Chapter 3

Sienna Whitmore's POV

Pretending to be in a relationship with Liam Caldwell should have been easy. After all, I'd been faking my way through bad dates for years. How hard could it be to act like we were together?

Apparently, harder than I thought.

Standing in front of my father's massive estate, I felt a tension settle in my chest. Charles Whitmore wasn't an easy man to deceive. He had built his empire through shrewd business deals and an uncanny ability to read people. If I slipped up-if Liam slipped up-he would know.

Liam stood beside me, exuding confidence as if this were just another game. A slow smirk played on his lips. "Nervous?"

"Of course not." The words left my mouth a little too quickly.

His grin widened. "You sure? Because it kind of looks like you're panicking."

My nails dug into my palm. "I don't panic."

"Right." He nudged me lightly with his shoulder. "Then let's go convince Daddy Dearest that we're madly in love."

I shot him a glare but turned toward the grand front doors. A deep breath steadied me before I pushed them open. The scent of polished wood and expensive cologne hit me immediately. Everything in this house was pristine, calculated-just like the man who ran it.

A butler nodded in greeting. "Miss Whitmore. Your father is in the lounge."

Liam let out a low whistle. "Fancy."

I ignored him and led the way. Charles Whitmore sat in his usual leather chair, a glass of scotch in hand. His sharp eyes lifted the moment we entered.

"You're late," he remarked, setting the glass down.

"I wasn't aware I was on a schedule," I replied smoothly.

His gaze flickered to Liam, assessing. "And who is this?"

Liam stepped forward, confidence radiating off him. "Liam Caldwell, sir. It's a pleasure."

My father didn't shake his hand. Instead, he studied him with the same scrutiny he used on business deals. "Caldwell... I know that name."

Liam smiled, unfazed. "My father owns Caldwell Industries."

Interest sparked in my father's expression, but he didn't let it show. "I see. And what exactly is your relationship with my daughter?"

Liam's arm slid around my waist, pulling me closer. The warmth of his hand against my skin sent an unexpected shiver through me. His voice was smooth, certain. "We're together, Mr. Whitmore."

My father's eyes narrowed slightly. "Together."

"That's right," I confirmed, keeping my expression neutral. "We've been seeing each other for a while now."

Silence stretched between us. My father wasn't easily impressed, and I knew he was calculating the pros and cons of this situation.

Finally, he spoke. "Liam, I assume your intentions with my daughter are serious?"

Liam didn't hesitate. "Absolutely."

I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes. He was too good at this.

My father leaned back, studying us. "Sienna has a habit of avoiding commitment. I find it difficult to believe she suddenly decided to settle down."

Liam's grip on my waist tightened just slightly-a silent signal. He was taking control of the conversation. "She didn't settle, Mr. Whitmore. She chose. There's a difference."

Something flickered in my father's eyes. Not approval, but perhaps mild acceptance. "We'll see."

The words were a test.

Liam's smirk never wavered. "Looking forward to proving you wrong."

My father's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't argue. "Dinner will be served shortly."

That was as close to acceptance as we were going to get.

Once we were alone, I turned to Liam, my voice low. "You didn't have to be that smooth."

He chuckled. "You think that was smooth? I was just getting started."

Liam Caldwell's POV

Charles Whitmore was a tough man to crack, but I liked a challenge.

Dinner was a formal affair, filled with tense conversation and subtle power plays. The longer it went on, the more I realized that Sienna wasn't just rebelling against marriage-she was rebelling against control. Her father's grip on her life was suffocating, and this arrangement of ours was her way of breaking free.

Halfway through the meal, Charles set down his fork. "Liam, tell me-what are your long-term intentions?"

Beside me, Sienna stiffened.

I met his gaze evenly. "I intend to be in Sienna's life for as long as she'll have me."

Her fingers twitched against her wine glass.

Charles studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Then I expect you to prove that."

"Gladly."

The conversation shifted after that, moving into business talk that Sienna had no interest in. She excused herself, and I followed a few minutes later, finding her on the balcony.

The night air was cool, and she had her arms crossed, staring at the city lights.

"You alright?" I asked, leaning against the railing.

She exhaled softly. "That went better than I expected."

"I'm good at what I do."

A small smirk played on her lips. "You're enjoying this."

"Maybe a little."

Sienna turned to face me, something unreadable in her eyes. "You really think you can convince him?"

"I don't think-I know."

She shook her head, but there was amusement there. "You're impossible."

"And you like it."

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't deny it.

I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. "We're going to pull this off, Sienna. You'll get your freedom."