Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 29: Invitations and Deceptions (1)

Chapter 29: Invitations and Deceptions (1)

Ella’s POV

Sitting in my childhood living room, I feel the weight of the lie pressing down on me like a heavy stone. The familiar smell of lavender from my mother’s favorite candles fills the air, making everything feel more intimate, more real than it actually is. I glance at Arec, who sits calmly beside me, his expression neutral, controlled, but I can sense the tension underneath his poised exterior.

I’ve run through this moment in my head a thousand times, yet now that it’s here, the words stick in my throat like jagged glass. My mother, Lucy Davis, is sitting across from us, eyes bright with hope and excitement, completely unaware of the storm that’s brewing beneath the surface. She’s staring at us, hands clasped, her face glowing with an expectation I know I won’t be able to fulfill.

"So, darling, what’s the big news?" she asks, her voice laced with joy. "You said it was important."

Arec gives me a slight nudge, his knee brushing mine. It’s a subtle reminder to start talking, but my mouth is dry, my heart thumping loudly in my ears. I force a smile, my lips stretching in a way that feels unnatural, as if even my body is rejecting the charade.

"Mum..." I begin, my voice quieter than I intended. I clear my throat. "Arec and I... we’re getting married."

For a second, time seems to stop. My mother blinks, processing the words. Then, as if they finally land, her face lights up with sheer, unfiltered happiness.

"Oh my God!" she exclaims, jumping up from her seat. "I can’t believe it! My baby girl, getting married!" She rushes over to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her warmth surrounds me, and for a moment, I wish it was real. I wish this whole thing wasn’t built on a contract, on obligations, on lies.

I glance at Arec over her shoulder, and he gives me a small, encouraging smile. He’s playing his part perfectly, calm, supportive, as if this engagement is the most natural thing in the world. But I know better. I know the truth, and it’s eating me alive.

When my mother finally releases me, her eyes glisten with tears of happiness. "I knew it," she says, her voice full of pride. "I knew this day will come, but not this soon. Oh, this is wonderful, just wonderful."

I swallow the guilt rising in my throat. How could I tell her that none of this is real? That this marriage is just a business transaction wrapped up in a pretty bow? I can’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Instead, I force another smile and say, "We’ve decided to keep the wedding small. Just close family and friends."

"That sounds perfect," my mother says, beaming. "But we’ll still need to celebrate properly. This is a huge deal! Have you picked a date? What about the dress? Oh, I have so many ideas, we need to start planning right away!"

I feel my stomach twist. The thought of planning a wedding for a marriage that doesn’t even mean what it should makes me feel nauseous. But I nod, pretending to share in her excitement.

"We haven’t settled on all the details yet," Arec cuts in, saving me from having to respond. "But it will be in the next few weeks. We want to keep things simple."

My mother smiles at him warmly, completely charmed. Of course, Arec knows how to handle this. He always does. He’s controlled, composed, everything I’m not right now. I’m the one pretending to be head over heels in love, while he plays the part of the devoted fiancé with terrifying ease.

"Well, I’m just so happy for you both," my mother says, her voice thick with emotion. "I always knew you would find someone special, Elian. And Arec, I’m so glad it’s you."

Arec gives her a polite nod, his expression softening as he looks at her. "Thank you, Mrs. Davis. Elian means the world to me."

His words are well-practiced, but I can see a flicker of something else in his eyes when he glances at me. Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s discomfort. But it’s there, even if it’s fleeting.

I look down at my hands, trying to suppress the wave of anxiety that’s threatening to crash over me. This facade, it’s already suffocating me. And it’s only going to get worse.

As my mother begins excitedly talking about wedding venues and flowers, I can’t focus. My mind drifts to the real reason Arec and I are doing this. The contract. The promise that this marriage would secure his place as CEO. No one but my best friend Kate knows the truth, I couldn’t even tell my mother, and the guilt of that secret feels like a weight pressing down on my chest.

I know Arec is counting on me to play my part. To be the perfect fiancée, the perfect wife, until the terms of our agreement are fulfilled. But sitting here, with my mother practically glowing with joy, I wonder how long I can keep this up. How long can I pretend that everything is fine? That I’m fine?

Arec reaches for my hand, and I flinch slightly before forcing myself to relax. He notices, but doesn’t say anything. Instead, he squeezes my hand, his fingers warm against mine. It’s a gesture meant to reassure me, but all it does is remind me of the lie we’re living.

Eventually, my mother goes to the kitchen to prepare some tea, leaving us alone in the living room. The moment she’s gone, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

"You’re doing great," Arec whispers, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

I shoot him a look. "I feel like I’m drowning."

He frowns, his expression softening. "It’ll get easier," he says, but there’s a hint of doubt in his voice. "Just a few more weeks. Then we’ll be married, and everything will calm down."

I shake my head. "I don’t know how you can be so calm about this. It’s... it’s my mother, Arec. She’s thrilled. She thinks this is real."

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I know. I get it. But we’re in this together, okay? We’ll get through it."

I want to believe him. I really do. But every time I think about walking down the aisle, pretending to be madly in love with him, I feel a knot of anxiety tighten in my chest.

Before I can say anything else, my mother returns with a tray of tea and cookies, still smiling brightly. I plaster on another fake smile, trying to keep up the charade.

"This is going to be such a beautiful wedding," she says, handing me a cup. "I can’t wait to see you in a wedding dress, Elian. You’re going to look stunning."

I sip my tea, the warmth doing little to ease the cold dread settling in my stomach. The wedding dress, the flowers, the vows, it’s all just part of the illusion. And I’m starting to wonder if I’ll even recognize myself by the time it’s all over.

As the afternoon drags on, the weight of the deception only grows heavier. My mother is completely immersed in wedding planning mode, and I can barely keep up. I feel like a fraud, sitting here with Arec, pretending that this is the start of our happily ever after. But the reality is far more complicated than that.

When we finally leave, my mother hugs me tightly, her eyes brimming with happy tears. "I’m so proud of you, Elian. You’ve found someone wonderful."

I smile weakly, my chest aching with guilt. "Thanks, Mum," I whisper, hugging her back. "I love you."

As we walk to the car, Arec glances at me, his expression unreadable. "You okay?" he asks quietly.

I nod, but the truth is, I don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending.