Chapter 42 Make him fall for you
Dandelion.
"I thought you forgot about me," Lilian whined the moment her face filled the screen.
I adjusted my phone against the pillow, still catching my breath from sprinting back to my room after that embarrassing moment with Alex. My hair was damp from the quick shower I had taken to wash away the tension clinging to my skin.
"I could never forget you, Lily, and you know that."
"Do I?" She pouted dramatically, crossing her arms. "You've been living in some fancy estate with a hot billionaire husband, probably sipping champagne and--"
"Stop it Lily," I laughed at her exaggeration. "It's not like that at all."
"Then what is it like? Because you've barely called and barely texted. I'm starting to think married life has made you forget your best friend exists."
Guilt twisted in my chest. She was right. Between Grandma Winifred's constant scheming, the bedroom situation with Alex, and trying to navigate this fake marriage without exposing the truth, I had barely had time to breathe, let alone call.
"I'm so sorry Lilian, it's just that things have been....a bit complicated."
Lilian's expression softened. "Complicated how, are they treating you badly?"
I sighed, sinking deeper into the bed. "No it's not kike that, just that trying to pull off a fake marriage without anyone catching on is really exhausting. Grandma Winifred is always watching, always pushing us together, and I have to pretend everything's normal when nothing about this is normal."
"Woah that sounds stressful, I guess she's a pain in the butt isn't she."
"Even though her constant involvement is emotionally draining, she's really kind to me though, infact she practically dotes on me and she even knew my mother, she mentioned that me and Alex used to be friends as kids, can you imagine that." I said with a smile remembering how shocked I was when Grandma revealed it.
"Wow so that jerk husband of yours was your childhood sweetheart?" she quizzed with surprise.
I shook my head in amusement, "Lily must you exaggerate everything, I said we were friends not childhood sweet hearts,"
"Well it's still the same thing isn't it?" She quipped in defense. I just laughed at her never changing character.
"Anyways when can I come visit, I'm missing you badly" She pouted
"I miss you more, trust me I really want you to visit gosh you need to see their estate it's totally luxury, but then Alex stated in the contract that visitors aren't allowed" I muttered sadly
And I felt her mood change slowly, "Maybe when we go back to Alex's penthouse, I can ask if you can visit, besides you're my best friend so I'll try really hard to convince him"
Her face brightened immediately. "Really? You'd do that?"
"Of course. You're my person, Lily. I need you to survive this crazy marriage."
She smiled brightly. "Okay bestie. By the way you look healthier. Like, seriously, Dandy, you're glowing. You look like yourself again."
I glanced at my reflection at the nearby mirror. She wasn't wrong. The dark circles under my eyes had faded, and my cheeks had color again. I looked more beautiful.
"Well, if I'm so pretty," I scoffed, "then why would he rather jump out a window than share a harmless room with me?"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Lilian's eyes widened. "Wait. WHAT? He did WHAT?"
I groaned, covering my face with my free hand. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."
"Oh no. No, no, no. You can't just drop something like that and move on. Spill it Now."
I knew there was no escaping this. Lilian had the persistence of a bloodhound when she sensed gossip.
So I told her. Everything. About Grandma forcing us into the same bedroom, the ridiculous nightgown, Alex escaping through the window like some kind of action movie hero, and Grandma's relentless expectations for great grandchildren.
By the time I finished, Lilian was laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face.
"It's not funny!" I protested, though I was fighting myself form smiling.
"It's hilarious! Your husband literally jumped out a window to avoid sleeping next to you. That's literally comedy."
"It's Fake Husband," I corrected "And thanks for the support," I muttered.
She wiped her eyes, still grinning. "Okay, okay. But seriously, maybe he's just not into women?"
I shook my head. "No way, I heard him once. Back at his penthouse. He was with someone. A woman."
Lilian's laughter died instantly. "Wait. He's sleeping with someone else?"
"Her name's Roxy Briggs. She's... I don't know what she is. His girlfriend? His friend with benefits? He doesn't really acknowledge her, but she's definitely in his life."
"Roxy?" Lilian's brows furrowed. "As in Roxy Briggs?"
"Yeah. Why? Do you know her?"
"Know her? Dandy, she's a famous model. A fashionista. She's got millions of followers and is constantly in magazines. If she's involved with Alex, she's definitely a threat."
A pang of something sharp and ugly twisted in my chest. It felt like Jealousy. And I hated that I felt it, but I couldn't deny it.
"It doesn't matter," I said quickly. "This is a fake marriage anyway. He can sleep with whoever he wants."
"But should he?" Lilian leaned closer to the screen, her tone serious now. "Dandy, fake marriage or not, you're his wife. He shouldn't be running around with other women while you're stuck playing housewife."
"What am I supposed to do? Demand he stop seeing her? We're not really together."
"But you want to be."
The words hit me like a slap. I opened my mouth to deny it, but nothing came out.
Lilian's expression softened. "It's okay to admit it, you know. That you're catching feelings. There's nothing wrong with that."
"There's everything wrong with it," I whispered. "He doesn't want me, Lily. He made that clear when he literally jumped out a window to avoid me."
"Or," she countered, "he jumped because he does want you and it scares him."
I wanted to believe that. But the memory of him with Roxy, the sounds I'd heard through that door, made it hard.
"She must be really beautiful even though I have seen her personally," I said quietly. "Successful. Confident. Everything I'm not right now."
"Stop that." Lilian's voice turned firm. "You're Dandelion Williams. You're talented, smart, and beautiful. Don't you dare compare yourself to some model who probably Photoshops half her pictures."
I laughed weakly. "Thanks bestie."
"I'm serious. If he can't see what he has in front of him, that's his loss. But you? You need to step up."
"Step up how?"
"Make him fall for you. Show him what he's missing. You're living under the same roof, sharing the same space. Use that to your advantage."
"Lily, I can't just--"
"Why not? You're already his wife. Why not make it real?"
"Because..." I trailed off, searching for a reason that didn't sound pathetic. "Because what if I try and he still chooses her?"
"Then at least you'll know. But what if you don't try and spend the rest of this marriage wondering what could have been?"
She had a point. A terrifying, uncomfortable point.
"I need to focus on my career first," I said, changing the subject. "I need to make a comeback. Prove to everyone that I'm not done."
She sighed, "Ok then if you insist. But how? The scandal's still fresh in people's minds."
"I need to expose Chase and show everyone what he really is. But I need evidence. Strong evidence."
Lilian nodded slowly. "That won't be easy."
"I know. But it's the only way." I muttered with a sigh.
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything settling between us.
"Oh!" I said suddenly, remembering. "What about your bracelet? I haven't seen it on your wrist as usual?"
Lilian's face fell. "About that..."
"What?"
"I lost it. At the one-night stand. I didn't want to tell you because I felt awful, but it's gone."
My heart sank. Those bracelets were custom made, a symbol of our friendship since high school.
"Lily, it's okay. We can get another one."
"But it won't be the same."
"It doesn't matter. What matters is us. The bracelet is just a thing."
She smiled sadly. "You're too good to me."
"And you're stuck with me forever, so get used to it." I grinned.
We talked for a few more minutes before saying goodbye. As the call ended, I stared at the ceiling, Lilian's words echoing in my mind.
Make him fall for you. I shook the thought away.
I've already had my fair share of embarrassment, I won't embarrass myself further by seeking his attention especially since he's very rude and emotionally twisted.