The wedding day arrived far too quickly. Excitement filled the air. It was a highly anticipated union between two immensely wealthy families, and the significance of the event drew relentless attention. Members of the press swarmed the venue, and every guest belonged to the highest tiers of society.

Of them all, Nicole was the most unsettled. She had not seen Walter since the day he had made his refusal clear, since the moment she had sworn she would put an end to the engagement. Since then, her father had kept her under strict watch, forbidding her from leaving the house for fear she might do something reckless. She had not even been allowed to see Amanda.

In every sense, she had become her father's prisoner.

Her heart felt as though it might burst from her chest, her hands trembling uncontrollably. In just a few minutes, she would be standing before Walter, dressed in white, facing the man whose thoughts she dreaded most.

Surely by now, Walter believed more than ever that she had orchestrated the entire marriage. At this very moment, he was probably convinced of the worst, certain that she had deceived him. Perhaps he even hated her.

Nicole let out a shaky sigh, despair tightening her throat as she wondered how she could ever make him understand the truth.

She stepped toward the mirror and studied her reflection. The corseted gown cinched tightly at her waist, its sweetheart neckline accentuating her figure.

From her waist flowed a wide skirt adorned with intricate embroidery and shimmering stones. Her hair was arranged in a delicate updo, a tiara securing the white veil in place.

She had to admit it. She looked beautiful. If only Walter loved her... Nicole's eyes burned as she fought back tears. This day was supposed to be the happiest of her life.

When the moment came, Nicole walked down the church aisle beside her father, her gaze lowered, her hands clasped around the bouquet as the wedding march echoed through the hall.

At last, she lifted her eyes. Walter was watching her. He looked as striking as ever in his tailored suit, yet there was no warmth in his expression. Unlike the dreams she had once clung to, where the groom gazed at her with tenderness, Walter's eyes held only a deep frown and unmistakable disdain.

The ceremony passed in a blur. A brief, emotionless kiss before the assembled guests sealed their union, followed by thunderous applause. Nicole remained visibly shaken, though most dismissed it as nerves. Walter made no effort to mask his scowl, not even for a moment.

The couple barely exchanged a word, constantly surrounded by well-wishers, acquaintances, and strangers offering congratulations and praise. Only when the crowd finally parted and the floor was cleared for their first dance did they find themselves alone.

"Congratulations. You finally got what you wanted," Walter murmured as they danced alone in the center of the hall, moving in time with the waltz.

"What?" Nicole lifted her face toward him, stunned, her heart lurching painfully.

"You played the obedient daughter," Walter continued, his jaw tightening. "You manipulated everyone and forced me into this marriage."

"No, you don't understand, Walter. I asked my father to call off the marriage, but..." Nicole's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes darting around the room until they met her father's stern, watchful gaze from across the hall. A chill swept through her.

Nicole could never, under any circumstances, speak ill of her father or reveal what truly happened at home. That was another unbreakable rule in their family. Even now, with marriage as her only escape from that prison, her father's grip on Olivia remained ironclad.

If Nicole dared to speak up, she knew her father would make sure her mother paid the price.

"Do you honestly expect me to believe the precious daughter of the Matthews—her parents' pride—was forced into marrying the man she wanted?" Walter scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Really, Nicole. Do I look like an idiot?"

The precious daughter of the Matthews? Yes, that was the story her father had spun for everyone. The reality was far different.

"Walter, wait..." Nicole tried to protest, her breath catching as if the words themselves were stuck in her throat. Walter stopped abruptly in the middle of the waltz, his expression closed.

"I'll tell you one thing, Nicole—something you already know. I don't love you, and I never will, so don't expect anything from me as your husband," Walter muttered, his eyes cold and unyielding. Then he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Nicole stranded in the center of the dance floor beneath the curious, astonished eyes of everyone in the room.

...

Two years later...

"Congratulations, Nicole!" Brenda cheered, raising her wine glass and clinking it against Nicole's.

