Page 43 of Fake Engagement with my Brother's Best Friend

“Logan and I… we haven’t been entirely honest with you all,” she begins, her eyes flickering to each of them. “This engagement… it wasn’t real. We made it up.”

Her mother’s eyes widen in shock, her father’s face hardening with disappointment. Joseph just sits back, his arms crossed, clearly not surprised, but letting Grace speak. I can see the tension rise in the room immediately.

Her mother is the first to speak. “What do you mean, Grace? You lied to us?”

Grace bites her lip, nodding. “It started as a way to avoid questions, to keep things simple… and then it spiraled out of control. I’m sorry. We should have told you sooner.”

Her father shakes his head, his face a mix of disbelief and anger. “I expected better from you, Grace. We trusted you.”

“I know,” she says softly, her voice breaking a little. “I’m sorry.”

Her mother looks between the two of us, her expression cold. “How could you do this? You brought us into this lie, Grace. Do you know how embarrassing this is?”

I can feel the weight of their judgment, and my gut twists as Grace struggles to explain. I can’t just sit by and let her take all the blame.

I step forward, my voice firm. “It’s not just Grace. This was my idea too. We both made a mistake, but it wasn’t out of malice. It just got out of hand, and we didn’t know how to stop. I want you to know something—my feelings for her are real.”

Her parents exchange skeptical glances, and her father narrows his eyes at me. “How do we know that? You’re telling us that this whole engagement was a lie. What makes us think you won’t break her heart?”

I take a deep breath, knowing this is my moment to step up. “I care about Grace more than anything. What started as a mess turned into something real for me, and I’m not walking away from her. We’re going to start fresh, no more lies. I promise you that.”

Her mother shakes her head, unconvinced. “Promises aren’t enough, Logan. This is your second chance, and you expect us to believe that everything will just magically work out? I’m not sure I can trust you.”

I feel Grace’s grip on my hand tighten, and I know this is harder for her than she’s letting on. Before I can respond, Joseph speaks up, his voice strong and clear.

“Mom, Dad, enough,” he says, standing from the table. “Grace is my sister, and Logan is my best friend. I’ve known about this for a while, and I didn’t say anything because I knew it wasn’t my place. I can tell you one thing—Logan is serious about her. They both made mistakes, but they’re trying to fix them.”

Her parents look at Joseph in surprise, but I can see the respect they have for his opinion. His words seem to carry weight, and the tension in the air eases, just a little.

Grace steps forward, her voice stronger now. “I don’t need you to believe in Logan or in us right now. I do need your support. I love him, and I’m going to make this work, whether you trust him or not.”

Her parents exchange a glance, and for a moment, I can see the conflict on their faces. They’re not convinced, but they love Grace too much to push her away completely.

Her father finally sighs, rubbing his temples. “I don’t know what to say, Grace. This is a lot to take in.”

Her mother nods in agreement, her expression still hard but less accusatory. “We’ll… try to support you; but don’t expect us to forget this.”

Grace nods, her shoulders relaxing just slightly. “That’s all I’m asking.”

As the tension slowly dissipates, Emily steps forward, her eyes soft with understanding. She gives Grace a warm smile and pulls her into a tight hug. “You should’ve told them sooner,” she whispers, but there’s no anger in her voice. Just love. “I get it. You were scared, and I’m just glad you’re happy. That’s all that matters to me.”

Grace smiles back, the relief clear in her eyes. “Thank you, Em.”

Joseph, standing next to me, claps a hand on my shoulder, a small grin tugging at his lips. “I always knew you had feelings for my sister, even before all this fake engagement stuff,” he says, chuckling. “I just didn’t think you’d take such a dramatic route to get here.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I didn’t either.”

He nods, then his voice lowers slightly. “Seriously, man. I’m glad you’re both finally being honest. You’re good for her.”

Emily pulls Grace into another hug, then turns to me with a teasing smile. “Take care of her, Logan.”

“I will.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Grace

The day couldn’t be more perfect. The sky is a brilliant blue, not a cloud in sight, and the warm sun bathes the beach in golden light. The ceremony space is set up right on the sand, with a beautiful arch covered in white roses and greenery framing the ocean behind it. The gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore fills the air, adding a peaceful rhythm to the day. I stand at the front, next to Emily, my heart pounding with excitement and emotion as the guests settle into their seats.

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