CHAPTER 275: CHAPTER 275

At that moment, Oliver couldn’t move. His body stayed still, his hand resting halfway on the table, as his eyes stayed locked on Cora. He blinked again, slow and long, trying to make sense of what she had just said. His throat tightened, and his mind raced.

"You... you’re serious," he finally said, his voice low, as if he still didn’t fully believe it.

Immediately Cora gave a weak, nervous smile. Her fingers were clasped together tightly on her lap. She couldn’t even look directly at him anymore. Her eyes danced around the room before they settled on the floor between them.

"Yes," she replied softly. "I’m serious. I know this sounds crazy, and maybe even stupid to you, but it’s not a joke, Oliver. I wouldn’t ask you if it didn’t matter."

Her voice trembled at the end, and that was what made Oliver’s chest ache the most. This wasn’t the same stubborn, bold Cora he knew. This was the Cora who had thought long and hard before coming to him. This was the Cora who was genuinely afraid.

Still in disbelief, he leaned forward slightly. "Cora... you want me to pretend to be in love with you? To fake a relationship in front of your father? You know we’re just friends. We’ve always been just friends."

"I know," she whispered, cutting him off. "I know we’re just friends. That’s why I came to you. Because I trust you. Because I know you, and I know you’ll protect me."

She looked up at him now, her eyes wet but not crying. "Oliver, my father... he’s already made up his mind about marrying me off. I can feel it. He won’t listen to me. He never does. If I say I’m in love with someone, he won’t just take my word for it he’ll want to see it. He’ll want to read it on my face, in our gestures, in our story. And if he suspects even a single crack in the story, it’ll all fall apart."

Oliver pressed his lips together. He had known her father was strict, but this... this sounded like something else.

"And your uncle? And that Clinty guy?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"They’re worse," Cora said bitterly. "They’re not just coming back for a family reunion. They’re coming back because they want something. And if I don’t protect myself now, I might be pushed into something worse than just a forced marriage."

She paused, then leaned a little closer. "Oliver... do you really think I would come to you with this if it wasn’t serious? If I didn’t need you?"

Oliver didn’t say anything.

"Please," she whispered. "Don’t let me go out there and find someone I can’t trust. Someone who will pretend just for fun. Someone who could hurt me or betray me. I need you. Just you. Please."

At that moment, the air between them shifted. Cora’s face still carried that serious expression her brows slightly furrowed, lips pressed tight, and eyes searching Oliver’s as if trying to confirm he truly understood the weight of her request. And Oliver, just watching her like that, knew she wasn’t playing around. This wasn’t one of her usual teasing ideas or impulsive acts. No. She had come to him not just as a friend but as someone in need of help real help.

He sighed quietly and leaned back a little. Then, meeting her eyes again, he spoke with a tone that held both hesitation and truth.

"Alright then," he said, voice calm but laced with uncertainty. "If this is really serious for you... then fine. I’ll do it. But Cora—" he paused, his gaze firm now, "—you need to know, pretending to be in a real relationship with you, like all the hugging, holding hands, acting close it’s not something I take lightly. That part... that part might be tough for me."

His eyes briefly wandered, his thoughts catching up to his words.

"If it ever gets to the point where we fake this pretend thing to feel... real," he continued, slower this time, "just promise me you won’t hate me for it. Because I won’t blame you either if the same happens to you."

Cora blinked slowly, her eyes softening. A small smile flickered across her lips not a playful one this time, but something more gentle, more thankful.

"I understand," she whispered. "I do. And if it ever gets to that point, I’ll play my part well. I promise, Oliver."

And just like that, something unspoken settled between them.

Without needing more words, Oliver gave a nod. It was firm. Silent. But it held everything she needed. Yet inside his chest, something unfamiliar stirred. For months, maybe even years, he had buried feelings too complicated to explain. But now, with this new "fake" arrangement on the horizon, it felt like fate had reached down and cracked open the door he never thought would budge.

Maybe this was his chance.

Maybe pretending... might just be the start of something real.

Because deep inside, Oliver felt it the universe had finally lit a candle at the end of that long, dark tunnel.

At that moment, as Oliver sat across from Cora, his mind couldn’t stop spinning. From the outside, he looked calm his lips only slightly parted, his expression unreadable but inside, his chest was thudding with a quiet storm of emotions he hadn’t felt in a long time. A strange kind of relief was starting to settle in, slowly taking over the surprise and confusion from earlier. The more he thought about what Cora had just asked him to do, the more his heart began to beat in a rhythm that sounded like hope.

Yes hope. That was the word.

Because for as long as Oliver could remember, Cora had only ever seen him as the loyal friend. The one who would always be there for her. The one who picked up the pieces after James hurt her. The one who smiled through the pain of watching the woman he loved walk into the arms of someone else, just to protect her from seeing his heart break. He had long accepted that friendship was all he’d ever get. But now... now it felt like the door he thought was forever shut had creaked open just a little.

His breath caught for a second, This... this could be it.

Cora trusted him more than anyone else. She chose him for this. She needed him for this. That had to mean something. And even if it was just pretend at first, maybe just maybe it could become something real. Something more. He wasn’t foolish enough to confuse make-believe with reality, but if this act could show her what he already knew deep inside that no one could love her, protect her, or cherish her better than he could then it was worth it.