Page 23 of The Fiancé Hoax

Lily crawled into my lap. I cuddled her and answered her questions about Felicity. I told her that Inga would still pick them up from school, and that hopefully Felicity would eat dinner with us, but I didn’t know her schedule yet. Finally she wiggled free.

“I’m going to go check on my bean sprout,” she said.

“Good idea.”

She’d brought home a tiny plant from her first-grade class and kept it in her bedroom. I watched as she ran upstairs.

Eva was still quiet.

“Are you okay with this, Eva?”

She thought about it, looking out the front window. “Yes. I like Felicity. It’ll be fun to have her here.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

She looked at me, her face tilted to the side. “Is Felicity going to help you win so we can stay with you?”

My heart just about leapt out of my chest.

I’d always known Eva was smart. But I never expected her to figure this out so easily.

I nodded slowly. “Yes, she is.”

“Oh,” she said. “I hope it works.”

“Me, too.”

“We don’t want to live with Mom.” Eva looked down as she traced the seam on the sofa cushion.

“I know, baby. I’m doing everything I can to keep you girls with me.”

“Okay,” she said with a nod. “Good.”

She gave me a quick hug, then ran off to play.

I exhaled, leaning back in my seat. I hoped I was doing the right thing.

But there was no other option. If I didn't fake an engagement, my lawyer was sure I’d lose my daughters.

Gen would get custody of them. Their lives would be uprooted. They’d live in an unstable home with a mother who didn't know how to give them love. And who knew how many random men she’d bring into their lives.

I would never forgive myself if that happened.

No. That wasn't going to happen.

I had to do this to protect my daughters. They wouldn’t be safe with Gen.

7

FELICITY

“Are you sure this is for the best?”

I raised an eyebrow at Lauren. “Weren't you telling me I should jump his bones just a few hours ago?”

“Yes,” she said. “And I still think you should. But that doesn't mean you should move in with the guy and pretend to be engaged.”

She folded the sweater I handed her and tucked it in the suitcase on my bed.