The Accidental Wife by Sara Islam

Chapter

108

To say that I was nervous would be a huge understatement. Julian asked to meet me yesterday and I cannot help but keep wondering why he wants to do that. Well, he now knows that I'm his daughter's boyfriend, so this is probably the reason; however, that is enough to make my anxiety spike. It's been three days since my talk with Rosie and I thought things would become clearer between us, but it turns out that my misery has intensified. I don't just like Rosie, I'm starting to think that I actually love her. But what am I supposed to do when she doesn't see me the way I see her? I thought about it for a while, and I reached a painful conclusion. I have to stay away from her. I need to keep my distance to avoid heartbreak. I need to I to convince myself that Rosie is going to be mine. I should understand that she can never be more than just a friend. I forgot my place when I commented about her friendship with Everest and maybe I needed her reminder even if it was a harsh one. I wish we could stop the whole fake-dating thing to put myself out of my misery, but I'm not sure if I have this kind of strength in me to just walk away from her now. I need some time with her even if we're just pretending.

any

I have never had a problem with talking to Julian, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this time is going to be different, especially since he asked me not to mention anything to Rosie. This is my first time to have a one-to-one meeting with him.

I

I walk inside the restaurant, making sure to arrive early, but to my surprise, I find him sitting inside. Once he sees me, he ends his phone call and smiles. I take a deep breath and let my legs take me over to him. My heart is loudly thumping in my chest, and I silently pray that my face doesn't show how tense I am. "How's it going?" he asks once I sit down.

"All good. Busy with practice and assignments, but I'm managing," I reply. "What about you? How's work?" Work is work. I'm used to it," he replies. "Do you plan on coming with Rosie to Holden's soccer game?" go with her with her

to come. I can't say no to him." Just like how I can't say no to Rosie. She asked me to "He called me and asked before I received Holden's call and what Rosie wants Rosie gets.

How

is it it going with Rosie?" he asks and my stomach twists. I should not feel like that. Or maybe I should. What am I supposed to tell him? Should I tell him how I thought things were going great at first, but then everything went downhill?

"Everything is going great," I answer with a smile and I hope that he doesn't see through my lies. Everything is truly great. At one moment, what we had almost felt real. We fell into a pattern that I was madly in love with. I loved how we had our meals together. I used to take my textbooks to her place to study with each other even though our majors are completely different. We had even cooked together more than once and I just loved how she bossed me around the kitchen.

"You finally got what you wanted. I know that you've always liked her," Julian points out and I nervously chuckle. How I wish that was true. I wish I got what I wanted.

can't believe it," say, rubbing

to make her see that you like her?" I want to correct him and tell him that I don't just like her. I, in fact, love her. This, however, should not be my main focus. I wish I had an answer to that question, but the truth is, I don't. I

paid attention whenever she talked." I shift uncomfortably

he says. Something about the look in his eyes makes me want

Chapter 108

I blurt-and mentally

together. I don't

in the locker room and how Rosie took the whole thing. As I'm talking, I feel like I'm betraying Rosie because she didn't want her parents to know, yet here I am, telling her father everything. "How did you know?" I

an arranged marriage and the whole world knows about it, Silas. We faked being a real couple in front of everyone for a while, so I know how to spot fake ones," he casually answers. "But I

schooling my

her to find out that way," I admit, looking

"Listen,

daughter and frankly, I don't mind if she ends up with you, because something about you makes me trust you." Have I just gotten Julian's approval? "But if you break her heart, I will break your neck." "Fine by me." I could never do that

anyway.

you think this whole acting thing would

I look down. "Things

A crease forms between

everything, hoping he can help me out. I'm desperate and I don't know what to

ime you

to you or spend time with you, this means that she likes you! If she keeps her distance, then you're both simply not meant to be." What he says is absolutely right, yet his words manage to instill fear in me. Am I ready to see her doing what I asked

100.