Chapter 52

Chapter 52
I wasn’t a Sanders. That’s why I was treated like this. But it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t ask my mother to cheat on him. I didn’t ask for any of this!

I felt tears pricking the corners of my eyes, but I quickly stopped myself. I paused, took a shaky breath, and calmed down.

Once I was steady, I swallowed hard—avoiding the urge to clear my throat and make any sound. Ignoring the dull ache forming in the center of my forehead, I knocked on the door.

“It’s Lex. Can I come in?” I asked, my voice coming out a bit hoarse and uncertain.

“Oh yes, come in, Alex. Your father and I were just talking about you,” Helena answered brightly as I walked in.

She was perched on the edge of Mr. Perez's desk, her legs elegantly crossed, one heel dangling in the air like she had all the time in the world.

Dad moved toward the armchair without even glancing at me.

“Have a seat.” She gestured to the couch, and I didn’t hesitate—I was too weak in the knees to keep standing.

“So, Dad, I want to start by saying Ray and I love each other,” I began, lying straight through my teeth. I didn’t love Ray. But he acted like he loved me. “And—”

“Oh, don’t bother, Alexis. Your father already agreed,” Helena interrupted smoothly, waving a manicured hand like she was brushing away a fly. I raised a brow, confused. “Right, honey?” She turned to Dad.

“Just don’t bring any shame to the family name. Otherwise, go ahead and marry him,” Dad muttered. He didn’t even look at me. That’s when I realized—he never once did.

“Well, that’s sorted. I’m going back to the city,” I said, already rising.

“Already? I mean, he hasn’t even proposed yet,” Helena said, standing too. She brushed invisible lint from her skirt and moved closer. “Because we’re not doing this girlfriend-and-boyfriend nonsense. He has to marry you, and that’s that.”

“He hasn’t proposed yet.”

“Well, leave that to me, child…” she cooed, suddenly smiling sweetly as she approached like a lioness softening her growl.

I forced a small smile back, pretending I didn’t see right through it. I couldn’t let her punish Emma in my name.

“I’ll have the Perez family plan a romantic dinner where I’ll hint marriage. Trust me, you’ll have a ring on your finger before this getaway ends.”

“Well, I… I don’t want to pressure him.”

“It’s not up to you—unless you have another plan in mind, of course.”

“I mean… I’m sure he’ll propose within this week.”

“Week?” She laughed, almost mockingly. “We don’t have a week. In fact, we plan to stay at the Taylors’ estate for a while before returning to Seattle. I heard it has great views.”

I knew it—Helena and luxury were soulmates.

“I have a plan of my own. Remember, Ray is a Taylor, and I’ve heard those people are the smartest. If we’re going to trap the son, we have to be one step ahead of him.”

That didn’t even sound like me anymore.

“Oh my God, I think she took after her mother’s brain. So cunning,” Helena said, almost giddy. Her voice dripped with fake pride and venom, and I felt sick. I wasn’t this person.

“Fine, I believe you. Tell you what—you have one month. If you fail, I’ll never forgive you.”

“I understand.” I cleared my throat and looked at Dad, hoping for anything—eye contact, a word, a blink. But he just sat there, sipping his liquor like I didn’t exist. I turned and left. Saying goodbye to him felt useless. I wasn’t his daughter.

Back in my bedroom, I found that Ray had finished packing my things: “I think that’s everything you came with. Ready?” he asked as he approached me. I just nodded, turned, and walked out before he could catch up.

We got to the car, and the guards were kind enough to open the door for me. I didn’t hesitate—I got in without a word.

No one tried to stop me. No one asked if I was okay. I mean… I was nobody.

Ray slid in beside me, but I turned toward the window and froze as my eyes landed on Elliot and Paris—sitting on a beach chair, making out.

“You’re not prepared for tonight,” Ray said as the engine started.

I gave a quiet, distracted “hm.” My mind was somewhere else entirely.

I didn’t say goodbye to Emma. I couldn’t. She would’ve cried, and I would’ve cried too. And that was the last thing I could deal with.

Ray tried to make conversation here and there, but I didn’t engage.

The rest of the drive was silent, my mind racing. Ray’s proposal. Dylan’s confusing reaction. Elliot getting married to my sister…

Finding out I wasn’t a Sanders. And Helena—trapping me in this twisted game. I sounded like Cristina earlier… and I wanted to be nothing like my mother.

“Alright… do I drop you off, have a doctor come check on you, and then once I’m back, we can have dinner and, I don’t know, watch a movie?” Ray asked gently. “Lex?”

“Um…”

“You know you don’t have to say yes immediately, right?”

“W-what?”

“The proposal. I know it’s what’s bothering you,” he said calmly.

I hadn’t noticed it before, but he was gently patting my back. I was in his arms—when had that happened? I looked up. His eyes were soft. God, he looked so sweet.

How was it that a hot, talented guy wanted to marry me? I was just Lex—the rejected girl. Why would a man like him want to marry me?

“Um… we can’t really escape that because the… the proposal is in the contract.”

“I made the contract. I can change the rules,” he said.

I smiled at first… until the words hit me.

Made the contract? So he purposely—oh shit. This was all a–