Chapter 3
1 glanced oves at my parents, who subtly nodded in encouragement, and took a deep breath. It was time to face the music, to dive beadfirst into the whitbscind of scrutiny from the medi couldn’t help but think of them as a pack of piranhus, ready to tear bara any morsel of information they could get.
“Alana, are you not a Preston? is your read father, Joodan? What’s the story behind all of thua?” One of the women began to fire questions at me. I vaporly recognized her as a faman influences,one of thone social media acccums that incessantly dished and relebrity news
Vast’r this wedding supposed to be between you and Daniel? What happened? Does thichaye tudo with Daniel being spotted with Jozanne?” “The reporter from Devine Margot chimed it. beteschiepient was palpable. Į sälemily celebrated as the quintam vreind precisely where dulloped baadvertenth, † squeezed Alec’s hand, but he didn’t seem to mind, chuckling salth and palling me closer to him
“To this your attempt to get parchark?” A man ihnen a scandalous ingilry our way, his expression laden wiili intrigir, fi Bordi ume effort not to roll my eyes at hini.
Termofall, Richard for danc in muhred me lather and Nina Joldan in my mother. They are my both parentsandthe only parents I’ve known,” Tegan to explain, my peze brielly flicking in my parents. All my life, I had venned for this moment, the day when I could openly acknowledge them as img family. “You see, they’ve done an incredible jobkeeping me out of the public eye For mexatem, 1 had to adopt the idemity of Abasa Purstim Now, the time have, bande nywell, Trambe Alatar jaridan “!
Goowing up with nach funous parentshahnever berneny thatvady they hatchmen te gand me privary asyrakmısly, even to the extent of having me pretend they weren’t my parents. Thad only been phero apbed with them four timesinow citne lite, and my father’s EHL irandud ensuedthau platums never now the light of day. It had kept me safe, but it had sho kati the feeling excladed from im oma Tasily,
So, all these years you fooded everyone? Is that why Danielbroke up with you?
“Daniel didn’t berak up with nie,” I clarified tumly. “We ende dour relationship because, as the wedding date approached, it became clear that bar was falling out of love, I realized fun wasn’t the one for me. I wanted someone who would wholeheatedly commit to me, and that’s when I met–“(bepan, glancing at Alec.
Alec smoothly took the lead, wearing a faux–loving pare as he focused on me. “Then we came across each other. We attended high school together and stuck by each other throughout
Two webs ago, during a beak Daniel and 1 decided to take, we met again,” Leontinued our fabricated story, my seth flowing effortlessly an if they were the gospel truth. “With everything
edding of the century, meant tosta Daniel Ray, instead rated Alana ja dan, the only daughter and heir to the fondan empire, Ms Devine Margot observed.
ni” i replied with a ver smile.
“But we did nocier that Daniel’s name was still on some things,” another man chimed in, Dannel’s mane had been plastered all over the riginal decorations and despite our effort to replace then with new, imported pieces, remnants of his presence still lingered.
“We’re not quite sure how that happened.” I repliedsmoothly. “We made changes to our orders, but somehow, Daniel’s namestill crept in. But it’s not a big deal, those things are just decorative. We’ll crumple them up and toss them out, “I said, weaving my web of lies
“What a touching inary “The woman Them Devine Margot sighed, her eyes brimming with enthusiasm. “We’d love to feature you in a story”
“mad absolutely love that?” I responded eagerly, grateful that my plan was falling in place,
women around us. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of annoyance
That keep in mind that our honeymoon week–long,” Alec interjected with a cheeky grin, attracting the attention of the women around hadi “1 they noticed the recently added ring on his finger?
Trourse, Mi Fisher,” the Lady replied before furrowing her brow. “You must be thrilled to be reunited with your high school suretheart. Would you like to join the interview, too?
Ketone 1 could voyant. Ale jumped in, “That sounds wonderful Thank you for the invitation”
We continued to field questions, and I noticed a datinci shift in the way people treated me once they learned of my true identity as a Jordan. Their previous hostility morphed intaa teade of
camte you thinking, inviting yoursell so that interview?” I scolded Alec in a hushed tone, shooting him a stern glane.
“It we have to counter Daniel Bay’s statement, having Devine Margot on our side is our best bet,” Alee replied confidently, brushing my curls away from my face as he challenged me Lübesi, of course, you want to patile and see if Danel will accept the be you just spun. Luckily, I happened to be in town for the period you mentioned”
han it someone’s going to recognize you. You’ve just a nobody,” Eretorted, though I couldn’t deny the logic behind his words “And assume you marriedime just to become someboh,
of love we pot larte, you’re stuck with me nose, and we’ll put on a convicing show to persuade the public that I’m your husband and some substitute,” Alec where in my
let’a parijoy our modding “le trased, taking my lund and beating the way
We all gathered as the beautifully decorated dinner hall, bathed in the soft glow of sparkling lights hanging above us as we made our way to the buffet tables. My mother had taken charge at the catering, green that i had beratio parirupandwith other matters, and she had done an outstanding job wished the dimer could stretch on forever, partly because I dreaded what lay
twith tier in private. Any deplay of affection between us i a calculated public stunt toate the illuck of al–kather–daughter relationship
benne would ever kupect it. And now, I fo self‘ standing in the middle of the bullamun, tacking my father, with the loining dance impending. Alana, you Jardin boat this matlage together for a full year and demonstrate that your industry will flanish. Only then can teensider handing the Jordan Empite over to youi,
pery. Fouve some dut pour’re murthy, Alana,“ be continued, his impatience and frustration apparvis.
a busur Alex was tecretly informed, anul I’ve just told you, but ikn’t worry, t’he had your belongings moved for you, so help best frown at the unexpected gill
emer e presilne love and suppost from him makthave been wekume.
twickling felt like li
Then glamasi at mas priests, may parents, andereryone who believed he was my unu Bandel Erotildet malt in hear his reaction when he found out
