Спарtеr о 60 % The smell of roasted beans clung to the air as I stirred my coffee absentmindedly . Across from me , Alice was grinning like she knew something I didnt . Youve been postponing your project meetings lately , she said , lifting her cup . Let me guess . Too many rich people events with your husband ? I gave her a deadpan look . Its not what you think . She leaned closer , chin resting on her hand . No strings attached , purely business … yeah , yeah , Ive heard that before . It is , I insisted , sipping my latte . He needed a wife for his inheritance . I needed an escape . Thats it . But hes hot , she smirked . Dont tell me you havent noticed . I groaned , rolling my eyes . Hes nice . Annoyingly hot . Always composed , smells like sin and power , and somehow manages to look expensive even in a T shirt . Exactly my point . She raised her brows suggestively . But , I cut her off , setting my cup down with a soft clink , Im not interested in love . Not anymore . Ive been burned once , not going for seconds . Alice sobered , nodding slowly . Fair enough … but you sounded a little weird earlier . Like youre curious about him ? I hesitated before confessing , I think hes in love with someone else . Alice blinked . Wait , what ? Why would you say that ? I leaned back , eyes unfocused . The other day , he pulled out his wallet to get something . I saw a photo inside . It wasnt clear , but it was of a woman . Looked important . He doesnt talk about her , and I havent seen anything in the estate to suggest hes currently dating someone , but still … Alice hummed . You know … now that you say that , I do remember hearing something . Some rumor that he used to date someone seriously . But no name , no face . Exactly , I murmured . But hey none of my business . Im not planning on falling for a man who might already belong to someone else . She gave me a look . Youre already thinking too much . I smiled faintly . Which is why we should change the topic . Lets talk about the project . We dove into plans and outlines , but even after the meeting , my thoughts lingered around Rozen . When I returned to the estate , the smell of garlic and herbs filled the air . My eyes widened as I found Rozen in the kitchen apron on , sleeves rolled up , preparing what looked like a full dinner spread . You cook ? I asked , more amused than shocked . Rozen glanced up , then shrugged . Sometimes . Whats the occasion ? * 60 % 19:24 Fri , 18 Apr. No occasion . He slid a bowl toward me . Eat with me . I arched a brow . Why ? He met my gaze without hesitation . Because I want to . Something about his tone made me pause . It wasnt a command , it wasnt even a suggestion it was … a request . And it felt oddly intimate . I took a seat . Youre not as cold as you pretend to be , I muttered while chewing . He didnt look at me . Youre not as detached as you claim . A beat passed in silence before I asked , How long do you think this arrangement will last ? He paused , setting his glass down . Until one of us breaks the rule . I nodded . The no falling in love clause . Rozens lips tugged into a small smirk . And if one of us does … they pay the price . I smiled wryly . Dont worry . I dont believe in love anymore . Then , curious , I ventured , Have you ever been in love ? The question seemed to shift the atmosphere . Rozen stilled , eyes darkening slightly . His fork hovered above his plate , then slowly lowered . But he didnt answer . I didnt push . His silence spoke louder than words . Later that night , the estate was quieter than usual . The stillness felt heavy . I wandered aimlessly , my feet guiding me through winding halls until I stumbled upon a large double door tucked in a dim corner . Curiosity got the better of me . I pushed the doors open and gasped . A library . A massive one . Floor to ceiling shelves stretched across every wall , filled with books that looked like they hadnt been touched in years . There was a faint scent of old paper , mahogany , and something floral . My eyes wandered to the center of the room where a large painting hung -an oil portrait of a woman . She was beautiful . Delicate . Her eyes held a softness Id never seen in Rozen . Was this … her ? Beneath the portrait was a long wooden table with neatly arranged vases , framed photos , and tiny knickknacks . My fingers brushed a porcelain vase trimmed with gold . I lifted it , curious . There was a faint inscription on the bottom in cursive . I tilted it to read it 19:24 Fri 18 Apr 0 60 % Chapter 8 The smell of roasted beans clung to the air as I stirred my coffee absentmindedly . Across from me , Alice was grinning like she knew something I didnt . Youve been postponing your project meetings lately , she said , lifting her cup . Let me guess . Too many rich people events with your husband ? I gave her a deadpan look . Its not what you think . She leaned closer , chin resting on her hand . No strings attached , purely business … yeah , yeah , Ive heard that before . It is , I insisted , sipping my latte . He needed a wife for his inheritance . I needed an escape . Thats it . But hes hot , she smirked . Dont tell me you havent noticed . I groaned , rolling my eyes . Hes nice . Annoyingly hot . Always composed , smells like sin and power , and somehow manages to look expensive even in a T shirt . Exactly my point . She raised her brows suggestively . But , I cut her off , setting my cup down with a soft clink , Im not interested in love . Not anymore . Ive been burned once , not going for seconds . Alice sobered , nodding slowly . Fair enough … but you sounded a little weird earlier . Like youre curious about him ? I hesitated before confessing , I think hes in love with someone else . Alice blinked . Wait , what ? Why would you say that ? I leaned back , eyes unfocused . The other day , he pulled