Careful What You Fake

Looks like Kayla really was pregnant!

That couldn't be more real now.

"If you've got something to do, then go ahead. Don't let me hold you up."

I grabbed my crutch and stood up, smiling as I saw them out. In my head, I was already thinking I needed to prepare some baby supplies to show my sincerity.

I happily called Selena and told her I used the money Kayla gave me to buy her a gift.

"A gift and you're still not happy?"

She clearly wasn't in a good mood. She didn't even let out her usual cold snort.

She didn't answer. She just hung up.

I called again, but she didn't pick up.

I sent messages too, but she didn't reply.

Everything had been fine. So why was she suddenly mad?

I spent one day thinking about it, two days analyzing it, and three days trying to figure it out.

Finally, I found my answer in a short video online.

It wasn't a direct answer, but I still bought blueberry desserts she liked. They were a new flavor. She would definitely talk to me after that.

There was no helping it.

For the past few days, Kayla had been ordered to stay in the bridal suite.

Even though she only showed up late at night, I still couldn't take it.

The way she stared at me so openly made my skin crawl. It was like she already knew exactly what she was going to do with me.

I decided I'd better get on Selena's good side, if only to make things easier on myself.

The next day, I quietly snuck out on my scooter, heading to the shop to pick up some desserts. I didn't have any reason other than wanting to score some brownie points.

After all, being away from a beauty for a few days was torture.

But at the corner, I ran into Yuvan, who was working a part-time job.

He was a scholarship kid, and people like him always had their pride. He wasn't the type to accept handouts. But right now he was cornered by a group of guys forcing alcohol down his throat, barely conscious.

I hesitated for half a second, then stepped in. I kicked the guys off Yuvan and pulled him out of there.

But he mistook me for someone else.

Even though he was drunk, his thoughts weren't.

I clearly heard his shock.

'Why is Benjamin here? Where's my Kayla? I clearly sent the message! I was supposed to put on this act for Kayla. How did he hijack it? Get lost, you ugly freak!'

When I heard that, I swallowed the comforting response I'd been about to give. I cursed myself for getting involved in Yuvan's business in the first place.

I dumped him on a barstool and was ready to leave when a thought suddenly popped into my head.

I'd been trying to figure out how to get Kayla off my back. She'd been hovering around me way too much lately. Looks like my chance just showed up.

I called Kayla. "I've got Yuvan. You've got fifteen minutes to get here."

'Damn it, Benjamin's using me to get to Kayla! I didn't think he'd be this ruthless! But I actually drank a lot to make it convincing. What do I do? I can't let him win!'

I listened to Yuvan's internal panic and felt nothing but tired.

Did it ever occur to him that my dessert pickup reservation was about to expire and Selena would actually stop talking to me if I missed it?

I gave Kayla fifteen minutes. She showed up in ten.

She had her driver haul Yuvan up and looked at me with open suspicion.

I knew she had it all wrong!

I rushed to explain myself, and even had the staff bring some hangover remedy just to prove my innocence. I tuned out Yuvan's nonstop cursing in my head, strapped on my helmet, and got out of there.

I didn't notice the Cullinan parked just down the street.

As I rushed to the shop to grab my desserts, I received a text message.

[Come with me to the Shelton family's party tomorrow.]

It was the first time Kayla had ever texted me.

I replied, snapped a photo of the desserts, and sent it to Selena. She didn't reply right away.

I stressed about it, even asked my AI assistant how to cheer up a girl.

A minute later, another message popped up.

I figured it was Kayla backing out. Honestly, if she and Yuvan were using me as a pawn in whatever game they were playing, that was fine. As long as it didn't get in the way of my peace and quiet, they could do whatever they wanted.