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Chapter 54
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Hired Fiance Chapter 55
Emma's POV Watching them together, I wondered if Eva was truly happy or if she was simply going along with this to please our father. Dad had always been difficult to please, his expectations impossibly high, and I feared that Eva, in her desire to make him proud, might be sacrificing her own happiness.As I walked into the grand ballroom, memories I’d rather forget came rushing back, uninvited and unwelcome. The faces around me were the same ones that had been present at my engagement to Daniel, and at what was supposed to be our wedding day. They had witnessed my decision to cancel the wedding just a day before the ceremony, and I knew that people had not forgotten. In fact, I could feel their eyes on me, and the whispers that followed me like a shadow, reminding me that this was not just Eva’s night; it was also a painful reminder of my past.The room was filled with elegant women in glittering gowns and men in sharp tuxedos, all gathered to celebrate my sister’s happiness. But be
Hired Fiance Chapter 56
Emma's POV For the first time that night, I felt a little lighter, the oppressive weight of the past beginning to lift.But the night wasn’t over yet. As we continued to mingle, others took their turn trying to get a reaction out of me. Some were subtle, like Mr. Thompson, who made a pointed comment about “second chances” while glancing between me and Daniel across the room. Others were more blatant, like Mrs. Greene, who openly asked how it felt to see Eva with Daniel as if they were expecting me to confess some deep regret.Each time, Ryan was there, quick with a sharp retort or a subtle redirection that left the other person either flustered or silenced. It was as if he could sense when I was beginning to feel overwhelmed, stepping in to shield me from the worst of it.At one point, during a particularly tense conversation with an old family friend who couldn’t resist bringing up the past, Ryan simply took my hand and squeezed it gently, cutting the conversation short with a disa
Hired Fiance Chapter 57
Emma's POV As the night wore on, I found it increasingly difficult to distinguish between what was real and what wasn’t. Ryan’s touch, once merely a part of the performance, began to feel more natural, more genuine. His presence was a comfort, a steadying force that kept me grounded amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. I could feel myself slipping, the lines between pretend and reality beginning to blur. Every time he smiled at me, every time he held me close, I had to fight the urge to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was something real between us.The engagement ceremony was a spectacle in itself. The room was filled with the sound of clinking glasses and soft music as Eva and Daniel exchanged rings, their every move followed by the watchful eyes of the guests. Ryan stood by my side the entire time, his hand resting gently on the small of my back, a constant source of support. He made sure I was included in every conversation, always making me feel like we belo
Hired Fiance Chapter 58
Emma's POV Ryan walked with me, his arm around my waist as we made our way out. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the warmth of the ballroom, and I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind. But even as we walked outside, the events of the night played over and over in my head, a whirlwind of emotions that I couldn’t quite make sense of.When Ryan reached for my hand, his fingers lacing through mine, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I looked at him, his profile illuminated by the passing streetlights, and I realized that, for better or worse, I was no longer sure where the act ended and where the truth began.As we walked inside we saw my family sitting there. They all were happy about the party and discussed how it went so well. Once we had a nightcap, we all went to our rooms and I was again feeling conscious of the fact that we were going to share the room as well as the bed. I cleaned my makeup, freshened up, and changed into my nightwear. I got into my bed on
Hired Fiance Chapter 59
Emma's POV The morning after Eva’s engagement party, I woke up to an empty bed. The space where Ryan had been lying just hours ago was now cool. I lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, trying to summon the energy to get up. The events of the night before played on a loop in my mind—the way Ryan had held me, his arm draped protectively around my waist, his warm breath tickling the back of my neck. It had felt so real, so right, that I’d almost forgotten we were just pretending.Almost.But now, in the harsh light of day, reality had come crashing back in. I wasn’t sure where Ryan had gone, but the house was still quiet, everyone else likely sleeping in after the party. I should have been relieved for a moment of solitude, but instead, I felt an inexplicable need to find him.I slipped out of bed, grabbed my robe, and padded down the hallway. As I made my way through the house, I noticed that the door leading out to the garden was slightly ajar. Curious, I stepped outsid
Hired Fiance Chapter 60
Emma's POV Ryan shook his head, his expression earnest. "I appreciate that, but lly love to do this for her. She loves it when I cook for her; please try some of it; it may not be as good as your professional chef's, but you may like it as she does. "My heart did a little flip at his words. He was so good at this, so convincing, that I almost believed it myself. Almost. But the truth was, this was still just a charade, and I had to keep reminding myself of that, especially with my grandmother watching us so closely."Well, in that case," my grandmother said, clearly charmed by his sincerity, "I suppose I can’t argue with that. Just don’t make too much of a mess in our kitchen, young man."Ryan laughed, the sound rich and full. "I’ll do my best, Mrs. Wales."He turned back to me, his hand outstretched. "Come on, Emma. Let’s go make some pancakes."I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand and letting him pull me to my feet. His touch was warm, his fingers strong and reassuring
