TWO LIVES - Shattered Illusion

A

nky girl from high school who always seemed to have a book tucked under her arm. But her grandmother, Ma Phil, had painted a different image-poi

e couldn't help but wonder if this arrangem

her timid nor polished at all. Her long pin straight, black hair was pulled back into a low loosed bun, but a few strands framed her face, softening

n search of its mysteries. A canvas of galaxied skies stretched so far and wide a man couldn't find the beginning or end. His eyes landed

ing

her younger sister had more boobs than her. Although he saved her, Alex didn't stop torturing her about it. She wasn't an early developer, but now h

hrew her fingers in the air, the movement like she was about gi

ring toward the chair across from him. "

and shiny before it relaxed. Her posture straight, her demeanor calm. But her hands betrayed her-she clasped

Niya's voice cut through the te

moment, he let the words remain, allowing a small crack to show in

econd and he felt his heart stomped. Alex cleared his throat

llow the scent of cedarwood and citrus. Hi

augh, and Niya subconsc

nvinced I'd never settle down or rather I wouldn't care if..." Alex's jaw tightened. "He decided

d, studying him. "A

gets 100% controlling shar

ed his words. Then, almost tentatively, she a

A dream sold to us with white dresses and fairy tales. But in re

she thought she had proof that love existed. But she remembered how much of a contrarian

t when they promise love and devotion. But give it time. It

she was hesitant. Growing up, his friends used to call him "smoke screen" fr

e, but even that had cracks she didn't like to acknowledge. "I gue

o many marriages fall apart. The good stuff erod

e's value in having someone to grow

k. "That's why they trade in their partners for you

dylike snort. "T

istic," he

er chest, forcing herself to shift the focus back to the business at hand. "I guess there are a lot of things we don

ing sexy about it. "We don't have time. The wedding has to happen in a few day

at her lips. "But for the record, yo

The jab is subtle but effective. She leane

g to get it over with...the sexual tension he didn't realize he had until his

etween them. The contracts were neatly laid out, along with a tray carrying her untouched c

one. W

bluntly as if he already knew the questions before t

t something flickered in her dar

years. Besides," he added, "y

..." she flattered. "I'm doing th

"That's what I mean. Ma Phil said you'd

ne who could do this-that paying off her parents' debts would be her way of honoring their memory. It

dropping to the papers before

This is strictly business. Ma Phil told me you needed a spec

she didn't look away from the papers no

eed your lawyer

ne

play the part of a devoted wife, and, in r

fter a

away. Cl

tain my independence. I'm not

e no interest in monitoring your every move. Do what you wa

's not forever. Just one year. A year of pretending to

t this either," she muttered. "I don

d dryly. "Yo

pression. What was she thinking? That she was his type?

tical choice. And I

cked. Whatever this was, it wasn't love