CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR –A LOVE AND A LIE

The next few hours passed in a whirlwind of tulle and taffeta as Karina's mother spread wedding magazines across every available surface, chattering excitedly about venues, flowers, and guest lists. Karina and Miguel played their parts to perfection, exchanging loving glances and finishing each other's sentences as if they'd been together for years. But as the day wore on, Karina could feel the strain of the deception weighing on her. Every touch, every endearment felt like a lie, no matter how much a part of her wished they were real. As evening fell, Miguel smoothly suggested that Mrs. Zaslav stay the night, citing the lateness of the hour and the long drive back to the city. Karina shot him a panicked look, but he squeezed her hand reassuringly. It wasn't until they were preparing for bed that the full implications of the situation hit her. With her mother just down the hall, they would have to share a room - and a bed - to maintain their cover. "I can sleep on the floor," Migue