Chapter 16: Enough
Anna’s breath hitched, her lips parting in shock. "Your... l-lover?"
The word barely made it past her lips, her voice faltering over the sheer absurdity of it. Her chest tightened, her fingers clenching the fabric of her sleeves as if grounding herself against the unexpected blow.
Her reaction only deepened the amusement in William’s expression. A slow, knowing grin tugged at the corners of his lips before he spoke again. "You heard me correctly. I need someone I trust to pose as my woman."
Someone he trusts...
The weight of those words settled over Anna like a heavy shroud. It makes sense. I have nowhere else to go, no one else to rely on. Putting my trust in him means he can do the same. But why did it have to be this? Why a fake relationship?
The question gnawed at her, and before she could second-guess herself, she voiced it aloud. "Why do you need a fake lover?"
William’s eyes flicked briefly to his assistant, who immediately averted his gaze, suddenly finding an unusual interest in the floral pattern on the curtains. The air in the room grew heavier, charged with strange tension.
With a sigh, William leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "As a man of a certain age," he began in a slightly frustrated tone, "I’m expected to follow certain conventions. Like getting married, for instance. Which, to be perfectly clear, is the last thing I want."
He paused for a brief moment, running a hand through his hair as if gathering the patience to explain further. When he spoke again, his voice carried a sharper edge. "Returning home has made me a prime target for every gold-digging, idle socialite looking for a wealthy husband. And I have neither the time nor the inclination to entertain their desperate attempts."