By the time Eurydice Santiago stepped outside in her black dress, she was already questioning all of her life choices.
The dress was perfect.
Her makeup—done by Amelia, the self-proclaimed fairy godmother of fashion emergencies—was flawless.
Her hair was styled better than it had ever been in her life.
And yet—
None of it made her any less nervous about the fact that she was about to attend a billionaire gala as Conrad Montague’s fiancée.
Fake fiancée.
Right. Totally fake. Absolutely nothing real happening here.
 
Of course, Conrad had ignored her very specific request about the car.
Instead of a simple, normal black sedan, a ridiculously sleek limousine pulled up in front of her apartment.
Eurydice groaned loudly. “Of course, he sent a limo.”
Leo, who had been watching from the doorway, grinned. “Damn, Eury. This is some Cinderella nonsense.”
Eurydice pointed at him. “Don’t you dare say—”
“Where’s your glass slipper?”
She whipped a shoe at him.
Leo dodged easily, laughing as he disappeared inside.
The driver, who had definitely seen worse things working for Conrad, didn’t even blink. He simply opened the door and gestured for her to get in.
Eurydice sighed, gathering her skirt as she stepped into the most unnecessarily luxurious car she had ever been in.
This was it.
No turning back.
 
 
 
When the limo pulled up in front of the grand hotel venue, Eurydice immediately noticed the paparazzi lined up outside.
Flashing cameras.
Journalists whispering.
High-profile guests stepping out of their cars like they did this every day.
And then there was her.
A bakery girl turned fake fiancée, seconds away from having a full-blown panic attack.
She hadn’t even moved yet, and she already felt like an imposter.
The door opened.
And standing there—looking as effortlessly powerful as ever—was Conrad Montague.
Dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, tailored perfectly, his piercing gaze swept over her, taking in the dress, the makeup, the way she was still frozen in place.
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you getting out, or should I carry you?”
Eurydice snapped out of it.
“Touch me, and I will ruin your expensive shoes.”
Conrad’s lips twitched slightly, but he extended a hand instead.
Eurydice hesitated, staring at it.
Then, remembering that she was supposed to act like she was madly in love with him, she reluctantly took it.
The moment their hands touched, cameras went wild.
Flashes. Shouts.
A wave of attention crashing into them as Conrad smoothly helped her out of the limo, his grip firm, steady, controlled.
He leaned in slightly, voice low enough that only she could hear.
“Smile, fiancée.”
Eurydice gritted her teeth. “I hate you.”
Conrad smirked. “That’s the spirit.”
And with that, they stepped forward—
Into a world Eurydice had never belonged to.
 
The moment they entered the grand ballroom, Eurydice almost forgot how to breathe.
It was like stepping into another universe—one made entirely of wealth, power, and impossible elegance.
Golden chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting a warm glow on polished marble floors. The soft hum of classical music played from a live orchestra in the corner.
Elegant guests—dressed in designer gowns and expensive suits—moved effortlessly around the room, champagne glasses in hand, conversing in quiet, refined voices.
And every single one of them turned to look at her and Conrad.
Eurydice’s grip on Conrad’s arm tightened instinctively. “Holy crap,” she muttered under her breath. “I feel like a zoo animal.”
Conrad barely reacted. “Ignore them.”
“Oh, sure,” she whispered. “Because that’s totally easy when it feels like I just walked into a lion’s den.”
He glanced down at her, eyes calm and unreadable. “You’ll get used to it.”
Eurydice doubted that.
She was pretty sure she’d never get used to this level of luxury.
Or the way Conrad walked through the crowd like he owned the entire room.
(Which, knowing him, he probably did.)
As they made their way further inside, a waiter approached with a tray of champagne flutes.
Conrad took one effortlessly.
Eurydice reached for one—then paused.
Did she actually want to risk making a fool of herself on her first night?
Considering her luck, she’d probably choke on the first sip and embarrass herself in front of every important person here.
She slowly withdrew her hand.
Conrad raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.
Instead, he smoothly guided her through the crowd, stopping briefly to greet various high-profile guests.
It was all so effortless for him.
The polite nods.
The firm handshakes.
The way he introduced her as his fiancée without even hesitating.
And each time he did, she had to fake a smile and pretend like she belonged here.
That she was meant to be at his side.
Even when she felt completely out of place.
 
“Conrad,” a smooth, amused voice called from behind them.
Eurydice turned—
And immediately wished she hadn’t.
Because standing there, looking annoyingly smug, was a man who looked just as rich and powerful as Conrad—but with a little too much charm for his own good.
His dark brown hair was slightly tousled, his smirk was just on the edge of arrogant, and his eyes—sharp, calculating—landed on Eurydice with open curiosity.
Vincent Montague.
Conrad’s cousin.
The one who wanted to take over Montague Enterprises.
And—judging by the way his smirk widened—he was very interested in Conrad’s “fiancée.”
“Well, well,” Vincent drawled, stepping closer. “So this is the famous fiancée I’ve heard so much about.”
Eurydice stiffened.
She knew that look.
It was the look of a man who didn’t believe a single word of this engagement.
And worse—
He was going to test her.