Chapter 29 Why Does This Feel Real
Amelia POV
I regret everything.
Every single life decision that led me to this exact moment.
Standing outside the mansion.
Next to Dominic.
With cameras.
So many cameras.
Flashing.
Clicking.
People talking over each other.
"Mr. Blackwood!"
"Is it true?"
"Who is she?"
"Are you married?"
"Is she Noah's mother?"
I wanted to disappear.
Actually disappear.
Like vanish into thin air.
"Why are there so many of them," I whispered.
"They'll leave once they get what they want," Dominic said calmly.
"What they want is my soul."
"That won't be necessary."
Easy for him to say.
He looked completely fine.
Calm.
Collected.
Like this was just another normal day.
Meanwhile I was one second away from running back inside and locking myself in my room forever.
"I can't do this," I whispered.
"Yes you can."
"I am about to embarrass you."
"You won't."
"You have a lot of confidence in me."
"I have a lot of experience with situations like this."
"That does not make me experienced."
A small pause.
Then quietly,
"Stay close."
Oh.
That did something to my brain.
"...Okay."
Before I could overthink it...
He stepped forward.
And instinctively...
His hand moved to my back.
Light.
Firm.
Guiding.
My entire body froze.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
He was touching me.
This was part of the plan.
This was fake.
This was fake.
WHY DOES IT NOT FEEL FAKE.
"Relax," he said under his breath.
"I am relaxed," I whispered back.
"That's not convincing."
We stepped closer to the gates.
The cameras went insane.
"Mr. Blackwood are you in a relationship?"
"Is this your partner?"
"How long have you been together?"
My brain stopped working.
This was it.
This was the moment.
Dominic didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Everything went quiet for half a second.
Then louder.
Way louder.
"Since when?"
"Why keep it private?"
"Is she living with you?"
I forgot how to breathe.
He didn't let go of me.
Not even slightly.
"We prefer to keep things private," he said.
Calm.
Simple.
Controlled.
I just stood there.
Trying not to look like I was actively panicking.
"Miss, can you confirm your name?"
Oh no.
Oh no.
Oh no.
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"...Hi."
Why did I say that.
Dominic's hand pressed slightly against my back.
Grounding.
Steady.
It helped.
A little.
"I'm Amelia," I managed.
"Amelia what?" someone asked.
My brain blanked.
Dominic answered for me.
"Carter."
Of course.
He knew that.
Why is that making me feel something.
"How did you meet?" another reporter asked.
Oh no.
We did not prepare for this.
I looked at Dominic.
He looked at me.
And for a second...
There was something there.
Something unspoken.
Then he said,
"Through mutual connections."
That was so vague.
I loved it.
I nodded quickly like that made perfect sense.
"Yes. Very mutual."
Why am I like this.
A few reporters laughed.
This was going horribly.
Or maybe... not horribly.
Because Dominic didn't seem annoyed.
If anything...
He seemed slightly amused.
Which was confusing.
"Are you living together?" someone asked.
I choked internally.
Dominic answered smoothly.
"Yes."
I stared at him.
Yes??
We are just saying yes to everything now??
His hand shifted slightly.
Then...
His fingers brushed against mine.
My entire body froze again.
That was not part of the plan.
Or was it.
I didn't know anymore.
He didn't fully grab my hand.
Just...
rested there.
Light.
Barely there.
But enough.
Way more than enough.
My heart was beating so fast I was sure someone could hear it.
"Are you serious about each other?" another voice asked.
Silence.
For a second.
Dominic didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
His hand fully closed around mine.
Oh.
My.
God.
That was not barely there anymore.
That was real.
Warm.
Firm.
Intentional.
I stopped breathing.
Then he said,
"Yes."
My brain completely shut down.
Because that did not sound fake.
At all.
I forgot the cameras.
The reporters.
Everything.
For a second it was just...
His hand in mine.
And the way he was standing close to me.
And how real it felt.
"Look at me," he said quietly.
I did.
Big mistake.
His eyes were steady.
Focused.
And way too close.
"Smile," he said.
I did.
Automatically.
Because I had no control over anything anymore.
The cameras flashed like crazy.
"Thank you," Dominic said.
And just like that...
It was over.
He guided me back toward the house.
Still holding my hand.
Still close.
Too close.
When we got inside...
The door shut behind us.
Silence.
And suddenly...
I pulled my hand away.
"Oh my god."
He looked at me.
"What."
"That was not normal."
"It was effective."
"You HELD my hand."
"Yes."
"TWICE."
He didn't react.
"You didn't let go."
"No."
"WHY."
A pause.
Then calmly,
"It looked natural."
My heart did something very stupid.
"That did not feel natural."
"It will."
EXCUSE ME.
I stared at him.
"...What does that mean."
"It means we'll need to get used to it."
I blinked.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
I turned around.
"Nope. I'm done. I quit. This is too much."
"You agreed."
"I regret agreeing."
"That doesn't change anything."
I turned back to him.
"This is insane."
"It's temporary."
"That is not comforting."
A small pause.
Then he said,
"You did well."
I stopped.
"...I did?"
"Yes."
Oh.
That made my chest feel warm.
Which was annoying.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
Then quickly added,
"But you still held my hand."
"And you didn't pull away."
I froze.
"...That was because I panicked."
"Of course."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're enjoying this."
"I'm not."
"You almost smiled."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
We stared at each other.
And for a second...
It felt light.
Easy.
Different.
Then Ryan's voice exploded behind us.
"I KNEW IT."
I jumped.
Clara and Sophie ran in.
Sebastian walked in calmly behind them.
Ryan pointed at us.
"YOU HELD HANDS."
I covered my face.
"I hate all of you."
Sophie grabbed my arm.
"HOW WAS IT."
"I blacked out."
Clara looked at Dominic.
"Was she convincing?"
Dominic looked at me.
Then said,
"Yes."
My heart betrayed me again.
Ryan grinned.
"Oh this is going to be fun."
And something told me...
He was absolutely right.