Desired by All and He Threw Away 61

“A deal?” 

“I sign a contract to be his fake girlfriend to help him with his image” I told her but leave the getting revenge on Dylan part. 

Kiera’s face twists, trying to catch up. “So…. you’re saying the relationship is fake? That everything people see online–it’s all for show?” 

I nod. “It started that way.” 

Her voice drops, quiet but trembling. “But not anymore?” 

i cant meet her eyes. “its complicated.” 

Kiera sinks back onto the couch staring at me like shes seeing me for the first time. “Taylor this isnt just complicated. This is dangerous. The press will rip you apart if they find out.” 

“I know.” 

“Then why keep it a secret? Why keep him a secret?” 

because its not that simple.because somewhere between pretending and surviving Aiden stopped being a role and became a person i cant stop thinking about.but i cant say that out loud. 

instead i say, “because its better this way.” 

she exhales rubbing her temples. “you deserve to be seen. To make him see you too.” 

i shake my head. “you dont understand.he doesnt see people like me. To him, I’m… convenient. He hides behind logic and control, like he’s allergic to feeling anything real.” 

Her expression softens. “You sound like you care about him.” 

I look away. “I care about what he could be. But that doesn’t mean I trust him.” 

Kiera leans forward, eyes searching mine. “Then make him believe. Show him who you really are. Stop letting him pull all the strings.” 

her words hit something deep something raw.i think of Aiden the measured tone of his voice the way he looks at me when he forgets to guard himself.the rare moments when his walls slip and something almost tender flickers through. 

“he is not like Dylan,” i whisper. 

(( 

that doesnt mean he wont hurt you too.” 

the name alone feels like a bruise. Dylan–smiling for cameras kissing someone else in front of the world leaving me to pick up the pieces.i blink pushing the memory away. 

“youre right,” i say quietly. “But hiding won’t fix it either.” 

Kiera nods slowly. “Then you need to decide.because if Dylan finds out first he will twist everything. he will 

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Chapter 61 

+25 Bonus 

make you look like the villain and the gossip sites will eat it alive.” 

the weight of her words settles over me.the room feels smaller the air thick with unsaid things. 

the movie ends the screen fading to black. Only the city hum fills the silence. i wrap my hands around the cup again tracing the rim with my thumb.steam curls up in lazy tendrils ghosting across my face. 

“i thought i could keep it simple,” i say softly. ” play my part stay quiet walk away when it was done.” 

“And now?” 

now my chest aches every time his name lights up my phone. 

i dont answer. 

Kiera reaches over squeezing my hand. “youre stronger than you think Taylor.but if you keep pretending this doesnt matter youre going to lose yourself in it.” 

her touch is warm grounding.but the ache in my chest wont fade. 

i stare into the cooling tea and all i see are pieces of him his sharp edges the rare softness the impossible distance between us.the kiss i still feel when i close my eyes. The silence that came after. 

“He’s difficult,” I murmur. “Impossible, even.but sometimes i think hes just… scared.like if he lets himself feel anything real everything hes built will fall apart.” 

Kiera tilts her head. “maybe hes not the only one scared.” the words sink in quiet but heavy.maybe shes right. 

outside rain finally begins to fall. soft at first then steady.the window glows faintly from the streetlights droplets racing each other down the glass. i watch them blur together, one line at a time. 

Kiera breaks the silence. ” you dont have to decide tonight.just… promise me you will stop hiding.” 

i nod even though we both know its a promise i might not keep. 

“Aiden are not meant to be together after everthing is over we will go our separate ways Its better this way,” i whisper though the lie tastes bitter. 

and as the rain keeps falling i cant help thinking that sometimes the wrong timing feels a lot like fate in disguise. 

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