Chapter 11

As Selina locked eyes with Lydia, a rush of warmth filled her. "Thanks, Lydia. I'll give it some thought," she said.

After they stowed their gear in the sleek BMW, Selina's phone buzzed. Messages from Trevon: his mansion's address and a photograph. The picture showed her onstage at the Starlight Club, guitar in hand, bathed in the spotlight. It was a stunning shot, perfectly capturing her photogenic side. Another message arrived: "[You killed it tonight!]"

Selina bit her lip, gazing at Trevon's shadowy profile picture. She replied, "[Appreciate it.]"

"[See you tomorrow, I won't be late.]" Trevon typed. He then sipped a batch of Edwin's red wine, pondering whether Selina was Charm.

Back at Lydia's, while Lydia freshened up, Selina accessed the Dark Web. Her username, "Charm," stared back. She paused, momentarily lost in thought.

Selina had avoided the Dark Web for only a month in her new life, but for years in her previous one. It was a magnet for trouble, and after being reclaimed by the Harvey family, she'd abandoned it, deleting her account to minimize drama. Now, logging back in, she braced herself. It was time to reconnect.

There was no rest for the weary, however. Selina needed to investigate Trevon. Their contract marriage thrust them into the public eye as a genuine couple—a performance to appease their families. She needed to discover who Trevon truly was.

Half an hour later, Selina leaned back, lost in thought. "CEO of Insight Group, youngest bigwig from the Brady family's fourth branch… Trevon…"

His impressive appearance came to mind. Initially, she'd thought him unremarkable. Now, she was surprised by his status and background. His posting a fake marriage advertisement seemed almost a joke. Instead of confronting him directly, Selina found Trevon shrouded in mystery. Despite his powerful title, few knew the mogul's face. In her previous life, consumed by the Harvey family's drama, she'd missed these details.

Meanwhile, Trevon was back at his villa, also accessing the Dark Web. Even with his considerable hacking skills, Charm, the top hacker, remained an enigma. Charm's month-long disappearance had fueled wild online speculation. And now, seeing Charm online again, Trevon interlaced his fingers, intrigued. His instant bride was far from ordinary.

The next afternoon, at 2:30, Selina and Lydia arrived at the local government service center with Selina's passport, ready for their appointment.

Lydia's brow furrowed when the Harveys were absent. "Seriously, Selina, did they stand us up? Call them; we need to get this done. There's a lot more fun waiting for us afterward."

Selina sighed. "I can't reach them. They left no contact information—no messaging app, no family group, not a single phone number. It was as if they wanted nothing to do with me. To the Harvey family, I was a virus, something to shed as quickly as possible."

"That's cold! I just can't… Ugh, I'm so angry," Lydia seethed. She and her friends had once adored Selina, and now the Harveys were treating her like trash. Lydia found this unacceptable.

"It's okay, Lydia. That's the past. If the Harvey family bails, I'll move in with Trevon. I have a Plan B."

"Selina, are you sure about Trevon? Not that he'll hurt you, but what about his family drama?"

"Lydia, I'm not worried about the Brady family. I told Trevon I'd stick to the fake marriage plan as long as he doesn't break the deal first."

It was nearing 3 PM, and still no sign of the Harvey family.

Lydia announced, "Selina, I need to use the restroom. If the Harvey family ditches us, I'll teach them a lesson next time I see them!"

"Got it," Selina smiled.

Left alone, Selina checked her watch. One more minute until 3 PM. She texted Trevon: "[No sign of the Harvey family. Looks like it's a no-go.]"

Immediately, people began streaming into the service center. Selina watched, sharp-eyed, her phone now stowed. Her birth parents, Quinton and Sara, entered, followed by her brother, Manuel, who glared at her with pure scorn.

But it was Ashley who approached Selina first, her eyes brimming with tears. "Selina… Please don't leave us. It's all my fault. Is it because you care too much about how I feel? If so, I'll go instead!"

Selina's expression was glacial. "Get lost," she snapped, weary of Ashley's melodrama.

Ashley blinked back tears, crying, "I'm so sorry, Selina. I didn't know you hated me so much. But please, don't leave. This is your home."

"Selina, you monster! Ashley has been nothing but kind to you, and this is how you repay her? Do you have no heart?" Manuel was furious at his sister's distress. If he weren't a man who believed in never striking a woman, he would have given Selina a piece of his mind.