"Thank you," Nicole replied softly, managing a small smile as she took a sip.

"Oh, come on, Nicole—cheer up! You're graduating! You finished your studies, you did it, and with honors, no less!" Brenda beamed at her, pride shining in her eyes.

"Yes, I know, and I really am happy..." Nicole let out a heavy sigh, her gaze lingering on the bar counter where her phone rested. "But…"

"But you can't stop thinking about him, can you?" Brenda finished for her, rolling her eyes in clear exasperation. Nicole pressed her lips together, sadness flickering across her face. "How long, Nicole? That man doesn't deserve a single one of your thoughts..."

"Brenda…" Nicole murmured. "He's my husband..."

"Your husband?" Brenda arched an eyebrow. "Only on paper... You'll forgive me for saying so, but I've told you before—not to think of him that way... How long have you two been married now? Two years?" Nicole nodded. "And in all that time, what has this so-called husband of yours done? He's ignored you, belittled you, and treated you with nothing but coldness and cruelty."

"No, it's just... You know it's complicated," Nicole protested, her voice barely above a whisper as she sighed again.

"Complicated?" Brenda shook her head. "He's called you manipulative, accused you of being opportunistic and selfish. And when he isn't mistreating you, he's simply leaving you alone. What would you even call a husband like that?" Her irritation was clear, but Nicole only let out another weary sigh.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you any of this. You don't understand..." Nicole turned away, frowning as she stared into her wine glass.

"What do you mean I don't understand?" Brenda shot back. "Would you rather have kept hiding it, bottling all of that up inside you?"

"No, but..."

"Nicole, tell me one thing..." Brenda said gently. "After everything you've endured in that marriage—the rejection from your so-called husband—what did you expect today? You left for six months to complete your studies, and all that time, he never called you, never reached out..."

"Well... I... I thought..." Nicole dropped her gaze, a lump forming in her throat. "I thought maybe if I stayed away for a while, he'd start to miss me, even just a little." Nicole's eyes drifted back to her phone. "Yesterday, I sent him a message to tell him about my graduation. Foolishly, I hoped he'd show up for the ceremony, or at least call to congratulate me, but..."

"As always, he didn't even send you a single message," Brenda finished, frustration clear in her voice. Nicole closed her eyes, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Oh, Nicole," Brenda murmured, squeezing her friend's hand. "How long are you going to keep loving that man? Walter Gibson doesn't deserve your love—not even a little. It's time to move on. Celebrate your graduation, focus on your career, on building a life for yourself. Become your own woman—powerful and independent. And when you do, you'll finally have what you want most: the chance to help your mother."

Nicole nodded, her smile faint and bittersweet. Brenda was right—she'd made it. She had finished her specialization and was poised to earn a major position in the family business.

Still, she knew her father's ambitions too well. As long as Olivia remained under his control, he'd keep manipulating Nicole's life.

But Nicole was done letting him win. She would work, she would fight—she was determined to buy her mother's freedom, to rescue her from that man once and for all.

As Nicole turned these thoughts over in her mind, the phone on the counter suddenly rang, sending her heart racing.

Nicole glanced at Brenda, wondering who could possibly be calling at such a late hour. Together, they stared at the phone as the screen lit up, Walter's name appearing in bold letters—her husband.

Nicole froze, stunned—it was the first time in two years of marriage that Walter had ever called her personal phone.

Brenda quickly gestured, urging Nicole to snap out of her daze and pick up. With shaking hands, Nicole managed to answer.

"H... Hello?"

"Nicole..." Her husband's deep voice resonated through the line.

"Yes? Walter..." she breathed, her heart pounding and nerves stretched thin.

"I take it you've wrapped up whatever you were doing abroad?" Walter's tone was flat and unfeeling.

"Yes, my studies. Like I said in my message, I finished my specialization and..."

"I don't care." Walter cut her off, blunt as ever. Didn't he care at all? Nicole's heart plummeted—so this wasn't a call to congratulate her? "Are you coming back tonight?"

