Page 87 of Secret Baby for my Off-Limits Fiancé

"Yeah? And how’s that working out for you?"

I groan. "Not well."

"No shit."

Silence settles between us, heavy and unspoken.

Then, she nudges me. "Alright, spill it. What’s got you spiraling? The wedding? The act? Or is it something else?"

I hesitate.

My fingers toy with the hem of my sweater as I search for the right words.

"I don’t know if I can keep pretending."

Giana’s expression softens. "Because you’re catching feelings?"

My breath hitches, but I don’t say anything.

I don’t have to.

She sees it anyway.

"Damn," she whispers, shaking her head. "You’re in love with him."

I flinch, looking away. "It doesn’t matter."

"How does it not matter?"

I let out a sharp breath, setting my glass down harder than necessary. "Because at the end of the day, this isn’t real. Valentino made that perfectly clear."

She frowns. "How clear?"

I swallow, my throat suddenly dry. "He told me he wouldn’t keep me ‘hostage forever.’ That’s how he sees this, Giana. Like it has an expiration date."

Saying the words out loud makes my chest ache, like I’ve just reopened a wound I was trying to ignore.

Giana watches me carefully. "But, Layla… Do you believe that’s how he really feels?"

I bite my lip, shaking my head. "I don’t know. And that’s the problem."

She leans forward. "Babe, listen to me. People don’t just fake the kind of feelings I’ve seen between you two. It’s either there or it’s not. And with you and Valentino? It’s there. Whether you want to admit it or not."

My chest tightens.

"Even if it was real for a second, it doesn’t matter now," I say, my voice quieter. "We both agreed to ignore it. To act like nothing happened."

Giana’s brows knit together. "What happened?"

I hesitate.

Then, I whisper, "He told me he is falling for me."

She blinks. "Wait. What?"

I swallow hard, nodding. "Yeah. He said it. But now… it doesn’t feel right."

Her mouth parts slightly, but she doesn’t speak for a moment. Then, she exhales, rubbing her temples. "Okay. I’m officially losing my mind. This is ridiculous."

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