Page 43 of Dr. Billionaire's Fake Marriage

Amelia calls back when I hang up Mother's call. She says Troy isn't at Mrs. Robinson's mansion because she is there. "Do you think he is with Henry?"

“No,” Amelia replies. “Henry is here with us, making the last preparations for the rehearsal dinner.”

I roll my eyes as I remember this weekend is Henry and Amelia’s wedding week.

"Look, Troy is probably overwhelmed with everything; maybe he just wants to be alone." Amelia tries to dissuade me from worrying about Troy, but she doesn't know that he has disappeared because of me.

I hang up, promising to call her once I find Troy. Then it hits me; Troy may be on the hospital rooftop. That is the only place if he wants to be alone.

I take the next taxi to the hospital and run up to the top of the building. I wait to catch my breath, seeing Troy's back from where I stand. He has his hands in his pocket and turns when I call him. "I need to talk to you."

“How do you know I’d be here?” Troy turns away from me. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“You seem to forget that this is my hideout too.” I try to make the mood lighter, but Troy won’t budge. He is still angry at what he heard Mother say about me.

“I thought you were different,” he says. “I want you to be different from the rest.”

I swallow hard. "I know there is nothing I can say that will change your mind, but I swear you didn't hear the rest of the conversation." I continue, "I just wanted to be sure you are fine; I will go home now."

I turn to leave, and Troy doesn't stop me. He lets me walk out of his sight without uttering a word. My heart sinks as I take a cab home, realizing that I have fallen in love, but this man may not love me like I love him.

I go back to Troy's house, choosing the guest room tonight because I know it is best to avoid each other until his anger flags.

I am unsure when, but I know he still needs me to marry him for the next six months.

Tomorrow is Amelia's rehearsal dinner, a perfect reason to disappear. But I seem to be forgetting that Troy is Henry's brother; he will not miss his brother's rehearsal dinner for anything.

I need to be there for Amelia, regardless of whether Troy, who hates me, will be present. I hear Troy enter the house just before I drift off to sleep.

I may be mistaken, but I hear the door to my room squeak open and then close. My heart pounds, knowing that Troy is checking on me.

This morning, I don't see Troy in the house. He has probably gone to his mother's for the rehearsal dinner. I prepare to leave the house too. I wouldn't have bothered if Amelia weren’t my best friend - if not my only friend.

I hear my phone ring when I return from the bathroom. When I check; my phone has been ringing for a long time.

Amelia is calling to let me know that she needs me; she has had a mental breakdown.

I take the next taxi to Amelia's house, and her mother leads me immediately to her room. "She won't talk to anyone." Her mother says with concern. I try my best to tell her mother that I have it under control.

"Amelia has cold feet, that’s all. She will be fine." I enter Amelia's huge room but try not to focus on the expensive lavish decoration. Amelia's rehearsal dress is on a hanger, and from how she looks at it, she doesn't love the dress.

Amelia runs to hug me when she sees me, wipes her tears with the back of her hand, and smiles like she hasn't just been crying. "Are you okay?" I say, making sure the door is locked.

She shakes her head. "I am not okay," she confesses. "The whole wedding, the pretense, it is so overwhelming."

I rest her head on my shoulder. “I know how you feel,” I offer, “and I am here for you anytime you need me.”

She takes her time to cry more. "If you keep crying like that, you will look like a mess at your party." I warn her.

Amelia finally smiles and asks me if I am not wearing a dress to her rehearsal dinner. I raise the bag I am toting with me. "I thought of getting dressed here…" I say, "as going back home will be quite stressful."

Amelia sniffs but looks at me sternly. "You sound like you don't want to go home because you are avoiding someone, and the only person I can think of is Troy."

I roll my eyes; I can't believe Amelia is acting like a detective on her rehearsal dinner day. "No," I lie, "he will be with Henry, so I am not avoiding him."

Amelia places her hands on her hips, defiantly. “You know you can’t hide anything from me, right?”

I shake my head. "Of course, I can't hide anything from you," I insist. "It's just that this week is about you, not me. It is your rehearsal dinner; you should enjoy every cheer that comes with it, not go about bugging me with my problems."

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