"Uh... no... I'll be back the day after tomorrow... I have to handle some paperwork first..."

"Whatever you need to do isn't my concern..." Walter interrupted again, cold as ice. "I'm only calling to let you know."

"Let me know? About what?" Nicole asked, bewildered.

"When you return, the divorce papers will be waiting for your signature. I refuse to keep up this farce any longer..." Walter's words landed like a punch, leaving Nicole breathless.

"What?" Nicole's whole expression changed in an instant.

"What's going on?" Brenda whispered, noticing the shock etched across her friend's face.

"Now you know. When you get here, you'll just sign—no drama, and none of your usual tricks..."

"Walter, I..." Nicole's eyes glistened.

"By the way, where are you?" Walter suddenly asked. "I hear music—and a lot of men talking..." In the background, the shouts of a few guys playing pool echoed faintly through the phone.

"I... Uh... I'm in a bar..." Nicole said, startled. "I'm with a friend. We're celebrating my graduation..." Her voice faltered, confused by the question.

Walter had never asked her anything like that before. He had never shown the slightest interest in her whereabouts.

"Of course... "You went abroad to study—supposedly," Walter muttered sarcastically. His teeth clenched audibly as anger seeped into his voice. Then the line went dead.

Nicole let the phone slip from her fingers. A wave of dizziness washed over her. Was it real? Had all of that truly just happened?

"Nicole, what happened?" Brenda grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently, forcing her to snap out of it. Nicole stood there frozen, tears still streaming down her face.

"He... He... Walter... Walter asked me for a divorce." Nicole struggled to speak. The words came out broken and uneven. She reached for her glass and drained the remaining wine in one desperate gulp.

"He did what?" Brenda exclaimed. "Over the phone? That miserable, heartless man!" Her voice shook with fury.

"I... I don't know," Nicole sobbed. "I don't understand what went wrong. What am I supposed to do... I thought... I hoped... that you would miss me, that you would finally realize. I always believed that one day you would fall in love with me. I tried everything, Brenda, I swear I did, and he never believed me... Maybe… maybe I understand him. Look at me, Brenda. Walter is right. Someone like him could never be interested in someone like me." Nicole's words dissolved into incoherent sobs as Brenda watched her with quiet, aching sadness.

"Nicole," Brenda said softly, reaching for her. "Don't say that..."

"I thought he cared for me, even a little," Nicole went on, her voice cracking. "After his father died, he didn't ask me for a divorce. I took it as a sign—I let myself hope he might feel something for me. How foolish was that?" Her lament deepened. "What am I supposed to do now, Brenda? Tell me, what should I do? Our families' companies are merged, and after his father's death, Walter took charge of everything. He handed my father the full share owed to our family, but as for me... He only provided what I needed to live as his wife—a house, food, clothes. It took me a year and a half to save enough for this specialization. And now, after the divorce, I'll have nothing left!"

"Don't say that!" Brenda burst out, her voice thick with emotion as she saw her friend so broken. "That's why you studied so hard, Nicole! Isn't that right?" She gripped Nicole's shoulders firmly. "You did it to become an independent, empowered woman, so start acting like one!"

Nicole blinked, caught off guard; Brenda had never yelled at her like that before.

"Listen to me, Nicole Matthew," Brenda said, her tone unwavering. "You are done begging that jerk Walter for anything, and you will not keep humiliating yourself for him. That idiot doesn't realize the incredible woman he's losing. Got it?" Nicole could only nod, tears brimming in her eyes. At that moment, thinking for herself felt impossible. "You're going to sign those damn divorce papers, and then you'll demand a managerial position at the company. They can't deny you that—it's still your family's business, even if you're divorced. You'll work your way up and become exactly what you've always wanted to be—a beautiful, independent woman. You'll save your mother. Just watch—Walter will see the mistake he made." Brenda ended with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"What?" Nicole stared at her, bewildered.

