Chapter 44: Chapter 42

Amelia's POV

Entering the university, my thoughts were focused on meeting up with Rose, Maya, and France. France had arrived today as expected, so I headed in their direction. Just then, my phone vibrated with a new message. I checked it and saw it was from Aiden: "Be a good girl.”

I frowned, puzzled by his message. What does he mean by that? It felt like he was trying to control me or something. It’s not like him to be so direct, and his cryptic message only added to the usual confusion that comes with dealing with him.

Shaking off the unease, I moved on and soon spotted Rose, Maya, and France. France looked up at me, his expression one of complete shock.

“I missed just one day,” he said, looking bewildered. “And now it seems like everything’s turned upside down. What’s going on?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction. “It’s a bit of a mess, France. I’ll explain everything later. For now, let’s just enjoy catching up.”

With that, I joined my friends, trying to keep my focus on the present and not let Aiden’s cryptic message distract me.

------

After slogging through our first two lectures, which seemed to drag on forever and were rather dull, my friends and I made our way to the cafeteria for lunch. I grabbed a tray from the counter and noticed Akira sitting at a table. He waved, and I smiled, heading towards him.

Just then, I felt a hand on my arm from behind. I turned around, frowning, and there he was. Why does this not surprise me?

“Hello, girlfriend,” he says with a smirk.

I hesitate, looking around. Rose’s frown is evident, and it's making me uncomfortable. I had planned to go along with this, but hearing him call me his girlfriend in public is awkward. Why did he have to do that?

People are starting to notice and stare, adding to my embarrassment. Aiden’s knack for making things difficult is infuriating. I sigh and pull my arm away from his grip. “What do you want?”

He grins and replies, “What can a boyfriend want from his girlfriend?”

I shoot him a disbelieving look. “Aiden, I’m not your girlfriend.”

His smirk only widens. “So, last time, when you mentioned pretending and all that—was I dreaming?”

I gasp, scanning the area nervously. If someone hears him talking about pretending, it could be a disaster. I grab his arm and pull him closer, whispering urgently, “Don’t you dare bring this up in public. I’ll kill you if anyone finds out.”

He grins, clearly amused. “Of course, sweetheart. I’m here to make sure we both have a good time.” He looks over at Akira and his friend. “You’re sitting with your friends, let me join you guys I don't want my sunshine to feel cut out just because she's with me now."

I sigh at his dramatical choices and we all sit on Akira's table.

Akira looked at us curiously. “Are you okay, Akira?” I asked, worried he might be unwell.

He met my gaze with a smile. “Yes, I’m fine,” he replied, stirring his fork in his plate. “I heard that you two are officially together. I thought it was just a rumor, since there are always rumors floating around the university. I didn’t realize it was true.”

Aiden’s smirk was almost palpable. This situation was so awkward. I wanted to scream that this is just a façade and that I’m not actually with Aiden, but I couldn’t say that. It was too embarrassing.

I forced an awkward smile at Akira. “Life is full of surprises,” I said, unsure of how else to respond.

I was chatting with my friends, trying to ease the tension, when my phone dinged. I glanced at the message and saw it was from Aiden. Confused, I looked over at him; he was sitting right beside me. Why was he texting me?

The message made my stomach churn. It read:

"Say 'I love you' in front of your friends right now if you want to get back at Madison. Otherwise, I’ll expose your plans and prove Madison was right."

I was seething. I wanted to grab a piece of wood, lay Aiden down, and set it ablaze. How dare he? My hand tightened around the fork I was holding, and I felt my anger boiling.

I shot a furious glance at Aiden. He met my gaze with a smug, challenging look. I closed my eyes, struggling with my frustration. He would follow through on his threat if I didn’t comply. Why had I involved him in this?

Blaming myself, I took a deep breath and turned to face my friends. My voice was barely a whisper as I forced the words out. “I love you, Aiden.” My face burned with embarrassment, and the words tasted bitter, like I had swallowed something unpleasant.

I could feel my friends’ shocked stares and Aiden’s smug satisfaction. The whole situation felt like a betrayal, but I had no choice.

Watch me, Aiden. You’re going to regret this. I swear I’ll make sure the mind you used to humiliate me so cruelly aches with pain you can’t bear. I promise myself, staring at him with fire in my eyes.

Rose's voice cut through the tension. “Oh my god, what am I witnessing?” she gasped theatrically. “My brother and my best friend together! This is incredible!” She jumped up from her seat, clapping her hands. “We have to celebrate! Let’s arrange a dinner to mark this occasion.”

She picked up her glass as if it were filled with champagne. “Cheers to the happy couple!” Rose added, with a playful wink in my direction.

“Like brother, like sister.” I sighed feeling more frustrated by the minute.

I wasn’t in the mood for this forced cheerfulness. While everyone else joined in the celebration, Akira and I remained silent. I noticed his unease—he clearly wasn’t enjoying the festivities.

Madison appeared suddenly, her eyes darting between me and Aiden. “What’s going on here?” she asked, clearly intrigued.

Rose's expression turned mischievous as she faced Madison. “Oh, we’re just celebrating Aiden’s big day,” she said with a grin. “Amelia just made a confession. Aiden’s face says it all—he’s never looked this happy. Have you ever seen him like this?”

Madison shot a glare at both Rose and me, opening her mouth to respond just as Jason’s deep voice cut in from behind, making Rose stiffen. “Celebration, huh?” Jason said, his tone suggesting he wasn’t entirely pleased.

Rose was completely frozen, as though she had been told to stay put and not move. It looked like she was even holding her breath. Jason came up from behind and wrapped his muscular arm around her waist. Rose remained still, her tension palpable. Jason then leaned in and whispered something in her ear, causing her expression to turn even more anxious.

To my shock, Jason kissed Rose on the earlobe right there in the cafeteria. Rose didn’t react at all, and I glanced at Aiden, hoping he would say something. But Aiden stayed silent, eating his food as if it's an everyday ritual. Jason walked past us.

Rose, clearly distressed, said, “I’m sorry, everyone. I have to go,” and followed Jason out of the cafeteria. Her body language was a clear sign of her discomfort.

I’ve always been intrigued by their relationship. Rose is such a vibrant, cheerful person—always organizing parties and making plans. She brings a lot of energy to the group. In contrast, Jason's reputation has made me wary. I’d rather steer clear of any issues with him, especially since he’s Aiden’s best friend. It seems their similar personalities are part of why they get along so well.

Aiden pulled out a napkin from his blazer pocket and wiped his mouth as if he were at a high-end restaurant. I rolled my eyes at his showiness. Standing up, he announced, “As Rose mentioned, we’re having dinner at my place tonight. Everyone’s invited.” He glanced at Akira. “You should come too.” Then he left.

I stared after him, wondering if being around him all day at university wasn’t enough and now I had to deal with him during my downtime. I couldn’t help but laugh at my situation. Akira got up as well. “You didn’t even finish your food,” I said. “I have things to do. I’ll join you for dinner,” he replied before leaving.

Noticing the curious glances from those around me, I asked Maya and Frances, “Is something wrong wuth me ir people are weird?” They chuckled. “They say love makes people a bit crazy,” Maya said. I tossed a napkin at her playfully.

Well, I should teach Aiden a lesson for making me say those bitter, harsh words  "I love you" yuckk, I mentally vomit. I think tonight is the perfect time to do so, I grin mischievously.

________________________________

My new story "Ruthless desire" is out now go check it out from my profile.

It's a young adult dark romance including forced engagement and all ♡⁠˖