Felicity's POV.
Yesterday, I was a mess. But today, I woke up feeling lighter, and better. That feeling lasted exactly twelve seconds until my phone buzzed violently like an angry hornet against the nightstand. I groaned and reached for it blindly, my palm hitting the screen and accidentally answering. It was Mom calling.
"Hello…?" I mumbled, my voice still tangled in sleep.
I sat up quickly, my body going stiff as dread coiled in my chest like a tightening rope.
"Felicity," Mom said, soft and shaken. Her voice was fragile, so unlike her, it scared me.
"It's your father. He's in the hospital. In Scotland. And it's serious, Ninu. They say he might not make it through the week."
My heart didn't break. It shattered. It paused for a second. My body sat upright, but my soul felt like it had dropped.
"What happened?"
"It's… complicated. His condition is worse than we thought. It worsened faster than expected. And… he asked to see you, Ninu."
"I thought he never wanted to see either of us ever again," I said, harsher than I meant to.
Mom hesitated. "He asked for you, Ninu. He's still your father. It's been eight years. Maybe... it's time to forgive."
I stared at the ceiling. Wyatt Paddington. The man who walked out of my life like a final disappearing act. The man who walked out, left a father-shaped hole in me, and never looked back. And now he wanted to see me?
"You're joking, right? Now he remembers he has a daughter?"
Silence. Then Mom whispered, "You don't have to forgive him. But you deserve answers. And there are things he needs to tell you."
The line went dead. I stared at the phone. A second later, another buzz. A text.
> Flight confirmed. I'll be in England tomorrow. Just think about it, okay? Your choice, sweetheart. He may not get another tomorrow. Love, Mom.
I stared at the screen. Maybe I didn't want forgiveness. But I wanted the truth.
I hesitate. I'm angry. Angry that he walked away. Angry that he left me with questions and silence. But I'm also hurt. Hurt in a way I never healed from and the truth is… I still love him. That love never really left. So I go. Not just because I love him, but because I need closure. I need to face him.
Maybe I do want answers. Closure. Or at least something to fill the silence he left behind. But I wasn't walking into that hospital room unprepared. I needed armor. A story. A perfect illusion. And I knew exactly where to find it. Despite everything between us… I called Chris. He was the only one I knew and trusted. He picked up on the first ring.
"Felicity? Is everything okay?"
"Not even close," I exhaled. "I need your help. I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend. Full performance. Hand-holding. Forehead kisses. The works."
A pause. Then he said:
"I'm on my way. Ten minutes."
He arrived in eight minutes. Hair slightly messy. Shirt half-buttoned. Eyes sharp with concern.
"What's wrong? What's going on?" he asked, his voice tight.
I walked straight to him and hugged him. He wrapped his arm around my waist. When I came back to my senses, I pulled away.
"It's my dad. My dad's dying," I said bluntly. "I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know if I want to go or not. I'm confused. I'm hurt. He abandoned me, Chris. He left me, and I don't know why. I don't even know if I want to know. But I'm going. I need closure. I need an explanation and I want him to think I'm happy. Like he didn't break anything. That I turned out fine without him.You're my fake boyfriend now and we're going to sell it."
Over lukewarm tea and slightly burnt toast, I told him everything about Wyatt, about Scotland, the trip, the years of silence, and the plan. Chris didn't blink. He just nodded and reached for my hand.
"I'm in," he said quietly, taking my hand without hesitation. "You know I've got you. I'll pretend to be whatever you need, boyfriend, bodyguard, shield. But, Felicity? I've never pretended when it comes to loving you."
He already knows. Chris pretends to be my fake boyfriend, trying to keep things under control, trying to protect me. But nothing stays hidden for long. Everything is about to unravel and just like that, I forgot how to breathe again.
The next morning, the sky over the airport was heavy with clouds, as if it knew something was ending. Chris and I picked up Mom from the airport. She looked tired, wearing red lipstick and sunglasses, hiding her exhaustion behind elegance but her hands trembled when she hugged me.
"It's good to see you, Mom," I said, hugging her back.
"You too, Ninu. And Chris?" She blinked at him. "What are you doing here?"
