Chapter 346: She’s Going to Fall For Me Soon

Nathan’s POV

Her mouth fell open like a cartoon character’s. “Hold on… What?!”

Kayla's voice shot up an octave, echoing off the elevator walls. Holly snorted, trying to play it cool, while David just smirked like he was watching a live soap opera.

I kept my face straight, all business. “If we're gonna do this, we might as well do it right. Think about it…what if that jerk drags us to court? Or starts sniffing around, questioning if we're even living together like a real couple? We need to sell this fake marriage properly.”

She blinked fast, her cheeks turning pink. “Oh hell no. Absolutely not. What are you even saying?”

I leaned in a little, not backing down. “Doesn’t that defeat the whole point? Don’t you want to get rid of Caleb quick so we can end this fake marriage thing?”

She crossed her arms, eyeing me like I’d just suggested skydiving without a parachute. Suspicion flickered in her gaze, but she muttered, “Yes I do.”

“Then we need to do this. It’s important that we do. Or would you rather have him in your business everyday?” I edged on, trying to sound convincing.

“No,” she shot back, mouth pressed up like she was sulking.

I have to play this carefully. Kayla’s like a kid who spooks at shadows…one wrong move and she bolts.

If I want to win her over, I start small. Show up in her everyday life until she gets used to me. Until I’m just… there.

“Exactly,” I said, turning to David and Holly with a grin, silently asking them to help me. “We need to be together to sell the act properly, right guys?”

Holly huffed, stifling a chuckle and then clearing her throat. “Yes. You’re right.”

Kayla shot her a deadly look, and Holly smiled softly.

“Come on, Kay. Haven’t you seen those movies? Like that short we watched…the one where the girl signs a contract marriage with the guy, moves in, and then things get all spicy and they fall in love and leave happily ever after? You said you liked the movie very much. So imagine…”

David slapped a hand over Holly’s mouth before she could finish. “What Holly’s trying to say is… Nathan makes sense.”

Holly nodded frantically, eyes wide above his hand.

They’re helping me out big time, I thought, biting back a laugh. Well, Holly is a train wreck. But otherwise, they are good.

I owe them front-row seats to our real wedding when it happens.

Kayla’s brows furrowed deeper, still looking suspicious. “Is that how it is?”

We all said “Yes” in perfect unison.

She peered at us, squinting. “Why does it feel like I’m standing in front of three teenagers who are obviously lying and hiding something?”

“Teenagers? Lying? Us? Absolutely not!” Holly blurted, sounding very much guilty.

Oh God.

“What could we be hiding?” David added at the same time.

“Nothing at all,” I jumped in, overlapping them.

Oh Kayla, please don’t latch on, I prayed silently. She’s a mom…those instincts are no joke. One whiff of the truth and this whole plan crumbles.

“Holly?” Kayla turned to her best friend, voice sharpening. “Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

I shot Holly a desperate look…hopeful eyes, basically begging. ‘Don’t blurt it out. Not yet.’

Holly batted her lashes like they were malfunctioning. “Me? Hiding? Of course not!”

Kayla exhaled hard, rubbing her temples. We’d just stepped outside into the crisp evening air when my phone buzzed like an angry hornet.

I grunted, muttering “Damn it” under my breath, and excused myself. “Gotta take this quick.”

Before I walked off, I caught Kayla pulling Holly aside for a hushed talk.

‘Please, Holly. Hold it together. She needs to get comfortable with me first. Win her slowly, then drop the truth bomb later when she won’t hate me for it.’

I answered the call, pacing a few steps away. “Mom?”

“Nathan, darling! I’ve got a fresh lineup of girls from the best families. Doctors, lawyers, that sweet heiress from the Kensingtons. When are you free for the first date? Tomorrow? Friday?”

She didn’t even breathe between words. I tried interrupting… “Mom, wait” but she steamrolled on about grandkids, her book club rivals bragging about their grandbabies at holiday teas, how she

needed some so she could brag too.

“Mom,” I finally cut in, “I’m married already.”

A shocked gasp exploded through the line. “Is this another lie to dodge me? Nathan, I need grandchildren! All the elite moms have their grand babies. You are not getting any younger, Nathan. I need to…”

“Mom, I’m really married. I’ll bring her over soon, I promise.”

“If you’re really married, I want to see this so-called wife at the family house. Tomorrow evening. Dinner. Five sharp.”

“Mom, I can’t—”

Click. She’d hung up.

I exhaled like I’d run a marathon, raking a hand through my hair. Exhausting woman.

Glancing back, Holly and Kayla were still deep in whispers…Kayla’s brows pinched tight, looking pissed.

Did Holly spill everything? I gulped, praying hard that she didn’t run her mouth.

Approaching with an awkward laugh, I rubbed my neck. “Sorry about that. My mom. She, uh, called and wants us for lunch tomorrow.”

Kayla’s eyes snapped to mine. “Oh, but you were smart enough to tell her no, right?”

I winced, embarrassed. “Couldn’t get a word in. She’s… overbearing sometimes.”

Kayla groaned, throwing her head back. “Great. Just great.”

Holly patted her back. “You’ll be fine, Kay. Have faith.”

Right then, David tugged Holly’s arm. “Come on, babe. You’re staying at my place… Kayla’s got her pretend husband crashing now.”

Kayla whipped around. “What are you talking about? I haven’t even agreed to this!”

I pushed gently. “Remember how Caleb was stalking you last time? What if he pulls that again and figures out we’re not living together? What if he realizes it’s fake? What if that affects the judge’s decision and leads to him handing your son over to that douchebag instead?”

She looked from David to Holly, then locked eyes with me…staring hard, like she was peeling back my skull to check for ulterior motives. Seconds ticked by. Finally, she exhaled. “I can’t let Caden end up in the hands of that asshole. So, fine.”

Yes! Excitement exploded in my chest like fireworks. Living with the woman of my dreams.

Game on.

Can’t wait to make her fall head over heels…for real.