The Unexpected Fake Boyfriend

Stella stared at the fluttering piece of paper suspended between them. Her dark eyes narrowed into sharp, unyielding slits. The crisp edges of the heavy check trembled in the cool morning breeze. She let her gaze travel from the staggering amount written in dark ink up to Declan's rigid, expectant face. The man standing before her truly believed that a few strokes of a pen could erase the trauma of giving birth alone, of watching her newborn fight for life in a sterile hospital room.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I only have myself to blame for the past. Since I delayed some of your prime years as well, you can just think of it as if I have taken the money and given it back to you as your emotional damage compensation. From now on, we do not owe each other a single thing."

Stella kept her voice cold and even. She made sure every syllable landed between them with the heavy weight of finality. She stepped back, tilting her head to offer him a carefree, empty smile.

Declan’s face darkened with frustration. His jaw clenched tight, the muscle ticking beneath his skin. His ego was bruised. He naturally assumed she was playing hard to get to increase the payout. In his mind, she had married into the Vance family for wealth. Refusing a massive sum handed to her freely made zero sense to his pride.

"Think carefully before you speak. This is my last offer to you! Keep pretending to be noble, and you won't get a single penny in the future!"

Declan snapped the words at her. He waved the check aggressively in the cool air, his patience wearing thin.

The last fragments of her shattered heart turned to solid stone. Any lingering trace of foolish sentiment she held for him vanished, replaced by a wave of cold exhaustion.

"Don't worry, Mr. Vance. I will live a happy, fulfilling life without you, and my precious time is worth far more than getting into petty street fights with you."

Stella mocked him contemptuously, letting her voice drip with pity. She turned her back on him without a second of hesitation. Spotting a yellow taxi cruising down the street, she raised her hand to hail it. She slid into the back seat, pulling the door shut with a solid thud. As the car drove away, leaving him standing foolishly on the curb, the frigid expression on her face slowly melted into a resigned, peaceful smile. She was finally done.

Harper hit the roof after hearing the story later that afternoon. She paced her office, her heels clicking aggressively against the hardwood floor.

"What a bastard! He thinks he is the only one with money in the world. Stella, you must attend the Nova Media charity auction this weekend. I will make sure he regrets everything!"

Harper slammed her hands on her desk, already hatching a plan. She arranged for Stella to attend the exclusive event, intentionally setting her up with a fake, high-profile boyfriend to make Declan boil with jealousy. Harper was always efficient. Within minutes, she had her staff preparing a stunning evening gown and confirming the mysterious male companion.

"Don't worry about a thing. The guy I found will make Declan so jealous he will cry and faint in the men's room!"

Stella arrived at the opulent, guarded venue that weekend wearing the elegant gown Harper provided. When she reached the red carpet entrance and discovered the identity of her arranged date, her mind went blank with panic. The man standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers with a bashful smile, was none other than Nolan.

He was the internationally beloved figure skating champion. He looked handsomer than ever in a crisp white shirt and a dark blue suit, looking like a noble prince straight out of a fairy tale. If his massive, devoted fanbase found out he was associating with a woman carrying as much baggage as her, they would riot in the streets.

"H-Hi, Noly."

Stella forced the words out, rubbing her temples as a headache started to build. She wanted to politely back out of the stunt. She opened her mouth to suggest finding a replacement, but it was already too late.

Declan and Vanessa approached the red carpet entrance from the opposite side. An aggressive swarm of flashing reporters flanked them, shouting questions and blinding everyone with rapid camera flashes.

Vanessa caught sight of them and maliciously changed her trajectory, deliberately cornering Stella and Nolan near the velvet ropes.

"Mr. Pierce, aren't you going to introduce me to this lady here? Last time I saw you two skating together on the ice rink, you had such good chemistry. But wait, how can that be? I thought I saw..."

Vanessa let her voice trail off, her eyes darting between Stella and Nolan. Her intent to publicly hint at Stella’s historical scandals and supposed infidelities to the hungry press was obvious. She wanted to remind the world that Stella was a divorced woman with a child, unfit for a rising sports star.

"She's my girlfriend."

Nolan declared the statement smoothly, his voice cutting through the chaotic noise. He stepped up immediately, wrapping a strong, protective arm around Stella’s waist to physically shield her from the shoving press.

