The Beginning of a Nightmare

"The Beginning of a Nightmare ## The news of Christopher Gray, CEO of Gray Group, proposing to Evelyn Reed on a global live broadcast had taken the world by storm. As I walked home, I couldn’t avoid the massive billboard across the street showing the two of them locked in an embrace, their kiss frozen in time for everyone to admire. People were envious of Evelyn’s seemingly perfect life. But I knew the truth—if Evelyn ever fell in love with Christopher Gray, it would mark the beginning of her nightmare. Because no matter how much she dreamed, she could never become Mrs. Gray. Her moment in the spotlight would end with this grand proposal, no matter how dazzling it seemed. 1 I had just stepped out of the grocery store with a bag of everyday essentials and a few ingredients for dinner. Cooking had become my way of passing time, a small distraction from the monotony of life. As I lifted my head, the giant screen on the skyscraper across the street caught my eye. Christopher Gray and a young woman were shown in a close embrace, their chemistry practically leaping off the screen. Even through a screen, their gazes lingered on each other, electric and intimate. He was tall, sharp-featured, and impossibly handsome. She was delicate and breathtakingly beautiful. They looked like the perfect couple, a match seemingly made in heaven. I recognized her immediately—Evelyn Reed. By now, everyone knew her name. She seemed to be one of those rare people blessed by the universe itself: stunning good looks, a petite, graceful figure, and eyes that could captivate anyone. It was said that from the moment Christopher Gray first saw her, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Love at first sight, they called it. And from that moment on, he poured his heart and soul into pursuing her. He orchestrated grand romantic gestures—naming his latest jewelry line after her, dedicating new luxury apartment buildings to her, even naming an amusement park after her. Everywhere Evelyn went, there were traces of Christopher Gray’s devotion. Standing on the sidewalk, I overheard two girls sipping bubble tea as they stared at the screen. “I’m so jealous of Evelyn,” one sighed. “Imagine having someone love you that much.” “Forget love,” the other replied. “Do you know how rich Christopher Gray is? That’s the real dream.” “She must’ve saved the entire galaxy in her past life to deserve this,” the first one added wistfully. I lowered my gaze and smiled faintly. If Evelyn didn’t love Christopher, maybe she could enjoy the life he was offering her. But most women would fall for a man like him, especially one who created a world of romance just for them. And Evelyn? An orphan who’d grown up with nothing? She didn’t stand a chance. My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: “Hannah, I know who you are.” Two days ago, Evelyn Reed had added me on WhatsApp after getting my contact information through Christopher. I hesitated at first...