Fake Date, Real Fate-Chapter 45: Fifteen Million Reasons to Scream

Gasps filled the ballroom as Adrien helped me up to my feet, holding me gently by the elbow. Heads turned and I felt a million eyes on me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, my teeth clenched.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he took my hand and led me to the middle of the room, where the chandelier lit us up in gold. Each movement was fluid yet curated—like I was a dancer on a thin rope.

Behind the mirrored stand next to the auctioneer stood a white-gloved waiter, as still and beautiful as a statue, a smooth box already waiting like an unopened secret.

Adrien didn’t hesitate. He reached for the box, opened it with a quick snap and pulled out the stunning necklace.

Everyone gasped.

The emerald glowed under the lights─ deep, vivid green, alive and striking, the diamonds coiled around it like a serpent protecting its heart.

He moved behind me.

"No─Adrien, don’t─" I tried to pull away, feeling panicked. But I wasn’t fast enough.

I felt his fingers brush over my shoulders as he swept my hair aside. The contact was light, but the effect jolt through me. I froze, caught between fear and something thrilling.

Then he slowly fastened the necklace around my throat like he was putting a crown on my head.

The clasp clicked.

And just like that, the necklace was mine. Or... on me, at least.

I gulped. Cameras flashed all around us. Up front, a woman in black looked ready to burst with excitement. A nearby couple was whispering intensely and someone started clapping. Others soon joined in, like they were watching a show.

And maybe it was.

But I couldn’t move.

While the crowd clapped, Adrien leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear.

"Don’t forget," he said softly, his voice smooth and low, "we’re putting on a show for them."

I suddenly understood and remembered. Right. A show.

Taking a breath, I turned to him while parting my lips in what I hoped looked like genuine surprise. I widened my eyes and brushed my fingers against the necklace as if I was only starting to register the gift.

Then I smiled— a soft and hesitant smile that showed I was grateful. Like As if I was caught off-guard by an act of kindness and moved by it.

"Oh my God," I said I said just loud enough for those near to catch. "Adrien... this is..."

I shook my head as if I was speechless.

The claps grew louder. I even saw a few people wiping their eyes. Are you kidding me!!

Adrien must be loving this because he looked so confident with a slight grin on his face.

He stepped back a bit and let the spotlight fall completely on me. Oh no..

"It suits you perfectly," he said, loud enough for the crowd to hear.. "Way better than it ever suited the display case."

I forced a laugh, my heart racing. This was insane! completely insane!!.

I reached up and gently touched his face, my fingers grazing his cheek.

"Thank you," I whispered softly, nervously catching my breath in other to reveal a hint of emotion. "This is... incredible. I can’t believe it’s mine."

I looked up at him adoringly, hoping my expression showed a glimpse of gratitude and affection.

He smiled back, all charming and effortless control then lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles.

The crowd clapped again, the way people do when they’re witnessing a fairy tale come to life.

It was the perfect ending note. Polished. Controlled. Enough to send a message, without going too far.

Adrien turned back to the crowd, his expression cool and composed, one arm still loosely around me. "Thank you," he said smoothly, as if this had been a speech all along. "I like to invest in rare, beautiful things."

A laugh rippled through the room — subtle, but rehearsed.

I kept my smile plastered on like makeup, blinking as flashes from cameras hit us from every angle.

I leaned into him slightly and whispered from the corner of my mouth, "You’re enjoying this way too much."

Finally, with a nod to the auctioneer, Adrien led me back toward our table, and the crowd parted before us like the Red Sea. As we sat down, the whispers faded.

****

Flashes exploded around us like lightning as we stepped out of the venue. My face hurt from forcing a smile, my body tense under the weight of eyes, lights and expectations. To make it look real. Like we were real. Adrien’s hand settled lightly on my lower back, guiding me like we were something real. A couple.

The car door shut behind us, muting the chaos. The interior of the limo was silent, dark and cold. My skin still tingled where he kissed my hand.

I stared out the dark window, arms crossed tightly over my chest, still annoyed.

Adrien sat across from me like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t just thrown the night into chaos with that one single move.

He loosened his cuffs. "Where should we drop you off?"

I didn’t hesitate. "Rosegate Estate. Block D."

The driver nodded and started the car.

I pulled out my phone and message Aria quickly:

Coming over. Long story. Don’t ask until I’m inside.

The silence stretched. I tapped my fingers on my arm, then finally turned to him.

"So... about the necklace," I said. "When do I return it?"

He looked up, one brow arching slightly. "Return it?"

"Yeah, after all this is over. Do I hand it back?"

A smirk played on his lips, like he’d been waiting for that question. "Of course not. You can keep it... for the duration of our agreement."

I scoffed. "So basically, I am renting a fifteen-million-dollar necklace?"

"Just think of it as a prop," he said with a casual shrug.

I stared at him, anger bubbling just under the surface. "You’re impossible."

The limo turned down a familiar road. We were almost at Aria’s place. The knot of tension in my chest started to loosen.

Adrien leaned in just slightly, speaking quietly like he was sharing a secret against my skin. "Next time, don’t look at me like that before we walk into a room full of cameras."

I blinked. "Look at you like what?"

He didn’t answer. Note to self - take the hint. freeweɓnovel-cøm

The car pulled to a smooth stop in front of Aria’s gate. The door opened. Without another word, I climbed out, slamming the door shut behind me─wishing I could slam him too.

The limo pulled away, the fading taillights disappearing.

Aria was so going to scream when she saw me.

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