âAndrew, thank you so much!â I chimed in sincerely.
âYour benevolence in providing shelter for those in need will surely be rewarded by the heavens.
â
Andrewâs response was a natural smile, warm and genuine.
âYouâre my fiancee, my dear.
Whatever your heart desires, I shall strive to make it a reality.
â
As he stepped closer, his fingers delicately brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear, a gesture so intimate it sent a shiver down my spine.
My smile froze.
What was he playing at?
Clutching the fabric of my attire tightly, I struggled to keep my composure, a fear gnawing at me that my facade could crumble at any moment.
If Nora hadnât been present, I might have physically recoiled several meters.
Ivyâs teasing voice broke through my thoughts.
âHeâs taking advantage of the situation, isnât he?â
Fortunately, Andrew withdrew his hand swiftly, restoring the distance between us.
His performance was impeccable; he could have been a professional actor.
As I internally commented on his acting skills, one of Andrewâs employees approached, offering a polite nod before whispering something to his ear.
After that, Andrew nodded solemnly before turning to me with an apologetic smile.
âDebra, Iâm sorry, but I must excuse myself for a bit.
Iâll instruct the butler to promptly arrange everything for Nora.
â
âOkay.
â
Understanding his need to leave, I bid him farewell with a casual wave, refraining from probing into his affairs.
As I watched Andrew leave, Nora looked at me with admiration.
âDebra, youâre amazing!â she exclaimed, giving me a thumbs up.
âIâve heard so much about how much Andrew adores his fiancee.
I thought it was just talk, but itâs true.
Youâre so lucky!â
Noraâs sincerity radiated genuine happiness for me, devoid of any hint of jealousy.
Little did she know, it was all a charade.
I wasnât sure how to respond so I offered an awkward smile.
Though I hadnât agreed to prolong the deception, I couldnât bring myself to reveal the truth about our fabricated engagement immediately after Andrewâs assistance.
That would be too cruel.
So, for the time being, I chose to keep it hidden.
Days passed swiftly.
Nora and I naturally grew closer, forming a genuine friendship.
She dedicated herself wholeheartedly to caring for me and Abby, never faltering in her support.
âHoney, please consider it one more time,â Ivy urged persistently, despite my repeated refusals.
âReturning to the Thorn Edge Pack wouldnât be the end of the world.
Itâs been so long; even if you donât want to hear Calebâs explanations, you should at least go see the kids.
â