Ben steps around my chair to hand her the bouquet. “Then consider this the first of many.”
She takes them, completely charmed, while I sit there, silently panicking.
He’s good.
Too good.
He’s not just manipulating me; he’s weaving himself around the one person in this world I wanted to remain untouched by him.
My grandmother looks between us again, misty-eyed. “Sienna, why didn’t you tell me?”
My throat tightens. “It… it all happened so fast.” The words taste like acid. “Almost like I was forced into it.”
Ben squeezes my shoulder again, the gesture subtle but firm. “We wanted to wait until things settled. You know, make sure it was real before we made it official.”
Grandma nods approvingly. “That’s very wise. I always knew my girl had good judgment.”
I almost snort.
Ben laughs softly, like he’s flattered. “She’s got a good heart. Keeps me honest.”
The irony nearly makes me choke.
He sits beside me now, too close, his hand still resting against the back of my neck. Every nerve in my body is screaming at me to move, but I can’t. Not without drawing attention and upsetting Grandma.
I’m trapped.
Again.
But this time, it’s in a room filled with sunlight, flowers, and my grandmother’s smile.
And that’s somehow worse.
A nurse knocks gently on the doorframe, breaking the tension on my end. “Mrs. Ellis? It’s time for your medication.”
“Oh!” My grandmother stands, smiling apologetically. “Give me a moment, dear. You two talk.”
My stomach sinks. “Grandma, I can come?—”
But she’s already following the nurse out, humming to herself.
The door eases shut, and I spin around on my chair, sending my best glare his way. “What the hell was that?”
Ben watches me, calm as ever. “You didn’t tell her about us. I thought I’d help.”
“You lied to her.”
He tilts his head. “Did I?”
“You show up here uninvited, in your perfect suit, pretending we’re engaged?”
“Weareengaged.”
“Not like that, and you know it.”
He closes the distance between us when he leans in. His cologne wraps around me before his voice does. “She needed to see stability. I gave her that.”
“You don’t get to decide what my family sees.”
