A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

But right now, things were getting a little complicated. Everyone around seemed convinced Portia was Julius's girlfriend. If he grabbed Portia and ran, it would just confirm their suspicions in the eyes of his fans. And that would only cause trouble for Portia.

He knew all too well that he had a lot of fangirls who considered themselves his "girlfriends." Some of them might actually get nasty toward whoever they thought was his real girlfriend.

While Julius hesitated, Portia responded faster than he could've ever expected.

"Julius! Oh my God, you're really Julius!" she squealed, clapping her hands to her mouth in exaggerated excitement, all while winking madly at him.

Wow, she's quick on her feet.

As soon as he caught on to Portia's act, Julius spun around and bolted.

"You've got the wrong guy! Who's this Julius? Never heard of him!" Julius shouted over his shoulder.

Portia kept up the show, shrieking, "No way! You look exactly like him! How could you not be Julius?"

She wrinkled her nose and huffed, "Wait, don't tell me you're some kind of plastic surgery wannabe? You got your face done to look like Julius?"

"Oh gross, what a scam! Here I was thinking I'd actually run into Julius. You're such a con artist!" she yelled, hands on her hips, playing up the drama like she was on a soap opera.

around them, who hadn't gotten a good look at

not Julius? He really looked like him..."

close! If anyone knows for sure, it's you. Is

that's Julius, then I'm the Queen!" Portia snorted. "He looks kind of like him from a distance, but up close? Please. Total surgery job. Julius is supposed to be in the capital right now anyway, what would he be

grumbled, sounding genuinely disappointed. "My whole mood's

act was so convincing that all the

would someone pretend to

creepy! What

we wouldn't

can totally tell the real deal

"So annoying!"

excited for

worked up over a fake. He

let

supposed to have a fire-juggling show coming up! I heard it's awesome. Let's go watch that

Her words caught everyone's