Hired Fiance Chapter 61
Emma's POV My mother waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, I didn't realise...no, no. You two enjoy yourselves. I just came in to see how things were going." She got a bit embarrassed. " Please join us, I make very good pancakes. Ask Emma. " He said but I was not in a condition to say anything at the moment. I just nodded both mom and grandma smiled and tasted the pancakes. "You missed a spot," he teased, his voice so low that only I could hear it.Ryan turned back to me, his smile softening as he reached out to wipe a bit of whipped cream from the corner of my mouth. I froze as he brought his finger to his lips, licking off the cream with a playful glint in his eyes.My mother didn’t seem to notice the exchange, too busy admiring the pancakes that Ryan had prepared, but my grandmother saw it, and I could see in her eyes that she loved it. But I felt like I was about to combust. My entire body was on high alert, every nerve ending tingling with the awareness of him. It was too much,
Hired Fiance Chapter 62
Emma's POV "Why don’t we go for a walk after breakfast?" Ryan suggested, squeezing my hand lightly. "I’d love to explore more of the estate with you.""That sounds lovely," my grandmother chimed in, clearly pleased with the idea. "It’s a beautiful day for it."I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My emotions were too close to the surface, too raw. The idea of spending more time alone with Ryan, of being out in the open where anyone could see us, filled me with a mix of excitement and dread. How much longer could I keep this up before I completely lost myself in the illusion we had created?After we finished breakfast, Ryan insisted on cleaning up, much to my grandmother’s amusement. She watched us with a fond smile as we worked side by side, Ryan washing the dishes while I dried them. It was such a simple, domestic task, but it felt strangely intimate like we were a real couple going about our morning routine.At one point, Ryan bumped his shoulder against mine playfully, causing
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Hired Fiance Chapter 200
Emma's POV Suddenly, James tugged at my sleeve, pulling me from my thoughts. “Mummy, are you okay?”I forced a smile, nodding. “I’m fine, sweetheart.”Ryan’s eyes flickered toward me, his expression softening for just a moment before he turned back to James. “Right, let’s finish up and get home. We’ve got a living room to camp in, remember?”As we left the diner, James happily chatted about all the “camping” supplies they’d need; I couldn’t shake the growing unease in my chest. Ryan was laughing and planning with James as if we were a normal family, but things were far from normal. I wasn’t sure if I could let my guard down.One thing was clear, though: James was thrilled. And as long as he was happy, I would go along with their ridiculous plans… even if it meant letting Ryan be a little too close for comfort.We reached my home, and he stopped the car; before he could say Anything, I got out of the car, turned on my heel, and headed for the door. He followed behind me, his footsteps
Hired Fiance Chapter 199
Emma's POV Ryan raised an eyebrow but didn’t press it. Instead, he turned back to James. “So, mate, I’ve been thinking. Once we finish this monstrous milkshake, we should plan something fun. You know, a real adventure. How about we build a fort when we get home? Or…” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “We could camp in the living room tonight. I’ll bring my torch, and we’ll tell scary stories. What do you say?”James gasped, bouncing in his seat. “Can we, Mummy? Please? Can we camp in the living room?”I blinked at them, half-expecting Ryan to burst out laughing at the absurdity of his suggestion. But he was dead serious—and so was James. “I don’t think we have space for that…”Ryan cut in, shaking his head. “Emma, where’s your sense of adventure? We don’t need space. We’ll make it work. Move some furniture, throw down some blankets. It’ll be like we’re out in the wild!”“Camping… in my flat?” I asked, incredulous.“Exactly,” Ryan said, giving me a grin that I both hated and… found a l
Hired Fiance Chapter 198
Ryan's POV Great! Simply great!! Now you see, my love, how I won you back; no matter what happened in the past, I am going to resolve it and have you in my home, in my bed, and my arms, soon, very soon. You are mine!! Emma's POV “Fine,” Ryan said, finally relenting, though his tone was still far too smug for my liking. “If you insist on your flat, we’ll go there. But don’t think this is over, Emma. We’ll talk more about what’s best for James.”I glared at him but said nothing; he drove back toward my flat. I was looking out of the window. Just then James asked from the back seat, “Mummy! Can we stop for lunch? I’m starving!”“Starving?” Ryan scoffed dramatically, quickening his pace to catch up with James. “Didn't you eat breakfast, son?”James giggled. “But that was 3 hours ago! I’m a growing boy.”Ryan smiled at him through the rearview mirror. “Alright, alright. You’re right. A growing boy needs fuel. How about we stop at that diner just up the street? The one with those massive
Hired Fiance Chapter 197
