Jenna's POV
As I walked down the stairs, I spotted Felix leaning against the counter, his jaw clenched and his expression dark, like he had just finished arguing with someone.
"Sino kaaway mo?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.
He looked up, startled by my question, then quickly masked his irritation. "Uh... nothing, my sister," he replied, his voice casual, but I could sense the tension underneath. "We just argue a lot."
I raised an eyebrow. "Argue about what?"
Felix shrugged, trying to play it off. "She doesn’t understand some of the things I’m doing. She gets too involved."
I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t press further. There was always something more with Felix, something simmering beneath the surface that he never fully let anyone see. And maybe I didn’t want to see it, not right now.
Instead, I changed the subject, trying to break the awkwardness. "Are we heading out soon? You mentioned something about an important meeting."
"Yeah," he said, his mood shifting slightly, more focused. "Get ready. We need to make a good impression."
I nodded and turned to head back upstairs, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Felix’s argument with his sister was bigger than he was letting on. There was a weight in his eyes that told me this was more than just a simple sibling spat.
As I got dressed, I found myself thinking about everything that had happened in the last few days. Aiden. Clara. Felix. It was like my world had flipped upside down, and I was still trying to find my footing. Felix was a constant enigma—one minute he was distant and cold, the next he was protective and caring, in his own complicated way.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn’t get caught up in whatever Felix was dealing with right now. I had my own mess to figure out.
I finally settled on an outfit—a simple yet elegant black dress that hugged my figure just right. It wasn’t overly flashy, but it was enough to make an impression, which is what Felix wanted. I stared at myself in the mirror for a moment, smoothing out the fabric and taking a deep breath.
Why did I feel like I was preparing for something more than just a meeting?
When I stepped out of the room, Felix was already waiting by the door, dressed sharply as always. His eyes quickly scanned over me, and for a split second, I thought I saw approval flash across his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice steady but distant.
I nodded, grabbing my purse. “Ready.”
As we walked out to the car, the air between us felt heavy, like there were things we both wanted to say but didn’t. Felix opened the car door for me without a word, and I slid into the seat, feeling the tension build again.
The drive was quiet, except for the occasional directions from Felix. My mind wandered back to the event last night—the look on Aiden's face when I saw him with Clara, and the way Felix had introduced me as his fiancée, like I was just another part of his calculated plan. I clenched my fists in my lap, trying to shake off the frustration.
“Where exactly are we going again?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“To meet an investor,” Felix replied, his voice cool and matter-of-fact. “It’s a crucial deal for my business, and I need you to play along.”
“Play along? As your fiancée?” I couldn’t help the sarcasm in my tone.
Felix glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Yes. Just follow my lead, and everything will go smoothly.”
I sighed, leaning back against the seat. “You sure know how to complicate things, Felix.”
He didn’t respond, and we drove the rest of the way in silence, the weight of our complicated situation hanging heavily between us.
When we finally arrived at the restaurant, it was even more extravagant than I had imagined. The towering glass doors, the elegant chandeliers visible through the windows, and the valet waiting outside all screamed luxury. Felix parked the car, and without missing a beat, he stepped out and walked around to open my door.
"Remember, follow my lead," he whispered as he offered his hand to help me out of the car.
I nodded, though my heart was racing. The thought of pretending to be his fiancée in front of important people still made me uneasy, but I had no choice. As I stepped out, I straightened my dress and took a deep breath. I could do this.
Inside, the atmosphere was even more impressive. The low murmur of voices, clinking of glasses, and soft music set the tone for the formal event. Felix led the way, his hand gently placed on the small of my back, guiding me toward a table near the center of the room. Several well-dressed individuals were already seated, chatting with each other. As we approached, they immediately shifted their attention toward us.
“Ah, Felix!” one of the men called out, standing up to shake his hand. He looked like he was in his late forties, sharp in his tailored suit, with a calculating smile. I lost my smile when I saw Aiden's father; it means Felix is partnered with Aiden's father. I swallowed hard and shyly looked away. "Jenna? Why are you with Felix?"
“Jenna? Why are you with Felix?” Mr. Bennett—Aiden’s father—asked, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. The sharpness in his voice sent a chill down my spine.
