Alina's eyes widened, her heart racing as she stared into those eyes, the noise around her fading.

 "Aiden Blackwood?" someone gasped from the crowd.

 "It's truly him!"

 "What's he doing at a party like this?"

 The whispers grew louder, and that was when Alina finally understood; the man she had just lied about, the powerful and untouchable Aiden Blackwood, was now standing right in front of her.

 Was she doomed after this?

 Her eyes traveled up to meet his, and her breath hitched again. He was more breathtaking than Kelvin-tall, and sharp-featured. She looked down quickly, forcing herself to stand upright.

 "Mr. Blackwood," Kelvin began with a strained voice, trying to recover his composure. "Word has it you don't interfere in matters like this. Why are you covering up a lie?"

 Aiden's eyes flickered over to him. The corner of his lips lifted into a cool smile, but his eyes stayed cold. He looked amused... in a dangerous way.

 "I don't actually know you," he said, voice low and unbothered. "But since you're so invested in how I met my woman, let me clear the air."

 The room fell silent.

 "I met her at The Blooming Nest flower shop," he said smoothly, giving Alina a soft look. "I was just there to buy flowers. Then I saw her-the most beautiful one in the place. I got interested, so I went after her. Got a problem with that?"

 Kelvin's mouth opened to argue, but Jennifer chimed in, skeptical. "Anyone can claim that. She works there. It could be a made-up story."

 Aiden's jaw tightened. He was already irritated. If it weren't for his grandma nagging him to settle down, and his assistant dragging him to this miserable party, these fools would've learned their place a lot sooner.

 Still, Alina had just handed him the perfect excuse to finally get the old woman off his back... and he wasn't about to waste it.

 He turned to Alina and stepped closer, closing the space between them.

 Then, he looked straight at Kelvin.

 "Watch closely," he said, voice low and cold. "This is what we've been doing behind your back for the past few months."

 And then, before Kelvin, or Alina, could react, Aiden claimed her lips.

 The room gasped.

 Alina's eyes flew open in shock. What... what was he doing?

 But then his hand settled on her waist, firm and possessive, and his lips moved against hers with ease.

 "If you're going to lie, then make it believable," he murmured against her mouth.

 Alina's heart thundered. What choice did she have now?

 Her hands instinctively reached for his back, steadying herself as she kissed him back. Just enough. Just convincingly enough.

 When he finally pulled back, he scanned her face, his voice quieter this time...almost too intimate.

 "You need to stop coming to places like this. Why here, when you have me?"

 "I..." Alina started, but her voice failed her.

 "Stop making me worry too much," Aiden interrupted softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

 Alina blinked, speechless. What was happening?

 Before she could process another thought, he bent and swept her off her feet, cradling her in his arms.

 The crowd parted.

 Lorraine stood rooted in place, her mouth slightly ajar. It felt like her spirit had departed from her body. 

 Meanwhile, Alina's brain completely shut down the moment her feet left the ground. One second she was being mocked and backed into a corner, the next, she was in the arms of Aiden freaking Blackwood, a man she only knew from news headlines and scandalous business gossip.

 "What the hell is happening?" she whispered, barely audible.

 Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as he carried her with ease past the gaping crowd. Everyone moved aside like he was royalty. Maybe he was.

 She could feel her pulse thudding in her ears. Her cheeks burned. And her heart? It felt like it had jumped right out of her chest.

 They reached a sleek, black Bentley and a suited man opened the door right on cue, and Aiden gently slid her inside before joining her.

 Silence filled the car.

 Alina blinked as it started moving. Her palms were sweaty, and her throat dry. The tension in the air wasn't angry; it was the kind that made her very aware of how close he was, how good he smelled, and just how insanely attractive he looked.

 "Are you gonna keep looking like you've seen a ghost?" Aiden asked casually, eyes still fixed on the road ahead.

 Alina jolted. "W-Why did you help me?"

 Aiden leaned back, resting his arm along the back of her seat. "Because you lied."

 "What?"

 "You said you were seeing me. That put me in a very... interesting situation, flower girl."

