Was Ernest dazzled by me?, I had assumed he was the type of guy whose inner world was as rigid and straightforward as he looked from the outside, someone who wouldn't be swayed by just physical beauty. It turned out the adage about men was spot-on., Even though I knew I had caught Ernest's attention, I couldn't help but flirtatiously toss my wavy hair again to see his gaze deepening and his expression turning colder., I couldn't pinpoint the reason behind his mood changes, and frankly, I wasn't too keen on playing the guessing game. Cutting to the chase, I asked,

"So, Mr. Collins, are you in?

"

"What?

" His eyes drifted away from me as he spoke., I laughed. Was Ernest the one losing track? I knew he wasn't. He was playing dumb.,

"Be my boyfriend. Temporarily,

" I reiterated what I'd said the night before., Ernest didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze wandered into the distance. Following his line of sight, I noticed the Ferris wheel reaching its zenith., It brought to mind what Ivan had mentioned about Conrad's planning to propose. He wouldn't choose the Ferris wheel for such an occasion, would he?, Squinting toward the Ferris wheel, trying to discern any peculiarities, I was brought back by Ernest's voice,

"What do you mean, temporarily?

",

"Just that. Be my boyfriend for the time being. Once Conrad, Mr. Wagner's infatuation fades, we'll go back to being nothing,

" I admitted, feeling a tinge of guilt at my own words. Swallowing hard, I tried to rephrase my explanation.

"It's not real love. We're only putting on an act to make Conrad think we're together.

",

"Why would I agree to this?

" Ernest's gaze met mine., I couldn't look him in the eye, embarrassed about the whole charade. If it weren't for Fanny's prodding and Conrad's increasing obsession, I wouldn't have considered such a ploy., Then, a breeze lifted strands of my hair, casting them across my face. I brushed them back, replying,

"Because you're the most suitable person around me, and...

", I paused, hesitating to admit he seemed interested in marrying me and appeared to have feelings for me. To voice such thoughts would change the dynamic, making it seem like I was taking advantage of his interest. So, I couldn't go on.,

"And what?

" Ernest pressed, as I decided not to elaborate., I offered a nervous smile.

"Nothing.

",

"And I like you, too. Didn't I mention that I want to marry you?

" Ernest bluntly exposed the thoughts I had withheld., He understood everything, leaving me with no need to hide. I turned to face him and asked,

"So, are you in?

", Ernest remained silent, causing my heart to race and nerves to set in. After a few seconds of silence, my cheeks began to flush with what I assumed was rejection., Attempting to ease the awkwardness, I ran a hand through my hair and said,

"If you don't want to, it's fine. Let's pretend I never asked.

", I turned to leave, but Ernest blocked my path.

"I can agree, but if I do this, I want it to be real.

", Looking up, I met his intense gaze.

"Felicia, I don't want to be just a temporary boyfriend. If we're doing this, I want to be your real boyfriend. If it doesn't work out, we can break up, but I refuse to be a placeholder, a prop in your play.

", With his handsome and stern features, Ernest spoke with an authority that was hard to defy., His proposal wasn't something I could take lightly. I intended to stage a performance, but he was playing for keeps. That was not what I had in mind., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.