I forced a smile, though the tension gripped my chest. “I… I’m with Felix tonight,” I said, my voice softer than I intended, as if that would somehow deflect the awkwardness of the moment.
Felix stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on my lower back, and interjected smoothly. “Jenna’s my fiancée, Mr. Bennett. We’ve been together for a while now.”
The words hung in the air, making everything feel surreal. Mr. Bennett’s eyes flickered between us, his expression a mixture of surprise and skepticism. “Your fiancée?” he repeated, disbelief laced in his tone.
I could feel my cheeks burning as I avoided eye contact, wishing I could disappear. This wasn’t just any partner Felix was introducing me to—it was the father of the man I used to be in love with. The father of the man who had broken my heart, the same man who had shown up at the last event with another woman.
“Yes,” Felix continued smoothly, his arm draping over my shoulders now, his grip possessive. “We’ve kept things quiet, but Jenna’s been an important part of my life for quite some time now.”
Mr. Bennett's eyes remained locked on me, and I could see the questions forming in his mind. He knew about me and Aiden, he had to. And now, here I was, standing beside his business partner, pretending to be someone else’s fiancée.
“How? That girl is my son’s girlfriend,” he said firmly, pointing at me. The statement hung in the air like a thundercloud, and I could feel my heart racing.
Panic surged through me as I noticed the curious glances from the people around us. Whispers started to ripple through the crowd, and I suddenly felt exposed, like a deer caught in headlights.
Felix, however, remained composed, his expression unwavering. “With all due respect, Mr. Bennett, that’s not how Jenna sees it. Aiden has made his choices, and Jenna is moving on.”
The way Felix defended me caught me off guard. I had expected him to back down, to find a way to escape the confrontation, but instead, he stood tall, his confidence radiating.
“Moving on?” Mr. Bennett scoffed, his eyes narrowing. “Is that what you call it? You think you can just waltz in here and take my son’s girlfriend? What kind of game are you playing, Felix?”
I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I grappled with the reality of being caught in this situation. I glanced at Felix, who met my gaze with an encouraging nod. “It’s not a game, sir. This is real. Jenna is my fiancée, and I intend to treat her with the respect she deserves.”
The surrounding crowd seemed to hold its breath, waiting for Mr. Bennett's reaction. He looked between us, clearly trying to process the information.
“I find it hard to believe you’re serious about this, Felix,” he said slowly, his tone challenging. “You’re betting over my son’s girlfriend, and now you expect me to believe that you’re engaged?”
“Believe it or not, sir, I’m done playing games,” Felix replied, his voice steady. “Aiden might have lost his chance, but I see Jenna for who she truly is, and I care for her.”
I felt a mix of gratitude and unease at his words. On one hand, I was thankful for Felix’s defense; on the other hand, I was terrified of the implications. Did I really want to be part of this charade?
“Jenna, is this true?” Mr. Bennett turned his attention to me, his voice now softer but no less probing. “Are you really with Felix?”
Taking a deep breath, I found my voice. “I… I didn’t plan for this to happen, Mr. Bennett. But yes, I’m with Felix now. Aiden and I—”
“You and Aiden what?” Mr. Bennett interjected, his tone sharpening again. “You’re not together anymore? He’s been with Clara for weeks now. Did you really think he would wait around for you?”
The mention of Clara sent a wave of bitterness through me. “I know about Clara,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I didn’t expect any of this.”
Mr. Bennett’s expression hardened. “You should have known better than to get involved with someone like Felix. He’s not the kind of man who will take care of you.”
“Then let me make it clear,” Felix said, his tone fierce as he stepped closer to me, placing himself between Mr. Bennett and me. “I will take care of her. Better than Aiden ever could. You can’t control who she chooses to be with.”
The tension between them crackled in the air, and I felt the weight of their expectations crashing down on me. I didn’t want to be a pawn in their game, and yet here I was, caught in the crossfire.
“Let’s go, Jenna,” Felix said, taking my hand and leading me away from the crowd, away from the prying eyes and whispers. I stole one last glance at Mr. Bennett, whose expression was a mix of disbelief and anger.