Lexi squinted into the boutique mirror, tugging at the emerald satin around her hips. "Okay. This is either giving goddess… or tightly wrapped head of lettuce."
Gia, lounging in a pink velvet chair and scrolling through her phone, didn't even look up. "Babe, if lettuce looked that good, I'd start eating salad."
Lexi turned sideways, examining the plunge of the neckline and the way the dress hugged her waist. She didn't hate it. Which probably meant she'd hate it by tomorrow.
"I need something bold," she muttered. "Something that says: 'Yes, I married a man I don't even like and I look hot doing it.'"
Gia looked up with a grin. "You mean Noah? The guy who glitter-bombed your shampoo like a spiteful fairy godmother?"
Lexi rolled her eyes. "No, Jason Momoa. YES! Of course Noah," she said sarcastically and then sighed. "He's insufferable. Even when he opens doors for me and looks like an off-duty superhero in a suit. It's infuriating."
Gia snorted. "Oh yeah. Totally sounds like someone you're not catching feels for."
Lexi shot her a glare. "Please. If I ever develop feelings for Noah Blackwood, I give you full permission to slap me with that overpriced tote."
Gia opened her mouth for a dramatic retort, then paused. "Wait. Is that… Molly Carlton?"
Lexi followed her gaze toward the accessories section.
There, inspecting a limited-edition Gucci bag like she was choosing a victim, stood her—Molly Carlton. A vision in glossy black curls, oversized sunglasses, and enough privilege to legally park on a helipad.
Gia leaned in and whispered, "Didn't she date Noah, like, years ago?"
Lexi crossed her arms. "She did. Dumped him on a livestream. Went to Europe to hook up with some duke's son."
"Wow. And she's back?"
Lexi didn't answer immediately. She watched as Molly turned, lips pursed like the world had disappointed her again, and glided toward the exit.
"She broke his heart," Lexi finally said. "He was devastated. Didn't leave his apartment for a week. I mean—not that I knew him back then, but word travels—"
Gia raised a brow. "Are you… worried she'll try to get him back?"
Lexi scoffed. "What? No. Why would I care if he goes crawling back to that designer-clad vulture with cheekbones you could hang a coat on?"
Gia smirked. "No reason. You just sounded very chill about it."
Lexi adjusted her dress and stared at herself in the mirror.
So chill.
So. Very. Chill.
Inside her chest, something tugged. Sharp. Subtle.
Jealousy?
She rolled her eyes and said, mostly to herself, "Besides... The contract states we can't be with other people."
⸻
The next night, Noah stood by the sleek black limousine parked outside their house, checking his watch like he had somewhere better to be.
Which he did. The gala was important and he was slightly annoyed that Lexi wasn't ready yet. He didn't like waiting and was getting impatient.
He smoothed a hand down his black suit jacket, pulled out his phone to check something that didn't matter, and then—
The door opened.
Lexi stepped out onto the front steps.
Noah forgot how to breathe.
Her green dress clung to her like silk poured over curves, shimmering beneath the porch light. Her red hair was swept to one side, lips bold, eyes glowing like she knew exactly what she was doing.
She did not look like a prank-loving TikToker.
She looked like a woman he would've crossed a ballroom to meet. Maybe even a small ocean.
She caught him staring.
"Do I have lipstick on my teeth or something?" she asked, half suspicious, half amused.
Noah blinked and quickly masked his awe with a crooked smile. "No. You just look… good."
"Good?"
"Like a million dollars."
Lexi paused. A blush crept up her cheeks before she smirked. "You don't look half bad yourself, Mr. Blackwood."
He opened the door for her. "Mrs. Blackwood."
She rolled her eyes but climbed in, a strange flutter moving through her chest as he slid in after her.
⸻
The gala was glittering chaos. Flashbulbs, flutes of champagne, velvet ropes, and every influencer, content creator, and viral star in a hundred-mile radius.
Lexi greeted old collab friends with cheek kisses and caught up with fellow creators who were shocked to learn the marriage wasn't just a prank series.
Noah mingled smoothly, charismatic and polite, shaking hands and laughing at inside jokes Lexi didn't realize he knew.
They met again at the drink table, breathless from so much socializing.
Then—she arrived.
Molly Carlton.
She appeared like she owned the gala. Scarlet dress, devil lips, raven hair, sooty lashes. Like Jessica Rabbit in heels worth more than Lexi's rent.
She walked right up to Noah and ignored Lexi entirely.
"Noah," she purred, her voice like warm syrup and secrets. "You look… devastating."
Lexi blinked. Bold.
Noah stiffened for just a second before he turned to face her. "Molly."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek without invitation. Her perfume wrapped around them like it had a life of its own. "When did you start wearing suits like this? You used to hate dressing up."
"I grew up," he said evenly. "When did you get back from Europe?"
"Two days ago," she said with a slow smile. "I missed this city. Missed my old life." Her eyes locked on his. "Missed you."
Lexi, awkwardly hovering with her champagne, blinked. Seriously?
"And I was thinking," Molly continued, one manicured finger tracing the rim of her glass, "we should do dinner tomorrow. Just like old times. Our favorite spot—La Fontaine?"
Noah frowned. "La Fontaine shut down over a year ago."
Molly paused, blinking once. Then she laughed softly. "Oh. Right. How tragic."
The silence lingered a beat too long.
Then Noah, to break the awkwardness, reached out and slid his arm around Lexi's waist, pulling her close.
Lexi stiffened in surprise, momentarily forgetting how to breathe.
"Molly," Noah said, "this is Lexi. My wife."
Molly's red lips twitched. She turned slowly to face Lexi as if she'd just been handed a paper bag full of old socks.
"Yes… the challenge." Her smile was razor-thin. "But she's not a real wife, babe. I'm sure Lexia wouldn't mind if we caught up."
"It's Lexi, actually," Lexi corrected, smile bright but eyes locked and loaded.
Molly tilted her head. "Of course."
The tension radiated off them in heat waves.
Noah hesitated. The truth was, he couldn't deny that their marriage was fake. Not without lying to Molly's face. Not without lying to Lexi's either.
"…Dinner sounds fine," he said eventually, his voice low.
Molly smirked in victory. "Fabulous. I'll text you."
With that, she turned and walked away with the sway of someone who knew people were watching her. She moved like Jessica Rabbit—minus the bunny husband, plus inherited wealth and resting condescension face.
Lexi stared after her, still stiff under Noah's arm.
Something sharp stirred in her chest again.
She cleared her throat and stepped back. "Be careful," she said, voice clipped. "This challenge still has two and a half months left. We're being sponsored, and brands expect loyalty. Even if the marriage is just for show."
Noah looked at her sideways. "Lexi… are you jealous?"
"What?" She let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Pfft. Please. I couldn't care less if you hooked up with Molly Rabbit."
"Molly Carlton," he corrected, eyebrows rising.
Lexi bit her lip. "Right. That."
They locked eyes for a second.
Something passed between them. A flicker.
Before anything could be said, they were interrupted by an older man in a navy suit, all smiles and handshakes.
"Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood! Delighted to finally meet you. We'd love to chat about a possible content partnership."
Noah turned smoothly, shifting into business mode.
Lexi nodded along, heart still racing.
She wasn't jealous.
Obviously.
She just… didn't like Molly.
That was completely different.
Wasn't it?