#Chapter 37: Double Down

Lauren's POV The foundation event was in full swing, and I could feel the weight of the night pressing down on me. The clink of champagne glasses, the soft hum of conversation, and the steady rhythm of the music swirling around us. But none of it seemed to matter. All I could focus on was Liam—his arm around my waist, his hand resting on my lower back, just enough to make it look real, or was real. And for once, I really couldn’t tell. I could feel the eyes of everyone around us, their gazes flicking over us like we were the subject of some grand spectacle. I was doing my best to play the part, smiling, laughing, leaning into Liam as if we were a couple. The way he kept his hand close to my body, the subtle glances he gave me when he thought no one was looking, it all worked. It was the perfect cover. “You look stunning tonight,” Liam murmured in my ear, his voice low enough to send a shiver down my spine. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the way his words made me