Chapter 19 Chapter 19
Amelia
“The burgundy dress is perfect,” Adele said, scanning the clothes spread across the bed as I stepped out of the bathroom. Her eyes lit up as she lifted the dress slightly, holding it up as though she could already picture me in it. “You are going to look absolutely stunning.
Maxwell won’t be able to take his eyes off you tonight.” She grinned, clearly pleased with herself.
I shook my head and let out a quiet sigh. “This isn’t a date night, Adele. It’s not even a normal dinner,” I said, walking closer to the bed and glancing down at the dress she had chosen.
“This is me being used as a pawn in whatever game two brothers are playing. I don’t want romance, attention, or complications. I just want to get through tonight safely and come out of it without anything going wrong.”
She opened her mouth, clearly ready to argue or tease me, but stopped halfway. “Nevertheless…” she began, dragging the word out.
I turned and shot her a warning look. She immediately laughed and made an exaggerated show of zipping her lips shut with her fingers, raising her hands in surrender as if to say she would say no more.
I slipped into the dress Adele had chosen for me. It was elegant and tasteful strapless gown that hugged my curves perfectly and fell just below my knees. I studied my reflection in the mirror for a moment, smoothing the fabric down my sides. The dress made me look put together, composed even if I didn’t feel that way inside. Because the evening air was cold, I picked up an oversized jacket and slipped it on before turning away from the mirror.
I kissed Adele goodbye at the door. She reminded me that she would be staying over tonight, that she would still be there when I returned. Somehow, that brought me a small sense of comfort.
Outside, I got into the car and my driver pulled away from the house. My phone had already started buzzing nonstop with calls from Declan, the vibration making my nerves tighten with every second.
When we reached the bar Declan had asked me to meet him at, I told my driver to stop out front. Moments later, Declan walked out of the bar. The moment he spotted my car, he headed straight toward it and slid into the back seat beside me.
The atmosphere in the car shifted instantly. He smelled strongly of alcohol and cigarettes, the scent clinging to him and filling the air as the door shut behind him.
“You look…” he started, then suddenly belched loudly, the sound breaking whatever charm he was trying to summon. “Lovely,” he finished, smiling lazily. “I hope you can impress my parents tonight and convince them that we are together. Or better yet,” he added with a smirk, leaning closer, “we could start practicing now.
"That way, we will be perfect in front of them.”
The heavy stench of alcohol and cigarettes hit me so hard my head spun. I felt sick instantly, my stomach twisting as I tried not to gag. How did I ever date this man? I wondered. Was I really that blind back then?
Before he could get any closer, I shoved his face away with my hand. “Don’t you dare,” I said sharply. “This is strictly about convincing your parents, nothing more. Do not mistake this for anything else.” I met his eyes, my voice firm and cold. “I can barely stand you.”
He laughed loudly, the sound harsh and unpleasant. “You are always so full of yourself,” he said, shaking his head. “Always acting like you are better than everyone else.”
His lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Don’t forget, I have you right where I want you. I’m the one holding all the power.”
After that, he leaned back in his seat and went completely silent, his eyes drifting shut as if the conversation had never happened.
The rest of the drive to his parents’ house passed in an uncomfortable silence. I stared out the window, lost in my thoughts, until the car finally slowed to a stop. When I looked up, I froze in awe.
The estate in front of us was massive, far larger than anything I had imagined. The gates, the perfectly trimmed lawns, the sheer scale of the place took my breath away. I turned to look at Declan, disbelief filling me. How could his parents be this rich while he lived like a complete vagabond? I wondered.
He was already asleep, I tapped his arm to wake him, and he stirred just as the security guards noticed him inside the car. The moment they recognized him, the gates opened without hesitation, and we were waved through.
The car drove deeper into the estate until we finally stopped in front of a huge mansion. It looked unreal, for a moment, all I could think was that it looked like paradise on earth.
We stepped out of the car, and almost immediately, Declan tried to wrap his arm around my waist. I pushed his hand away without hesitation. “Don’t do that,” I said quietly but firmly.
We walked into the mansion together, and the moment we stepped inside, a woman in her fifties approached us. I froze the instant I saw her.
