Chapter 6 Family Vacation

Vanessa's P.O.V

"I am not going," Vanessa said with her arms crossed, as she stood in the grand hallway of the Hartwell's estate.

"You are," Cathan said, as he slipped his watch on his wrist like it was the final word.

"I did not sign up for a family vacation, especially not with your mother staring at me like I crawled out of a dumpster."

"It is not a vacation," he said flatly. "It is just a method to control the damage, more like a publicity stunt. My mother planned it. She wants the world to see "our happy union.'"

"Then why don't you bring your other fiancee," she snapped.

He froze.

Then his voice dropped low, but loud enough for her to hear, in a warning tone. "That joke is not something I enjoy."

"And this marriage is not what I wanted," she snapped back.

They stared at each other for what seemed like forever.

And then, because neither of them was ready to admit that they were too tired to keep fighting, Vanessa shot him a deadly look as she grabbed her bag to leave.

"Fine, but I'm not smiling in any of the photos."

" I would not dream of asking," Cathan said.

At the Hartwell's Family Villa.

The place was ridiculously beautiful.

Glass walls with marble floors and a private lake that probably cost more than her entire neighborhood.

Vanessa felt like an exhibit as they arrived, his mother's friends were already there, sipping tea and offering polite, sharp stares. One of them even whispered "Is that she?" like Vanessa was some exhibit brought for auction.

She held her head higher as she walked with more grace.

Cathan said nothing, but he did not leave her side.

Not even once.

Later in the private room..

Vanessa stood in front of the mirror in her room. She had changed into something simple, a floral green dress that brushed her knees, light makeup with her long hair laid down, partly resting on her shoulders.

There was a knock.

She opened the door, expecting to see one of the house staff.

But it was Cathan.

He was in a charcoal black shirt, with the top three buttons undone, his sleeves rolled up. He did not look like a man playing husband, he looked like someone real.

"We are having dinner on the patio," he said. "Family only, with no cameras."

"Surprising," she said flatly, but she still followed him.

The view was stunning. Sunset spreading across the hills, gold light pooled around their wine glasses.

His mother observed her like a hawk. His father, hushed and steel-eyed, said little.

At one point, Cathan leaned in and whispered, "You can throw your tantrums later. Just don't do it in their presence."

Vanessa's lips quivered. "Please don't tempt me."

And then, something strange happened.

She saw Cathan laugh.

Not a full laugh, just a small one. Barely there.

But it was real.

Later That Night, they were alone again. The others had gone to bed, the night was still and quiet, the stars scattered in the sky.

"You hate being here right," Cathan said quietly.

She didn't deny it. "Your family makes me feel like I am one step away from being escorted out."

He nodded in affirmative. "They don't like outsiders, they don't trust people easily."

"You are an outsider too, aren't you?"

That stunned him.

"But you are different from them," she said, her voice getting softer. "You don't play their game. You just win it anyway."

Silence.

"My mother wanted the "perfect" son, but I gave her a powerful one instead."

Vanessa stared at him.

"How about your father?"

"He wanted someone to inherit, but I became someone he couldn't control at will."

She didn't know why, but that made her chest ache.

"You do not trust anyone, do you?" she asked.

He looked at her, his eyes glowing under the moonlight.

"No. And yet... here you are."

But just as they were growing closer,

Vanessa's phone buzzed.

She hesitated before picking it.

It was a message from Reggie.

~ Are you safe?

You don't have to stay in this. I am ready to help. Just say the word, and I will come and get you.

Cathan saw the change in her face.

"What is it?" he asked.

She locked her phone. "It's nothing."

But her heart was racing.

And Cathan, he noticed.

He moved closer, too close.

"Do not lie to me," he said softly.

"I am not lying," she whispered softly.

But she was.

Because for the first time, she was frightened of what the truth might mean.

Just as she turned to leave, Cathan's phone buzzed too.

He looked at the screen. And clenched his jaws.

The message was from an unknown number, with a blurry photo attached.

Reggie. At the airport. A ticket. One-way.

Destination: Texas City

Under it, was a single line of text:

~ Your wife called for backup.

Cathan looked up, his eyes burning.

And for the first time since their arrangement began, he felt the sting of betrayal.

Even if it was not true.