Page 14 of The Wedding Hoax

“Hi, Grace.” I smiled warmly. “I’m—”

“Oh, we already know who you are, Simone.” Grace chuckled. “Well, we don’t know everything. But I’m sure you can fill in the blanks over dinner.”

An older man with graying hair walked into the foyer and gave me a warm smile.

“Hello, Simone,” he said as he extended his hand to shake mine. “Jonah O’Donnell. We’re very glad to meet you.”

I shook his hand and smiled. “So nice to meet you both.”

I swallowed. This was really happening. We were really pretending to be engaged. Had I gotten in over my head?

As I took in the beautiful surroundings of Harry’s childhood home, I realized that I most certainly had.

Grace motioned for us to follow her deeper into the house. I reached for Harry’s hand as we stepped into the living room, a silver chandelier hanging overhead. Everything inside the mansion was impossibly beautiful, with grand paintings lining the walls, exquisite art displayed on tables, and marble tile everywhere I looked.

When we reached the dining room, I took a seat next to Henry, quietly letting out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

“I’m fine. It’s just… everything’s new to me.”

“Don’t worry. They’re going to love you.” He smiled after he spoke.

I hastily forced the butterflies out of my chest. I didn’t know what was going on with me, but I knew better than to let Harry get in my head.

Besides, we were all wrong for each other. Pretending to like him was one thing, but actually liking him?

That would’ve been a total mistake.

“There you are! Oh my God! You’re real!” A young man who looked like Harry suddenly entered the dining room, already laughing. “Mom and Dad said Harry had a girlfriend, but I had to see it to believe it.”

“Hey, Sean.” Harry’s tone was clipped.

“Hey, big brother.” Sean slapped Harry on the back before taking a seat across from us. “How’s my competition doing?”

“You really think Front Stoop can compete with LA Now?”

“I’ve always loved how humble you are, Harry.” Sean smirked. “You’ve never been arrogant a day in your life.”

“Can you two go more than five minutes without having a pissing contest?” A woman who looked like she was closer to my age took a seat next to Sean. She was gorgeous in an effortless way, and I wondered if she worked as a model.

“This isn’t a pissing contest, Ruby,” Harry corrected. “This is just your husband being delusional, as always.”

“You boys and your magazine toys.” Ruby sighed and threw me a wide smile. “I love your dress, by the way. It’s very chic.”

“Thanks.” My words were shaking with nerves. “Were you—are you—a model or something?”

“In a past life. Yes.” Ruby took a graceful sip of water. “But ever since having Maxon, I realized motherhood was my real dream.”

She then exchanged a knowing look with Sean, one that was filled with love. He kissed her on the cheek in response, and she giggled and playfully pushed him away.

As I watched them, it felt like a knife was twisting in my chest.

I remembered when motherhood was my dream, too.

6

SIMONE

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