Chapter 5: DINNER WITH THE ENEMY

_Neva’s POV -

Dinner was at 8PM sharp.

“Ardens don’t eat late,” the maid told me as she laid out a dress I didn’t pick. Red. Backless. Nova’s size. Silk that probably cost more than my rent for a year.

I put it on anyway.

If I was going to be a puppet, I was going to be the prettiest one.

If I was going to be temporary, I was going to make it impossible to forget me.

The hallway felt longer tonight. My heels clicked against marble that reflected the chandeliers above. Every step echoed.

Like the house was watching me.

Austin was already at the table when I came down. Candlelight. Crystal. Silver cutlery so polished I could see my face in it. A table set for 6, but only 2 plates.

He was in a black suit. No tie. Sleeves rolled up once. Hair still damp from a shower.

He looked up when I entered and for half a second, he forgot how to breathe.

His eyes dragged over the red dress, over my bare shoulders, then snapped back to his plate.

Then the mask was back.

“Sit,” he said.

I did.

We ate in silence for 10 minutes. Steak. Asparagus. Wine I didn’t drink.

The only sound was silverware on china and the faint ticking of a clock somewhere down the hall.

“You look like her,” he said suddenly.

I froze, fork halfway to my mouth. “Who?”

“Nova.” He swirled his wine but didn’t drink. “Same eyes. Same smile. Same way of tilting your head when you’re lying.”

He paused. “It’s... distracting.”

“Good,” I said. My voice came out steadier than I felt. “Maybe it’ll remind you that I’m not her.”

His jaw ticked. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Pretend you’re fine with this. I know you’re not.”

I laughed. It came out bitter and I hated that he heard it. “You’re right. I’m not fine. My parents sold me. My sister ran. And now I’m having dinner with a man who has a file on me calling me ‘acceptable.’”

He set his glass down hard. Wine sloshed. “I told you to forget that.”

“I can’t.” I pushed my plate away. Appetite gone. “Tell me the truth. Did you know? Before the wedding? Before you put that ring on my finger?”

Austin stared at me for a long time. The candlelight made shadows move across his face.

Then he stood, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and exhaled like he’d been holding it in all day.

“Yes.”

The word hit me like a slap.

“I found out 2 days before. My lawyer sent me the file. Your parents offered you as a replacement to avoid the scandal. To keep it in the family.”

“Why didn’t you say no?” My voice cracked. “Why me?”

“Because if I did, they’d ruin your family. And the Williams family.” He turned to me then, and for once he didn’t look cold. He looked exhausted. “And because for one stupid second, I thought maybe...”

He didn’t finish.

The front doors opened downstairs.

Footsteps. Heels on marble. Fast.

A woman’s voice, sweet and poisoned, echoing up the stairs:

“Austin? Baby, I’m home.”

Nova.

She was back.

Austin and I locked eyes across the table.

In his eyes: panic. In mine: war.

And in that moment, we had the same thought:

This was about to get very messy.

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