Page 94 of Accidental Fiancé

When I woke up in Julian’s arms, a sense of relief broadened my smile. It was over—the drama, the secrets, the lies, everything that had felt so suffocating over the last few days had been lifted.

We were finally free.

We spent the morning dawdling with his family. A breakfast buffet with Greek pastries and Cuban coffee filled the air with a heavenly scent. Banter-littered chatter rolled through the lounge, and good-natured jokes gave way to raucous laughter. All day long, Julian wore a secretive smirk, and when I asked him about it, he said, “It’s nothing. I’m just happy you’re here.”

Liar.

But he was happy, so I wasn’t mad about the lie. In fact, I’d never been happier in my life. We spent the day playing in the pool with Piper and the other kids. Even Marcus and Apollo joined us despite Marcus’ recent breakup. I had thought he might go home after the drama with Chloe, but with her gone, he relaxed and enjoyed his family. A few rounds ofMarcusPolo later, and he was laughing along with the rest of us. It had been a wonderful day.

My family consisted of me, Mom, and Dad. They had cousins and siblings, but we weren’t close with them the way Julian’s family was, and I loved being surrounded by such warm, welcoming people. None of them even mentioned the lie we told. They accepted me with open arms, no backbiting or sniping about any of it.

I could almost imagine a future like this. Happy and surrounded by love. I was no longer pretending, and when I saw that knowing smile on Julian’s lips, I didn’t know what it meant exactly, but I wasn’t scared by it, either. He’d tell me when the time was right. I trusted him completely.

After a late nap, Julian, Piper, and I joined the others for supper. The dining room was bathed in the warm glow of the chandeliers, the soft flicker of candlelight dancing off the polished mahogany table. Outside, the winter evening was fading into twilight, but inside, the mansion was alive with the hum of conversation and laughter.

I sat next to Julian at the long dining table, Piper on the other side of him. His family was scattered around, everyone dressed in their finest for Yaya's birthday. It was a grand affair. Yaya never did things halfway, apparently, and tonight was no exception.

The table was set with fine dinnerware, crystal glasses, and a centerpiece of fresh flowers that perfumed the air. Laughter echoed around us as plates were passed and conversations overlapped. Even Marcus seemed more relaxed, sipping his wine and engaging in small talk. He smiled more easily without Chloe around, and it was nice to see him that way instead of the grouch he had been when we first met.

Julian's hand was warm on my thigh beneath the table, a silent reminder of the support he gave me. His touch sent a shiver up my spine, not because it was new or surprising, but because it felt like home. We had made a choice to convince theworld we were in love when, in truth, somewhere along the way, the fake feelings we were trying to convey had turned real.

Given he had a crush on me in high school, I’m thinking they came more naturally to him as an adult. Though, I wondered if his feelings had ever been fake. It was hard to dig into that for myself—my feelings for him in high school were never a crush, or so I thought. I wasn’t sure if that was true anymore.

Had Nora been right? Had I used Julian as a boyfriend substitute back then? I wasn’t sure. But having him around made not having a high school boyfriend easier. She had said he was my boyfriend in all but title, and I couldn’t argue against that.

I squeezed his hand and smiled when he looked at me, but a twinge of guilt pulled at my heartstrings for the boy I had romantically ignored. We could have had so many years of happiness if only I had realized the truth back then. There was nothing to be done about it now, obviously, but it was impossible not to wonder about how things could have been if I had understood my own feelings instead of being wrapped up in worrying what others thought about me.

If I had been more self-aware in high school, Piper might have been my daughter. A startling thought.

But life had other plans for me, for Julian. Regrets didn’t accomplish anything. Acknowledging and learning from my mistakes was the only way to move forward to a brighter future. I screwed things up before and I refused to do that again. It felt good sitting in front of his entire family as a couple.

I made conversation with Apollo about his job, both of us dodging the subject of Chloe. Part of me wanted to attend her trial, but another part of me just wanted to be done with all of that. Unfortunately, he said, “You realize as the business owner and victim of the arson, you’ll likely be called to the stand, right?”

A weight sat on my chest hearing that. “I had hoped to stay out of it, actually.”

“I’ll do my best to keep your involvement to a minimum, but there will be questions. We will keep the sensitivities of the case in mind and?—"

A clinking sound rang out, and we looked to the head of the table to see Yaya, spoon and crystal goblet in hand. She was as regal as ever, her silver hair swept into an elegant updo, her eyes twinkling with mischievous energy that belied her eighty years. “No more business talk at the table, you two.”

I smiled and nodded as Apollo said, “Apologies, Yaya. Fun only.”

She nodded curtly and returned to her chat with Artemis. Ears like a hawk, that one.

I glanced at Julian, catching his eye as he leaned back in his chair, sipping his wine. He gave me a wink, and I couldn't help but smile, my heart skipping a beat. Leaning in so only I could hear him, he whispered, “You look beautiful tonight.”

Heat rose in my cheeks, and I nudged him playfully. “You're not so bad yourself.”

Julian looked effortlessly handsome in his suit, the dark fabric tailored perfectly to his lean frame, his dark hair slightly tousled in a way that made him look like he just walked off the pages of a magazine. It was all I could do not to demand we go to his room and find out how good that suit looked on the floor, but after some gentle teasing at the pool earlier, I learned just how much voices carried in the mansion. My voice, in particular, apparently.

That same spoon clinked against the crystal again, pulling my attention away from him. Yaya stood at the head of the table, this time, a glass of champagne in her hand. “Alright, everyone,” she said, her voice commanding attention with ease. “Before we get started on dessert, I think it's time for a little toast.”

The room fell quiet as everyone lifted their glasses, their attention turning to Yaya. I couldn't help but smile as I watched her. Tonight, was in her honor, her official birthday dinner. The weight of the past few days seemed to disappear. It was a celebration not just of Yaya’s birthday, but also about the fact that we had come out on the other side of everything stronger.

“To family,” Yaya began, her voice clear and strong. “To the ones who drive us mad, the ones who make us laugh, and the ones who never let us forget who we are, I am grateful for all of you. Thank you for being here tonight.”

There were murmurs of agreement around the table, and I raised my glass alongside everyone else, feeling a swell of warmth in my chest but also an ache. I didn't have a family like this, and her toast was a reminder of that. But sitting there, surrounded by Julian's family, I felt like I belonged with them. I wasn’t technically family, but they didn’t make me feel that way.

Yaya took a sip of her champagne and then set the glass down with a satisfied smile. Her eyes twinkled as she looked directly at Julian. “I believe there's something else to celebrate tonight, isn't there?”

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