, panic filling my voi