"You're not going to let him get away with this," Brenda insisted. "You need to make him see that he's the one losing out."

"No... I don't understand..." Nicole murmured, her brow furrowing.

"We'll turn you into an absolute diva," Brenda declared. "Your soon-to-be ex-husband will be green with regret the moment he sees you with another man. That'll be your revenge..."

"With... with another man?" Nicole stammered, even more confused. "What man?"

"A real man," Brenda said with a smirk. "Someone gorgeous, powerful, the kind of arrogant brute who turns heads when he walks in a room. Just wait—Walter will regret ever letting you go. And if we have to, we'll hire you a fake boyfriend." Brenda's mischievous grin grew wider.

...

Nicole shifted restlessly in her seat, glancing toward the bar's entrance every few minutes. She still couldn't quite figure out how she'd let Brenda talk her into this.

"Nicole, enough already—stop fidgeting! You're making me anxious," Brenda complained, her patience thinning.

"I can't do this, Brenda. I really can't..." Nicole muttered, stealing another nervous look at the door.

"Of course you can!" Brenda insisted. "Come on, it'll be fun. It's a shame I won't be there, but just picturing it..." She grinned to herself, clearly entertained by the thought.

"I don't want to," Nicole admitted, dropping her gaze. "I'm not someone who takes revenge. That's just not who I am..."

"Don't think of it as revenge. It's nothing serious, Nicole..." Brenda replied, pausing as she considered how best to ease her friend's worries. "Just treat it as a harmless little joke. Aren't you at least curious? Wouldn't you like to see how your husband reacts?"

"I... well... maybe I am curious," Nicole admitted, cheeks reddening. The idea of Walter being even a little jealous felt oddly thrilling, even if it seemed impossible.

"Then it's settled!" Brenda declared.

"Wait... Tell me something," Nicole said, leaning closer. "How did you find this man so quickly?"

"Let's just say..." Brenda shrugged, feigning innocence. "I'm an independent woman who isn't interested in falling in love, but I do like to spoil myself with a handsome man every now and then."

"Brenda!" Nicole gasped, scandalized, her entire face burning with embarrassment.

"Okay, okay, I'm kidding," Brenda said, laughing. "Honestly, I just searched online. It was easy..." She checked her watch and her eyes went wide. "Oh my God, look at the time!" She suddenly jumped off her stool.

"What? What is it?" Nicole asked, completely bewildered.

"It's late, I have an appointment, and that man still hasn't shown up. Ugh—how irresponsible!" Brenda grumbled, stamping her foot in frustration.

"What? You have to leave?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Then... I'll go with you," Nicole offered, starting to rise, but Brenda stopped her with a firm hand.

"No way. You're staying right here and waiting for him. I'm messaging the agency now; he'll be here any minute," Brenda explained, tapping quickly on her phone. She fished a thick envelope from her purse and pressed it into Nicole's hand. "Here, this should cover everything—just don't pay him all at once."

"So much... there's so much money in here! I can't take this, Brenda. How could I ever repay you?" Nicole stammered, scandalized, trying to give the envelope back to her friend.

"Relax, Nicole..." Brenda said warmly, squeezing her shoulder. "You can pay me back by telling me all the juicy details—or, better yet, when you're running the company better than your future ex-husband ever did, you can return the favor then." With a playful wink, Brenda turned and started toward the door.

"Brenda—wait!" Nicole called out, her voice edged with nerves. Brenda turned back, expectant. "I... How am I supposed to recognize him? I've never even seen him before..."

Brenda's eyes sparkled with mischief. "When the tallest, most muscular, and downright attractive man in the entire bar walks in. You'll know."

"I'll wait a few more minutes, and if he doesn't arrive, I'll leave," Nicole told herself, taking a sip from her glass in hopes of calming her nerves. When she turned around, however, her eyes landed on the most striking man she had ever seen.