Vanessa feigned a look of extreme surprise, covering her mouth with her manicured hand.

"Girlfriend? Are you sure? That day at the rink, I also saw her with her child."

Nolan maintained his calm, unbothered demeanor. He offered a polite, unwavering smile to the cameras.

"Yes, everything is just as what you had seen."

He nodded once to Vanessa, effectively ending the conversation, before looking down at Stella with a gentle gaze.

"Let's go in."

The reporters abandoned Vanessa in an instant. The revelation that the twenty-three-year-old skating champion was off the market sent the media into a wild frenzy. They swarmed around Nolan and Stella, thrusting microphones forward and jostling for position.

"Mr. Pierce, can you tell us how you both met?"

"Do you plan to get married in the near future?"

"Aren't you worried that your fans won't be able to bear it if you open up about your relationship so early?"

Nolan did not show a single hint of annoyance. He kept his firm grip on Stella steady, guiding her forward step by step through the blinding flashes.

"She is not from the industry. Please don't scare her off."

He reminded the crowd to be gentle, ensuring she was safe by his side as they navigated the throng of bodies.

Stella played the part of the nervous, devoted girlfriend perfectly. She lowered her head cooperatively, burying her face deep into his sturdy arm to hide from the relentless camera flashes.

Yet, just before they crossed the threshold into the lobby, she caught sight of Declan out of her peripheral vision. He was standing mere yards away. The indifferent mask he usually wore had vanished. A derisive, mocking sneer twisted his lips.

Her heart twisted uncomfortably in her chest. She knew with certainty what he was thinking. He assumed she was just wheeling out her old, manipulative tricks to successfully seduce another wealthy, younger man. Even though she had decided to ignore him, his disdain was palpable, sending a cold shiver down her spine.

Safe inside the quiet, luxurious venue away from the ravenous reporters, Stella exhaled a massive breath of relief. She pulled away slightly, putting a respectful distance between them in the grand foyer.

"I'm so sorry, Noly. I did not expect Harper to arrange you as my fake boyfriend. I will have her publicly clarify everything as soon as possible so it doesn't ruin your reputation."

Stella looked up at his handsome face, feeling terrible for dragging an innocent star into her messy divorce drama. She only dared to speak freely because the press was barred from entering the building.

Nolan smiled warmly, his eyes softening as he looked down at her.

"It's okay. I'm honestly honored to be your boyfriend for the night. Though, I know deep down I'm not good enough for you."

"No, no, no! You are worthy of anyone, Noly. You are more than good enough."

Stella frantically waved her hands, rushing to reassure the talented skater. She thought he was just being polite and modest, trying to make her feel better about robbing the cradle. In her panic to comfort him, she missed the intense flash of genuine sincerity and profound disappointment that crossed his delicate face.

Declan, lingering quietly in the shadows of a nearby marble pillar just steps behind them, heard every single word.

He had followed them inside, unable to tear his eyes away. Hearing the exchange, his mind reeled. It was not a mutual scheme orchestrated by Stella. It was Nolan. The young skating champion harbored deep, real romantic feelings for his ex-wife.

Declan scoffed quietly under his breath at the skater's terrible taste in women. He told himself it was pathetic that a global icon would fall for someone like her. Yet, an undeniable, suffocating constriction gripped his chest like an iron vice. The mere thought of Nolan's gentle, adoring gaze directed at Stella made his blood boil. A toxic, burning wave of jealousy flooded his veins, rooting him to the spot as he watched them walk away toward the grand hall.

They found their assigned, plush seats inside the massive grand hall. Nolan’s name was written clearly on the elegant place card, while hers was conspicuously absent, likely another part of Harper's hurried arrangements. Not long after sitting down, an event staff member hurried over and temporarily called Nolan away to the backstage area for Nova Media business.

Left alone in the dim lighting of the seating area, Stella settled into her chair. The venue was still relatively empty, with most of the elite guests mingling near the art exhibition displays in the adjoining room. She lowered her head to quietly check the glossy auction items brochure in her hands, flipping through the high-end artwork and jewelry, trying to distract herself from the lingering sting of Declan's sneer.

Suddenly, a hostile, grating voice rang out right next to her ear.

"Just how much do you want to nab a rich man? This is a high-class auction house, for God's sake!"