 "Since when do you know me?"

 "I don't," he said simply. "I only saw you by chance while driving past that shop. You were smiling so wide it irritated me."

 She blinked. He had also lied... to save her?

 Her lips parted, but no words came out.

 He turned to her then, one brow raised. "I was supposed to bring a girlfriend to my grandmother's birthday next weekend. And you just volunteered."

 "I didn't!" she exclaimed, horrified.

 "You called me your fiancé in front of those people. Sounds like volunteering to me."

 "That was..." she hesitated, biting her lip. "That was a mistake."

 "Well," he smirked, "then we're both making one now. And since we're in it, we may as well play it right. I'll clean up your lie, you clean up mine."

 "Isn't it wrong to just... impose that on me?"

 "I kissed you in front of everyone. Do you want me to go back and tell them it was fake?" He asked, raising a brow, already irritated.

 Alina froze.

 Aiden leaned closer, voice dropping. "Then you'll become the laughingstock."

 She bit her lip, mind spinning. She had no idea who this man really was beyond the rumors, but one thing was clear; he didn't ask for permission. He took what he needed.

 And somehow... he made it look like a favor.

 "So," he said, relaxing, "we're going to act like a couple until next weekend. You'll smile, say 'yes, honey' when needed, and charm the hell out of my grandma. I'll handle the rest."

 "After that?" she asked.

 He glanced at her. "We'll go back to being strangers."

 Her heart squeezed strangely at that. Why?

 "...What's your grandma like?"

 "You'll get all the details." He didn't look up, fingers scrolling through his iPad.

 "Oh."

 They sat in silence for a while until she finally turned to him. "I'll do it."

 "Deal, then."

 "It's Alina. My name-Alina."

 He gave a distracted hum in reply as she turned to gaze out the window.

 "I can do it," she whispered to herself. Maybe this insane lie was the beginning of something even crazier.

 And maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad pretending to be Aiden Blackwood's fiancée, even if it was just for a week.

 Her fist clenched in her lap.

 "I promise you one week of hell, Kelvin. I'll use every second to destroy you."

  The moment Aiden carried Alina out of the grand hall, the room exploded with whispers, gasps, and flashing cameras.

  In no time, the internet went wild.

Clips of Aiden and Alina, kissing, and him carrying her out, were everywhere. Alina's face was barely visible, hidden against his chest, but that didn't stop the rumors from spreading.

  The lighting was dark, the camera angles unclear, so no one could say for sure who she was. Still, everyone was talking.

  Comments flooded in:

  "Is that Aiden?! Who's the girl?"

  "Wow, finally a scandal! Took him long enough."

  "Whoever she is, she's lucky."

  Some praised the rare display of emotion, others debated whether it was a publicity stunt. Either way, it was blowing up online. It quickly became the most searched topic.

 Meanwhile, Jennifer nearly crushed her phone as she scrolled through the feed. Her jaw was tight, her eyebrows pulled together in frustration.

She read the comments again and they only made her feel worse.

  "She must mean a lot to him."

  "Aiden looked serious... Did someone bullied his woman?"

  "I hope this is real. They look... intense together."

  "That kiss, damn."

  Jennifer's fingers trembled with fury. It wasn't just the scandal...it was the praise. The admiration. The idea that someone else, someone like Alina, had touched a part of Aiden "she" had spent months trying to reach.

  She ran outside in anger, but by the time she got there, Aiden's car was already disappearing down the road. Her brows furrowed in anger, her lips slightly parted. She had just witnessed something she never expected; Aiden Blackwood had kissed Alina her own step sister... a low life like Alina. He had kissed her in front of everyone and carried her off like a scene from a romantic movie.

  She stood frozen, mind blank, disbelief washing over her. Her chest tightened as her hands slowly curled into fists.

  Staring at the road where the car had vanished, her mind raced with questions. Why did Aiden do that? What's so special about Alina?

  Months ago, she had done everything to get close to him, attended the same parties, wore the finest clothes, and smiled every time he glanced her way. Yet, he had never paid her attention.

