ing feeling in her stomach. She glanced at the contract tucked away in her purse - a million

m practically on her own. He was a bright spark, despite the chronic illness that plagued him. T

rah, the stylist assigned to transform Eden into a "believ

. This whole 'millionaire fiancee'

kled, "sometimes life wri

ing pretend with a stranger... it felt wrong. But then she thought of L

said, changing the subjec

d. "Brilliant, driven, but also... distant. The Blackw

r past wasn't exactly sun

family?" Eden pressed, a flicker

mors whisper of a ruthless stepmother, a woman who co

reasingly bizarre. But then she remembered Damon's words – a shield, a way to

ine. Rain lashed against the windows, blurring the city lights into a waterco

," he replied monotonously, ig

monsoon. Glancing at her reflection in the darkened window, she grimaced. Gone were the sensible secretary glasses and sensible shoes. Tonight, she w

a fairytale. A grand stone mansion, bathed in golden light, stood nestled amidst manicured gardens. A red carpet

," the driver announced, finally relinqui

tume party, let alone a high-society affair crawling with cameras. Taking a fortifying breat

citement, a cacophony of hushed whispers and clinking champagne glasses. Masked figures in ext

he crowd for a familiar face. A tall figure in a black mask materialized

said, his voice

hrough her. Up close, his eyes, the color

he mask perched precariously on her nose. "Did you ha

that softened his stern features.

em, whispers following in their wake. Stepping inside the mansion, Eden felt like she had entered a gilded cage. Crystal cha

amped apartment and the constant

, and stilted conversations. Eden, feeling like a fraud in her bo

ht progressed. He disappeared into hushed conversations with other masked f

with enough diamonds to rival a chandelier,

pping with fake congeniality, "tell us all ab

as quite unexpected, really," she lied smoothly,

cted, is it? Rumors say Mr. Blackw

back. The woman's keen gaze seemed to pierc

usinessman," she countered,

ool indifference. He excused himself from the wom

, and steered her away from the crowd toward

e break from the stifling atmosphere inside. Damon

lking to you," he

eronica. The name Sarah, the s

" she asked, fei

g his eyes. "My stepmother. And the rea

ts to undermine his authority and control the Blackwood fortune. This "engagement," Damon revealed, was a stra

cker of understanding. This wasn't just a million-dollar payday. T

t me to do?" she ask

g hers. "I need you to play your part," he said, "to be

he air. The future, it seemed, remained as u

ng within her. This wasn't exactly what she bargained for, but one thing was