He stood impressively tall, broad-shouldered, with a chiseled chest and abdomen that showed even through his fitted shirt. She found herself wishing she could see the muscles in his powerful arms, but the jacket he wore kept them hidden.

Still, the man was captivating, with closely cropped light hair, a gaze both serious and commanding, a sharply defined jaw, a straight nose, and lips that seemed almost too perfectly shaped.

Suddenly, Nicole snapped herself out of it. What on earth was she doing? If she stared any longer, she might as well have been drooling at his feet. She had never looked at any man like this—except Walter, her husband.

That man had to be him. That had to be the fake boyfriend Brenda, her friend, had arranged.

Downing the last of her drink in one go, Nicole steeled herself and walked toward the handsome stranger sitting at the far end of the bar, her steps tentative and unsure.

"H-Hello..." she whispered, embarrassed. The man turned toward her immediately.

...

Patrick Collins was the third son of the country's wealthiest and most powerful family, yet he remained the least known, always keeping out of the spotlight.

He had no interest in cameras or reporters, and he loathed the demands of public life. Even as a boy, he made a point of avoiding attention, letting his older brother Albert handle interviews and family events.

For years, Patrick had worked relentlessly—managing his own businesses and stepping in to help his brother through a difficult phase. When the pressure finally became too much, he decided it was time for a break. He needed distance from everything, a chance to clear his head.

Lately, Patrick hadn't felt like himself. He was disappointed, even frustrated. All he'd ever wanted was to find the woman he'd spend his life with, to fall in love, to start a family of his own.

He wanted the kind of love his parents had—the deep, genuine bond he had admired since he was a child—but that happiness kept slipping out of reach.

It stung even more now, seeing his older siblings happily married, both swept up in new love, while he remained the odd one out.

Patrick hadn't been lucky in love. He had fallen hard, more than once, but each time ended in disappointment. As soon as the women in his life discovered his last name and the family he belonged to, their true intentions came out—ambition, greed, the desire for power.

The last to break his heart had been Juliana, a woman who left him shattered in every possible way.

That was why he needed to get away. Even after all this time, he hadn't been able to move on. So that night, Patrick did something he'd never tried before: he walked into a bar.

Patrick was a man who took care of himself, priding himself on his fitness. He loved working out and staying healthy, so he rarely drank alcohol—only raising a glass for big family gatherings or special occasions.

But that night, as he wandered the city feeling restless, he came across this bar. He needed a drink, something to help him forget the weight he carried, so he stepped inside.

Just as Patrick asked the bartender for a double whiskey, he was caught off guard by the voice of an unfamiliar woman behind him.

"He... Hello..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but there was something in it that drew his attention.

"Hello," Patrick replied, offering her a polite smile as she dropped her gaze, clearly shy.

"You... You're the guy... The one I was supposed to meet, right?" the woman continued, edging closer as if they were sharing a secret. Patrick found himself wondering what this was about. Who was she expecting? Was there something suspicious going on?

"Of course. The man you were waiting for..." Patrick said, meeting her with a crooked smile. Nicole glanced up at him, nerves evident as she swallowed.

"Yes, the fake boyfriend," Nicole admitted softly. "Oh! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you that... I need to be more careful."

Her words barely reached Patrick, and she flushed a deep red, quickly hiding her face behind her hand in embarrassment.

Patrick, though surprised that she was looking for a fake boyfriend, found her flustered reaction oddly charming.

He decided to keep the conversation going, curiosity getting the better of him.

"You can call me Patrick," he said, lowering his voice to match hers, playing along.

"I'm Nicole... I'm sorry, Patrick, please forgive me," Nicole replied, peeking out from behind her hand, her cheeks still burning. "I've never done anything like this before. I'm really nervous and embarrassed."

Patrick couldn't help but smile at her candor. There was an appealing sincerity to her, especially with how easily she blushed.

"Well, tell me... What do you need?" Patrick asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"Didn't Brenda explain it to you?" Nicole asked, looking at him in clear confusion.

