Chapter 16 The price for revenge
Dandelion.
"Um... Mr. Graham... did you help me take down the photos?" My words came out quieter than I intended, swallowed almost immediately by the heavy silence of the dining room.
Alexander sat at the head of the absurdly long table, cutting into his breakfast with surgical precision. He didn't look up and didn't even pause.
I waited, my fork hovering over the untouched eggs, my stomach too twisted to eat.
Finally, he looked up.
"Should I have left it online?"
His tone was so cold.
I swallowed hard. "I... no. I just– thank you. For—"
"Don't." He set down his knife with a sharp clink against the porcelain. His green eyes finally met mine, and they were utterly devoid of warmth. "I did what I agreed to do. Nothing more. Don't thank me for keeping up my end of a contract."
I stared at him, my gratitude curdling into something bitter.
Of course. Of course it was just business, What did I expect? A kind word? A reassuring smile?
This was Alexander Graham. The man who saved me not out of compassion, but convenience.
"Right," I said stiffly. "My mistake."
He picked up his coffee, taking a slow sip, his gaze never leaving mine. "Is there anything else?"
Yes, I wanted to say. Why are you so cold? Why did you help me at all if you're just going to treat me like an inconvenience?
But I didn't.
I just shook my head and focused on my plate, forcing myself to take a bite even though it tasted like ash.
So we ate in suffocating silence.
The only sounds were silverware against plates and the distant hum of the city beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
I hated this coldness. Hated him for being self centered and hated myself for being here.
"We'll do a photoshoot tomorrow."
I looked up, startled. "What?"
"After we sign the marriage certificate at the courthouse." He dabbed his mouth with a napkin, his movements infuriatingly elegant. "We need photographic evidence. Something convincing. My grandmother will want proof."
My heart sank. "A photoshoot."
"Yes." He stood, adjusting his cufflinks. "Be ready by nine AM. Don't be late."
"Wait, when are we going to the Graham Estate?"
"A week after the courthouse. That gives you enough time to..." He waved a hand vaguely. "Prepare."
"Prepare for what?"
"For pretending we're actually married." His gaze was sharp. Assessing. "You're an actress. I trust it'll be very easy for you?"
The subtle jab stung more than it should have.
"I'll manage," I said through gritted teeth.
"Good." He turned to leave, then paused at the doorway. "One more thing. My grandmother is... very particular about people. So when we meet her, you'll need to be on your absolute best behavior. No slip-ups or awkwardness. Understood?"
I nodded, even though I wanted to throw my plate at his head.
"Understood."
Then he left without another word.
I sat there alone, staring at the empty chair where he'd been, my hands trembling with suppressed rage.
This is the price, I reminded myself. This is what you signed up for.
Revenge, and that's all that mattered.
But God, how strong am I to endure his coldness, his cruelty and the way he looks at me like I was just another problem to solve.
I exhaled, I can do this, I can endure this. I had to.
..........
Twenty minutes later, Walter appeared with a garment bag draped carefully over his arm.
"Miss Williams." He offered a small, professional smile. "Mr. Graham asked me to give you this."
I collected the bag, unzipping it slowly.
A gasp escaped my lips, Inside the bag was a dress. Cream colored, very elegant, simple but clearly expensive.
The kind of dress you wore to a courthouse wedding when you wanted to look effortlessly beautiful.
"There's a second one as well." Walter handed me another bag. "For Madam Winifred Graham's birthday celebration. Mr. Graham thought you might need appropriate attire."
I stared at the dresses, something uncomfortable twisting in my chest.
He'd thought of everything already.
Down to what I'd wear.
"Thank you, Walter."
"Of course." He hesitated, then added quietly, "A word of advice, if I may?"
I looked up.
"Madam Winifred is... formidable. She can be quite intimidating. But if you're genuine with her, if you show her respect and sincerity, she'll warm up to you. Just... don't let her suspect anything is amiss."
"But how am I supposed to do that?" I asked helplessly. "I'm not actually in love with her grandson."
Walter's expression softened slightly. "You don't have to be in love, Miss Williams. You just have to make her believe you could be."