  She was upset, but more than anything, she was confused. "How did that good-for-nothing girl end up in Aiden Blackwood's arms?" she muttered in frustration.

  Just then, a calm, mocking voice interrupted her thoughts.

  "Well," Lorraine said, coming to a stop beside her, "I guess Alina turned out to be luckier than we thought."

  Jennifer didn't respond. Her eyes were still fixed on the empty road ahead. Lorraine raised her eyebrows and gave a small smile.

  "Well..." she continued, casually brushing imaginary dust off her jacket, "maybe you think Mr. Blackwood will turn out just like shitty Kelvin."

  Jennifer snapped her head in Lorraine's direction.

  "Yeah... dating one woman and trying to use her to get closer to another." She tilted her head slightly, a pointed look in her eyes. "But Aiden Blackwood isn't like that. He doesn't seem like someone who settles for leftovers... or chases after girls who act like unrecyclable trash willing to cling to anything that gets tossed their way."

  Jennifer's eyes widened. Her mouth parted in disbelief, but Lorraine had already turned away.

  "Anyway..." Lorraine turned back and snatched Alina's phone from Jennifer before forcing a smile. "Goodnight, and enjoy the party." She gave a careless wave and started walking toward the street to catch a cab.

  Jennifer stood there, heart pounding, cheeks burning with rage and humiliation. She stomped her foot hard on the ground, the sound loud in the quiet night.

  Then, a voice called her name but this time, it sounded irritating to her hearing.

  "Jennifer."

  Without sparing him a glance, she started walking toward the parking lot, her heels stabbing into the ground with every furious step.

  "Jenny," he called again.

  But she didn't stop until he gently caught her wrist.

  "What?" she snapped, finally turning to face him, her eyes cold and filled with frustration.

  "What?" Kelvin repeated, frowning.

  "Take me home." She walked past him and got into his car.

  Kelvin watched her for a moment before pulling out his phone to text his friends that he was leaving with her, then joined her in the car.

  Jennifer sat with her arms crossed, her thoughts spinning. She felt a surge of anger at the image of Alina in Aiden's arms.

  *****

  A young woman lay on her bed, scrolling through her phone when she suddenly sat up, eyes wide.

  "Aiden? In a scandal?" she gasped, the phone slipping from her hand in shock. She quickly scooped it back up and leapt out of bed. "No way!"

  She dashed out of her room, taking the spiral staircase two steps at a time.

  "Mom!" she yelled breathlessly, her voice echoing through the room as her socks slid slightly on the floor. "Mom."

  In the grand sitting room, her mother looked up from her laptop, startled.

  "What is it, Mandy?" she asked.

  "Aiden... Aiden got into his first dating scandal!" Mandy announced, eyes wide with disbelief.

  "What?"

  "He kissed a girl," she said, waving the phone in the air like a victory flag.

  Her mother's brows raised as Mandy handed her the phone. "What do you mean kissed a girl? Aiden?" she repeated, tapping the screen with narrowed eyes.

  "What's happening in this house?" came a gentle, curious voice.

  Mandy turned, eyes lighting up. "Grandma! You're not going to believe this...my brother got into his first dating scandal."

  "That can't be true." her grandmother said as she slowly made her way over, adjusting her glasses.

  Mandy held out the phone and watched as her grandmother's lips parted in shock. "It's him, isn't it?" She said.

  They all stared at the blurry image of Aiden, his figure unmistakable even with the grainy quality, holding a woman in his arms.

  "That looks like my son," Jessica, Mandy's mom, whispered. "But..."

  "But he can't even stand to be near a woman," Grandma added, eyes still fixed on the screen.

  Jessica frowned. "Maybe it's fake... Photoshopped or something."

  Grandma sat down slowly, still speechless.

  Mandy flopped onto the couch with a stunned grin. "I don't know who this mystery woman is," she said, "but she just made history in this family."

  " I need to meet her," Grandma mumbled, almost to herself. "The woman who somehow managed to get my grandson's attention."