*Chapter 11: The Rift*
As the days went by, Sophia couldn't shake off the feeling that she was living a lie. She was trapped in a world of her own creation, a world that was slowly suffocating her.
Alexander's words kept echoing in her mind. "You're more than just a PR stunt, Sophia. You're someone I care about."
But what did it mean? Was he genuinely interested in her, or was it just a clever ploy to keep her in line?
Sophia's doubts were fueled by Marcus's constant interference. He would often drop by, making snide comments and insinuating that Sophia was just a pawn in Alexander's game.
One day, Sophia confronted Alexander about it. "What's going on with Marcus?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration. "He's always making snide comments about me. I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Alexander's expression turned serious. "I'll talk to him," he said. "He's just trying to protect my interests, that's all."
But Sophia wasn't convinced. She felt like Alexander was hiding something from her, like there was a rift growing between them.
As they stood there, the tension between them was palpable. Sophia could feel the weight of their deception bearing down on her, and she wondered if it was all worth it.
"Alexander, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Anything," he replied, his eyes locked onto hers.
"Do you really care about me?" Sophia asked, her heart pounding in her chest. "Or is this all just part of the act?"
Alexander's expression softened, and he took a step closer to her. "I care about you, Sophia," he said, his voice low and husky. "I care about you more than I thought possible."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to believe him, but a part of her was still unsure.
As they stood there, the air thick with tension, Sophia knew that she had to make a choice. Would she continue down this path, pretending to be someone she wasn't? Or would she take a chance and see where her feelings for Alexander would lead?