CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 257

At that moment, hearing what Cora just said, Malisa leaned forward with a serious look in her eyes. "So then, who could that be?" she asked, her tone heavy with concern. "If you don’t want to go into an actual relationship, then we need someone who can take this role on willingly. Someone who won’t just stand by your side but can actually play the part convincingly. He has to match your father’s expectations, and at the same time, protect you from being exposed. This isn’t something we can gamble with, Cora."

Then Cora pressed her lips together, her mind racing. Her fingers nervously traced along the edge of the chair she was sitting on as though she was searching for an answer in the fabric itself. "I know," she admitted softly, her voice carrying both frustration and fear. "I completely understand what you’re saying. But that’s exactly what worries me, Malisa. My father notices everything. If there’s even one slip-up, even a single sign that this man is not truly mine, he’ll catch it. And if that happens..." she trailed off, shaking her head, "then I’ve just given him the perfect excuse to do whatever he wants with my future."

Immediately Malisa exhaled sharply, folding her arms. "Which means we can’t just find anyone. This has to be someone who knows you well enough to predict what you’ll say before you even open your mouth. Someone who can handle the pressure, the questions, and the watchful eyes of your father and, worse, your uncle Festus. Because if Festus catches on to this plan, he’ll make sure to twist it against you."

Cora leaned forward, clutching her hands together tightly. Her heartbeat was hammering in her chest as she thought through the risk. "That’s why I’m scared. I don’t want to screw this up. I can’t afford to. If my father finds out I lied, if he realizes I don’t really have anyone... it’ll be over. He’ll take full control. And then I’ll have no choice but to marry into one of those powerful families he’s already eyeing. That’s my nightmare, Malisa."

Her words hung in the air, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. Finally, Cora added with a trembling sigh, "We need to be smart about this. Smarter than ever before. If I’m going to pull this off, then every step has to be perfect. One wrong move, and it’ll all come crashing down on me."

At that moment, Cora and Malisa sat in silence for a few seconds, both weighing the gravity of what they were discussing. Finally, Melissa broke the quiet. Her voice carried a sharp edge as she asked, "So, what’s your suggestion then? Do you think it would be better for us to just go out and find some random guy? Someone who can act the part, even if we don’t know him that well?"

Cora immediately shook her head, her expression firm. "No," she replied, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "That would be too risky. My father is far too observant for that. If I bring in someone random, he’ll spot the flaws instantly. He’ll see through the act, and everything will fall apart, like I said before."

Malisa tilted her head, folding her arms across her chest as she thought out loud. "Alright then, if not random, what about someone you already know? Someone familiar, somebody who could actually pull this off without raising suspicion. You must have at least one person in mind, Cora. Think carefully. This isn’t just about you anymore. Remember, your uncle Festus is coming, and his son is coming too. This is not just dinner it’s going to be a game, a very big game. If you walk into it unprepared, you’ll lose everything."

The words struck hard, and Cora drew in a slow breath. Her mind went blank for a moment before one name started echoing inside her head. She had thought about it before, more than once, though she kept pushing it aside. But now, it seemed unavoidable. Looking Melissa straight in the eye, she finally said, "Oliver. The person I’m looking at is Oliver. He’s the only one that comes to mind. I’ve gone over this again and again, and I can’t think of anyone else who could do it. If anyone can play this part perfectly, it’s him."

At that moment, the entire atmosphere in the room shifted. As soon as Cora mentioned the name Oliver, Melissa’s facial expression subtly changed barely noticeable, but not to Cora. Cora had always been intuitive, especially when it came to Malisa, and she could immediately tell that something wasn’t right. The slight frown, the drop in eye contact, the way Malisa shifted in her seat it was enough for her to notice the mood shift.

"Wait," Cora said gently, narrowing her eyes. "Did I say something wrong just now? Why did your mood just change like that? Don’t tell me it’s because I mentioned Oliver?"

Immediately Malisa’s eyes widened slightly, as if caught off guard by Cora’s sharp observation. She quickly tried to shake off the tension, waving her hand and offering a faint smile. "No, no...it’s not that. I promise, it’s not what you think." But her voice didn’t carry enough conviction. "I just... I don’t really see the connection between you and Oliver, that’s all."

Cora couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Her lips curled into a knowing smile, and she tilted her head with an amused look. "That’s wrong," she said calmly, folding her arms. "Oliver and I have a great connection. A really strong one. We’ve known each other for years... since forever, if I’m being honest. There’s a level of trust between us that I can’t find with anyone else."

Malisa blinked, taken aback by how confident Cora sounded. It wasn’t just about choosing someone to play a role it was about knowing who could carry the weight of it without hesitation.

"We’ve always had each other’s backs," Cora continued, her voice softer now, but full of certainty. "Oliver knows me. Not the public image, not the version my father tries to shape but the real me. And that’s exactly what I need right now. Someone who won’t slip up. Someone who can play this game perfectly."

Malisa stayed quiet for a few seconds, still watching her. Cora gave a little shrug, her smile unfading.

"And no," she added firmly, "no strings are going to be attached."