I nodded slowly, the weight of what I'd agreed to settling heavier on my shoulders.
"I'll do my best."
"That's all." He gave a small bow and left.
I sighed and carried the dresses back to my room, hung them carefully in the closet, and stared at them for a long moment.
Tomorrow, I'd sign my name on a marriage certificate.
Tomorrow, I'd become Mrs. Dandelion Graham.
A fake, temporary wife. But still.
The thought made my hands shake.
I needed to talk to Lilian.
I grabbed my phone and FaceTimed her, pacing my room as it rang.
She picked up on the third ring, and my planned speech died on my lips as soon as I noticed her demeanor.
"Lily... what's wrong?"
Her face was pale. Her eyes red. She looked like she'd been crying.
"Dandy." She tried to smile, but it came out watery. "Hey."
"What happened?" I sat on the edge of my bed, worry spiking through me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just..." She laughed, but it sounded broken. "The most embarrassing thing happened to me, I didn't want to tell you at first, but I feel Like I'd explode if I still keep it to myself" my eyes widened with fear.
"What it Lily tell me already" I quizzed.
"Dandy it's absurd and the kind of thing you only read about in trashy romance novels."
Despite everything, I suddenly felt a smile tug at my lips. "What did you do?"
She covered her face with her hands. "I had a one-night stand with a stranger."
I blinked. "You what?"
"I know!" She peeked through her fingers. "I got drunk at the after-party, entered the wrong hotel room, and—God, Dandy, I slept with a complete stranger. I don't even remember his face properly. Just that he was... really hot—"
"Wait, slow down Lily." I tried very hard not to laugh. "You just... climbed into bed with some random man?"
"I thought it was a dream!" Her face was bright red now. "I was so drunk, I genuinely thought I was dreaming. And by the time I realized it wasn't, we were already...." She made a helpless gesture.
I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter.
"This is what you get for always fantasizing about dramatic relationships," I teased gently.
She glared at me through the screen. "This is not funny."
"It's a little funny."
"It's mortifying." She groaned. "I ran out before he woke up. I'm never seeing him again. Ever."
"Lily." I tried to sound serious. "Greenville isn't that large you know. You might run into him someday."
"Never!" She practically shouted, her face flaming. "I will never see him again. I refuse. The universe owes me that much."
I couldn't stop smiling. It was the first time I'd genuinely laughed in days.
"I'm glad my humiliation entertained you," Lilian muttered, but her lips twitched.
"I'm sorry." I wiped my eyes. "Really. But Lily... you're going to be okay. It was one night. It doesn't define you."
"Easy for you to say." She sighed heavily. "Anyway. Enough about my disaster. What's going on with you? You look... different."
My smile faded.
"Lily...I'm getting married tomorrow."
Her eyes went wide. "What?!"
"At the courthouse. It's just for formality sake. Just signing papers." I tried to sound casual. Failed miserably. "And then there's a photoshoot. For proof."
"Can I come?" She sat up straighter, excitement breaking through her earlier misery. "Please? I want to be there for you."
My chest tightened. "I... I don't think Alexander would allow it. We're not exactly... close. And he's very particular about keeping this quiet."
Her face fell. "Oh."
"I wish you could be there," I said quickly. "I really do. But—"
"I understand." She forced a smile. "It's okay. Just... be careful, alright? This whole thing feels..."
"Insane?"
"I was going to say 'dangerous,' but yeah. Insane works too."
I laughed softly. "It's all fake, Lily. A business arrangement. Once this is over, we'll go our separate ways. No feelings. No complications."
She gave me a long, searching look.
"You keep telling yourself that," she said quietly. "But Dandy? Something tells me this won't stay fake for long."
"You're wrong." I shook my head firmly. "Alexander Graham is the coldest man I've ever met. There's nothing between us. There can't be."
"Okay then, if you say so," Lilian murmured, that knowing look still in her eyes.
I rolled my eyes.
So we talked for a few more minutes and then said our goodbyes.
I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow, I'd become someone's wife.
Fake or not, the weight of that felt crushing.
Somehow I wish his grandmother figures it out quickly, at least to put an end to this before I lose myself completely.