robe that probably cost more than her rent. But it all felt cold. Sterile. Like no one had ever lived in it, just passed through. She sat on the edge of the bed, phone in hand, staring at the al

ter. There was a knock on her door. She quickly tossed her phone aside. "Come in." Tari ste

suspicion, but curiosity. After dinner, they sat alone by the bar. A soft jazz band played in the corner. Zara sipped water slowly. "You're good at this," he said. "Pretending?" He nodded. She shrugged. "Growing up in a strict household teaches you how to perform. Pretend to be obedient. Pretend to be happy." Tari tilted his head. "Strict how?" She looked away. "The kind where love is earned. Not given." Silence again. But this time, it wasn't cold. "And you?" she asked. "Why are you always acting like you're holding your breath?" His jaw twitched slightly. "Because trust is expensive. And people are cheap." That hit harder than she expected. "Is that why you don't date?" "I don't date because I don't have time for emotional chaos. People get attached. I don't." Zara raised a

expected." She scanned the page. Two nights at a luxury beach resort. Family games. Dinners. Couple bonding time. Zara raised her brows. "This is where it gets messy, isn't it?" "Yes," he said without hesitation. "So we need to step up the act." "What kind of stepping up are we talking about?" He finally looked at her, dead serious. "Convincing touches. Eye contact. Familiarity. Maybe a kiss or two." Zara's toast froze mid-air. "I'm sorry, what?" "If it comes up," he said calmly. "Just... be prepared." Zara sat back. "We didn't talk about kissing in the contract." "We didn't talk about weekend getaways either." She gave him a long look. "I swear, you're going to be the end of my peace of mind." His lips twitched slightly. "Welcome to my world." *** They traveled the next day. Zara wore a fitted sundress and large sunglasses. She didn't try to match his energy-she just brought her own. Confident. Calm. Stylish. Tari, in a white linen shirt and dark shades, looked like a man from a luxury ad. Together, they looked dangerously perfect. The family vil