out his wallet to get something . I saw a photo inside . It wasnt clear , but it was of a woman . Looked important . He doesnt talk about her , and I havent seen anything in the estate to suggest hes currently dating someone , but still … Alice hummed . You know … now that you say that , I do remember hearing something . Some rumor that he used to date someone seriously . But no name , no face . Exactly , I murmured . But hey none of my business . Im not planning on falling for a man who might already belong to someone else . She gave me a look . Youre already thinking too much . I smiled faintly . Which is why we should change the topic . Lets talk about the project . We dove into plans and outlines , but even after the meeting , my thoughts lingered around Rozen . When I returned to the estate , the smell of garlic and herbs filled the air . My eyes widened as I found Rozen in the kitchen apron on , sleeves rolled up , preparing what looked like a full dinner spread . You cook ? I asked , more amused than shocked . Rozen glanced up , then shrugged . Sometimes . Chapter 8 L 19:24 Fri , 18 Apr 60 % Chapter 8 The smell of roasted beans clung to the air as I stirred my coffee absentmindedly . Across from me , Alice was grinning like she knew something I didnt . Youve been postponing your project meetings lately , she said , lifting her cup . Let me guess . Too many rich people events with your husband ? I gave her a deadpan look . Its not what you think . She leaned closer , chin resting on her hand . No strings attached , purely business … yeah , yeah , Ive heard that before . It is , I insisted , sipping my latte . He needed a wife for his inheritance . I needed an escape . Thats it . But hes hot , she smirked . Dont tell me you havent noticed . I groaned , rolling my eyes . Hes nice . Annoyingly hot . Always composed , smells like sin and power , and somehow manages to look expensive even in a T shirt . Exactly my point . She raised her brows suggestively . But , I cut her off , setting my cup down with a soft clink , Im not interested in love . Not anymore . Ive been burned once , not going for seconds . Alice sobered , nodding slowly . Fair enough … but you sounded a little weird earlier . Like youre curious about him ? I hesitated before confessing , I think hes in love with someone else . Alice blinked . Wait , what? Why would you say that ? I leaned back , eyes unfocused . The other day , he pulled out his wallet to get something . I saw a photo inside . It wasnt clear , but it was of a woman . Looked important . He doesnt talk about her , and I havent seen anything in the estate to suggest hes currently dating someone , but still … Alice hummed . You know … now that you say that , I do remember hearing something . Some rumor that he used to date someone seriously . But no name , no face . Exactly , I murmured . But hey none of my business . Im not planning on falling for a man who might already belong to someone else . She gave me a look . Youre already thinking too much . I smiled faintly . Which is why we should change the topic . Lets talk about the project . We dove into plans and outlines , but even after the meeting , my thoughts lingered around Rozen . When I returned to the estate , the smell of garlic and herbs filled the air . My eyes widened as I found Rozen in the kitchen apron on , sleeves rolled up , preparing what looked like a full dinner spread . You cook ? I asked , more amused than shocked . Rozen glanced up , then shrugged . Sometimes . Chapter 2 19-24 MI , To Apr < 60 % Whats the occasion ? No occasion . He slid a bowl toward me . Eat with me . I arched a brow . Why ? He met my gaze without hesitation . Because I want to . Something about his tone made me pause . It wasnt a command , it wasnt even a suggestion it was … a request . And it felt oddly intimate . I took a seat . Youre not as cold as you pretend to be , I muttered while chewing . He didnt look at me . Youre not as detached as you claim . A beat passed in silence before I asked , How long do you think this arrangement will last ? He paused , setting his glass down . Until one of us breaks the rule . I nodded . The no falling in love clause . Rozens lips tugged into a small smirk . And if one of us does … they pay the price . I smiled wryly . Dont worry . I dont believe in love anymore . Then , curious , I ventured , Have you ever been in love ? The question seemed to shift the atmosphere . Rozen stilled , eyes darkening slightly . His fork hovered above his plate , then slowly lowered . But he didnt answer . I didnt push . His silence spoke louder than words . Later that night , the estate was quieter than usual . The stillness felt heavy . I wandered aimlessly , my feet guiding me through winding halls until I stumbled upon a large double door tucked in a dim corner . Curiosity got the better of me . I pushed the doors open and gasped . A library . A massive one . Floor to ceiling shelves stretched across every wall , filled with books that looked like they hadnt been touched in years . There was a faint scent of old paper , mahogany , and something floral . My eyes wandered to the center of the room where a large painting hung -an oil portrait of a woman . She was beautiful . Delicate . Her eyes held a softness Id never seen in Rozen . Was this … her ? Beneath the portrait was a long wooden table with neatly arranged vases , framed photos , and tiny knickknacks . My fingers brushed a porcelain vase trimmed with gold . I lifted it , curious . There was a faint inscription on the bottom in cursive . I tilted it to read it My Husband is a Fake One 1/3 29.3 % Audrey's biggest regret? A one-night stand with Floyd, her secret love for eight years. Despite his arranged marriage and his family's troubles, he kept rescuing her. She thought she was just a fling,...