He wrapped an arm around my waist smoothly. Effortlessly. "Supporting Felicity."
Mom narrowed her eyes. "What is going on, Ninu?"
"We're pretending," I said. "He's my fake boyfriend."
Her brows lifted. "Excuse me?"
"Long story," I said. "I'll explain on the plane. Let's go to Scotland."
Scotland, later that day. The hospital smelled like antiseptic, fear, and tension. Room 314 was colder than the air outside. There he was—Wyatt Paddington. Once the roaring lion of noble Scotland who commanded nations. Now frail, pale, a body built from tubes and regrets, surrounded by machines that beeped like a countdown clock.
He looked up. "You came."
"I almost didn't," I said softly.
Chris held my hand and squeezed it. Then the door opened. They arrived—Mia, her parents, the Harrisons. Seconds later, Chris's father. The hospital room transformed into something between a royal council and a battlefield.
>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher's POV.
A few days ago, I had peace. Then Felicity called. Then I was flying to Scotland with her and her mother, pretending to be Felicity's boyfriend. Wyatt Paddington was pale and dying, but still somehow regal, even under a dozen machines. Felicity froze in the doorway. I held her hand. Then the hospital suite turned into a royal summit. The Harrisons arrived, Mia and her parents, Charlotte and Benjamin Harrison along with my father. And suddenly, it was less "dying father reunion" and more "Shakespearean showdown." My father stepped inside.
"Father?" I said, sharply. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for the Harrisons," Grayson replied calmly. "You? What are you doing here"
"I'm here for Felicity. My girlfriend."
He blinked. His gaze sharpened. "Tell me you're joking."
"I'm not."
He studied us for a moment, then said coolly. "We'll discuss this later. For now, the best doctor in Scotland is with Wyatt. Focus."
Felicity, ever the tactful one, greeted him: "Good afternoon, Your Majesty."
Then she turned to Mia.
"What's she doing here?"
"Family matters," Mia said smugly.
"Family? Wait—what?"
The truth came out, and I caught every word. Charlotte turned to Joy and spoke in a low voice. Then she said something that shocked Felicity, Mia, and even me.
"Wyatt Paddington is my brother," Charlotte inhaled slowly. "Which makes me Mia's mother, and Wyatt Mia's uncle."
Felicity stood there in shock. I blinked in surprise.
"Wait—so that means Felicity's dad is Mia's uncle?"
"Yes," Joy said.
"Which makes Felicity and Mia…" I blinked again. "Cousins?"
Mia looked horrified. "I'm related to her?"
"No. No. No. This isn't possible," Felicity exclaimed.
"So I'm related to her. Oh no! What on earth?"
Felicity raised an eyebrow. "You're beneath a lot of things, Mia. Dignity being one."
Mia crossed her arms. "Maybe you should treat me like family."
Felicity snapped. "If we're family, I officially request a divorce."
Even Wyatt chuckled at that, weakly but enough to silence the room.
His eyes found Felicity. "Still sharp," he rasped.
She stepped closer to the bed. "It's me, Dad. Why now? Why talk to me?"
He blinked, his voice cracked. "Because I thought I had more time. I owe you the truth."
Then his gaze flicked to me.
"Who is this handsome man? Is it Christopher, Grayson's son? And you're with him?"
Felicity held my hand tighter. "Yes, it is. And yes, I'm with him."
"Good evening, sir. How are you doing? Wait… why should I ask that? Of course you're not fine. But you will be. Please be fine. And one day, I will marry your daughter but for now, I'm her boyfriend."
He studied me, then smiled faintly, soft, but real and nodded.
"Good. He looks like he'd fight hard for you. You turned out alright, Felicity."
Felicity didn't smile. She felt embarrassed by what I had just said. And just like that, the chaos stopped. Even Mia shut up. But Felicity wasn't okay. I knew it in the way she stood, still and quiet. That's the thing about pretending to be someone's boyfriend. Sometimes you forget you're pretending. And sometimes… you realize you never were. The truth hit her like a bombshell. Bloodlines. Secrets. Everything tangled and raw, right in front of her.
Felicity turned to us, her voice steady but sharp. "All of you. Please, step outside." She looked at Wyatt. "I need to talk to my dad."