The Billionaire’s Pretend Fiancée

Roman’s POV

I squeezed my eyes open and found myself drenched in my own sweat.

It seemed as though I had been running from something or someone but I just couldn’t remember whoever or whatever it was.

With a dissatisfied groan, I yanked myself up from the bed, made my bed before trekking to the bathroom to take a quick shower.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

I didn’t even know what day of the week today was.

It felt as though I had slept for eighty years instead of eight hours.

Afterward, I threw on a pair of denim pants and a black t-shirt before heading downstairs for breakfast.

My lips curved upward in a smile when I saw my mum dishing out breakfast for that morning.

“Good morning, mum.” I said, pressing a peck to her cheek.

She turned to face me as she mirrored my smile. Hope you had a lovely night, baby?”

“Yes, mum.” I nodded, before retrieving some clean eating utensils and bringing them to the table.

“You’re such a good boy, Roman unlike that lazy being called Rachel.” Mum patted my back and shook her head.

“Rachel? Who is that?” I asked, confused.

She gave me a look. “Rachel is your little sister. The both of you never had the opportunity to meet over there but this world will give you a second chance to meet properly.”

“Why couldn’t I meet her? Did she go somewhere? How old is she?”

Mum just sighed and squeezed my shoulder. “Yes, baby. She went somewhere. She went somewhere far with your dad and I. Also, she doesn’t have an age because our world is an illusion.”

“An illusion?” I asked, to which she nodded.

I decided to let it be for that moment, so I asked her another question. “Why didn’t I go with you guys?”

“It wasn’t yet time for you to go with us. It still isn’t time for you to be with us right now. So you’ll have to go back soon.” She replied.

“I have to go back where?” I inquired as her hand dropped from my shoulder.

She was about to answer me when a pretty, teenage brunette girl who I presumed was Rachel, walked down the stairs, holding a novel.

“Hey, family.” She greeted before kissing mum on the cheek.

“Hi, angel. Did you sleep well?” Mum asked, and she sighed.

“I couldn’t, ma. I was up all night streaming the new song my favorite band, CIX dropped. We should stream it together later today, mum.” She said.

Mum just scoffed fondly at her. “Sit down and eat before your food gets cold.”

Rachel finally seemed to realize that I was also in the room as she gazed up at me with a smile, and an outstretched hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, big brother. You are so tall.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I just stared blankly at her as we shook hands.

Or more like she shook my hand.

“Wait, I shouldn’t be shaking hands with my big brother.” Rachel mumbled, and without warning, she pulled me into a tight hug.

I remained as stiff as a robot, as her hands rubbed my back in gentle circles.

“Why are you so stiff, Roman?” She scoffed when we disengaged from the one-sided hug.

“I don’t know.” I truthfully admitted.

She just shook her head before taking her seat at the dining table.

Another strange thing was the fact that I didn’t have memories of other people apart from that of my parents. And even the memory I had of my parents was a blurry image of their bloody bodies in a burning car.

I didn’t have the slightest idea of what was happening.

Hell, I couldn’t even remember how I had gotten here.

Then, the doorbell rang, putting a temporary end to the whirlwind of thoughts swirling inside me.

I scarfed down the rest of my food as my dad walked in with a briefcase in one hand, and a box of cake in the other hand.

He darted me a weird stare as mum collected the box from him and placed it on the table.

“Dad, you bought it!” Rachel squealed in excitement when mum placed the cake on the dining table.

“Yes, my princess.” He replied with a smile.

“Welcome home, dad.” I said, trying to will the fuzzy memory of his bloody body behind the steering wheel out of my mind.

I had no idea why that morbid image were hellbent on encroaching my mind.

“Romano, you are still here with us.” He said with an underlying tone of despondence.

“I guess I am.” I replied, with a tone set between the lines of a question and a statement.

He didn’t seem too happy that I was there.

Was he mad at me or something?

“What are you still doing here, Roman? You shouldn’t be here with us at all.” Rachel said, darting me a strange look.

I frowned. “I don’t understand. Why shouldn’t I be here with you guys?”

“The longer you stay here with us, the shorter your chances of ever going back will be.” She said, gazing directly into my eyes.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense as I stared at my family. My parents were staring pitifully at me while Rachel was back to reading her novel.

“Where am I going? Am I supposed to be somewhere else right now?” I asked, with a raised voice.

“Yes, honey. Everyone is already starting to lose hope. You’ve been here with us for a month now.” Mum answered.

“Everyone? Who are they, and why are they losing hope? Shouldn’t I be here with my family?” I inquired.

It seemed as if no one really wanted me there. Not even my mum. But she was at least polite with it unlike Rachel and my dad.

“You will see all of them soon. You just have to keep pushing for now. You can’t let her down, she hopes you wake up soon.” Dad said.

“Her? Who is she? Why can’t I remember anything? This is so frustrating!” I gritted out, hitting the table angrily.

I glanced from mum and dad to Rachel, and watched them exchange awkward glances among themselves.

It was then an eerie thought floated into my mind.

“Am I dead?” I blurted out.

Mum sighed and said. “Not yet, baby. That’s why you have to keep moving because it’s not yet time for you to join us.”

My jaw slacked as I stammered. “W-what?”