Page 22 of Knot Really Engaged
One little lie. It’s not like we’re seriously tying the knot.
Chapter Eleven
Audrey
As I stepout of the bathroom, Lily leads me to the balcony of their penthouse. When we reach it, I see Liam already waiting for me, and my breath catches in my throat.
He’s dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuates his broad shoulders and lean frame. The deep navy color complementshis sun-kissed skin and brings out the intense blue of his eyes. His hair is perfectly tousled as if he’s just run his fingers through it, and the sight of him sends a shiver down my spine. He looks like he’s just stepped out of a magazine, his chiseled features and confident stance making my knees weak.
As our eyes meet, the world around us seems to fade away. It’s as if time has frozen, and we’re the only two people in existence. The bustling city below us disappears, and the gentle breeze that tosses my hair becomes a distant memory. At this moment, there’s only Liam and me, our gazes locked in a silent conversation.
I feel a magnetic pull toward him, my body yearning to be closer to his. My heart pounds in my chest, and I’m sure he can hear it from where he stands. I take a tentative step forward, my eyes never leaving his. The intensity of his gaze sends a rush of heat through my body, and I find myself struggling to breathe.
As I draw nearer, Liam’s lips curve into a soft smile, and I can see the warmth and affection in his eyes. He reaches out, his fingers grazing my cheek, and I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. The simple gesture sends a jolt of electricity through my veins.
When I open my eyes, Liam is still looking at me, his gaze filled with an emotion I can’t quitedecipher. It’s a mix of tenderness, longing, and something else that makes my heart skip a beat. I bite my lip, trying to steady my racing pulse.
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Lily says, her voice filled with excitement as she snaps pictures of us. “These pictures are going to turn out great.”
“Stop looking at my sister like a lost puppy, you asshole,” Max yells from wherever he’s standing, his voice laced with annoyance. When I finally look toward him, he’s standing in a corner, arms crossed, and brows furrowed in disapproval.
“Ignore him,” Lily argues, dismissively waving her hand. She turns to Liam, her expression expectant. “Do you have the ring?”
Liam nods, a soft smile playing on his lips. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. My breath hitches as he drops to one knee, his eyes never leaving mine. He opens the box, revealing a stunning diamond ring that glitters in the sunlight. With a gentle touch, he takes my hand, sliding the ring onto my finger. The cool metal against my skin sends a shiver down my spine, and I can’t help but marvel at how perfect it feels.
This is so perfect and yet a farce. Just a photo montage of something that might never happen to me in real life because I don’t seem to be able tofind the right guy. A few tears begin to run down my cheeks.
“Hug her,” Lily says.
Immediately Liam complies. “You okay?”
I nod afraid of speaking.
“Why are you crying?” he asks.
“Proposals always make me cry,” I lie, but what else can I tell him? This is something I thought was close because I was hoping Ben would do it. I thought we were . . . Were we in love? I’ll be honest, neither one of us ever professed any love for each other. Now I’m just angry and confused about the whole situation.
I haven’t even given myself time to discern our relationship, and yet, I have to jump into the next thing—my fake engagement.
“You don’t know how to fake it,” Max mutters, shaking his head in disbelief.
“They’re doing fine,” Lily counters, her tone firm as she continues to capture the moment.
Ethan just watches us, his expression unreadable. He doesn’t have an opinion, or if he does, he’d rather not voice it right now. I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking.
Though, I want to understand why Max doesn’t buy it. He gives me a look that says he knows this will fail, his eyes narrowed and his mouth set in agrim line. I feel a pang of doubt in my chest, but I refuse to let it show.
“Have a little faith,” I say, almost defending us. My voice wavers slightly, betraying my own uncertainty.
“When this goes sideways—and it will—I’m just gonna sit back, eat some popcorn, and enjoy the show.” Max smirks, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He leans back against the railing, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.
“God, shut up, Maximilian,” Liam mutters, his jaw clenched in frustration. He glances at me, his eyes softening for a moment before he turns back to Max, his expression hardening once more. “When you do something stupid I’m always there for you. This time, it is your turn to give me a hand.”
“Yeah, don’t jinx it,” I agree, even though my brother has a point. This smells of disaster.
I swallow hard, trying to push down the nagging feeling that this might not end well. I would hate to admit that my brother is right.
“I’m trying to be supportive and give you two all the tools to succeed, but I’m telling you that this is going to implode one way or another,” Max says, his voice taking on a more serious tone. He uncrosses his arms, taking a step toward us, his eyes filled with genuine concern. “Just tell the truth or fake like you broke up—irreconcilable differencesor some shit—before you take it any further.”