Emma's POV “Are you out of your mind?” I hissed, barely able to keep my voice steady.Ryan’s eyes darkened, his smile fading into something more cold, more calculated. “Yes, I am. I’ve lost all sense of reason after finding out you’ve been hiding our child from me. The best I can do now is ensure he lives with me, where he belongs. You can come along if you like, or I’ll take you to court. And trust me, Emma, I’ll make sure you don’t get to live with him. You deprived me of his love. The choice is yours.”His words struck like a blow, knocking the wind out of me. I knew he wasn’t bluffing. He had the resources, the connections, and the determination to follow through. And James—oh God, James would be caught in the middle of this, pulled apart by our war. My stomach twisted at the thought.I stood there, my pulse thundering in my ears as Ryan’s words sank in. His smile was too calm, too assured as if he already knew how this would play out. As if he’d won. I clenched my fists, resisti
Hired Fiance Chapter 196
Emma’s POVHalf an hour ago…I woke up in the quiet stillness of the hotel room, my head heavy but the sharp edge of the migraine thankfully dulled. Soft morning light filtered through the curtains, and I blinked, adjusting to my surroundings. The space beside me brought a pang of unease. Where was Ryan?My heart quickened as fragments of last night flickered in my mind—Ryan’s warm, steady hands taking care of me, holding me through the worst of the pain. Was it real, or had I dreamt it? And now, he was gone.Then the realization hit me like a cold wave. James. School.Ryan had been insistent about removing James from the hostel, determined to bring him home. My breath caught as dread clawed its way into my chest. He hadn’t waited for me to wake up. He didn’t as he was going to take James away from me.“Oh, God,” I muttered, panic rising. Why hadn’t I realized it sooner? I shouldn’t have agreed to this, I shouldn’t have let him take the reins. I had to stop him.I threw on yesterday’s
Hired Fiance Chapter 195
Ryan's POV I wasn’t going to let our son stay in that hostel any longer. He belonged with us, with me. And I knew Emma. She wouldn’t let me take him away from her. She loved him too much for that. It was the one card I had to play, and I was going to play it carefully and strategically. She’d have no choice but to come back. And once she was here, once we were together again, I’d make sure she never left.I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, and smiled. “You were born to be with me,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her skin. “And I’ll get you back, my love. By hook or by crook.”She stirred slightly, but I didn’t move. I wanted to hold her longer, to stay like this forever, but I had things to do. I couldn’t afford to waste time, not when the plan was already in motion. I gently untangled myself from her, careful not to wake her, and slipped out of bed. She needed her rest. Last night had taken its toll, and I wasn’t going to rush her recovery. I could wait. I h
Hired Fiance Chapter 194
Ryan's POV I hadn’t planned for things to turn out this way.But this time she shocked me. Not only did she leave me without saying a word, even when we had a baby together. Why did she leave? What was the reason that had torn us apart? My jaw tightened as the memory surfaced. How could she not have told me? Didn’t I deserve to know? Didn’t I have a right to be angry?But then, looking at her now, so pale and fragile, all that anger seemed to dissolve into something else. Something softer, more desperate. I didn’t just want answers. I wanted her. I wanted to hold her, pull her close, and make all of this go away. I wanted her back in my life, in my arms, where she belonged.But I couldn’t do that. Not yet. Not until we talked. Talked.Despite everything, I could never fall out of love with her. For now, I had to be patient. I had to let her rest, let her heal. There would be time for everything else later.But as I sat there, watching her sleep, I knew one thing for certain: I wa
Hired Fiance Chapter 193
Ryan's POV I sat down next to her, not saying anything at first. She didn’t move, didn’t look at me, but I knew she was aware of my presence. After a while, she spoke, her voice, barely a whisper, “I hate it here.”It wasn’t a dramatic statement, just a simple, heartbreaking truth. She wasn’t talking about the river or the house or even her life. She was talking about being stuck in a world that didn’t let her be herself. I didn’t know what to say. I was just a kid too, barely able to handle my own emotions, let alone someone else’s.But I wanted to comfort her, to let her know she wasn’t alone. So, I did the only thing I could think of—I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It wasn’t much, but it was something. She looked up at me then, and for the first time, I saw her really look at me, not as her older brother, or a family friend, or some orphan boy her parents had taken in, but as someone who mattered to her. It was in that moment that I realized I cared about
Hired Fiance Chapter 192
Ryan's POV Everyone was worried about her, and she was hiding in my room. I had no idea how she’d managed to slip past her mother’s watchful eyes, but there she was, curled up under my bed. At first, I thought she was just playing some game, but then I realized she was sleeping. She must have been so exhausted from constantly having to be someone she wasn’t. I watched her for a while, not sure what to do. Should I wake her? Should I let her sleep? In the end, I just left her there. She looked peaceful, and I wasn’t about to disturb that.When she got up and I felt the moment under the bed I bent to see her. " Hello!! " " H..Hi!! " She said looking a bit scared. " Come out!! " I said and she came out feeling embarrassed for being caught. " What are you doing here?? " I asked. " Hiding." She bit her lip. " But why?" I asked her. " My mom wants me to learn to play music and Dad wants me to take classes to be like him... I..." She told me hesitantly. " And you don't want to do th
