Chapter 5 Competitor

Liana stared at the contract in front of her.

Her fingers hovered over the pen, her mind a storm of conflicting emotions.

Two years.

Two years of pretending. Two years of playing the devoted wife to a man who didn't believe in love.

A man who had orchestrated everything so perfectly that she had no choice but to agree.

She glanced up at Killian. He stood on the other side of the desk, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. There was no smugness, no gloating-just a quiet confidence that irritated her more than anything.

"You're really not going to try and convince me?" she asked, her voice laced with defiance.

Killian's lips curled slightly. "You already know your answer, Liana. You're just stalling."

She hated that he was right.

With a sharp inhale, she picked up the pen and, in one swift motion, signed her name.

The ink barely had time to dry before Killian pulled the contract away, slipping it into a sleek folder like a deal had just been sealed with the devil himself.

"Welcome to married life," he said smoothly.

Liana leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

"I hope you at least buy me a nice ring."

Killian smirked. "Already handled. And you'll need it sooner than you think. We have an event to attend tomorrow night."

Her stomach tightened. "An event?"

He nodded. "A charity gala. It'll be our first appearance as a couple. Cameras, interviews, influential people-everything you should expect moving forward."

Liana exhaled sharply. She had expected to ease into this, maybe have time to adjust before stepping into the spotlight. But of course, Killian Vaughn never did anything halfway.

"Fine," she muttered. "Where's my ring?"

Killian walked to a drawer, pulled out a velvet box, and flipped it open.

Liana's breath caught.

A massive diamond sat nestled inside, sparkling under the warm light of the study. Elegant. Timeless.

And completely fake.

At least, she assumed it was.

"This is-"

"Seven carats. Custom cut. Platinum band," Killian finished for her. "Designed to look real in every way."

Liana swallowed. Because in their world, perception was reality.

Killian took the ring from the box and stepped closer. His fingers, cool and precise, slid the band onto hers.

A perfect fit.

Liana forced herself to breathe. "I guess there's no backing out now."

His gaze met hers, something flickering beneath the surface. "No, Liana. There isn't. Get some sleep."

The lights of the grand ballroom glowed like a sea of golden stars, reflecting off the crystal chandeliers that hung high above.

Liana stepped out of the limousine, her arm tucked into Killian's as cameras flashed all around them.

She was used to attention-but this was different.

The world wasn't looking at her as an investigative journalist tonight. They were looking at Mrs. Killian Vaughn.

Her dress, a deep sapphire silk gown that clung to her curves, had been picked out for her. Her makeup, her jewelry-everything had been crafted to match the role she was supposed to play.

Beside her, Killian looked infuriatingly effortless. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, he exuded the kind of power that made people move out of his way without him saying a word.

"Smile," he murmured, his lips barely moving.

She forced one, tilting her head slightly as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

He led her into the ballroom, where champagne flowed freely and whispered conversations filled the air. The room was a battlefield disguised as elegance, filled with powerful men and women who made and broke fortunes with a single deal.

Killian nodded at a few familiar faces, his grip on Liana's waist firm, keeping her close.

She should have felt trapped. But strangely, she felt... shielded.

And then-

A voice.

Familiar. Too familiar.

"Well, well. Vaughn, I never thought I'd see the day you got married."

Liana turned and froze.

Graham Ellis.

Her childhood friend.

Liana and Graham Ellis met when they were ten years old in the small coastal town of Bridgehaven, a place known for its old-money families and deep-rooted rivalries.

Unlike Liana, whose family lived modestly, Graham came from a wealthy and influential background-the Ellis owned one of the largest shipping and real estate empires in the region.

Despite their different social standings, Liana and Graham formed an unlikely friendship. She was bold, curious, and unafraid to challenge him, while he was sharp-witted and drawn to her fearless nature. They spent their summers exploring the cliffs by the ocean, sneaking into old bookstores, and daring each other to push limits.

As they grew older, their bond deepened, shifting into something neither of them dared to define. Teenage love,unspoken, but always understood.

But everything changed when Graham's father, George Ellis, sent him away at sixteen to attend an elite boarding school in Europe. The Ellis had plans for Graham to mold him into the perfect heir to their empire.

The night before Graham left, he and Liana met at their favorite spot, a hidden cove beneath the cliffs. He promised he'd find a way back to her, then planted a kiss on her lips but Liana knew better. His world and hers were never meant to align.

She watched him leave without a word.

And just like that, he was gone.

They hadn't spoken since.

Now, years later, Graham Ellis was no longer just the boy who left, he was a huge businessman, Killian Vaughn's fiercest competitor.

Her world tilted.

Graham's sharp brown eyes locked onto hers, his smirk faltering as recognition dawned.

"Liana?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried enough weight to make her chest tighten.

Killian's hand remained on her waist, his grip subtly tightening. "You two know each other?"

Liana's throat was dry. "We-"

"Grew up together," Graham finished for her, his gaze never leaving hers.

And just like that, the past she thought she had buried came crashing back.

Killian glanced between them, his expression unreadable. But Liana could feel it-the shift in the air, the unspoken tension.

Graham Ellis wasn't just an old friend.

He was Killian's biggest competitor.

And now?

He was staring at Killian Vaughn's wife.