I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 77: Empty

Chapter 77: Empty

"He’s just a child—don’t mind him," Anna said softly, trying to excuse Gabriel’s behavior after he walked away.

But William didn’t acknowledge her attempt. Instead, without warning, he took hold of her waist and lifted her effortlessly onto his lap, settling her against his hips. Their upper bodies were so close now, Anna could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, a heat that seemed to seep into her own.

"Will, I—"

"It’s fine," William cut in, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingertips grazed her flushed cheek, and his gaze lingered. "I heard what I needed when you answered my question. And I know... that you don’t care for men anymore."

Anna flinched, her pulse quickening as echoes of her conversation with Gabriel resurfaced—sharp, fresh, and unresolved.

"You’re right," she replied with a faint, bitter smile, placing her hands on William’s shoulders for balance. "I don’t. I don’t want to be swept away by a man again. My heart is closed now. No one’s allowed in anymore."

"No one?" William scoffed, sliding the back of his hand across Anna’s warm cheek. "Strangely enough, I find that very reassuring."

His hands trailed slowly down her back, sending a cascade of goosebumps rippling across her skin. When they reached the small of her back, he held her there, firm yet gentle, his lips curling into another one of his cunning, knowing grins. "You understand your position well. I’m glad we’re on the same page."

Anna responded with a faint smile of her own, but it faltered the moment William’s expression shifted. His playful charm vanished, replaced by something colder—sharper. His eyes darkened, as if some bitter memory had surfaced without warning.

"I like that you’re thinking this way," he continued, lowering his head to her neck. His hot lips ghosted over her skin, tracing a damp, teasing path before his teeth sank into her flesh.

Anna gasped—not from pain, but from that familiar, intoxicating sensation of his possessiveness, the same one that curled in the pit of her stomach and made her pulse quicken.

"But I don’t like that you’re becoming... heartless."

The words struck her harder than she expected. Hearing that from William—who always carried himself with detached indifference—was disarming. Why did it almost sound like... heartache?

"Is this about the way I play my part?" Anna asked quietly, her eyes searching his. "I keep saying I’m your girlfriend at every opportunity. I try... you’ve seen it too. I try to act like I’m infatuated with you when we’re in public. We keep... practicing that all the time. I think it has been going well enough..."

She felt a flicker of embarrassment as she thought about the nights they’d spent together. How many times had she lost herself, surrendered herself to him, and crumbled at his mercy?

Yet, at the same time, she sensed the need to establish something steady—some sort of untouchable grounding—with this man who had so thoroughly entangled himself in her life.

"Yes, you’re playing your role just fine," William murmured, lifting his face from the curve of her neck. His deep brown eyes lingered on her conflicted expression, though his own gaze had grown distant—tinged with a sadness that chilled the warmth between them.

"But it doesn’t feel right," he continued, voice low, almost bitter. "Knowing it’s all just pretend. So how about we take it further? Really further. No more lines, no more pretending. I want you to become mine—for real. Completely. Wholeheartedly. Everything you are. Your body. Your heart. Your mind. All of it—mine. Just mine."

"I can’t do that," Anna said, the words escaping too quickly, too reflexively—like her heart had rehearsed them in secret long before she ever needed them.

"Why not?" William asked, his frown deepening as his hands tightened slightly around her waist, anchoring her in place.

Anna closed her eyes, searching for the right words, but the truth was heavy—lodged in her chest like a stone she couldn’t cough up. Could she really open her heart again? Could she take that risk?

She didn’t think so. No—she knew she couldn’t.

Not after everything she’d endured.

She had already died once, in the only way that mattered. And if she were to be betrayed again—abandoned like before—it would shatter her beyond repair. There would be no piecing herself back together this time.

I’m scared, she confessed inwardly. I feel safe only when my heart isn’t on the line. He can have everything else—my time, my body, even my loyalty—but love... I’m not sure I have any left to give. I feel hollow.

Empty.

To everyone. Even myself.

"I don’t know why," she finally said aloud, her voice barely steady, trembling with something raw beneath the surface. "I just... I don’t think we need that kind of relationship. Do we?"

She paused, her gaze slowly returning to his, catching a flicker of something cold and distant in his eyes. It was as if her words had caused a quiet sadness in him—but she knew it was necessary. She had to say it.

"I won’t betray you. You know that. I’ll do whatever it takes, as long as you continue helping me. I respect our deal. I’ll stay loyal to you, I promise."

"The deal..." William murmured, his lips curling into a bitter smile.

The deal was no longer enough for him. He had hoped his affection might be enough to break through her walls, but it seemed it still wasn’t enough—for her, or for him.

"Are you mad?" she asked carefully, her voice soft with caution, sensing the dangerously sad gleam in his dark eyes.

William shook his head, leaning in until their lips were nearly touching. If he couldn’t have her heart now, he was content with claiming everything else.

"I’m not mad," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin. "But I want you to think about it, Anna. If one day you finally change your mind... if you decide to love again... I want to be the first person you think of."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.