Simon had a secret.
At first, I didn't notice. He was calm, composed, always careful with his words. But as I spent more time with him, I saw something else in his eyes. A hesitation. A sadness. It was as if he was holding onto something from the past, something too painful to speak about.
Then, it all made sense.
Simon had once been in love with me—Bella.
When we were teenagers, he had feelings for me, but he never found the courage to confess. He had kept those feelings locked away, never saying a word. And now, because of that, he couldn't bring himself to stand against Kelvin. A part of him still cared, still wanted to protect me—even if he didn't know I was standing right in front of him, trapped in Mimi's body.
I didn't know how to feel. Should I be angry that he let his fear control him? Or should I be sad that his love had remained silent for so long?
But I had no time to think about it.
The next morning, I found myself in another difficult situation.
Mimi's younger sister, Debbie, came to visit. She was sharp, observant, and always searching for the truth. It didn't take her long to start asking questions.
She sat across from Simon, her gaze steady and calculating.
"So," she said, folding her hands neatly on the table. "How are things between you and Mimi?"
Simon smiled, but I knew it wasn't real. "We're fine," he said simply.
Debbie tilted her head. "Fine? That's all? No exciting details?"
Simon chuckled, trying to appear relaxed. "We're busy with work, that's all."
Debbie wasn't convinced. "Mimi always dreamed of a perfect love. Do you think you're giving her that?"
Simon hesitated. "I… try my best."
Debbie's sharp eyes narrowed. "You try? That's not a very confident answer, Simon."
I saw the discomfort in Simon's face. He was struggling to keep up the act. Their engagement was a lie, but no one knew—not even Debbie.
"What about the wedding?" she asked suddenly.
Simon's jaw tightened. "We haven't set a date yet."
Debbie sighed. "I don't get it. You've been engaged for a while now. Father wants everything to be perfect, but how can it be if you two aren't even planning your future?"
Simon leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Some things take time, Debbie."
She tapped her fingers against the table. "Fine. But I'll be keeping an eye on you."
With that, she stood up and left, her expression unreadable.
Simon exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples.
************
Later that day, Simon met with Mimi's father. It had something to do with business. I wanted to be there, to hear what was happening, but I had another task to handle.
I had to play Mimi's role at work.
I didn't know much about Mimi's job, but I knew she worked in the jewelry business. I walked into her company, trying to act natural, hoping no one would notice that I had no idea what I was doing.
Somehow, I managed to get through the day. I pretended to know what I was talking about, discussing new jewelry designs as if I had been doing it my whole life.
People nodded. Some even complimented my ideas.
I had no clue what I was doing, but for once, luck was on my side.
That evening, I faced yet another unexpected challenge.
I was meeting Simon's family.
I had no idea what to expect. Would they be distant? Kind? Would they see through my act?
The moment I stepped into their home, I noticed something surprising—hope.
Simon's parents looked at me with warm smiles, their eyes filled with expectation. They truly believed that Simon and I—Mimi—were in love.
I didn't want to ruin that illusion.
We sat down for dinner, and I tried to act as normal as possible. But with every passing moment, I felt guilty. His parents believed in a love that didn't exist. They thought their son had found happiness.
I almost told them the truth.
Almost.
But then Simon did something unexpected.
He leaned close to me and whispered, "Play along."
Before I could react, he leaned in and kissed me.
It wasn't a quick, polite kiss.
It was deep and full of emotion, the kind of kiss that spoke of longing and desire. His mouth moved slowly over mine, sending shivers down my spine.
I could feel his warm breath on my skin, his tongue gently probing the seam of my lips. It was a kiss that assumed intimacy.
Not with this man who didn't even know I wasn't his fiancée.
My heart pounded in my chest.
I should have pulled away.
But I didn't.
Because for a moment, just a moment, I felt safe.
For the first time since waking up in this body, I wasn't alone.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to get lost in the feeling, even though I knew it wasn't real.
When Simon finally pulled away, his parents beamed with joy.
"You two are perfect together," his mother said.
His father nodded. "I knew you would make a great husband, Simon."
Simon just smiled. But when I looked at him, I saw something else.
A flicker of something real.
Was he still acting, or had he felt something, too?
I didn't know.
And I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.
That night, as I lay in bed, my thoughts wouldn't settle.
The kiss. The way Simon had looked at me. The way his parents had smiled, believing that their son was truly happy.
None of it was real.
And yet, it felt real.
I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away.
I was still Bella.
I still had to find a way back to my real life.
But the more I played this role, the harder it became to remember who I really was.
And that terrified me.