the tenderness in his eyes completely unconcealed.
"Besides, my mother's never liked Victoria. But put someone worse in front of her, and suddenly Victoria doesn't seem so unacceptable. You understand?"
I couldn't tell anymore whether it was rage or humiliation. My chest was so tight I could barely breathe.
"Clyde, isn't this too cruel to Deidre? She didn't know a thing. Using her like this... I feel terrible about it..."
Victoria's voice floated out, soft and fragile as a kitten's.
Clyde pulled her against his shoulder, his tone dripping with indulgence.
"Don't worry. I'll handle her."
He turned to look at me.
"Deidre, since you've heard everything, I won't beat around the bush."
"I need you to play along until the curtain falls."
Acting—for professionals like us, it was as routine as breathing. But coming from the mouth of the man I loved, it was nothing short of laughable.
"Oh? And how would you like me to play it? What's the rate?"
Clyde ignored the mockery in my voice entirely. His expression was dead serious.
"I need you to keep being my fiancée. Keep up the public displays of affection. Keep being Victoria's foil. It won't be long. Two months, tops."