Page 103 of Fake It 'Til You Sleigh It

The camera pans to Chase, who is holding a clipboard and wearing a perfectly positioned headset. She pretends to be surprised at being called up, but I notice her eyes narrow slightly, a clear sign that she’s on guard.

God, I want to grab her hand, admit everything. But I can’t. Not yet.

“Chase and I have been secretly dating for months,” I say, the lie tasting bitter. “We tried to keep it quiet at first.”

“My fault,” she quips, her laugh a touch too high. “I blurted it out in that interview.”

The audience laughs, oblivious to the tension crackling between us.

“Yeah, you threw me for a loop with that one,” I reply with a chuckle before announcing, “But now it’s my turn to drop a bombshell on live TV.”

I drop to one knee, my heart pounding so hard I swear the front row can hear it. The velvet feels like sandpaper against my sweaty palms.

“Chase Pemberton,” I start, willing my voice not to shake. “You’re everything to me. You’re the girl—”

“STOP!”

A high-pitched shriek rips through the air.What the actual fuck?

A blur of red hair streaks across my vision. Gail.Oh, shit.

Time slows. I see Gail’s wild eyes, her fingers clawed like a predator’s. Chase, still processing, is totally exposed.

Protect Chase. Nothing else matters.

I lunge forward, but I’m too fucking slow. Gail slams into Chase with a force that knocks them both to the ground, hard.

“He’s mine!” Gail shrieks, flailing like a demon possessed. “Ethan loves me!”

The audience gasps in unison. Cameras whip around frantically. I hear a producer shout, “Security!”

I grab Gail, trying to pry her off. “Gail, stop this!”

She twists in my grip, eyes blazing with a manic intensity. “No, Ethan! You love me. I know you do!”

Chase tries to stand, but Gail spots her and lashes out with a vicious kick that sends her crumpling back down.

“Chase!” I yell.

Gail’s elbow crashes into my eye and I stumble back—pain exploding in my face.

Motherfucker!

In my moment of distraction, she breaks free, darting across the stage.What is she doing? The ring.

Gail snatches it up, jamming it on her finger. “See, Ethan? It fits! You’re meant to marry me, not this lying skank!”

I position myself in front of Chase, shielding her. She’s clutching her stomach, face pale with pain.

“You okay?” I murmur, fear and concern battling inside me.

She nods, wincing.

Gail’s still going full psycho. “Stop this fake relationship nonsense! You love me, baby!”

Ice floods my veins.Fake relationship.She said it. On live TV.Fuck!

“Gail, stay back,” I warn, trying to keep my voice steady despite the panic clawing at my chest. “This fantasy needs to end.”

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