Sarah's POV
"Stop pulling away."
I grabbed Daniel's wrist before he could step back. He had tried to dodge me, again, right in the middle of the store. My heart was already racing, and not in a good way.
"I said we need clothes," I told him. "Nice ones. If you are going to be my fiancé, you cannot look like you sleep on park benches."
He blinked at me. "I thought you liked honesty."
"I like survival more," I snapped.
People nearby glanced at us. I felt heat rush to my face. Great. Public fight. Exactly what I needed.
Daniel lifted his hands. "All right. I surrender."
I let go of his wrist and took a deep breath. "Sorry. I am just stressed."
"I know," he said softly. "Lead the way."
We moved deeper into the thrift store. I picked items fast. Jacket. Shirt. Shoes. Nothing fancy. Just clean and neat. My mind was already jumping ahead to my mom, to Christmas, to Sophie's worried face from the night before.
Daniel followed without complaint. Too easy. That alone made me uneasy.
"Try this," I said, handing him a tie.
He stared at it like it was a snake. "I do not know how."
I frowned. "You do not know how to tie a tie?"
"No," he said. "Never learned."
I laughed before I could stop myself. "You are kidding."
He shook his head. "I am serious."
Something about the way he said it felt strange. Like he was choosing his words carefully.
"Come here," I said.
I stood close and tried to show him. My hands shook. I told myself it was the cold. Or the stress. Not the fact that he smelled clean now, like soap, not the street.
He watched my hands closely. Too closely.
"You sure you have never done this?" I asked.
"Very sure," he said.
I finished the knot and stepped back. "There. Easy."
He touched the tie and smiled. "You make it look easy."
The cashier watched us the whole time. When we got to the counter, her face changed. Her smile turned sharp and polite. Too polite.
"That will be all?" she asked Daniel, not me.
"Yes," he replied.
She rang everything up fast. Then she leaned closer.
"Welcome back," she said quietly.
I blinked. "Back?"
Daniel did not react. "Thank you," he said.
She nodded with a strange respect, like he was someone important. Then she handed me the bag, but her eyes stayed on him.
Outside, I shook my head. "That was weird."
"What was?" Daniel asked.
"The cashier," I said. "She acted like she knew you."
He shrugged. "People think they know me."
I rolled my eyes. "You are not that memorable."
His lips twitched, like he wanted to laugh but held it back.
We walked a block before I stopped. "Okay. Next step. Manners. You cannot just agree to everything. My mom will think you are fake."
"I am fake," he said.
"You know what I mean."
"I do," he replied. "Tell me what to do."
I crossed my arms. "You need opinions. You need stories. You need to look like you belong in my life."
"I do belong," he said quietly.
I froze. "Daniel."
"Sorry," he said quickly. "I meant for the act."
I nodded, but my chest felt tight.
We reached the end of the street when a man in a dark suit stepped out of a parked car. He looked rushed. Important. The kind of man who did not stop for anyone.
He saw Daniel and stopped.
His eyes widened.
He walked closer, his steps careful. He lowered his head slightly. Not a full bow, but enough to make my stomach drop.
"Good afternoon," the man said.
Daniel stiffened. "Afternoon."
The man leaned in, his voice low. "Mr. Blackwell."
Time slowed.
I looked between them. "Excuse me?"
Daniel's face went blank. The man realized his mistake too late.
"I am sorry," the man said quickly. "I thought you were someone else."
He stepped back and left fast.
My heart pounded so loud I could hear it.
"Mr. who?" I asked.
Daniel did not answer right away. He stared at the street like he was counting breaths.
"Daniel," I said. "What just happened?"
He turned to me, his smile back in place. Too smooth. Too ready.
"People confuse me with others," he said. "It happens."
"No, it does not," I said. "Not like that."
I thought of Sophie's warning. I thought of the cashier. I thought of the way he tied that tie without really needing help.
"You are hiding something," I whispered.
Daniel stepped closer. "Sarah, listen to me."
I shook my head. "Do not lie to me."
"I am not," he said. "Not about what matters."
"That is not comforting."
A car horn blared nearby. Life moved on around us. But I felt like I was standing on thin ice.
"We have a deal," I said. "Fake engagement. Until New Year."
"Yes," he said.
"And trust," I added. "You asked for trust."
He nodded. "I did."
"Then start explaining," I said.
He opened his mouth.
His phone buzzed.
He looked down. His jaw tightened.
"Is that him?" I asked. "Mr. Blackwell?"
He met my eyes. "Please. Not here."
I stared at him. My chest burned with fear and something else I did not want to name.
"Fine," I said. "But this is not over."
"I know," he said softly.
As we walked away, I felt eyes on my back. Questions followed me like shadows.
Behind us, the man in the suit watched until we turned the corner.
And for the first time, I wondered if saving Daniel had pulled me into a world I was not ready to face.