She was stunning, graceful, elegant, and effortlessly beautiful. The way she carried herself made it impossible to look away. She was dressed with such class that it was clear she belonged in a place like this. And she looked so much like the girls. Anyone who saw her standing beside them would immediately know they were related.
“You see it too, right?” Declan leaned in and whispered. “How much the girls look like her.”
Before I could respond, he straightened up and smiled. “Hi, Mom. You look really good,” he said casually.
But as soon as she reached us and caught the strong scent of alcohol on his breath, her expression hardened. Her brows pulled together in clear disapproval. Without saying a word to him, she turned her attention to me instead, completely ignoring her son.
“I assume you are the woman he hired to play the role of his fiancée for tonight’s family dinner,” she said coolly. “Well, you are welcome.”
I opened my mouth to defend myself, ready to correct her, but she didn’t give me the chance. She reached for my hand and gently but firmly guided me toward the dining room, as if the matter was already settled.
The dining room took my breath away. It was the largest one I had ever seen, grand and perfectly arranged. Every piece of furniture looked expensive, from the long polished table to the elegant chairs. The soft lighting only added to the richness of the space. Declan followed behind us in silence.
She pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down. Declan took the seat beside me and glanced around the room. “Where’s Dad? And Maxwell?” he asked. “I thought this was supposed to be a family dinner.”
Almost on cue, a man in his sixties walked into the room. He had the same sharp features and commanding presence as Maxwell, it was impossible to miss the resemblance. He moved with calm authority and took his seat at the head of the table.
“This is the woman Declan brought to pretend to be his fiancée for tonight’s dinner,” Mrs. Sinclair said to her husband.
Mr. Sinclair studied me quietly for a long moment before speaking. His gaze was steady, assessing. “What’s your name?” he finally asked.
“My name is Amelia Davis,” I said calmly.
“Declan and I have known each other for years. We didn’t suddenly meet because of this dinner, and I was not hired to be here.” I paused deliberately, making sure my words were clear. Still, I was careful not to say anything that confirmed I was his fiancée.
Mrs. Sinclair took her seat beside her husband, her expression unreadable. “Time will tell, Amelia,” she said smoothly. “So, what do you do for a living?”
Before I could answer properly, Declan leaned forward, suddenly eager. “Amelia owns a real estate company,” he said proudly. “You must have heard of it. It’s one of the top firms in New York, with branches in about three or four—” He leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. “How many branches do you have again?” he whispered.
I felt my jaw tighten. Across the table, his parents exchanged a glance, then smiled politely, as though amused by the exchange. Their reaction made my unease grow. This whole situation felt like a carefully staged performance, and I was standing right in the middle of it.
I really hope Maxwell doesn’t make it to dinner tonight, I thought quietly. The last thing I wanted was for him to walk in and see me tangled in this mess, pretending and half-lying just to survive the evening.
I was just about to speak when Mrs. Sinclair’s face suddenly lit up. “Oh, my baby is here,” she said happily. She stood up at once and hurried out of the dining room.
My heart slammed violently against my chest. Maxwell is here.
Declan leaned closer to me again, and I almost gagged. If Maxwell’s cold stare and silent threats didn’t finish me tonight, then the overwhelming smell of alcohol and cigarettes clinging to Declan surely would. “My brother is here,” he muttered under his breath. “You better do a damn good job convincing everyone at this table, or I will spill everything about the kids right here.”
Even as he said it, we both forced smiles, aware that his father was watching us closely.
Moments later, Mrs. Sinclair walked back into the dining room, beaming with pride. Maxwell walked in beside her, calm and composed as always. With him was the woman I had seen the last time we met at the café. They took their seats directly across from us.
The instant Maxwell’s eyes met mine, his expression darkened. His brows pulled together slightly, and his gaze sharpened. That single look made my stomach twist.
Declan, of course, didn’t waste a second.
“Max,” he said loudly, clearly pleased with himself, “meet my fiancée, Amelia Davis.”
The room felt unbearably still.
Author's note: Max🤧🤧, I don't even know what to say about Declan 🙄