I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 57: A Friend

Chapter 57: A Friend

"What is it?" Anna asked, arching a curious brow.

Robert hesitated, the pause stretching between them like an invisible thread. Whatever he was about to say clearly wasn’t easy for him. "Well... since you’re a foreigner and probably don’t have many social connections here, I was wondering—would you like to meet my fiancée?"

What? Anna barely kept herself from gaping at him in disbelief. She gritted her teeth, forcing a mask of indifference to keep him from seeing how absurd she found his suggestion.

"Why would I want to meet her?" she finally asked, her voice deliberately even.

Robert sighed and ran a hand through his neatly styled black hair, the gesture betraying his discomfort. "It’s just... my fiancée is a very shy person. She’s struggled to make friends because she was sheltered most of her life, so I thought—"

"Excuse me," Anna cut in smoothly, her lips curving into a condescending smirk. "But how old, exactly, is your fiancée?"

Robert blinked, caught off guard by the question. "She is twenty-eight," he answered, his brows knitting together.

Anna let out a soft, almost musical chuckle, her tone filled with mockery. "Ah, my mistake. The way you described her, I thought you were talking about a teenager making her debut in high society."

Robert’s jaw tightened, irritation flickering across his face, but he quickly cleared his throat, swallowing whatever retort had formed on his tongue.

Anna’s expression darkened as she studied his reaction, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. Of course—Marienne had never been the social butterfly Robert seemed to think she was. But sheltered? Hardly.

Her real problem had always been her devotion to Susanne, clinging to the Hydes as if they were her lifeline. She had once been Anna’s friend too—until she decided that maintaining her place among the elite was more important than preserving their friendship. Marienne had made her choice.

And now... how the tables had turned.

Robert wanted her to be Marienne’s friend again.

Anna’s lips curled into a smirk, amusement flickering in her eyes. I see. She’s struggling because of Susanne’s scandal. That woman was never well-liked by other women, given her reputation for jumping from bed to bed. Now that Susanne has fallen from grace, Marienne is suffering by association.

How ironic, Robert Hyde. Her fingers tightened subtly around the fabric of her gown. You truly think that just because I’m a foreigner, I’d be eager to befriend your fiancée?

Robert, oblivious to the scornful turn of her thoughts, pressed on, his voice carrying a hint of desperation. "Well, wouldn’t you like a friend too?" His dark eyes searched her face as though hoping to find some glimmer of interest. "She’s a very refined woman with impeccable manners and comes from a distinguished family."

Anna blinked before letting out a light, melodic chuckle, covering her mouth with an elegantly poised hand. "Goodness," she teased, tilting her head ever so slightly. "You’re making it sound as if you’re trying to sell me a prized horse."

Robert’s lips parted slightly, clearly taken aback.

"I don’t choose my friends based on pedigree," she continued smoothly, amusement dancing in her tone. "Perhaps you and your fiancée should adopt the same principle."

"But you could help her!" Robert nearly shouted, taking a sudden step forward. His movement was sharp, urgent—enough to make Anna flinch and instinctively recoil.

"She wants to learn French... you could be her tutor," he added more carefully now.

Anna’s lips parted in disbelief before pressing into a thin line. She locked eyes with him, her gaze narrowing with growing irritation. "Do I have a ’looking for a job’ sign pinned to my dress?"

Robert faltered, clearly unprepared for her sharp retort. Seeing his hesitation, Anna seized the moment, her voice smooth but full of scorn.

"You shouldn’t depend on others to fix things for you," she continued coolly. "Your fiancée is an adult—if she struggles with her social standing, that’s her burden to bear, not mine. And if she’s truly as wonderful as you claim, then she shouldn’t have any trouble navigating society on her own."

She turned slightly, as if preparing to walk away, then glanced back with a smirk. "Oh, and one more thing," she added, her tone dripping with casual derision. "A wedding in Paris? How dreadfully cliché, don’t you think?"

With that, she pivoted on her heel and strode away, head held high, her every step deliberate and poised. Yet beneath the surface, her heart was pounding like a wild bird trapped in a cage.

The moment she stepped outside the event hall, she exhaled sharply, leaning back against the cool stone wall.

That was close... She pressed a hand against her chest, feeling the erratic rhythm of her heartbeat. I almost blew my cover when he mentioned tutoring Marienne. Damn it... my heart won’t stop racing.

Stopping a passing server, she swiftly plucked two glasses of wine from his tray and, without a second glance, slipped toward the back exit, disappearing into the night.

Once she was outside, Anna downed both glasses of wine in quick succession, the warmth spreading through her chest like a slow, smoldering fire. A sense of relief washed over her—not just from the alcohol but from the knowledge that she had done well. She knew it. She felt it. And yet...

She exhaled and lowered herself onto the nearest bench, leaning back as she tilted her head toward the sky.

It was almost amusing—the Robert she had just encountered was not the Robert she once knew. Or rather... not the Robert she had once feared.

Desperate. Frustrated. Pathetic. The thought of him almost begging her to be Marienne’s friend sent a slow, triumphant smile curling across her lips.

"You did well."

William’s deep voice drifted to her from behind, pulling her from her thoughts. Anna stiffened slightly before straightening up, turning her head just enough to acknowledge him.

"Will," she murmured, quickly averting her gaze to ensure he wouldn’t notice the absence of her lenses. "So, you saw me with him..."

"I don’t hear any sniffing," he noted as he lowered himself beside her, his presence steady and grounding. Then, with a gentle touch, he reached for her hand, his fingers brushing against hers before pulling it closer to his face for inspection. "No scratches, either. That’s... a good sign."

Anna let out a quiet, bitter laugh, her head dipping in a small nod.

"The moment he started talking to me, something inside me snapped," she admitted, "and I kept asking myself—why did it have to be him? Of all the people in the world... why did it have to be him... to ruin me like that?"

William smirked as he caught Anna’s chin between his fingers, tilting her face toward him with possessive ease. His dark eyes bore into hers, intense and unreadable, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper.

"We don’t choose our obsessions, Anna."

She let out a soft breath, her lips curving into a smile—but it was empty, devoid of warmth or amusement.

"He wants me to be her friend," she murmured, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "His mistress’s friend."

William’s smirk deepened as he released her, his fingers trailing away with slow precision. He leaned back slightly, his eyes still fixed on her, sharp and calculating.

"You don’t have to be her friend," he said smoothly. "But you do need to make sure she thinks you are."

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