"Brenda? She gave me a brief idea, but I'd like to hear the details from you..." Patrick shrugged, as if it wasn't a big deal. "I like to handle things professionally, and I prefer to do a job right." His tone carried just the slightest hint of suggestion.

Nicole immediately dropped her gaze, her cheeks burning. If his looks and physique hadn't already left her flustered, that playful undertone nearly pushed her over the edge.

"Well, it's not anything complicated..." Nicole began, her voice soft as she stared down at the bar. "It's not a difficult job, really..."

Patrick's brow creased in confusion. Why exactly was this woman searching for a fake boyfriend?

"I live in another city, so you'd need to travel with me. The arrangement would last at most a month..." Nicole explained, nerves evident in her voice. "Maybe less, if things work out sooner. While you're here, I'll put you up in a nice hotel and take care of your meals, so you won't have to worry about any of that..."

"That all sounds good to me," Patrick replied, nodding as his curiosity grew. Why did she need a fake boyfriend for an entire month?

"You... You'd probably spend most of your time at the hotel," Nicole continued. "We'd only go out for special occasions, so you'll have plenty of free time. You won't have to pretend all the time. Only when you're around my husband and his friends or family... Those are really the only situations you'd need to act..."

"In front of your husband?" Patrick's eyes widened, clearly thrown by her words. This time, his surprise was evident.

"Uh... Yes..." Nicole admitted, her brow furrowing as she tried to understand his reaction. "Did Brenda really not tell you anything?"

"Very little... Really, hardly anything—she was pretty vague, to be honest," Patrick admitted, leaving Nicole lost in thought. Then again, Brenda was always like that. "She only said you needed me for something specific," he continued with a casual shrug, trying to sound at ease. "And that it would involve a trip..."

"Okay…" Nicole pulled out her phone to call her friend, but there was no answer. What Patrick described sounded exactly like Brenda, which made Nicole feel a bit more confident. "Look, the gist of it is..." She took a steadying breath. "I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend in front of my husband—sorry, my ex-husband... I mean, I'm about to sign the divorce papers, so I'm not even sure what to call him yet, but..."

"Let me ask you something," Patrick broke in gently. "Before I say yes, I need to understand—why are you doing this?"

Nicole dropped her gaze, her thoughts in turmoil, heart beating faster with nerves. Why was she really doing this? Maybe it was because Brenda had convinced her, but deep down, she had to admit she also wanted to see Walter startled—maybe even regretful or jealous.

"I'm in an arranged marriage, and for a lot of reasons, my husband never wanted me. One of them is pretty obvious…" Nicole gestured vaguely at herself, though Patrick couldn't understand: what was wrong with her? "After two years in a hollow marriage, he asked for a divorce, and I... Well, I thought... Brenda said..."

Nicole faltered, looking away, distress and embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Patrick caught a glimpse of deep sadness in her eyes, and that same gentle blush spreading across her face.

"Patrick... You know what?" Suddenly, Nicole looked at him with a weak, forced smile that never reached her eyes. "Forget it, I..." Her words trailed off as she shook her head. "I can't go through with this, it's... It's ridiculous." Nicole ran her hand over her face, grief written across her features. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Patrick. There's no need for you to travel with me. I'll just... I'll face whatever's waiting for me on my own..." She gave a small, hopeless gesture between them. "Besides, no one would ever believe this. Someone like you, with someone like me—it's impossible. So, let's just forget the whole thing. It's for the best."

Nicole hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, her eyes shining with unshed tears, and offered Patrick a hesitant farewell smile. Something inside him twisted at the sight; she seemed as lost and empty as he felt, and it was obvious she needed someone in her corner.

Maybe that was why fate had brought him here, hadn't it? To a place he'd never have chosen on his own.

Nicole was just about to turn away when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Wait!" Patrick called out, stopping her. "Listen, you don't have to face this alone."

"What?" Nicole stared at him, bewildered.

"I want to help you. Let me be your fake boyfriend..." Patrick said softly.